tem, the harmony between Great Britian and these, tient to know whether the petition mentioned colonies, so necessary to the happiness of both, and in the proceedings was come to my hands, so ardently desired by the latter, and the usual in ing destruction. tercourse will be immediately restored. In the mag- and took round-about methods of obtaining nanimity and justice of your majesty and parlia that information, by getting a ministerial ment we confide for a redress of our other griev ances, trusting that when the causes of our apprehen- merchant, a known intimate of the solicitorsions are removed, our future conduct will prove us not general, to write me a letter, importing that unworthy of the regard we have been accustomed in he heard I had received such a petition, that our happier days to enjoy. For, appealing to that Being who searches thoroughly the hearts of his crea- I was to be attended in presenting it by the tures, we solemnly profess, that our councils have been merchants, and begging to know the time, influenced by no other motive than a dread of impend that he might attend "on so important an ocPermit us then, most gracious sovereign, in the name casion, and give his testimony to so good a of all your faithful people in America, with the utmost work." Before these proceedings arrived, it humility to implore you, for the honour of Almighty God, whose pure religion our enemies are undermin had been given out, that no petition from the ing; for your glory, which can be advanced only by rencongress could be received, as they were an dering your subjects happy, and keeping them united; for the interests of your family, depending on an ad herence to the principles that enthroned it; for the safe ty and welfare of your kingdoms and dominions, threatened with almost unavoidable dangers and distresses; that your majesty, as the loving father of your whole people, connected by the same bands of law, loyalty, faith, and blood, though dwelling in various countries, will not suffer the transcendant relation formed by these ties to be further violated, in uncertain expectation of effects, that, if attained, never can compensate for the calamities through which they must be gained. We therefore most earnestly beseech your majesty, that your royal authority and interposition may be used for our relief; and that a gracious answer may be given to this petition. That your majesty may enjoy every felicity through a long and glorious reign, over loyal and happy subjects, and that your descendants may inherit your prosperity and dominions till time shall be no more, is and always will be, our sincere and fervent prayer. HENRY MIDDLETON. Philadelphia, October 26, 1774. From New Hampshire. Nath. Folsom. Pennsylvania, J. Galloway, Delaware Government, Maryland. Virginia. North Carolina. South Carolina. The first impression made by the proceedings of the American congress on people in general, was greatly in our favour. Administration seemed to be staggered, were impa illegal body; but the secretary of state, after a day's perusal, (during which a council was held,) told us it was a decent and proper petition, and cheerfully undertook to present it to his majesty, who, he afterwards assured us, was pleased to receive it very graciously, and to promise to lay it, as soon as they met, before his two houses of parliament; and we had reason to believe, that at that time, the petition was intended to be made the foundation of some changes of measures; but that purpose, if such there was, did not long continue. About this time I received a letter from Mr. Barclay, then at Norwich, dated December 18, expressing his opinion, that it might be best to postpone taking any further steps in the affair of procuring a meeting and petition of the merchants, (on which we had had several consultations,) till after the holidays, thereby to give the proceedings of congress more time to work upon men's minds, adding, "I likewise consider that our superiors will have some little time for reflection, and perhaps may contemplate on the propriety of the HINTS in their possession. By a few lines I have received from lord Hyde, he intimates his hearty wish that they may be productive of what may be practicable and advantageous for the mother country and the colonies." On the 22d, Mr. Barclay was come to town, when I dined with him, and learned that lord Hyde thought the propositions too hard. On the 24th, I received the following note from a considerable merchant in the city, viz.: "Mr. William Neate presents his most respectful compliments to Dr. Franklin, and as a report prevailed yesterday evening, that all the disputes between Great Britain and the American colonies, were, through his application and influence with lord North, amicably settled, conformable to the wish and desire of the late congress, W. N. desires the favour of Dr. Franklin to inform him by a line, per the bearer, whether there is any credit to be given to the report? "St. Mary Hill, 24th December, 1774.” My answer was to this effect, that I should be very happy to be able to inform him that the report he had heard had some truth in it; but I could only assure him that I knew nothing of the matter. Such reports, however, were confidently circulated, and had some effect in recovering the stocks, which