7483. REVOLUTION (American), Hopes of reconciliation. ‐ [continued].
Looking with fondness
towards a reconciliation with Great Britain, I
cannot help hoping that you [431]
may be able to
contribute towards expediting this good work.
I think it must be evident to youself, that the
Ministry have been deceived by their officers
on this side of the water, who (for what purpose
I cannot tell) have constantly represented
the American opposition as that of a small faction,
in which the body of the people took little
part. This, you can inform them, of your own
knowledge, is untrue. They have taken it into
their heads, too, that we are cowards, and shall
surrender at discretion to an armed force.
* * * I wish they were thoroughly and minutely
acquainted with every circumstance relative
to America, as it exists in truth. I am
persuaded, this would go far towards disposing
them to reconciliation.—
To John Randolph. Washington ed. i, 200.
Ford ed., i, 482.
(M.
Aug. 1775)
