ITI 
LETTER CONCERNING THE GRATITUDE OF AMERICA 
AND THE PROBABILITY AND EFFECTS OF A UNION WITH GREAT 
BRITAIN; AND CONCERNING THE REPEAL OR SUS- 
PENSION OF THE STAMP ACT 
[LonDoN,] January 6, 1766. 
Sir: —I have attentively perused the paper you 
sent me, and am of opinion that the measure it pro- 
poses, of an union with the colonies, is a wise one; 
but I doubt it will hardly be thought so here, till it is 
too late to attempt it. The time has been, when the 
colonies would have esteemed it a great advantage, 
as well as honor, to be permitted to send members to 
Parliament: and would have asked for that privilege, 
if they could have had the least hopes of obtaining it. 
The time is now come when they are indifferent 
about it, and will probably not ask it, though they 
might accept it if offered them; and the time will 
come, when they will certainly refuse it. But if such 
an union were now established (which methinks it 
highly imports this country to establish) it would 
probably subsist as long as Britain shall continue a 
nation. This people, however, is too proud, and too 
much despises the Americans, to bear the thought of 
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