It seemed to me that Franklin might be made to feel the
propriety of such a step; and as I have an acquaintance with him, I had
a strong desire of taking a turn to Paris. Everything else failing, one
might obtain a better knowledge of the general aspect of affairs abroad
than, I believe, any of us possess at present. The Duke of Portland
approved the idea. But when I had conversed with the very few of your
Lordship's friends who were in town, and considered a little more
maturely the constant temper and standing maxims of the party, I laid
aside the design,--not being desirous of risking the displeasure of
those for whose sake alone I wished to take that fatiguing journey at
this severe season of the year.
The Duke of Portland has taken with him some heads of deliberation,
which were the result of a discourse with his Grace and Mr. Montagu at
Burlington House. It seems essential to the cause that your Lordship
should meet your friends with some settled plan either of action or
inaction. Your friends will certainly require such a plan; and I am sure
the state of affairs requires it, whether they call for it or not. As to
the measure of a secession with reasons, after rolling the matter in my
head a good deal, and turning it an hundred ways, I confess I still
think it the most advisable, notwithstanding the serious objections that
lie against it, and indeed the extreme uncertainty of all political
measures, especially at this time.
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