Extract of a Letter from London

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The determination of the ensuing Congress will be final and decisive. They cannot have too many lights, nor too mature deliberation to guide them. The united wisdom of our country will best judge whether any relaxation can be made in their Petition of Rights; and whether they can afford to purchase such a confirmation as my Lord Chatham' s Bills proposes, by a perpetual Revenue of three hundred thousand Pounds sterling, per annum; such is the sum which he expects. I am of opinion that nothing will move the King and his Ministers but absolute submission or a successful resistance. But an offer from you of such a contribution to the relief of this country from its debt, would disarm them of their only popular argument, and therefore arrest the fatal measures by which they mean to establish arbitrary Government over us. If it will be practicable, I think it would be eligible. Our forefathers purchased their undoubted rights in Magna Charta, by the gift of a sum of money to the King; and I think we need not blush to follow so great an example.

I do believe the Ministry do not wish any such proposition, because they do not desire an accommodation; but if we must draw the sword, let us do it with as much apparent reluctance and justice on our side as possible. This will be hanging a mill-stone around the enemy' s neck, which must sooner or later draw them down to destruction.

It is not expected that you will resist, at least the Ministry affect to believe so, and they assure themselves of the defection of New- York. I think it my duty to inform you that there is a report here, and it comes through Ministerial channels, that Mr˙ Galloway is in correspondence with the Ministry; from this they pretend to derive information of what you have not thought proper to publish. Among other things, Lord Sandwich asserted in the House, of Lords, that the Congress came to a Resolution to consider of a plan of submission and conciliation, and next day ordered the Resolution to be expunged. From this he argued your intention to throw off all dependency on this country; and that when your present demands were gratified, you would frame others, till you had annihilated the authority of Parliament. You will use this information touching Mr˙ Galloway with that delicacy which the suspicion of so dishonourable and wicked a conduct requires, at the same time guarding against the dangerous consequences of it to the publick cause, should it be true. If I can get any further intelligence concerning him you shall have it.

Whatever measures you resolve upon, will, I am satisfied, be well weighed, and measured by your ability to execute them; for it is on a belief that you cannot hold out under your Non-Import and Non-Export Agreement, and a total stop put to your commerce by the British Navy, that our enemies build all their hopes of reducing you to a speedy and entire submission. I am fully satisfied that one year' s faithful observation of your Agreements, and sacrifice of your trade, will compel the justice you demand, and establish your rights forever. It is impossible for me to believe that resources can be wanting, or spirit to search for them, when the prize is so great and important.

War is determined on; you should be prepared to meet it with success, or submit at once and be slaves.