he is in so bad a way as to make Howe's staying necessary. The Ranger privateer has alarmed our coasts in Scotland, and near Whitehaven; and another vessel having landed on the Isle of Anglesea makes us think, if we do not kill them they will kill us.

As we find it necessary to use Ireland in a very different manner than formerly, three or four bills have been brought in to give it some relief; but the true born Englishman and downright Scotchman oppose the measure strenuously; all mankind being born, as they think, for their use and emolument. It is said, only one of the bills will pass, relative to the West India islands; in consequence both people will be dissatisfied, the one that any thing has been done, and the other that more has not been done.

I am dear sir, your faithful humble servant,

MALCOLM Derimple. If you can employ £5000 for me in the American trade, I shall be obliged to you.

"Dear Sir, I beg leave to recommend to you my nephew, who proposes to make the best of his way to visit his native land; for that purpose inform him whether he is likely to have soon any good opportunity. He will not stay above a day or two at Paris, but go directly to Nantes, and wait thereabouts until his embarkation. The gentleman who accompanies him is an inhabitant of Nantes, who has been here some time to learn the language. He is ambitious of being known to you.

I have reason to think your particular friend proposes to see you in the course of next month; however, if he can be of more service here, inform him.

We are under the greatest anxiety about the event of the meeting of the two fleets. By last accounts they were in sight. The French being to the windward, and therefore having the choice of battle. Our stocks rose on the certainty of conquest.

I have seen a letter from commissioner Eden, which, though written in the familiar style and character, showed evident marks of political despondency. He is in rapture with the little of the country which he has seen, which he thinks is too noble a one to be lost, either by mischance or misconduct.

I am dear sir, yours most sincerely,

JOHN PRINGLE."

"BRUSSELS, Feb. 22d, 1780.

My Dear Sir,-Immediately on the receipt of yours I wrote to my intelligent correspondent. He answered me yesterday, that the expedition from Ireland is supposed to be for the West Indies, but that Washington's ships are not yet ready. He tells me too, that Russia is to be bribed by a great part of the money gained from the East India company, to enter into a treaty defensive and offensive; that advances are made therein, and that indeed it is nearly concluded; but that she will first endeavour to bring about a peace. You perhaps know more of these matters than I do.

As you have not given me Mr. Adams's address, I trouble you to present him the enclosed. Give me timely notice of your departure. I received yesterday a court calendar from our good friend for you. I will send it by the first opportunity. How do you find things?

I am dear sir, yours most sincerely,

DONALD MAC DONALD."

"October 3d, 1778.

Dear Sir, I have received your two favours by the posts of yesterday and to-day. I have forwarded the latter to our friend. In asking whether I think the pamphlet will or can do any good, you put a very serious and nice question. I am not so desperate of our present calamitous situation as to conceive, that it is

impossible for the efforts of honest, sensible, and well intentioned men, (and such I trust we still have among us) to do good. But I am persuaded that nothing of this kind can have any effect, unless not only the whole system of acting in the country, but the whole tenor of our feelings as men and citizens, be thoroughly and fundamentally changed. The pamphlet goes a great way towards stating the necessity of this change, and points out with great force and good sense the only line to be pursued, viz:-an immediate, open, unconditional acknowledgment of the independence of America. Whether the commissioners at Paris have authority to agree in the first instance with Great Britain on the terms mentioned, and to guaranty the important articles which are proposed to be insisted, &c., is much to be doubted. I think they have not, and that there are some of them to which America will never subscribe; she will never give up to Great Britain the exclusive commerce to the eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, or to the westward of Cape Horn, much less will she cut off herself by express treaty from any share in the Newfoundland fishery, which lying as it were at her own door, she will consider as designed for her by nature. The most that Great Britain can expect on the former article, is a tacit acquiescence on the part of America; and as to the latter, she is more likely to demand a formal renunciation of the fisheries from Great Britain, than make it herself to Great Britain. As to the African trade, it has been checked by many of the colonies voluntarily, long before the commencement of the present disputes; and the course of agriculture in many of them where negroes were heretofore most in request, joined to the temper of the people in general, has decided against the encouragement of that branch of commerce. The light in which the West India trade will be considered by the Americans, cannot be more strongly painted than in the pamphlet.

However on the whole, whether the powers of the commissioners are equal to the momentous points suggested in the pamphlet or not, or whether the points themselves are admissible on the part of America or not, this happy consequence must flow from the trial proposed to be made by the acknowledgment of American independence, that the claims of Great Britain thus ceasing, the apprehensions of America from that quarter must likewise be at an end. A treaty may be opened, whether here or in America it matters not, by equal parties; and equality with parties is essential to every treaty that professes to have permanency and the good of both parties for its object. I hope however, notwithstanding these trivial objections, I have said enough to show that I highly approve of the main drift of the pamphlet, and that I shall be anxious to see it published, with many thanks for the kind communication.

W. B."

"Whether thy days be many or few may they be happy and successful. This is the wish of thy sincere friend instead of what the world call the compliments of the season. Thou knowest I am a plain man, and I would fain be an honest one; but dangers are sown so thick around me, that it will indeed be a great blessing if I escape.

I refer thee to the news-papers for the particular trial of honest Keppel. I think thy friend Hood has kept bad company; since thou left us his character is a little tarnished, and I will not answer for that man's.

Next month we expect news from the West Indies. If thou hearest any that is good for this country I pray

thee to favour us with it.

Our Martha salutes thee kindly, with, my dear friend, thine affectionately,

G. JOHNSTONE."

APPENDIX VIII.

Letters of Arthur Lee to his American Correspondents, written during his residence in France.

To Richard Henry Lee, Esq.

"Dec. 25th, 1776.

It was with infinite pleasure I received my dear brother's letter by the hands of Dr. Franklin, whom I joined at this place on the 22d Dec. the day after his arrival. We have had an audience, been received, and presented our propositions. As yet we have received no answer, nor can we divine what it will be.. They are very timid and secret, but we have hopes. In the mean time we are endeavouring to procure artillery, arms, ammunition, and clothing to fit you for another campaign, which, if it be as undecisive as this, will nearly exhaust the enemy's strength. Two things, however, I would wish to impress upon your minds; to look forward and prepare for the worst event, and to search for every resource within yourselves, so as to have as little external dependence as possible. The events of the year 1777 are of such infinite importance, that no industry and no expense can be too great to turn them to our advantage. If they are decidedly in our favour, our liberties and properties will be assured forever.

I have sent for your sons hither. I mean to keep Ludwell with me, and if his genius suits to train him to arms, chiefly in the engineering line. Tom I will send to you with our despatches, when they are of importance. He is now of an age to be useful to you in Virginia, from whence your absence must greatly damage your affairs.

Yours affectionately,

ARTHUR LEE."