'After the receipt of this paper, I called to 'acquaint Mr. Laurens of the answer.'

During these transactions, an anonymous letter came into Mr. Sharp's hands, which gave a fresh excitement to his zeal for mutual reconciliation.

"Dear Sir,

To Granville Sharp, Esq.

"September 22, 1781.

Though my name will not be at the end of this letter, I must entreat your particular attention to the following extract of a letter I have just received from a person of great worth in Holland, and who loves England most cordially, notwithstanding he is much in the confidence of a principal person on the American side of the question, now in Europe.

*

"Look out, and find a sensible, honest man in office, and conjure him to save his country from eternal ruin, by making up matters immediately with America: the first cost will be the least; the longer the matter is delayed, the more will America be estranged from England.

"The interest and power of France increase daily, owing to the inconsiderate persistance of the English Councils, which drives the Americans to the necessity of defending and securing themselves by every possible means. Nothing can be more fatal to England, than that France should have the absolute settlement of the terms of peace; and yet this will be the case, if a great and liberal conduct is not immediately pursued. I cannot explain myself, but I entreat you to consider this as no slight hint : the Englishman who does, is an enemy to his country.'

"Thus far for my friend, for whose veracity and sincerity I will stake every thing which is near and dear to

me, and to which I add, Carpe diem, quam minimum credule postero.' Therefore, I wish you would make some worthy man in office acquainted with this information as soon as possible, that a stop may speedily be put to the shedding of human blood, which is the sincere wish of, "My dear Sir, your faithful humble Servant,

(N. B. Received 23d September.)

"A MAN."

This communication was regarded by Mr. Sharp as confirming the intelligence he had before received. He was at no loss to find the sensible honest man, required by the letter, and he hastened to submit it to Lord Dartmouth.

G. S. to the Right Hon. Earl of Dartmouth.

"My Lord,

[EXTRACT.]

"Wicken Park, near Stoney Stratford, Bucks, 23d September, 1781.

"The information which I had the honour to communicate to your Lordship on the 23d June last, was of more real importance, I believe, than your Lordship seemed at that time to apprehend; and I should not again trouble you on the same business, did I not flatter myself that subsequent events must have proved to your Lordship the necessity of the measures which I recommended, as well on that as on some former occasions.

It will, no doubt, have reminded the reader of some anonymous publications written by Dr. Franklin while he resided in this country; and it was, perhaps, from this cause that Mr. S. attached so considerable importance to it. Much of this species of unauthorised agency appeared in England during the American war.

"I have this moment received a letter (of which the enclosed is a copy), urging in very strong terms the necessity of an immediate peace with America. And though the letter is without a name, and even the hand-writing unknown to me, yet, by some particular circumstances, I have no room to doubt from whom it comes, and consequently am well satisfied that the information is truly important: The intelligence is from a different channel from that which I before communicated, and is equally authentic.

"When I had last the honour to wait on your Lordship, the Americans were at liberty to treat separately for peace, as I then informed you from unquestionable authority. Since that time, there have been reports of a more strict treaty of union being formed between the Allies, such as must exclude all hope of any separate treaty with America; but the letter from Holland, an extract of which the anonymous writer has sent to me, plainly indicates that there is still a possibility of treating with America, if the business is undertaken immediately: so that no treaty of absolute union between France and America can yet be ratified, though it is probable such an one may be actually on the tapis, and near a conclusion, which it is the manifest interest of this kingdom to prevent, if possible, by a previous agreement with America; and I sincerely wish that no delusive hope of subjugating America, and compelling her to submit once more to the Crown, may any longer prevent an effectual reconciliation.

"The true interests of this kingdom in 1778 required us to admit the independency of America, which at that time would have prevented an open rupture with France and Spain, and would have been the means of recovering the American trade, whereby we should have received

almost as much solid benefit from the colonies as if they had still continued subject to the British Crown. Ever since that time, the accumulated expenses of a bloody and fruitless war have been immense. The first loss (that of American dominions) is not to be compared to the subsequent losses, which a prudent accommodation might have prevented; and a continuance in the same obstinate and fatal career is not likely to retrieve our misfortunes. Let me therefore entreat your Lordship to represent and urge, whenever your interference may be most effectual, the necessity of making a speedy agreement with America. You was apprehensive that any Minister who should venture, in a treaty for peace, to admit the independence of America, would be impeached: nevertheless, I have already mentioned to your Lordship a Nobleman who I am sure would undertake it; but if the King or his Ministers should be unwilling to accept of his service, though few men are so able, yet I flatter myself that others, of sufficient dignity and abilities, would not shrink from so good and necessary an undertaking, through any false fear of risk, provided Administration will give them sufficient powers to act.

"With the greatest respect and esteem," &c. &c.

He received the following attentive answer.

"Sir,

To Granville Sharp, Esq.

"Weymouth, 3d October, 1781.

"It is matter of real concern to me, that the present state of my health, to which alone I am obliged to attend, and the distance I am at from London, put it out of my power to make any use of the intelligence your letter has communicated to me. The subject is great and arduous, and a right determination upon it of infinite consequence

to the welfare of this country; and, therefore, I cannot be sorry that the decision of it does not rest with me. I am sorry that your information is anonymous; but as you think you know the author, I believe I cannot advise you better than to lay it yourself before Lord George Germaine (whom, I believe, you see sometimes, and) who, I am persuaded, will listen to you upon it.

"I am, Sir, your most obedient humble Servant,
"DARTMOUTH."

In obedience to Lord Dartmouth's instructions, Mr. Sharp made successive attempts (as appears from his MS. notes) to procure an interview with Lord George Germaine, until, finding them fruitless, he desisted.

He could not have failed to perceive, that an anonymous communication was not to be considered as an authority on which a Minister could be expected to act; but he was resolute in omitting no effort to forward the reconciliation which he desired to see accomplished between the two countries, and he eagerly seized the opportunity, which this letter afforded him, of soliciting anew the exertions of those on whom he thought the duty incumbent to promote the return of peace. He therefore sent copies of it also, enclosed in letters, to the Bishop of Peterborough, and the Archbishop of Canterbury; employing the same arguments to both which he had urged to Lord Dartmouth, but with a distinct reference to their sacred and respective functions. These letters are preserved in his Correspondence.