before I left England when in order to an accommodation, I offered at my own risque, without orders for so doing, and without knowing whether I should be owned in doing it, to pay the whole damage of destroying the tea at Boston, provided the acts made against that province were repealed. This offer was refused. I still think it would have been wise to have accepted it. If the congress have therefore entrusted to others rather than to me, the negotiations for peace, when such shall be set on foot, as has been reported; it is perhaps because they may have heard of a very singular opinion of mine, that there hardly ever existed such a thing as a bad peace, or a good war: and that I might therefore easily be induced to make improper concessions. But at the same time they and you may be assured, that I should think the destruction of our whole country, and the extirpation of our whole people, preferable to the infamy of abandoning our allies.

As neither you nor I are at present authorised to treat of peace, it seems to little purpose to make or consider propositions relating to it. I have had so many such put into my hands that I am tired of them. I will however give your proposal of a ten years' truce this answer: that, though I think a solid peace made at once, a much better thing; yet, if the truce is practicable and the peace not, I should be for agreeing to it. At least I see at present no sufficient reasons for refusing it, provided our allies approved of it. But this is merely a private opinion of mine, which perhaps may be changed by reasons that at present do not offer themselves. This, however, I am clear in, that withdrawing your troops will be best for you, if you wish a cordial reconciliation, and that the truce should produce a peace. To show that it was not done by compulsion, being required as a condition of the truce, they might be withdrawn beforehand, for various good reasons. But all this is idle chat, as I am persuaded that there is no' disposition for peace on your side, and that this war will yet last many years. I know nothing and believe nothing of any offered unto sir Henry Clinton.

The prisoners taken in the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough being all treated for in Holland, and exchanged there, I hope Mr. Brown's son is now safe at home with his father. It grieved me that the exchange there, which you may remember I immediately proposed, was so long delayed. Much human misery might have been prevented by a prompt compliance: and so might a great deal, by the execution of parole promises taken at sea: but since I see no regard is paid to them in England, I must give orders to our armed ships that cruise in Europe, to secure their prisoners as well as they can, and lodge them in French or Spanish prisons. I have written something on this affair to Mr. Hodgson, and sent to him the second passport for a cartel to Morlaix, supposing you to be out of town. The number of prisoners we now have in France is not easily ascertained. I suppose it exceeds one hundred; but you may be assured that the number which may be brought over by the two cartels, shall be fully exchanged by adding to those taken by us as many as will make up the complement out of those taken by the French, with whom we have an account since the exchange in Holland of those we carried in there. I wish therefore you would, as was proposed, clear your prisons of the Americans who have been so long confined there. The cartels that may arrive at Morlaix, will not be detained.

You may have heard, that accounts upon oath have been taken in America, by order of congress, of the British barbarities committed there. It is expected of me to make a school book of them, and to have thirty-five prints designed here by good artists and engraved, each expressing one or more of the different horrid facts, to be inserted in the book, in order to impress the minds of children and posterity, with a deep sense of your bloody, and insatiable malice and wickedness. Every kindness I hear of, done by an Englishman to an American prisoner, makes me resolve not to proceed in the work: hoping a reconciliation may yet take place. But every fresh instance of your devilism weakens that resolution, and makes me abominate the thought of a reunion with such a peo

ple. You, my friend, have often persuaded me, and I believed it, that the war was not theirs, nor approved by them. But their suffering it so long to continue, and the wretched rulers to remain who carry it on, makes me think you have too good an opinion of them.

Adieu, my dear friend, &c.

B. FRANKLIN.

From David Hartley, Esq., M. P., to Dr. Franklin.

MY DEAR FRIEND,

London, July 17, 1780.

INCLOSED I send you a copy of a conciliatory bill which was proposed in the house of commons on the 27th of

Draft of a proposed Bill for Conciliation with America.

A Bill to invest the crown with sufficient powers to treat, consult, and finally to agree upon the means of restoring peace with the provinces of North America.

