TEXT OF DOCUMENTS 401 



To plan the means of [establishing, deleted] uniting the 

 whole empire in a firm and lasting union, are the immediate 

 objects of consideration. 



Every moment increases the evil. Animositys are growing 

 both in this country and in America against us. Whatever 

 is to be done to prevent all the evils that must arise from the 

 present confusion, must be done speedily, or the occasion is 

 perhaps lost for ever. 



The following sketch will shew rather my wishes than my 

 hopes of seeing the most certain, speedy and honourable 

 means of effecting the proposed measures. 



To send as speedily as possible some person or persons on 

 whom Government may rely, and who are not unknown to 

 some of the Leaders of the Congress, and on whose character 

 and probity they may have some dependence, to propose to 

 them : 



That an act shall be passed this Sessions virtually repealing 

 all the blameable acts, by declaring that the colonys shall 

 be considered as being governed by the same laws or placed 

 in the same situation they were in the [year] 1762. 



That in consequence of this declaration, if accepted by 

 the Congress, the same persons shall have instructions to 

 the Commander in chief & cease all Hostilitys. 



That a General Amnesty shall be declared, all prisoners 

 released, the Provincial forces be disbanded, and the Ports 

 reciprocally opened for both countrys. 



That these preliminarys being fixed [the K shall order 



all the Provincial Assemblys, deleted'], instructions shall be 

 Sent to the several Governors to convene the Assemblys and 

 require them to choose 2 or more deligates to meet a proper 

 number of Commissioners from England at New York, and 

 there to settle the due Limits of Authority on this side, sub- 

 mission on theirs. The Sword will never settle it as it ought 

 to be. Submission to force, will endure no longer than 

 superior force commands submission. Interest only can 

 make it perpetual, and it is the interest of Brittain that the 

 union should be perpetual, be the present sacrifice what it 

 may. 



The mode of proceeding in the Union between England 

 and Scotland, may be adopted so far as circumstances require : 

 that is, the different conditions of the Contenders considered. 

 The objects are in most respects very different. From Scot- 

 land, this country had chiefly in view negative advantages : 

 that the Scots should not be any longer the tools of other 

 powers, to work with to our undoing. From America, we 



2D 



