xxvn FOTHERGILL WILLING TO GO OUT 343 



Fothergill could not contemplate the outlook without 

 deep concern. The great free western lands, so dear to 

 his heart, were now at war with his own country. Re- 

 volving these things in his mind as he went about his 

 daily work, he struck upon a new idea. Could he and 

 Barclay go out as mediators if the government were 

 willing to send them ? They were favourably known to 

 Franklin, to leading Pennsylvanians and to others. Who 

 knew whether they might not play the part of apostles of 

 peace ? It was a forlorn hope, but in such an issue the 

 smallest hope should be cherished. He was ready to 

 give himself for such a service. He writes to Barclay, 

 probably in October : " I came home last night, extremely 

 jaded, at ten. I could not forbear giving perhaps a very 

 strong proof of it. If the enclosed are worthy of the least 

 notice, or any part of them, I wish we could see one 

 another this morning any time before nine." 



With this letter he sent a memorandum dealing with the 

 present position of affairs (Appendix A, No. X.). In this he 

 pointed to the need of opening communication with those 

 now possessed of the supreme power in America, i.e. the 

 Congress, with the object of preventing further war, and 

 cementing the empire in a firm union. Animosities were 

 growing ; whatever could be done must be done speedily, or 

 the occasion was lost for ever. 



Let some persons on whom government could rely, and 

 who were not unknown to the leaders of the Congress, be sent 

 out at once to propose : 



(1) A measure to be passed, repealing the blameable acts, 

 and putting the colonies in the status quo of 1762. 



(2) If Congress accepted this, hostilities to cease. 



(3) A general amnesty, forces to be disbanded, and ports 

 reciprocally opened. 



(4) An Assembly to be then convened at New York, at 

 which delegates of the colonies should meet commissioners 

 from England, to settle the due limits of authority on this 

 side, and of submission on theirs. 



The union between England and Scotland was to serve 

 as a model, the differing conditions being taken into account. 

 America had already three times the population of Scotland, 

 and was doubling her people every twenty-five years ; hence 

 she claimed the more consideration. No power in Europe 



