Same as it is today -- a sellout Peace coming? 24 Nov 1759
Ben Franklin is still in England. He writes a sarcastic anticipation of a sell out peace published in the press 25 Nov 1759.
Here are some excerpts:
A Description of Those, Who, at Any Rate, Would Have a Peace with France
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that there should be those, who are striving to diminish the Importance of every conquest we make, that the people mayn’t grow too fond of keeping them; and even go so far, as to propagate the very Nonsensical Language of Maubert;
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The English will persevere in their conquests till they draw all the Powers of Europe upon their backs.
Such is the true Picture of those, who, on such infamous Terms, would sell advantages their Country has obtained, at the expence of so much blood and treasure, over their most Inveterate and most Treacherous enemies.
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Ben Franklin wrote those words according to a scholar who researched and published books about Ben Franklin.
The author, Ben Franklin worries that King George II and his advisors will sell out to the enemy French, returning some hard won English conquests.
Eventually the sellout does happen. It just doesn't happen under this King George II.
It happens under King George III.
King George III becomes King on 25 Oct 1760 with his hated advisor Lord Bute.
But let us go back to the 1759 letter.
Here's the whole letter:
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A Description of Those, Who, at Any Rate, Would Have a Peace with France, 24 November 1759
A Description of Those, Who, at Any Rate, Would Have a Peace with France
Printed in The London Chronicle: or Universal Evening Post, November 22–24, 1759.
A Description of those, who, at any rate, would have a Peace with France.9
London, Nov. 24. [1759]
The two prevailing motives among us, which strongly bias great numbers of people, at this time, to wish for a peace with France, let the terms be ever so dishonourable, ever so disadvantageous, or likely to prove of ever so short a duration, are Power and Self-interest.
As to the First, there is a set of men, who have been so long used to Power, that it is become part of their constitution; and if they cannot preserve it, they and their Dependents must linger and pine away.
They find plainly, that whatever they have undertaken has succeeded so ill, that, instead of their gaining the people’s Applause and Confidence, They become every day more and more Obnoxious and Contemptible:
And they perceive, on the other hand, that such part of the Administration, in which they have had no share, has been so well understood and conducted, that such general Satisfaction has been given throughout the whole kingdom, as reflects highly on the want of Integrity and Capacity in those who have gone before.
No wonder therefore, if such men should be desirous of peace at any rate, so it lasts their time; that the frequent scenes of Honour to others, and Dishonour to themselves, may not haunt them any more:
And, especially being sensible the National Credit has been strained to such a degree by their extravagant plan of Dissipation, as to render it necessary for the Publick Accounts being taken, as was so frequently and honestly done during the reigns of King William and Queen Anne, even at the Minister’s own desire.
The latter are those who are engaged in our Public Funds, and are impatient to have them rise, and those (in no small number) who have so infamously lent their money to the French Government: Merchants who are concerned in branches of Commerce and of Business, which they imagine will improve upon their hands, in case of a Peace:
other Mercantile People, who have their prospects of advantage, upon the conclusion of a Peace; such for example, who think we shall hold some of our conquests,
which of course will give room for new Settlements;
and some who have prospects of Places in such new Settlements: Some who have formed to themselves agreeable plans, for striking into new Branches of Trade: Many Country Gentlemen and others, who wouldn’t perhaps be sorry for a Peace, in hopes of being eas’d in their taxes: And lastly, there are very few Roman Catholicks in the Kingdom, but would rejoice at a Peace, at any rate.
It is a melancholy Reflection, that there should be among us such selfish wretches,
and such enemies to their Country, who had rather see it sink, a while hence, and its bitterest enemies triumph, than that their present lust for Power, and their sordid Views, should not be gratified; And that there should be those, who are striving to diminish the Importance of every conquest we make, that the people mayn’t grow too fond of keeping them; and even go so far, as to propagate the very Nonsensical Language of Maubert;1 viz. The English will persevere in their conquests till they draw all the Powers of Europe upon their backs.
Such is the true Picture of those, who, on such infamous Terms, would sell advantages their Country has obtained, at the expence of so much blood and treasure, over their most Inveterate and most Treacherous enemies. [Note numbering follows the Franklin Papers source.]
Founders Online Footnotes:
9. Verner W. Crane first identified bf as the author of this piece. See his Benjamin Franklin’s Letters to the Press 1758–1775 (Chapel Hill, [1950]), pp. 11–13.
Benjamin Franklin and a Rising People by Verner W. Crane The book presents a reliable, informative, well-balanced, and interesting portrait of Benjamin Franklin - himself almost more Englishman than American, and a citizen of the world - who was, perhaps despite himself, one of the foremost molders of so many American traditions.
Benjamin Franklin and a rising people. Edited by Oscar Handlin. FIRST EDITION. Series: The Library of American Biography. 8vo. x, 219 pp. Index. Blue blind- and gilt-stamped cloth. Burndy bookplate. Very good. Verner W. Crane was professor of history at the University of Michigan. First Edition.
1. Probably Jean-Henri Maubert de Gouvest, or Gouvert (1721–1767), a renegade monk, an author of some repute (his Political Testament of Cardinal Alberoni brought him to the attention of Bolingbroke), and a wanderer who was once suspected of being a French spy and at one time or another was imprisoned in many of the countries of Europe. He is depicted as a complete scoundrel in a colorful memoir in London Chron., June 28–30, July 5–7, 12–14, 1759.
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Compiled by Jim Moyer October 2023, updated 11/17/23, 11/18/23, 11/22/23, 11/26/23
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About Lord Bute under King George III
We list the starting and ending dates of this war.
Lord Bute - This Jack Boot ended the war Blog story posted Feb 6, 2022 https://jimmoyer1.wixsite.com/fortloudounva/single-post/lord-bute-this-jack-boot-ended-the-war
Lord Bute and Dunkirk - The War is Over Blog story posted Feb 15, 2021
How is Lord Bute related to our area of Winchester VA? He was friends to Frederick and Augusta. Two counties were named for them. Both Frederick and Augusta counties were created out of Orange County in 1738 to honor Frederick, Prince of Wales and his Wife, Augusta of Saxe-Gotha.
Lord Bute and Dunkirk - The War is Over Blog story posted Feb 15, 2021
Lord Bute is the man who ended the Seven Years War. Maybe that's too bold to say. https://jimmoyer1.wixsite.com/fortloudounva/single-post/lord-bute-and-dunkirk-the-war-is-over
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