APPENDIX.

NUMBER I.

My dear brother's favours all reached me in due time, at Bristol Wells, where I was spending the summer season, to look about me and form acquaintances, which may be useful hereafter. The ensuing winter I mean to spend in Bath, where I now am; a place to which Dr. Fothergill advised me, and where I expect his patronage. Your packet for Lord Shelburne, I shall deliver myself in a few days, at his country seat, about twenty miles off, where I am to spend a week. I have not been in London since Johnston's arrival, and as Dr. Fothergill is probably in the country I reserve your letter to him also to deliver myself, as I shall be in town soon.

My last letter from our brother F. of the 14th of June, made me exceedingly unhappy, as it brought an account of the dreadful accident which befell you about that time. I flatter myself that long before you receive this, you will have received entire relief from the effects of that misfortune, and I cannot now help chiding you, for being so very careless of a life on which the happiness of so many depend; the horses were notoriously vicious, and the dastardly temper of the negroes you well know. How then could you trust yourself so absolutely in their power as to injure yourself and afflict us? For heaven's sake, remember, that you are accountable to your country, and to those who love you, for your personal safety, which cannot be injured without very great detriment and disquietude to them. Heaven shield you from such disasters for the future, and grant you for the great share of misery you have already suffered, an uninterrupted series of prosperity and health. I may now I hope congratulate you on your marriage with Mrs. Pinkard; the small acquaintance I had with her gives me great reason to believe, she will make you happy; and I most ardently pray that her goodness may prevent both you and the poor little

ones who survive, from feeling the loss of the tender and amiable wife and mother that is gone.

The resolution into which you have entered, and which I perceive South Carolina has adopted, are in the highest degree laudable, and you may depend upon it will work your salvation. The ministry thinking it vain to contend against such virtue as they are now convinced animates America, are at present certainly disposed to conciliatory measures. But they are far from being yet brought to a due sense of what in justice they owe to the constitutional rights of the coloYou have commenced those measures which tend to their conviction, and I make no question you will persevere, till that important purpose is fully accomplished. The intent of the monitors I sent you being entirely fulfilled, I do not ask what you did with those I sent you, though I have seen nothing of them in the papers.

nies.

The state of politics at present is, as appears to me, exceedingly complex. As far as I can unravel them, they con sist of the court party, the opposition, and the constitutionalists. The Lords Holland and Bute, the Dukes of Bedford and Grafton, form the court party; Lords Temple, Chatham, and Mr. Grenville, with Rockingham, compose the opposition; and my Lord Shelburne heads the constitutionalists. The last party are the promoters of petitions, as the most proper method of informing the people of the constitutional power they possess, and of rousing them against the arbitrary measures of the court. The opposition, desirous of changing men only and not measures, are for determining the matter by the representative body by intrigue and influence. The constitutionalists are for appealing to the people at large, and effecting a change of measures, as well as of Mr. Wilkes, and all of his party that are honest, with Beckford, Townsend, Sawbridge, Mrs. Macauley, &c. are what I call constitutionalists. Of the political writers Junius only deserves reading, and his talents are certainly great. I cannot but think that my Lord Shelburne's abilities and virtue will force him again into power; though they render him exceedingly unwelcome at court, where such qualities are not in estimation. Happily for the liberties of this country, the court party are at variance among themselves; could they agree, I do not see what would prevent them, with a corrupt House of Commons, vast influence from places and money, with a powerful army, from absolutely subverting the constitution. But Bute possesses the ear, Bedford the parliamentary power; Grafton was the representative of the former, but the latter ever jealous and ambitious, has contrived to

men.

gain the duke over by marriage. This, in all human probability, was the cause of Lord Bute's precipitate return, being alarmed, least in consequence of that connexion, Grafton should betray him, and uniting with Bedford, enable him to do what he has long wished, exclude his lordship from all influence in administration. When Peachum and Locket quarrel, they bring each other nearly to the gallows. Would to heaven, these political villains may be more irreconcilable in their anger. I am now at my Lord Shelburne's, where I have the pleasure of seeing perfect domestic happiness. Lady Shelburne is a pattern of every thing that is amiable and good; and her lord seems perfectly worthy of so valuable a wife. Much reading has produced in me the effect of age, in which confidence in political professions is slowly granted; and therefore highly as I esteem this lord, I do not implicitly confide in him. Yet, if he does not support the genuine cause of liberty and continue firm in constitutional principles, I do not believe there is a single man of eminence who will vindicate the violated rights of the people. A temporary support many will give, but an opposition grounded on true principles, and steadily pursued, I expect from him only. God send he may answer my expectations; if not, actum est de libertate. I am not so desperate with regard to America; the spirit of liberty seems now so truly and universally diffused, that I do not think it possible to suppress it; and therefore I look forward with infinite pleasure to that spirit, as the surest nurse of British constitutional liberty. I some time since sent enclosed to Mr. Parker and you, the proceedings respecting the Mississippi company. Nothing certain is to be expected from this ministry: when it is changed, I shall not fail to resume the solicitation.

