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of 1774, did not mean to insist rigorously on the terms they helc out, but kept something in reserve, to give up: and, in fact, thay they would give up every thing but the article of taxation. Now the truth is far from this, as I can affirm, and put. my honor to the assertion. Their continuance in this error may, perhaps, produce very ill consequences. 'The Congress stated the lowest term; they thought possible to be accepted, in order to convince the world, they were not unreasonable. ‘They gave up the monopoly and regulation of trade, and all acts of Parliament prior to 1764, leaving to British generosity to render these, at some future time, as easy to America as the interest of Britain would admit. But this was before blood was spilt. I cannot affirm, but have reason. to think, these terms would not now be accepted. I wish no false sense of honor, no ignorance of our real intentions, no vain hope that partial concessions of right will be accepted, may induce they Ministry to trifle with accommodation, till it shall be out of their power ever to accommodate. If, indeed, Great Britain, disjoined from her colonies, be a match for the most potent nations of Ku- rope, with the colonies thrown into their scale, they, may go on securely. But if they are not assured of this, it would be certainly unwise, by trying the event of another campaign, to risque our accepting a foreign aid, which, perhaps, may not be obtainable, but on condition of everlasting avulsion from Great Britan. ‘This would be thought a hard condition, to those who still wish for re- union with their parent country. I am sincerely one of those, and would rather be in dependence on Great Britain, properly limited, than on any nation upon earth, or than on no nation. But I am one of those, too, who, rather than submit to the rights of legisla- ting for us, assumed by the British Parliament, and which late ex- perience has shewn, they will so cruelly exercise, would lend my hand to sink the whole Island in the ocean.
If undeceiving the Minister, as to matters of fact, may change his disposition, it will, perhaps, be in your power, by assisting to do this, to render service to the whole empire, at the most critical time, certainly, that it has ever seen. Whether Britain shall con- tue the head of the greatest empire on earth, or shall return to her original station in the political scale of Europe, depends, per- haps, on the resolutions of the succeeding winter. God send they may be wise and salutary for us all. J shall be glad to hear from you as often as you may be disposed to think of things here. You may be at liberty, I expect, to Communicate Some things, consistently with your honor, and the duties you will owe to a protecting nation. Such a communication among individuals, may be mutually beneficial to the contending parties. On this or