had fallen three or four per cent. On Christmas day, visiting Mrs. Howe, she told me as soon as I went in, that her brother, lord Howe, wished to be acquainted with me; that he was a very good man, and she was sure we should like each other. I said, I had always heard a good character of lord Howe, and should be proud of the honour of being known to him. He is just by, said she; will you give me leave to send for him? By all means, madam, if you think proper. She rang for a servant, wrote a note, and lord Howe came in a few minutes. have any direct communication with this ministry on this occasion; that I might likewise not care to have it known that I had any indirect communication with them, till I could be well assured of their good dispositions; that being himself upon no ill terms with them, he thought it not impossible that he might, by conveying my sentiments to them, and theirs to me, be a means of bringing on a good understanding, without committing either them or me, if his negotiation should not succeed; and that I might rely on his keeping perfectly secret, every thing I should wish to remain so. Mrs. Howe here offering to withdraw, whether of herself, or from any sign by him, I know not, I begged she might stay, as I should have no secret in a business of this After some extremely polite compliments nature that I could not freely confide to her as to the general motives for his desiring an prudence; which was truth; for I had never acquaintance with me, he said he had a par-conceived a higher opinion of the discretion ticular one at this time, which was the alarming situation of our affairs with America, which no one, he was persuaded, understood better than myself; that it was the opinion of some friends of his, that no man could do more towards reconciling our differences than I could, if I would undertake it; that he was sensible I had been very ill treated by the ministry, but he hoped that would not be considered by me in the present case; that he himself, though not in opposition, had much disapproved of their conduct towards me; that some of them, he was sure, were ashamed of it, and sorry it had happened; which he supposed must be sufficient to abate resentment in a great and generous mind; that if he were himself in administration, he should be ready to make me ample satisfaction, which he was persuaded, would one day or other be done; that he was unconnected with the ministry, except by some personal friendships, wished well however to government, was anxious for the general welfare of the whole empire, and had a particular regard for New England, which had shown a very endearing respect to his family; that he was merely an independent member of parliament, desirous of doing what good he could, agreeably to his duty in that station; that he therefore had wished for an opportunity of obtaining, my sentiments on the means of reconciling our differences, which he saw must be attended with the most mischievous consequences, if not speedily accommodated; that he hoped his zeal for the public welfare, would, with me, excuse the impertinence of a mere stranger, who could have otherwise no reason to expect, or right to request me to open my mind to him upon these topics; but he did conceive, that if I would indulge him with my ideas of the means proper to bring about a reconciliation, it might be of some use; that perhaps might not be willing myself to T and excellent understanding of any woman on so short an acquaintance. I added, that though I had never before the honour of being in his Lordship's company, his manner was such as had already engaged my confidence, and would make me perfectly easy and free in communicating myself to him. I begged him in the first place, to give me credit for a sincere desire of healing the breach between the two countries; that I would cheerfully and heartily do every thing in my small power to accomplish it; but that I apprehended from the king's speech, and from the measures talked of, as well as those already determined on, no intention or disposition of the kind existed in the present ministry, and therefore no accommodation could be expected till we saw a change. That as to what his lordship mentioned of the personal injuries done me, those done my country were so much greater, that I did not think the other, at this time, worth mentioning; that besides it was a fixed rule with me, not to mix my private affairs with those of the public; that I could join with my personal enemy in serving the public, or, when it was for its interest, with the public in serving that enemy; these being my sentiments, his lordship might be assured that no private considerations of the kind should prevent my being as useful in the present case as my small ability would permit. He appeared satisfied and pleased with these declarations, and gave it me as his sincere opinion, that some of the ministry were extremely well disposed to any reasonable accommodations, preserving only the dignity of gcvernment; and he wished me to draw up in writing, some propositions containing the terms on which I conceived a good understanding might be obtained and established, and the mode of proceeding to accomplish it; which propositions, as soon as prepared, we might meet to consider, either at his house, or at