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I will not dwell on this fubjecl. Their eyes feemed to be open- gained what tVey wanted, they will fhnd lefs in need of th ing, ja:t as they arc drowning. Concluded in ouryiext. WILLIAMSBURG, Auguf 14. The following is a trut Copy of a Handbill mrittenby Mr. Ma DOIT, under the direction of Lord Horth, and circulated by orJor of Adtninit raihn. ARTHUR LEE. Paris, April 8. 1778. SO long at there were any hope of preferring the American empire we could not begin a treaty with acknowledging the American independence in the firft article, becaufethey might have broke off the treaty as foon as they had gained that firft article, and made ofe of the conceffion to jaftify other nations in trading with them, and we could rot then have taken foreign fhips that came upon their coafts. That precaution is now ufelefs, for France will treat and trade with them ; and if France will do it, we can have no intereft in keeping other nations from trading with them too; rather let other nations come in for a parr than France have the ivboU. The Americans will now be fupplied from France with all military ftores whether we u ill or not, and (if we go to war) with fhips and men, and all they want for JieJD. France has fent this meliajre on purpefe to promt . go to war, ana tnereoy lecure an tneie gooo errects to themfelves m mm M A a. . m m . M numatn9fD all 11 A1;f I0 frt H J ' i mm w - " - r r - "t 'iiu- ; mrmmwimtm rC . n naiii!ialv t I, I i f t C m t- Vl nnmnAi D 1 ' ms know no paflions or refentments, but confider only what is the nation's intereft. For that very reafon, becaufe it is the latere of France to provoke us to a war, it is our intereil to avoid it tjjj we have made up with America. France may not long refrain But this makes it fo neceffary inftantanecuily to pafs an aft fa. American independence, and to haftea a peace with America be fore we precipitate ourfelvesj into a war with Franc?. There caa be no great hurt in recalling oar cruizers and faffering French fhips ta pafs, and then France has no pretence to go to war with us; and the few we fhould take out of the many that will fail to America will not compenfate for the evils of precipitating toe rapture. So long as you keep the Americans in fear, by retain, ing any, even a latent claim of authority over them, fo ion p will they unite together againir you. kjuit that claim ; they will thei have each to confider of fettling a government for themfelves They may then differ with one another, and Some of them may come, in time, to tninK mat tney were Detter o when they were PHILADELPHIA, July 25. CONGRESS. July iS, 177S. In llieir defence and our annoyance. All hope of concJueft is there- united with England, and offer to return, which tbey never will fore over, America lands cn high ground ; France and En- do while we are flriving with them 5 fo that the only chaace we land mult now court her. We have no poffible chance of mak- have of recovering feme is to give them all up. ing peace with them but by an immediate act of parliament giv ing her perfect independence. If we pretend to retain any au thority over them, we immediately throw them into the arms of Fiance, and oblige them to lock up to France as their protectors end defenders, by whofe aid only. they can jain and fecare what the- call their liberty. If this be not dene immediately, and an ad paTcd and fent over before they hear of a commencement of h ttiJities between France and cs, the Americans will then become ailcciates with France in a common caufe, and a common war again ft us ; and after that alliance we fhall be at the mercy not only of the Americans, bat of the French. Now we may treat with America only, and having their independence granted them, they have no reafon to defire the continuance of war with us. If we drive them to a clofe alliance with France in a war again ft us, cur future treaty with America muft be made by the concurrence of France, who will excite them to make the moft extravagant 1 ? Si. 1 J " . . - " A LETTER figned Carhfle, H. Clinton, Wm. Eden, Geo. Johnftone, dated New York, July 11, 1778, and directed km. T 1 " T? 11 T T T ' 1. r ll .t i o uis TXccucncj nciiry Lidurcns, uic rrcnacnt, ana orner tne Members of Congrefs," was received and read, whereupon Con", grefs came to the following refolution : Whereas Congrefs, - in a letter to the Britifh- CommifHoners of the 17th of June Jalt, did declare that they would be ready to en ter upon the confederation of a treaty of peace and commerce, not inconfiftent with treaties already fnbfifting, when the King of vjreat oruam inouia oemoniirate a nncere onpontion tor that purpofe, and that the only folid proof of this difpofl lion would be an explicit acknowledgement of the independence of thefe flares. claims, in order ta dtlay the peace, and alienate them fo much or withdrawing his fleets and armies, and whereas neither of thefe the more from us. To retain them as fubjecls is now impcffible; alte-natives have been complied with, therefore the only hope left Is to regain them as friends. But they never Refolded, that no anfwer be given to the letter of the nth in.V will be friends with as fo long as they have any thing to fear from from the Britifh Commifficners. ps, by our keeping up any the leaft claim of aurhority over them. Ordered, that the faid letter and the foreeoin refolution be a ncco, uoc paint tne areaciai conjequence ot our going to war with publimed. boh, and how much they can afful each other in all refpecls again ft H3, but more efpecia'lv in ainin and pivinir intillictenr mv. - r l " ' 0 cf w ha ta fuch a war. Inftantiy drrlare them independent, nnd you have no caufe of quarrel with France. We have no reafon to dif fer with France for having declared them free (rates when we have done it ourfelves. extract from the minutes. CHARLES THOMSON, SecVv. The letter from the BRITISH Commiffioners is as follows. The Americans will then have full libtrtv to trade with which nation they pleafe ; they will like beft to trade with both, and we "fhall have our full fhare. Their manners, habits, and clothirg, are now Englift. If we inftantiy declare their independence, they will continue fo ; if we continue a long war with them, they will in time be totally gallicized and eftrang ed from us, and prefer French manufactures, of all kinds, to ours. Their children will be fent to France for their education, to learn the French language Franklin has begun already) and to be apprenticed in French houfes, and fet op French factories, fee. Could we be fure of prevailing at Iaft 2gainft France and them, Wf could gain nothing by vitWy, at the end of a long war, that could compenfate for that fftrangement of their affeclions and ha bits from the Eng?ifh manners and manufactures, which the Ame ricans would contract in that period, to fly nothing of the heavy debt we muft have incurred, even if our funds fhould hold out fo long, which will enhance the price of our labourers and manufac tures above that of other nations, and all this expence of the war incurred to no purpofe. Should holt ili tics bo commenced between France and us, yet the focner this act of independence is pafTed and fent to them th- better. Thcv may not then ratify a French treat)-, or at lea ft be Jefs ready to afnTft the French, when, having w To his Excellency Henry Laurens, the Prefdent, and other the Members of Congrefs, CjENTLEMEN, E received, foon after our arriyal at this rlace. vour an ' A S fwer to our letter of the 10th of Tune, and are forry to find on your part any difficulties raifed which muft: prolong the calamities of the prefent war. You propofe to us as matter of choice on e or other of two al ternatives, which you ftate as preliminaries neceffary even to the beginning of a negotiation for peace to this empire. One is an explicit acknowledgment of the independence of thef? ftates. We are not inclined to difpute with you about tfee mean ing of words, but fo far as you mean the entire priviledge of the people of North America to difpofe of their property, and to go vern themfelves without aoy reference to Great Britain, beyond J what is neceffary to preferve that union of force, in which our mutual fafety and advantage confift, we think that, fo far, their independency is fully acknowledged in the terms of our letter of the 10th of June ; and we are willing to enter upon a fair difeuf- fion with you of all. the circumftances that may be neceffary to en fure, or even to enlarge, that independency. In the other alternative, you propofe that his Majefiy fhoold wunaraw nis neets anc; ms armits.
The North-Carolina Gazette [1768-1786] (New Bern, N.C.)
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Aug. 28, 1778, edition 1
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