London 19 May 75
Dear Sir!
As I have no business to write on to you, still I may give you a line to repose on in a hot afternoon in yr cool passage. The Magazine & Papers in closed will furnish some amusement & if you want any more of the Political kind my Br F. L. Lee will furnish you with as much as I know. Taking it for granted that you will send me at least 40 hhds of Tobo this year & besides by yr influence to procure me above 100 more, from others. I will report a line or two on public affairs. I call it reporting because you must be very sensible of the inability of our profligate & abandond ministers to carry their schemes into execution of enslavg America provided you have but common fortitude to support yr Liberties. The Ministers are determined to try yr metal & the Ultima Ratio Regem is to settle the dispute. You have been called Cowards by a Colo [James] Grant that commanded & was taken prisoner at Fort de Quesne in the H of. C.; & by Ld Sandwich in the H of Lords; you have been declared guilty of High Treason by the 2 houses of Parliat in their address to the King & by his Majesty indirectly accused of Rebellion. Under these circumstances common sense points out the only reasonable line of conduct. Force, of course shoud meet with Force. The Spaniards will surely be upon us very soon ー But at all events you must not yield yr Liberties, even 'till the last gasp. If you do, I will no longer be a Virgan or yr dutiful Godson
1. William Lee Letter Book, VHS.