mine, or where I pleased; but as his being seen at my house, or me at his, might he thought occasion some speculation, it was concluded to be best to meet at his sister's, who readily offered her house for the purpose, and where there was a good pretence with her family and friends for my being often seen, as it was known that we played together at chess. I undertook, accordingly, to draw up something of the kind; and so for that time we parted, agreeing to meet at the same place again on the Wednesday following. I dined about this time by invitation with governor Pownall. There was no company but the family, and after dinner we had a tete-a-tete. He had been in the opposition; but was now about making his peace, in order to come into parliament on ministerial interest, which I did not then know. He told me what I had before been told by several of lord North's friends, that the American measures were not the measures of that minister, nor approved by him; that, on the contrary, he was well disposed to promote a reconciliation upon any terms honourable to government; that I had been looked upon as the great fomenter of the opposition in America, and as a great adversary to any accommodation; that he, governor Pownall, had given a different account of me, and had told his lordship that I was certainly much misunderstood: from the governor's further discourse, I collected, that he wished to be employed as an envoy or commissioner to America, to settle the differences, and to have me with him; but as I apprehended there was little likelihood, that either of us would be so employed by government, I did not give much attention to that part of his discourse. der to obtain his sentiments on the whole, for my time was taken up in meetings with the other agents to consult about presenting the petition, in waiting three different days with them on lord Dartmouth, in consulting upon and writing letters to the speakers of assemblies, and other business, which did not allow me a day to go to Hayes. At last, on Monday the 26th, I got out, and was there about one o'clock; he received me with an affectionate kind of respect, that from so great a man was extremely engaging; but the opinion he expressed of the congress was still more so. They had acted, he said, with so much temper, moderation, and wisdom, that he thought it the most honourable assembly of statesmen since those of the ancient Greeks and Romans, in the most virtuous times: that there was not in their whole proceedings, above one or two things he could have wished otherwise; perhaps but one, and that was their assertion, that the keeping up a standing army in the colonies in time of peace, without consent of their legislatures, was against law; he doubted that was not well founded, and that the law alluded to did not extend to the colonies. The rest he admired and honoured: he thought the petition decent, manly, and properly expressed he inquired much and particularly concerning the state of America, the probability of their perseverance, the difficulties they must meet with in adhering for any long time to their resolutions; the resources they might have to supply the deficiency of commerce; to all which I gave him answers with which he seemed well satisfied. He expressed a great regard and warm affection for that country, with hearty wishes for their prosperity; and that I should have mentioned in its place, (but government here might soon come to see its one cannot recollect every thing in order) mistakes, and rectify them; and intimated that declining at first to draw up the propo- that possibly he might, if his health permitted, sitions desired by lord Howe, I alleged its be- prepare something for its consideration, when ing unnecessary, since the congress in their the parliament should meet after the holipetition to the king, just then received and days; on which he should wish to have prepresented through lord Dartmouth, had stated viously my sentiments. I mentioned to him their grievances, and pointed out very ex- the very hazardous state I conceived we were plicitly what would restore the ancient har-in, by the continuance of the army in Boston; mony; and I read a part of the petition to show their good dispositions, which, being very pathetically expressed, seemed to affect both the brother and sister. But still I was desired to give my ideas of the steps to be taken, in case some of the propositions in the petition should not be thought admissible: and this, as I said before, I undertook to do. that whatever disposition there might be in the inhabitants to give no just cause of offence to the troops, or in the general to preserve order among them, an unpremeditated unforeseen quarrel might happen, between perhaps a drunken porter and a soldier, that might bring on a riot, tumult, and bloodshed; and its consequences produce a breach impossible to be healed; that the army could I had promised lord Chatham to communi- not possibly answer any good purpose there, cate to him the first important news I should and might be infinitely mischievous; that no receive from America. I therefore sent him accommodation could be properly proposed the proceedings of the congress as soon as I and entered into by the Americans, while the received them; but a whole week passed af- bayonet was at