I don’t meet with one man, let his attachment be never so strong to the service of the King, his wishes for peace never so great, that does not positively affirm, this rich acquisition must not be ceded without satisfaction in the fishery, and some material compensation:  this is so much the opinion of all the King’s servants, that the greatest care has been taken to soften every expression,” etc.  In July, 1763, the English restored their acquisitions in Cuba to the Spaniards, and their soldiers returned to Europe.

In a few years it was seen that the Bute arrangement, so far as concerned the Havana, was, for England, thoroughly a Glaucian bargain.  She had obtained Florida, which was of no worth to her, and she had given up the Havana, which might have been made one of her most useful acquisitions.  That place became the chief American port of the great alliance that was formed against England after she had become committed to war with the new United States.  Great fleets and armies were there assembled, which did the English much mischief.  Florida was reconquered by an expedition from the Havana, and another expedition was successful in an attack on Nassau; and Jamaica was threatened.  Had England not given up the place to the Spaniards, not only would these things have been impossible, but she might have employed it with effect in her own military operations, and have maintained her ascendency in the West-Indian seas.  Or, if she had preferred that course, she might have made it the price of Spain’s neutrality during the American War, returning it to her on condition that she should not assist the United States; and as the Family Compact then existed in all its force, Spain’s influence might have been found sufficiently powerful to prevent France from giving that assistance to our fathers which undoubtedly secured their independence.  All subsequent history has been deeply colored by the surrender of the Havana in 1763.  But for that, Washington and his associates might have failed.  But for that, the French Revolution might have been postponed, as that Revolution was precipitated through the existence of financial difficulties which were largely owing to the part France took in the war that ended in the establishment of our nationality.  But for that, England might have secured and consolidated her American dominion, and the House of Hanover at this moment have been ruling over the present United States and Confederate States.  George III, and Lord Bute could not foresee any of these things, and they cannot be censured because they were blind to what was invisible to all men; but their reckless desire for peace led them to regret the successes of the English arms, and they were ready to make any sacrifices that could be named, not because they loved peace for itself, but because, while the war should last, it would not be possible for the monarch to follow his mother’s advice to “be a king” in fact as well as in name,—­advice that was destined to cost the King much, and his realm far more.