402 APPENDIX A 



have every positive advantage to hope for : not only the 

 benefits of commerce, but their power to protect us. Let it 

 be considered that Scotland is reputed to contain but about 

 one Million of People, America Three million : that Scotland 

 is not supposed to encrease in population, America by popula- 

 tion and Emigrants from other countrys becomes double every 

 25 years. Therefore that the present state of America claims, 

 something more than Scotland could claim at the Union, both 

 in respect to numbers, and future benefit. 



No power in Europe, who knows its interest and has any 

 possessions in the western world, will choose to offend us 

 whilst we and America are united, because those possessions 

 are immediately subject to the powers of America, directed 

 by us. What those powers are we now know full well by 

 experience. Every distant possession of every power in 

 Europe, is a pledge for the good behaviour of its owner to 

 Great Brittain. Is any object we are now contending for an 

 equivalent to such an extensive and most certain influence ? 



[Every succeeding day, if the contest proceeds, will disclose 

 most convincingly that we are unable to maintain . . . deleted.'] 

 It is therefore much to be wished that some such persons 

 might be pitched upon and sent out, rather in a Private 

 character, as friends to both Countrys, than with a publick, 

 Authoritative commission : for if those who are now invested 

 in America with Power, should distrust them, the business is at 

 an end ; and this country and that, are left exposed to all 

 the distresses which are only beginning to be felt by both. 

 Adm n may think it an easy matter to avert any storm which 

 may arise from a discovery, that they have been misled, 

 misinformed, and grossly abused, by those on whose opinion 

 they had too confidently relied. This however may admit of 

 some doubts, & I have too much regard for many of those who 

 compose it to wish the experiment may ever be made. 



Let it be considered that every provocation we give widens 

 the breach : that the Americans have fully shewn, they are 

 the descendants of Englishmen : that if they are warm and 

 impetuous, like us they are placable ; and instead of en- 

 deavouring to subdue them by force to a condition unworthy 

 of our fellow subjects, our countrymen & our relations, let us 

 open the shortest road to a Speedy honourable and effectual 

 reconciliation. 



[Here follows an alternative paragraph, deleted, as follows.] 



One or two persons to be sent over, in a private capacity, 

 to discover how far the Congress are disposed to a reconcilia- 



