Extract of a Letter from London, to a Gentleman in New-York

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The reasons why I hope the unhappy differences between Great Britain and the Colonies will soon subside, are these following, viz: that the deliberations of that celebrated body of gentlemen who constituted the General Congress, are held in the highest esteem by every sensible man in this Metropolis; and our great patriot, Lord Chatham, has declared that he wants words to express the great satisfaction he received in reading them, and that he does not think there are fifty-two men besides in the universe, that could have done what those gentlemen did, and that they must have been divinely inspired in their glorious work.

The Petition of the Congress to the King was received graciously, but referred to the deliberations of Parliament, which meet the 19th instant. The Ministry keep their intentions close, but it is said are inclined to relax a little and to accommodate matters.

The Merchants and Traders to North America met this day, and unanimously chose a Committee of twenty-three persons to frame a petition to the House of Commons, which avoiding political discussions, is to be confined to a representation of commercial grievances. The people here are a good deal divided in opinion on this important question; many of them do not understand it, and others, pretending the necessity of a sovereign power being lodged somewhere in every state, indulge themselves in declaiming with all the virulence of party against America, which wants not, however, able supporters. The Press teems with publications on both sides, though the advocates for American Liberty have, in my opinion, greatly and manifestly the advantage. The manufacturing Counties begin already to discover symptoms of distress.