[Footnote 1:  Towards the close of 1777 Maximilian, the Elector of Bavaria, died, and the Emperor Joseph claimed many of his fiefs as having escheated to him.  Frederic the Great, who was still jealous of Austria, endeavoured to form a league to aid the new Elector in his resistance to Joseph’s demands, and even invaded Bohemia with an army of eighty thousand men; but the Austrian army was equally strong.  No action of any importance took place; and in the spring of 1779 the treaty of Teschen was concluded between the Empire, Prussia, and Bavaria, by which a small portion of the district claimed by Joseph was ceded to Austria.]

SUGGESTION OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH FRANCE—­PARTITION OF POLAND.

TO THE HON.  H.S.  CONWAY.

STRAWBERRY HILL, July 8, 1778.

I have had some conversation with a ministerial person, on the subject of pacification with France; and he dropped a hint, that as we should not have much of a good peace, the Opposition would make great clamour on it.  I said a few words on the duty of Ministers to do what they thought right, be the consequence what it would.  But as honest men do not want such lectures, and dishonest will not let them weigh, I waived that theme, to dwell on what is more likely to be persuasive, and which I am firmly persuaded is no less true than the former maxim; and that was, that the Ministers are still so strong, that if they could get a peace that would save the nation, though not a brilliant or glorious one, the nation in general would be pleased with it, and the clamours of the Opposition be insignificant.

I added, what I think true, too, that no time is to be lost in treating; not only for preventing a blow, but from the consequences the first misfortune would have.  The nation is not yet alienated from the Court, but it is growing so; is grown so enough, for any calamity to have violent effects.  Any internal disturbance would advance the hostile designs of France.  An insurrection from distress would be a double invitation to invasion; and, I am sure, much more to be dreaded, even personally, by the Ministers, than the ill-humours of Opposition for even an inglorious peace.  To do the Opposition justice, it is not composed of incendiaries.  Parliamentary speeches raise no tumults:  but tumults would be a dreadful thorough bass to speeches.  The Ministers do not know the strength they have left (supposing they apply it in time), if they are afraid of making any peace.  They were too sanguine in making war; I hope they will not be too timid of making peace.

What do you think of an idea of mine of offering France a neutrality? that is, to allow her to assist both us and the Americans.  I know she would assist only them:  but were it not better to connive at her assisting them, without attacking us, than her doing both?  A treaty with her would perhaps be followed by one with America.  We are sacrificing all the essentials we can recover, for a few