their breasts; that to have any ter I received the petition, before I could, as agreement binding, all force should be withI wished to do, wait upon him with it, in or-drawn. His lordship seemed to think these sentiments had something in them that was reasonable. From Hayes I went to Halsted, Mr. Sargent's place, to dine, intending thence a visit to lord Stanhope at Chevening; but hearing there that his lordship and the family were in town, I staid at Halsted all night, and the next morning went to Chiselhurst to call upon lord Camden, it being in my way to town. met his lordship and family in two carriages, just without his gate, going on a visit of congratulation to lord Chatham and his lady, on the late marriage of their daughter to lord Mahon, son of lord Stanhope. They were to be back to dinner; so I agreed to go in, stay dinner, and spend the evening there, and not return to town till next morning. We had that afternoon and evening a great deal of conyersation on American affairs, concerning which he was very inquisitive, and I gave him the best information in my power. I was charmed with his generous and noble sentiments; and had the great pleasure of hearing his full approbation of the proceedings of the congress, the petition, &c. &c. of which, at his request, I afterwards sent him a copy. He seemed anxious that the Americans should continue to act with the same temper, coolness, and wisdom, with which they had hitherto proceeded in most of their public assemblies, in which case he did not doubt they would succeed in establishing their rights, and obtain a solid and durable agreement with the mother country; of the necessity and great importance of which agreement, he seemed to have the strongest impressions. vour, not only to remove their prejudices against government, but equally the prejudices of government against them, and bring on a perfect good understanding, &c. Mrs. Howe said, I wish brother you were to be sent thither on such a service; I should like that much better than general Howe's going to command the army there. I think, madam, said II, they ought to provide for general Howe some more honourable employment. Lord Howe here took out of his pocket a paper, and offering it to me, said, smiling, if it is not an unfair question, may I ask whether you know any thing of this paper? Upon looking at it, I saw it was a copy, in David Barclay's hand, of the hints before recited; and said, that I had seen it; adding, a little after, that since I perceived his lordship was acquainted with a transaction, my concern in which, I had understood, was to have been kept a secret, I should make no difficulty in owning to hin that I had been consulted on the subject, and had drawn up that paper. He said, he was rather sorry to find that the sentiments expressed in it were mine, as it gave him less hopes of promoting, by my assistance, the wished-for reconciliation; since he had reason to think there was no likelihood of the admission of these propositions. He hoped, however, that I would re-consider the subject, and form some plan that would be acceptable here. He expatiated on the infinite service it would be to the nation, and the great merit in being instrumental in so good a work; that he should not think of influencing me by any selfish, motive, but certainly I might, with reason expect any reward in the power of government to bestow. This to me was what the French vulgarly call spitting in the soup. However, I promised to draw some sketch of a plan at his request, though I much doubted, I said, whether it would be thought preferable to that he had in his hand. But he was willing to hope that it would, and as he considered my situation, that I had friends here and constituents in America to keep well with, that I might possibly propose something improper to be seen in my hand-writing; therefore, it would be better to send it to Mrs. Howe, who would copy it, send the copy to him to be communicated to the ministry, and return me the original. This I agreed to, though I did not apprehend the inconvenience he mentioned. In general, I liked much his manner, and found myself disposed to place great confidence in him on occasion, but in this particular the secrecy he proposed seemed not of much importance. I returned to town the next morning, in time to meet at the hour appointed by lord Howe. I apologised for my not being ready with the paper I had promised, by my having been kept longer than I intended in the country. We had, however, a good deal of conversation on the subject, and his lordship told me he could now assure me of a certainty, that there was a sincere disposition in lord North and lord Dartmouth to accommodate the differences with America, and to listen favourably to any propositions that might have a probable tendency to answer that salutary purpose. He then asked me what I thought of sending some person or persons over, commissioned to inquire into the grievances of America upon the spot, converse with the leading people, and endeavour with them to agree upon some means of composing our differences. I said, that a person of rank and dignity, who had a character of candour, integrity, and wisdom, might possibly, if employed in that service, be of great use. He seemed to be of the same opinion, and that whoever was