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onies in the Indies; thereby however depriving the Body of its wonted Nourishement, so that it must thenceforthe languish and grow weake, if those Parts are not recovered which possibly may by continuance of Warre be found unlikely to be done. And the Enemy puffed up with their Successes, and hoping still for more, may not be disposed to Peace on such Termes as would be suitable to the Honour of your Majestie, and to the Welfare of your State and Subjects. In such Case, the following Meanes may have good Effect.

"It is well knowne, that these Northerne People, though hardie of Body and bold in Fight, be nevertheless, through overmuch Eating and other Intemperance, slowe of Wit, and dull in Understanding, so that they are oftimes more easilie to be governed and turn'd by Skill than by Force. There is therefore always Hope, that by wise Counsel and dextrous Management, those Advantages, which through crosse Accidents in Warre, have been lost, may again with Honour be recovered. In this Place I shall say little of the Power of Money secretly distributed among Grandees or their Friends or Paramours; that Method being in all Ages known and Practised. If the Minds of Enemies can be changed, they may be brought to grant willingly and for nothing what much Gold would scarcely have otherwise prevailed to obtaine. Yet as the procuring this Change is to be by fitte Instruments, some few Doublones will not unprofitably be disbursed by your Majestie. The manner whereof I shall now briefly recite.

"In those Countries, and particularly in England, there are not wanting Menne of Learning, ingenious Speakers and Writers, who are nevertheless in lowe Estate, and pinched by Fortune. These being privately gained by proper Meanes, must be instructed in their Sermons, Discourses, Writings, Poems, and Songs, to handle and specially inculcate Points like these which followe. Let them magnifie the Blessings of Peace, and enlarge mightily thereon, which is not unbecoming grave Divines and other Christian Menne. Let them expatiate on the Miseries of Warre, the Waste of Christian Blood, the growing Scarcitie of Labourers and Workmen, the Dearness of all foreign Wares and Merchandise, the Interruption of Commerce, the Captures of Ships, the Increase and great Burthen of Taxes. Let them represent the Warre

as an unmeasurable Advantage to Particulars, and to Particulars only, (thereby to excite Envie against those, who manage and provide for the same,) while so prejudicial to the Commonweale and People in general. Let them represent the Advantages gained against us as trivial and of little import; the Places taken from us, as of small Trade and Produce, inconvenient for Situation, unwholesome for Climate and Ayre, useless to their Nations, and greatlie chargeable to keepe, draining the home Country both of Menne and Money.

"Let them urge, that, if a Peace be forced on us, and those Places withhelde, it will nourishe secret Griefe and Malice in the King and Grandees of Spaine, which will ere long breake forthe in new Warres, when those Places may again be retaken, without the Merit and Grace of restoring them willingly for Peace' Sake. Let them represent the making or continuance of Warres, from view of Gaine, to be Base and unworthy a brave People, as those made from Views of Ambition are mad and wicked. Let them insinuate that the Continuance of the present Warre, on their parte, hath these Ingredients in its Nature. Then let them magnifie the Great Power of your Majestie, and the Strength of your Kingdom, the inexhaustible Wealthe of your Mines, the Greatness of your Incomes, and thence your Abilitie of continuing the Warre; hinting withal the new Alliances you may possiblie make; at the same time setting forth the sincere Disposition you have for Peace, and that it is only a Concerne for your Honour, and the Honour of your Realme, that induceth you to insist on the Restitution of the places taken.

“If, with all this, they shrewdly intimate, and cause it to be understood by artful Words and believed, that their own Prince is himself in heart for Peace, on your Majestie's Terms, and grieved at the Obstinacy and Perverseness of those among his People who are for continuing the Warre, a marvellous Effect shall by these Discourses and Writings be produced; and a wonderful strong Party shall your Majestie raise among your Enemies in favour of the Peace you desire; insomuch that their own Princes and wisest Counsellours will in a Sorte be constrained to yeeld thereto. For in this Warre of Wordes, the Avarice and Ambition, the Hopes and Fears, and all the Crowd of Human Passions will be raised and put in array to fight

for your Interests against the reall and substantiall Interest of their own Countries. The simple and undiscerning Many shall be carried away by the plausibilitie and wellseeming of these Discourses; and the Opinions becoming more popular, all the Rich Men, who have great Possessions, and fear the continuance of Taxes, and hope Peace will end them, shall be emboldened thereby to crie aloud for Peace; their Dependents, who are many, must do the

same.

"All Merchaunts, fearing Loss of Ships and greater Burthens on Trade by farther Duties and Subsidies, and hoping greater Profits by the ending of the Warre, shall join in the Crie for Peace. All the Usurers and Lenders of Money to the State, who on a Peace hope great Profit on their Bargains, and fear if the Warre be continued the State shall become Bankeroute, and unable to paye them; these, who have no small weighte, shall join the Crie for Peace. All who maligne the bold Conductors of the Warre, and envie the Glorie they may have thereby obtained; these shall crie aloud for Peace; hoping that when the Warre shall cease, such Menne becoming less necessarie shall be more lightly esteemed, and themselves more sought after. All the Officers of the Enemie's Armies and Fleets, who wish for Repose and to enjoy their Salaries or Rewardes in Quietnesse, and without Peril; these and their Friends and Families, who desire their Safetie and the Solace of their Societie, shall all crie for Peace.

