WILLIAMSBURG, May 7, 1776.

DEAR SIR,--If I had not the highest opinion of your
character and liberal way of thinking, I should not venture
to address myself to you. And if I were not equally
persuaded of the great weight and influence which the
transcendent abilities you possess must naturally confer, I
should not give myself the trouble of writing, nor you the
trouble of reading this long letter. Since our conversation
yesterday, my thoughts have been solely employed on the
great question, whether independence ought or ought not to
be immediately declared. Having weighed the argument on both
sides, I am clearly of the opinion that we must, as we value
the liberties of America, or even her existence, without a
moment's delay declare for independence.... The objection
you made yesterday, if I understood you rightly, to an
immediate declaration, was by many degrees the most
specious, indeed, it is the only tolerable, one that I have
yet heard. You say, and with great justice, that we ought
previously to have felt the pulse of France and Spain. I
more than believe, I am almost confident, that it has been
done.... But admitting that we are utter strangers to their
sentiments on the subject, and that we run some risk of this
declaration being coldly received by these powers, such is
our situation that the risk must be ventured.

On one side there are the most probable chances of our
success, founded on the certain advantages which must
manifest themselves to French understandings by a treaty of
alliance with America.... The superior commerce and marine
force of England were evidently established on the monopoly
of her American trade. The inferiority of France, in these
two capital points, consequently had its source in the same
origin. Any deduction from this monopoly must bring down her
rival in proportion to this deduction. The French are and
always have been sensible of these great truths.... But
allowing that there can be no certainty, but mere chances,
in our favor, I do insist upon it that these chances render
it our duty to adopt the measure, as, by procrastination,
our ruin is inevitable. Should it now be determined to wait
the result of a previous formal negotiation with France, a
whole year must pass over our he