I beg you will give my most cordial thanks to all those of my acquaintance, who have distinguished themselves in the resolution of not consuming British manufactures, and of maintaining firmly their constitutional rights. As a friend to freedom, I esteem myself infinitely obliged to every one who supports it.

My inviolable regard awaits you and yours. Adieu. ARTHUR LEE.

P. S. Pray, remember me to our brother Thomas; I never hear of or from him, which I very much regret. My best wishes attend Belvieu.

August 15th, 1769.

VOL. I.-K k

BATH, November 15th, 1769. MY DEAR BROTHER-It appears to me a very long time since I had the pleasure of hearing from you. In the mean time I please myself with supposing you, with the rest of America, are working your own salvation by frugality and industry. Pertinent to this are your questions to our brother William, concerning the glass manufactory: in which, I am sorry to inform you, no satisfactory information can be obtained. Much care is taken at Bristol to provide against the loss of workmen; they are, therefore, articled for a certain time, and their wages artfully advanced, so as to keep them constantly in arrear, and thence in bondage. A very few only are entrusted with the secret of the materials, and their proportions. I wrote to a merchant of Bristol, immediately on my brother's receiving yours, for more precise information; but he has never answered me, probably through some jealousy in himself, or an apprehension of it in others. Newcastle would be the best place, I apprehend, not only to make inquiries without suspicion, but to apply for workmen. Aerici persevere, must be the motto of America. The people here do not yet complain much of the want of trade arising from the stoppage of American exports; but, by persevering, they will feel, and then will infallibly complain. What the ministry will do in the perturbed state of the empire, both at home and abroad, it is difficult to say; what they wish to do, is more easily imagined. Great, certainly, is the struggle between their arbitrary inclinations, and their fears to execute them.

The Mississippi affair rests entirely, and must do so, till the ministry are removed; whenever that happens, the company may be assured that I will resume the business, without any farther expense to them. Our brother William forgot to bring over a minute of the company's resolution, appointing me agent; so that had my credentials been required, nothing could have been done. Happily they were not; but to provide against it for the future, I could wish you and Mr. Parker would send me such credentials as you may think proper. Please to remember me to that gentleman, and tell him I hope every patriotic scheme succeeds, and that we shall see him in the next list of the House of Burgesses, in J. R—ph's place. I wish things were reversed, and this tool of power were his deputy. Your governor is becoming very popular, as we are told here, and I have the worst proof of it in the increased orders for fineries from the ladies, at this time of general distress in their families. Either our countrywomen

are misrepresented by the merchants' wives, or they are growing deplorably extravagant. If his excellency introduces such a spirit, I am sure his popularity will be ill founded. Wilkes's suit with Lord Halifax is at length determined, with £4000 damages, which it was provided in court the treasury was to pay. Inadequate as these would, in any case, have been, the manner in which they are to be paid, prevents them from being exemplary; since no minister will be deterred from repeating this injury by a fine which he is not to pay. Our houses, liberties, and most interesting secrets, are thus at the mercy of any minister who will pay this sum out of the treasury, which, with the present furniture of St. Stephen's chapel, he might do to-morrow without danger of impeachment. Yet there are many men so wicked or so weak, as to deny that the constitution is in danger. There are men who will never believe their houses are near the flames, till they are on fire; so long as they walk free, they care not who is illegally imprisoned. The Parliament will probably meet about the middle of January; it will be an important session, but I believe attended with no farther good, than convincing the people their complaints are just, and their desire of a dissolution perfectly proper. I am extremely well with Lord Se, the lord mayor, the sheriffs, Mr. Wilkes, Horne, Macauley, Belles, &c.; the two first and the last are those only of whose principles I have a good opinion; but I am so sensible of my own deficiency in judgment, that, while I act in the integrity of my heart, I do not suffer my suspicions to influence my actions. I dine frequently in the King's Bench, where I meet the declared patriots; of whom I shall be satisfied, if we find one Sidney in twelve elect. The city of London is, however, in our possession, and will support the character it has always maintained, of standing foremost and firm in opposition to arbitrary power. It is a chance whether you ever meet with a series of letters signed Junius Americanus, in which the enemies of America are chiefly attacked; though, to make what was written in defence of the colonies acceptable, it was necessary to give now and then a stroke to the characters obnoxious here. It is desirable to make a signature popular, when that is effected, I shall be able to write for America under it with success, which it is otherwise extremely difficult to accomplish. Send copies of Parker's edition of the Farmer's Letters to Lord Shelburne, Mrs. Macauley, and Colonel Barre. Farewell.

ARTHUR LEE.