Whereas many unfortunate subjects of contest, have of late years subsisted between Great Britain and the several provinces of North America, hereinafter recited, viz. New Hampshire, Massachusetts' Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, the Three Lower Counties on Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, which have brought on the calamities of war between Great Britain and the aforesaid provinces: to the end therefore that the farther effusion of blood may be prevented, and that peace may be restored, may it please your majesty, that it be enacted, and be it enacted by the king's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same: that it shall and may be lawful for his majesty, by letters patent, under the great seal of Great Britain, to authorise and empower any person or persons, to treat, consult, and finally to agree with any person or persons, properly authorised on the part of the aforesaid provinces of North America, upon the means of restoring peace between Great Britain and the aforesaid provinces, according to the powers in this act contained.

And be it further enacted, that in order to facilitate the good purposes of this act, his majesty may lawfully enable any such person or persons, so appointed by his majesty's letters patent, as aforesaid, to order and

last month. It was rejected. You and I have had so much intercourse upon the subject of restoring peace between Great

proclaim a cessation of hostilities, on the part of his majesty's forces, by sea and land, for any time, and under any conditions or restrictions.

And be it further enacted, that in order to lay a good foundation for a cordial reconciliation and lasting peace, between Great Britain and the aforesaid provinces of North America, by restoring an amicable intercourse between the same, as soon as possible, his majesty may lawfully enable any such person or persons, so appointed by his majesty's letters patent, as aforesaid, to enter into, and to ratify, from time to time, any article or articles of intercourse and pacification, which article or articles, so entered into and ratified, from time to time, shall remain in full force and effect for the certain term of ten years, from the first day of August, one thousand seven hundred and eighty.

Provided also, and be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that in order to remove any obstructions which may arise to the full and effectual execution of any article or articles of intercourse and pacification, as before mentioned, that it shall, and may be lawful for his majesty, by any instrument under his sign manual, countersigned by one or more of his majesty's principal secretaries of state, to authorise and empower any such person or persons, so appointed by his majesty's letters patent, as aforesaid, to suspend for the term of ten years, from the first day of August, one thousand seven hundred and eighty, the operation and effect of any act or acts of parliament, which are now in force, respecting the aforesaid provinces of North America, or any clause or clauses, proviso or provisos, in any such act or acts of parliament contained; in as much as they, or any of them, may obstruct the full effect and execution of any such article or articles of intercourse and pacification, which may be entered into and ratified as before mentioned, between Great Britain and the aforesaid provinces of North America.

And be it further enacted, that in order to establish perpetual reconcilement and peace, between Great Britain and the aforesaid provinces of North America, it is hereby required, and be it enacted, that all or any article or articles of intercourse and pacification, which shall be entered into and ratified, for the certain term of ten years, as before mentioned, shall from time to time be laid before the two houses of parliament, for their consideration, as the perpetual basis of reconcilement and peace, between Great Britain and the aforesaid provinces of North America; and that any such article or articles of intercourse and pacification as before mentioned, when the same shall have been confirmed in parliament, shall remain in full force and effect for ever.

Britain and America, that I think there is nothing farther left to be said upon the subject. You will perceive by the general tenor of the bill, that it proposes a general power to treat. It chalks out a line of negotiation in very general terms. I remain in the sentiments which I ever have, and which I believe I ever shall entertain, viz. those seeking of peace upon honorable terms. I shall always be ready and most desirous to conspire in any measures which may facilitate peace. I am ever, your most affectionate,

D. HARTLEY.

To David Hartley, Esq.

Passy, June 30, 1781.

I RECEIVED my dear friend's kind letter of the 15th instant, and immediately communicated your request of a passport to M. le Comte de Vergennes. His answer, which I have but just received, expresses an opinion, that the circumstance of his granting a passport to you, as you mention the purpose of your coming, to be the discoursing with me on the subject of peace, might, considering your character, occasion many inconvenient reports and speculations; but that he would make no difficulty of giving it, if you assured me that you were authorised for such purpose, by your ministry, which he does not think at all likely; otherwise he judges it best that I should not encourage your coming. Thus it seems I cannot have, at present the pleasure you were so kind as to propose for me. I can only join with you in earnest wishes for peace, a blessing which I shall hardly live to see.

With the greatest esteem and respect, I am ever, dear sir, &c. B. FRANKLIN.

And be it further enacted, that this act shall continue to be in force until the thirty-first day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one.