seems verging towards a happy and permanent period. We
are preparing for either war or peace. For although we are fully
persuaded, that our enemies are wearied, beaten, and in despair, yet
we shall not presume too much on that persuasion, and the rather,
because it is our fixed determination to admit no terms of peace, but
such as are fully in character with the dignity of independent States,
and consistent with the spirit and intention of our alliances on the
continent of Europe. We believe, and with great reason too, that the
honor and fortitude of America have been rendered _suspicious_ in
Europe, by the arts, intrigue, and specious misrepresentations of our
enemies there. Every proceeding and policy of ours have been tortured,
to give some possible coloring to their assertions of a _doubtful
disposition_ in America, as to her perseverance in maintaining her
independency, and perhaps the speeches of many of the minority of both
Houses in the English Parliament, who seem to persist in the
probability of a reconciliation, may have contributed towards a
continuance of that suspicion. But we, at this particular time, feel
ourselves exceedingly happy in a proof, from the accidental
arrangement of circumstances, such as we could neither foresee nor
alter, that the disposition of America on that head was fixed and
final. For this proof we desire your attention to what follows.

The English Ministry appear to have been very industrious in getting
over to America, as soon as possible, their two conciliatory bills,
even before they had been once read; the reason of which haste we did
not then see; but the arrival of your despatches since, with the
treaties, has unriddled that affair. General Howe was equally
industrious, in circulating them by his emissaries through the
country, and likewise sent them under a flag to General Washington,
who immediately despatched them to Congress on the ---- of April. They
were in themselves truly unworthy of the attention of that public
body; but lest the silence of Congress should be misunderstood, or
furnish the enemy with new ground for false insinuation, they were
referred to a committee, whose judicious and spirited report thereon
was unanimously approved in the House on the 22d, then published and
circulated through the several States with all possible expedition.
The despatches, in charge of Mr Simeon Deane, did not arrive till the
2d of May, ten days after the said reports were publi