xxvi LETTER TO LORD DARTMOUTH 333 



provinces by the people who have a right to vote for repre- 

 sentatives, and in general by no other. So that whatever 

 may be thrown out to the contrary we apprehend will be found 

 not to be authentic. 



Dr. Franklin J would have no objection to meet the noble 

 Lords who were pleased to intimate that our endeavours to 

 promote a reconciliation would not be unacceptable, and to 

 consider the whole affair with the utmost candour and privacy, 

 could it in the least contribute to avert these evils which are 

 inevitably impending, without some intervention, on both 

 parts of this great empire. 



Was the whole of Administration as cordially disposed to 

 peace and as sensible of its advantages as Lord Dartmouth, 

 I think there would be very little difficulty in accomplishing 

 it. But I see and perceive so strong a current another way, 

 that I despair without the interposition of Omnipotence of 

 any reconciliation. 



The only thing left for the generality of these devoted 

 countries is to look for superior protection. The great will 

 always be the great, in every revolution that can happen ; 

 the poor will always be the heirs of misery, let who will be 

 their superiors ; a numerous, a very numerous part of both 

 countries, the middling people, who bear all burdens, who 

 produce all the strength and happiness of states, these must 

 be the sufferers. 



Should the k[ing's] servants happily coincide in adopting 

 the simple plan of pacification which our noble friends so 

 generously concurred in, and include the repeal of the acts 

 above mentioned, we have not the least doubt but 2 America 

 would immediately return to every just expression of duty 

 both in language and in conduct. Dr. Franklin, should this 

 be tacitly consented to, would have not the least objection 

 to petition for the restoration of peace ; [to] offer on the part 

 of Boston to pay the East India Company for the tea, tho' 

 at the risque of his own private fortune, and endeavour bona 

 fide to concert every means of a lasting and reciprocally bene- 

 ficial union. 



Should it however be determined to proceed with force to 

 reduce the Americans to a different way of thinking and 

 subject them by hostile means, I most sincerely wish that the 

 enemies of my noble friend, if any such there be, may enjoy 

 the power of issuing such sanguinary commission. 



I am Lord Dartmouth's obliged and respectful friend, 



J. FOTHERGILL. 



1 First draft : The party we conferred with. 2 First draft : we hope. 



