Immediately after the death of lord Rockingham, the king said to lord Shelburne, “I will be plain with you, the point next my heart, and which I am determined, be the consequence what it may, never to relinquish, but with my crown and life, is to prevent a total unequivocal recognition of the independence of America. Promise to support me on this ground, and I will leave you unmolested on every other ground, and with full power as the prime minister of this kingdom.” The bargain was struck.