The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 03
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 03
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
If the British nation have jealousies and resentments against the
House of Bourbon, yet still the first step in every case would be to
rescind the American war, and not to keep it lurking in the rear, to
become hereafter, in case of certain events, a reversionary war with
America for unconditional terms. This reversionary war was never the
object of the people of England; therefore the argument of the
breviate was calculated bona fide to accomplish their views, and to
discriminate the fallacious pretences of the late administration from
the real wishes of the country, as expressed in the circular
resolution of many counties in the year 1780, first moved at York, on
March 28th, 1780. Every other principle and every mode of conduct only
imply, as you very justly express it, a secret hope that war may still
produce successes, and then--. The designs which have been lurking
under this pretext could not mean anything else than this. Who knows
but that we may still talk to America at last. The only test of clear
intentions would have been this, to have cut up the American war, and
all possible return to it for any cause, or under any pretext. I am
confident that the sentiment of the people of England is, and always
has been, to procure peace and reconciliation with America, and to
vindicate the national honor in the contest with the House of Bourbon.
If this intention had been pursued in a simple and direct manner, I am
confident that the honor and safety of the British nation would long
ago have been established in a general peace with all the belligerent
powers. These are the sentiments upon which I have always acted in
those negotiations, which I have had upon the subject of peace with
the late Ministry; reconciliation with America, and peace with all the
world, upon terms consistent with the honor and safety of my own
country.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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