---

Sir,

It appears from the King's speech to Parliament of the 26th of October last, that every military operation which will probably be pointed against America in the Spring, are founded on the principal of retaining the constitutional dependance of the Colonies, and preventing them from establishing an independant Empire of their own. I am further confirmed in this opinion by a passage in Lord North's speech to the House of Commons (which Dr Cobham assures me he saw) in which he says that administration wishes, for no more than that the Colonies should be put upon the same footing they were in the year 1763. If I am right in my construction of His Majesty's speech, I wish your Excellency would give this unhappy Colony an opportunity of renouncing every desire of

independancy on the parent state, and asking the favour of its sovereign, and a reconciliation with their fellow-subjects at home on the terms Lord North says administration will be satisfied with. I verily believe, Sir, should your Excellency think it proper to call an Assembly it will be found to be the sense of this Province, that it is the duty of all the Colonies to submit and to return with cheerfulness to the same political condition they were in in the year 1763. I wish your Excellency would favour me with your sentiments on the subject of my letter as soon as may be.

---