employed should go with a hearty desire of promoting a sincere reconciliation, on the foundation of mutual interests and mutual good-will; that he should endea In a day or two I sent the following paper, inclosed in a cover directed to the honourable Mrs. Howe. It is supposed to be the wish on both sides, not merely to put a stop to the mischief at present threatening the general welfare, but to cement a cordial union, and remove, not only every real grievance, but every cause of jealousy and suspicion. With this view, the first thing necessary is, to know what is, by the different parties in the dispute, thought essentially necessary for the obtaining such an union. The American congress, in their petition to the king, have been explicit, declaring, that by a repeal of the oppressive acts therein complained of, "the harmony between Great Britain and the colonies, so necessary to the happiness of both, and so ardently desired of them, will, with the usual intercourse, be immediately restored." that held at Albany in 1754,) and a person of weight and dignity of character be appointed to preside at it on behalf of the crown. And then let requisition be made to the congress, of such points as government wishes to obtain, for its future security, for aids, for the advantage of general commerce, for reparation to the India company, &c. &c. A generous confidence thus placed in the colonies, will give ground to the friends of government there, in their endeavours to procure from America every reasonable conces sion, or engagement, and every substantial aid that can fairly be desired. If it has been thought reasonable here, to expect that, previous to an alteration of mea- On the Saturday evening I saw Mrs. Howe, sures, the colonies should make some declara- who informed me she had transcribed and sent tion respecting their future conduct, they have the paper to lord Howe in the country, and also done that, by adding, "That when the she returned me the original. On the followcauses of their apprehensions are removed, ing Tuesday, January 3d, I received a note their future conduct will prove them not un- from her, (inclosing a letter she had reworthy of the regard they have been accus-ceived from lord Howe the last night,) which tomed in their happier days to enjoy." follows: For their sincerity in these declarations, they solemnly call to witness the Searcher lin, of all hearts. reliance on these "Mrs. Howe's compliments to Dr. Frankshe incloses him a letter she received last night, and returns him many thanks for his given her great entertainment. If the doctor very obliging present,* which has already has any spare time for chess, she will be expro-week, and as often as will be agreeable to ceedingly glad to see him any morning this him, and rejoices in having so good an excuse for asking the favour of his company." "Tuesday." If Britain can have any declarations, (and perhaps none to be extorted by force can be more relied on than these which are thus freely made,) she may, without hazard to herself, try the expedient posed, since, if it fails, she has it in her power at any time to resume her present measures. It is then proposed, That Britain should show some confidence in these declarations, by repealing all the laws or parts of laws that are requested to be repealed in the petition of the congress to the king. And that, at the same time, orders should be given to withdraw the fleet from Boston, and remove all the troops to Quebec or the Floridas, that the colonies may be left at liberty in their future stipulations. [Letter inclosed in the foregoing.] "PORTER'S LODGE, Jan. 2d, 1775. "I have received your packet; and it is with much concern that I collect, from sentiments of such authority as those of our worthy friend, that the desired accommodation threatens to be attended with much greater difficulty than I had flattered myself, in the progress of our intercourse, there would be reason to apprehend. That this may, for the honour of Britain, appear not the effect of any apprehension from the measures entered into and recommended "I shall forward the propositions as intendto the people by the congress, but from good ed. Not desirous of trespassing further on will, and a change of disposition towards the our friend's indulgence; but returning senticolonies, with a sincere desire of reconcilia- ments of regard, which his candid and obligtion; let some of their other grievances, which ing attention to my troublesome inquiries, will in their petition they have left to the magna-render ever permanent in the memory of nimity and justice of the king and parliament, your affectionate, &c. . be at the same time removed, such as those relating to the payment of governors' and judges' salaries, and the instructions for dissolving assemblies, &c., with the declarations concerning the statute of Henry VIII. And to give the colonies an immediate opportunity of demonstrating the reality of their professions, let their proposed ensuing congress be authorised by government, (as was "I ought to make excuses likewise to you. "HOWE. "Hon. Mrs. Howe, Grafton street.” His lordship had, in his last conversation with me, acknowledged a communication between him and the ministry, to whom he wished to make my sentiments known. In * His philosophical writings. |