Dr. J. Mayhew to Hon. James Otis, Jr.-Communication between the American Colonies. XII.-COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE AMERICAN COLONIES. Rev. Dr. Jonathan Mayhew to Hon. James Otis, Jr. LORD'S DAY MORNING, June 8th, 1766. SIR: To a good man all time is holy enough, and none too holy to do good, or to think upon it. Cultivating a good understanding and hearty friendship between these colonies and their several Houses of Assembly, appears to me to be so necessary a part of prudence and good policy, all things considered, that no favorable opportunity for that purpose ought to be omitted. I think such an one now presents. Would it not be very proper and decorous for our Assembly to send circular congratulatory letters to all the rest without exception, on the repeal, and the present favorable aspect of things? Letters conceived at once in terms of warm friendship and regard to them, of loyalty to the King, of filial affection toward the mother country, and intimating a desire to cement and perpetuate a union among ourselves by all practicable and laudable methods. A good foundation is already laid for this latter, by the late Congress, which, in my poor opinion, was a wise measure, and contributed not a little to our obtaining a redress of grievances, however some may affect to disparage it. sions, is caught in the arms of those who stand near, whilst his son, William Pitt, then a youth of seventeen, who had been standing without the bar, springs forward to support him. History," says an able writer, "has no nobler scene to show than that which now occupied the House of Lords. The unswerving patriot, whose long life had been devoted to his country, had striven to the last. The aristocracy of the land stood around, and even the brother of the sovereign thought himself honored in being one of his supporters; party enmities were remembered no more; every other feeling was lost in admiration of the great spirit which seemed to be passing away from among them." After lingering a few days, he died on the 11th of May, 1778, aged seventy. Dr. J. Mayhew to Hon. James Otis, Jr.--Communication between the American Colonies Pursuing this track, and never losing sight of it, may be of the utmost importance to the colonies on some future occasions, perhaps the only means of perpetuating their liberties; for what may be hereafter, we cannot tell, how favorable soever present appearances may be. It is not safe for the colonies to sleep, since they will probably always have some wakeful enemies in Britain; and if they should be such children as to do so, I hope there are, at least, some persons too much of men and friends to them to rock the cradle, or sing lullaby to them. You have heard of the communion of churches, and I am, very early to-morrow morning, to set out for Rutland, to assist at an ecclesiastical council. Not expecting to return this week, while I was thinking of this in my bed, with the dawn of day, the great use and importance of a communion of colonies appeared to me in a very strong light, which determined me immediately to set down these hints in order to transmit them to you. Not knowing but that the House may be prorogued or dissolved before my return, or having an opportunity to speak to you, you will make such a use of them as you think proper, or none at all. I have had a sight of the answer to the last extraordinary speech, with which I was much pleased. It appears to me solid and judicious, and though spirited, not more so than the case absolutely required, unless we could be content to have an absolute and uncontrollable, instead of a limited and constitutional Governor. I cannot think the man will have one wise and good, much less one truly great man at home, to stand by him, in so open and flagrant an attack upon our charter right and privileges. But the less asperity in language the better, provided there is * Speech of Governor Bernard. Lord Howe to Dr. Franklin-Correspondence as to Peace. firmness in adhering to our rights in opposition to all encroachments. I am, sir, your most obedient, humble servant, JONATHAN MAYHEW. XIII.-CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN LORD HOWE AND DR. Lord Howe to Dr. Franklin. EAGLE, June 20th, 1776. I cannot, my worthy friend, permit the letters and parcels which I have sent (in the state I received them), to be landed, without adding a word upon the subject of the injurious extremities in which our unhappy disputes have engaged us. You will learn the nature of my mission from the official despatches which I have recommended to be forwarded by the same conveyance. Retaining all the earnestness I ever expressed to see our differences accommodated, I shall conceive, if I meet with the disposition in the colonies which I was once taught to expect, the most flattering hopes of proving serviceable in the objects of the king's paternal solicitude, by promoting the establishment of lasting peace and union with the colonies. But, if the deep-rooted prejudices of America, and the necessity of preventing her trade from passing into foreign channels, must keep us still a divided people, I shall, from every private as well as public motive, most heartily lament that this is not the moment wherein those great objects of my ambition are to be attained, and that I am to be longer deprived of an opportunity to assure you, personally, of the regard with which I am your sincere and faithful humble servant, HOWE. Dr. Franklin to Lord Howe-In Reply. P. S. I was disappointed of the opportunity I expected for sending this letter at the time it was dated, and have ever since been prevented, by calms and contrary winds, from getting here to inform General Howe of the commission with which I have the satisfaction to be charged, and of his being joined in it. OFF OF SANDY HOOK, 12th of July. XIV.-IN REPLY. Dr. Franklin to Lord Howe. PHILADELPHIA, July 30th, 1776. MY LORD: I received safe the letters your Lordship so kindly forwarded to me, and beg you to accept my thanks. The official despatches to which you refer me contain nothing more than what we had seen in the act of Parliament, viz. : "Offers of pardon upon submission," which I was sorry to find, as it must give your Lordship pain to be sent so far on so hopeless a business. Directing pardons to be offered to the colonies, who are the very parties injured, expresses, indeed, that opinion of our ignorance, baseness, and insensibility which your uninformed and proud nation has long been pleased to entertain of us; but it can have no other effect than that of increasing our resentments. It is impossible we should think of submission to a government that has, with the most wanton barbarity and cruelty, burned our defenceless towns in the midst of winter, excited the savages to massacre our (peaceful) farmers, and our slaves to murder their masters; and is even now bringing foreign mercenaries to deluge our settlements with blood. These atrocious injuries Dr. Franklin to Lord Howe-In Reply. have extinguished every spark of affection for that parent country we once held so dear; but were it possible for us to forget and forgive them, it is not possible for you (I mean the British nation) to forgive the people you have so heavily injured; you can never confide again in those as fellow-subjects, and permit them to enjoy equal freedom, to whom you know you have given such just causes of lasting enmity; and this must impel you, were we again under your government, to endeavor the breaking our spirit by the severest tyranny, and obstructing, by every means in your power, our growing strength and prosperity. But your Lordship mentions "the king's paternal solicitude for promoting the establishment of lasting peace and union with the colonies." If, by peace, is here meant a peace to be entered into by distinct States now at war, and his Majesty has given your Lordship powers to treat with us of such a peace, I may venture to say, though without authority, that I think a treaty for that purpose not quite impracticable, before we enter into foreign alliances. But I am persuaded you have no such powers. Your nation though, by punishing those American governors who have fomented the discord, rebuilding our burnt towns, and repairing, as far as possible, the mischiefs done us, she might recover a great share of our regard, and the greatest share of our growing commerce, with all the advantages of that additional strength to be derived from a friendship with us; yet I know too well her abounding pride and deficient wisdom to believe she will ever take such salutary measures. Her fondness for conquest, as a warlike nation, her lust of dominion, as an ambitious one, and her thirst for a gainful monopoly, as a commercial one (none of them legitimate causes of war), will |