of the war must confirm or undeceive them on that head.  I wish they were thoroughly and minutely acquainted with every circumstance relative to America, as it exists in truth.  I am persuaded, this would go far towards disposing them to reconciliation.  Even those in Parliament who are called friends to America, seem to know nothing of our real determinations.  I observe, they pronounced in the last Parliament, that the Congress of 1774 did not mean to insist rigorously on the terms they held out, but kept something in reserve, to give up:  and, in fact, that 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 terms 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 the 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 Europe, 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 risk our accepting a foreign aid, which perhaps may not be obtainable but on condition of everlasting avulsion from Great Britain.  This would be thought a hard condition to those who still wish for reunion 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 legislating for us, assumed by the British Parliament, and which late experience has shown 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 continue the head of the greatest empire on earth, or shall return to her original station in the political scale of Europe, depends perhaps on the resolutions of the succeeding winter.  God send they may be wise and salutary for us all.  I shall be glad to hear from you as often as you may be disposed to think of things