Gentlemen

I enclose you a Copy of the Bill which Mr [Edmund] Burke intended to have introduced into the House, as a ground of reconciliation. I also send you an imperfect abstract of what he said, and even not yet concluded, but you will see the ground which the Friends of American have taken by it. I wish it had been more perfect, but such is the dislike the present Ministry have to their Debates being heard, that in all probability one of the best, and most judicious Speeches ever made, will be lost. Mr Burke was above three hours speaking. The Propositions were supported by 105, and if Mr Burke had not been obliged to defer it for a Week, they would have been by 150, for so many are the friends to America at this time. Its Enemies are so much diminished, as not to exceed the 210 who voted against them. The rest, though disposed to Ministry, are tired of the Expence and uncertainty of the American War, and are not fond of acting. The Number of Lords favourable to America is very considerable for fortune and Influence, but above all; for their great Characters. The Minority in both Houses are almost wholly composed of those who adhere to Lord Rockingham, who is at the head of the remains of the Whig Party, and have been ever steady friends to America:, as you may judge by the Notes and Protests they have signed from the beginning of these Troubles, as well as by their Conduct when in Administration. Many Persons have endeavored to alienate the minds of the Americans from them, who alone are able and willing to serve them, by putting them.out of Humour with the declaratory Act; but those who know this Country are sensible, that the declaratory Act was the price paid to the prejudices of the Country for the relief then given to America; and which if it had been in temperat hands like those who first made it, and repealed the Stamp Act at the same time, might have proved not only safe to America, but useful to her, and the whole Empire: but the new Arrangements which Lord Chatham unfortunately made upon their Ruins, which turned out the Whigs and put the Tories into place, have enabled the Latter to dominate in this Country ever since, and to revive the old Scheme of making America submit to Taxation, and to pursue it with unremiting Rancour. The Whigs in England are the only body which the Whigs in America have to trust to, if they do not mean Independence, for if they have any such Views, the Whigs in England must equally be her Enemies with the Tories who are now in Power; Though they love the Liberty of America upon Principle, because they would have all Men possessLiberty as well as themselves, & yet they have a strong predilection, even a stronger to the Interest of their own Country than the Tories, and never will abandon or give it up. They are willing to make Concessions as you see by the Bill, and trustfor a grateful Return to the Duty and affection of America. They are willing to give the strongest publick assurances, which in the Nature of things can be given for the Liberty of America in the one great and essential point but must require that America should on her side abandon, or at least not insist on some Claims that tend to weaken or rather take away the rest of the general superintending legislative Authority. When Men are inclined to reconciliation, and the great point is secured, they will not be embarrassed, it is to be hoped, upon matters of less moment, and which perhaps may be of no moment at all, when the fundamental point of Liberty, relative to Taxation, is secured.

What has strengthened Administration, and weakened the Hands of the Whigs in this Country more than can be conceived is this, that it is Misrepresented here, that America is aclverse to every set of Men among us, and this is urged as a Proof of their aiming at Independency. This is continually urged by Lord Mansfield in the House of Lords, and the Declaration & Resolutions of the Congress, which make no sort of distinction between that Administration, which risqued every thing for their Relief, (and in attempting 1t, ruined their Interest at Court, and has kept them out of Power ever since), and this subsequent Administration, who have uniformly acted against America upon System, have given but too much Countenance to this opinion. It is inconceivable how much the Whigs have suffered in the publick opinion from these Proceedings.

Lord Chatham is now so ill that it is impossible, taking his advanced Age and extreme Infirmity together that he can live long, and he is now, as he has been for some time past utterly incapable of all Business. when he did come out, he did not act in concert with the Whigs, which considering his great Name and Talents, is much to be lamented. The Propositions which he made in the House of Lords were without any consultation whatsoever with them, and were in several respects contrary to their Sentiments, and were supported by them in the House of Lords only that the Ministry might not derive any appearance of triumph from any Disunion among them. The Plan to which Lord Rockingham and the Body of the Whigs adhered is that expressed in the Bill, which I send you, and which in substance were the resolutions moved for by Mr Burke last Sessions. You are to judge, which of those two Plans you like best, but to one of those two you ought to give Countenance, or you cannot expect friends in this Country. The Duke of Grafton, and his friends, as well as several other Gentlemen have returned to the Whig Cause, from which they have been unhappily separated, and I believe, will tenaciously adhere to it. I repeat it again, and I speak it from authority, that the Whig Party, which is composed of Men of the first Rank reputation and knowledge in this Country, is the only reliance of America, supposing she means honestly and sincerely to be dependent on Great Britain. The Individuals here who act in opposition from their private purposes, or the clamours of the Mob which may be easily raised, and as easily silenced, she must pay no Regard to. But then America, instead of discrediting the Whig Party, must give them Credit and support by shewing, that it is of a bad System that they complain, and not of the whole Country. The Quarrel between a party here, and all America may be decided in favour of America, without prejudice to this Country but a Quarrel between the whole body of the two Countries must be [disastrous?] to both, and it is hard to say to which of them in the greatest [degre]e.

I am ever with the most sincere regard Gentlemen [&c.]