If your letter of the 10th a little damped me in my hopes of
good effects from your journey, that of the 19th, which I have
just received, together with Mr. Oswald's conversation, has very
much revived me. I send away the messenger, for fear of the
delays which Cabinets are so apt to cause; but I hope you will
hear from us again very soon, with authority to offer the
Independence as unconditionally as you can wish. Mr. Oswald says
that Dr. Franklin is much inclined to confide in you; if so, ask
him at once in what manner we can act so as to gain a
substantial, if not a nominal, peace with America; and you may
depend upon all my influence in support of his advice.

I hope you will not be disappointed at our adhering to our first
ideas for the proposition _we_ are to make, rather than offering
concessions. If _we_ are to offer, we think it is not for us to
throw concessions at their head; but if they do not like our
proposals, it is for _them_ to ask such as may be reasonable. If
what they propose is really so, there is no doubt of our
complying; and if it is not, or they should refuse to make any
offer at all, it will surely be clear who was most in earnest in
his wishes for peace; and we must make the best advantage we can
of our situation, about which I begin to be more sanguine than I
used to do.

From your letter, there are surely great hopes of detaching
America; and from those we have just received from Petersburg,
there appears the most favourable disposition in that quarter to
enforce a peace with Holland; or if that cannot be, to take a
decisive part. And I know how much this disposition will be
increased, if we can fully convince His Imperial Majesty that
the failure of your negotiation is not our fault.

With regard to all your diffidence of yourself, we laugh at it.
If, in order to save yourself bodily labour, you want a
secretary, write, and you shall have one; but for any other
purpose, you want no assistance, but are allowed by everybody,
and the King in particular, to be the best writer of despatches
that is known in this office.

Adieu. I envy you the pleasure of announcing the news from the
West Indies, with all the modest insolence which belongs to the
occasion.

Yours most affectionately,

Pray make my best respects to Dr. Franklin,