322. ALLIANCE, A lost.—
Were the
British court to return to their senses in time
to seize the little advantage which still remains
within their reach, from this quarter, I
judge, that, on acknowledging our absolute
independence and sovereignty, a commercial
treaty beneficial to them, and perhaps even
a league of mutual offence and defence might,
not seeing the expense or consequences of
such a measure, be approved by our people, if
nothing, in the meantime, done on your part
should prevent it. But they will continue to
grasp at their desperate sovereignty, till every
benefit short of that is forever out of their
reach.—
To Benjamin Franklin. Washington ed. i, 205.
Ford ed., ii, 132.
(Aug. 1777)
