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Show V368 Letter from Lord Howe, [Az D.T.] to Dr. Franklin. 369 You will learn the nature of my million, from the oflicial dilpatches which I have recommended to be forwarded by the fame conveyance. Re- taining all the earneflnefs I ever expi‘efled, to fee Your fincerc .and faithful our differences accommodated; I {hall conceive, humble fervent, if I meet with the dilpofition in the colonies which I was once taught to expect, the molt flattering hopes of proving ferviceablc in the objec‘ls H O W E. of the King's paternal folicitude; by promoting the efiablifliment of lafiing peace and union with the colonies. But if the deep-rooted prejudices of America, and the necefiity of preventing her trade from pafiing into foreign channels, muf‘t keep us ltill adivided people; I (hall, from every private as well as public motive, molt heartily lament, that this is not the moment wherein thole P. S. I was difap, ointed of the o ortu ' expected for fending ‘ijhis letter, at thgftime 313,3: dated; and have ever fince been prevented by calms and contrary winds, from getting here to inform General Howe of the commiflion with which I have the fatisfaétion to be charged and of his being joined in it. great objects of my ambition are to be attained; Q? of 347215: Home, 12 offfuét. .to treat, {ettle and agree; even with congrefs; but {ubjeet to the farther confirmation of parliament. Lord Carliflc, and Mellieurs Johnfon and Eden, with the commanders in chief of the land and {ea forces, were the commilhoners appointed by the crown under this aft; and Dr. Adam Fergufon was made fecretary to the commillion. Mr. Henry Strachey had been fecretary to thefirfl commifiion, attended with the following fingular circumllancc, as flatcd in the houfe of lords. In this commillion for rclloring peace to America, ‘ (or in ot/Mr ward: to induce America at once to put a confidence ‘ in the crown, and to believe that the parliament of England is a ‘ {ulliciently powerful and honel‘t barrier for them to trult to;) the ‘ fecretary (Mr. Strachey) has goo l. granted for life out of the ‘ four and a [7121f per cent. duty, filched by the crown from the ‘ IVs/i India Mandi, and in oppofition to a folemn addrefs ot‘par/ia- ‘ mcut defiring that it might be applied to the original purpufcs for ‘ which it was granted by the relpeélive afl‘emblies of the illands.' -W'hat thefe original purpofes of the grants were, I meant (ICC p. 280) very briefly to have dated; but have not been able to pro- cure the proper documents in time. B.) and Superfcribed, H o w E. To Berg/aim}; Frank/in, Efg; Panama. ' |