"All those who be timorous by Nature, amongste whom be reckoned Menne of Learning that lead sedentarie Lives, using little Exercise of Bodie, and thence obtaining but few and weake Spirits; great Statesmen, whose natural Spirits be exhausted by much thinking, or depress'd by overmuch Feasting; together with all Women, whose Power, weake as they are, is not a little amongste the Menne; these shall incessantly speake for Peace: and finally all Courtiers, who suppose they conforme thereby to the Inclinations of the Prince, (ad Exemplum Regis &c.); all who are in Places, fear to lose them, or hope for better; all who are out of Places, and hope to obtaine them; with all the worldly minded Clergy, who seeke Preferment; these, with all the Weighte of their Character and Influence, shall join the Crie for Peace; till it becomes

one universal Clamour, and no Sound, but that of Peace, Peace, Peace, shall be heard from every Quarter.

"Then shall your Majestie's Termes of Peace be listened to with much readinesse, the Places taken from you be willingly restored, and your Kingdom, recovering its Strength, shall only need to waite a few Years for more favourable Occasions, when the Advantages to your Power, proposed by beginning the Warre, but lost by its bad Successe, shall with better Fortune, be finally obtained."

[1760.]

TO MISS MARY STEVENSON

My Dear Polley,

Philada March 25, 1763.

Your pleasing Favour of Nov. 11 is now before me. It found me as you suppos'd it would, happy with my American Friends and Family about me; and it made me more happy in showing me that I am not yet forgotten by the dear Friends I left in England. And indeed, why should I fear they will ever forget me, when I feel so strongly that I shall ever remember them!

I sympathise with you sincerely in your Grief at the Separation from your old Friend, Miss Pitt. The Reflection that she is going to be more happy, when she leaves you, might comfort you, if the Case was likely to be so circumstanc'd; but when the Country and Company she has been educated in, and those she is removing to, are compared, one cannot possibly expect it. I sympathise no less with you in your Joys. But it is not merely on your Account, that I rejoice at the Recovery of your dear Dolly's Health. I love that dear good Girl myself, and I love her other Friends. I am, therefore, made happy by what must contribute so much to the Happiness of them all. Remember me to her, and to every one of that worthy and amiable Family, most affectionately.

Remember me in the same manner to your and my good Doctor and Mrs. Hawkesworth. You have lately, you tell me, had the Pleasure of spending three Days with them at Mr. Stanley's. It was a sweet Society! I too, once partook of that same Pleasure, and can therefore feel what

you must have felt. Remember me also to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley, and to Miss Arlond.

Of all the enviable Things England has, I envy it most its People. Why should that petty Island, which compar'd to America, is but like a stepping-Stone in a Brook, scarce enough of it above Water to keep one's Shoes dry; why, I say, should that little Island enjoy in almost every Neighbourhood, more sensible, virtuous, and elegant Minds, than we can collect in ranging 100 Leagues of our vast forests? But 'tis said the Arts delight to travel Westward. You have effectually defended us in this glorious War, and in time you will improve us. After the first Cares for the Necessaries of Life are over, we shall come to think of the Embellishments. Already some of our young Geniuses begin to lisp Attempts at Painting, Poetry, and Musick. We have a young Painter now studying at Rome. Some specimens of our Poetry I send you, which if Dr. Hawkesworth's fine Taste cannot approve, his good Heart will at least excuse. The Manuscript Piece is by a young Friend of mine, and was occasion'd by the Loss of one of his Friends, who lately made a Voyage to Antigua to settle some Affairs, previous to an intended Marriage with an amiable young Lady here, but unfortunately died there. I send it to you, because the Author is a great Admirer of Mr. Stanley's musical Compositions, and has adapted this Piece to an Air in the 6th Concerto of that Gentleman, the sweetly solemn Movement of which he is quite in Raptures with. He has attempted to compose a Recitativo for it, but not being able to satisfy himself in the Bass, wishes I could get it supply'd. If Mr. Stanley would condescend to do that for him, thro' your Intercession, he would esteem it as one of the highest Honours, and it would make him excessively happy. You will say that a Recitativo can be but a poor Specimen of our Music. 'Tis the best and all I have at present, but you may see better hereafter.

I hope Mr. Ralph's Affairs are mended since you wrote. I know he had some Expectations, when I came away, from a Hand that would help him. He has Merit, and one would think ought not to be so unfortunate.

I do not wonder at the behaviour you mention of Dr. Smith towards me, for I have long since known him thoroughly. I made that Man my Enemy by doing him too

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