University of Virginia Library

TO EDMUND RANDOLPH.[1]

Dear Sir,—I transmitted to you, a few days ago,
by express, the contents of a letter from General
Carleton and Admiral Digby to General Washington,
announcing the purpose of the British Court to
acknowledge the independence of the Thirteen Provinces.
Our expected advices on this head from
Europe are not yet arrived. A Mr. Blake, an opulent
citizen of South Carolina, who came from Great
Britain under a passport from Mr. Laurens to New

York, and thence hither, assures us that the Administration
are serious with respect to peace and the independence
of this country; that the point, however,
was carried in the Cabinet by a majority of two
voices only; that their finances are so disordered that
a continuance of the war is in a manner impracticable;
that the militia at New York have been thanked for
their past services, and told explicitly that they would
not be wanted in future; that the evacuation of the
United States will certainly take place this fall, and
that a large number of transports are coming from
England to remove the British garrisons, probably
to the West Indies; that these transports will contain
about two thousand five hundred Germans, who, it is
supposed, in case of such an evacuation, will have
the same destination; that Carleton told him, and
desired him to mention it at large, that he was a real
friend to America, and wished her to be powerful,
rich, united, and happy, and secure against all her
enemies; that he also intimated, in the course of
conversation, that Canada would probably be given
up as a fourteenth member of the Confederacy.
You will draw such conclusions from these particulars
as you think fit. The gentlemen of South Carolina
vouch for the veracity of Mr. Blake. It appears to
me much more clear that the Ministry really mean to
subscribe to our independence, than that they have
renounced the hope of seducing us from the French
connection.

The motion for revoking the power given to France
has been made again, and pushed with the expected

earnestness, but was parried, and will issue, I believe,
in an adoption of your report with a representation
thereupon to the Court of France.

Among other means of revenue, the back lands
have on several late occasions been referred to, and
at length recommended by a Grand Committee to
the consideration of Congress. A motion for assigning
a day to take up the report was negatived by a
small majority. The report has been repeated by
the committee, but a second experiment has not been
made in Congress. Several of the Middle States
seem to be facing about. Maryland, however, preserves
its wonted jealousy and obstinacy.

In compiling the evidence of our title, I suppose
you will, of course, be furnished with all Mr. Jefferson's
lights. I have lately seen a fact stated by him,
which shows clearly the ideas entertained by Virginia
with respect to her territorial limits subsequent to
the resumption of the charter. In a convention
between commissioners on the part of the Commonwealth
of England, and of the Grand Assembly of
Virginia in 1651, by which the latter submit to the
new government, it is stipulated that Virginia shall
enjoy the ancient bounds and limits granted by the
charters of the former Kings, and that a new charter
shall be issued from the Parliament against any that
shall have entrenched upon the rights thereof