George Bancroft, History of the United States from the Discovery of the American Continent, Vol. 6, 10th edition.

‘ [95] for ages,’ wrote Choiseul.¹ ‘Your prayer will be

Chap. XXX.} 1767. Aug.

heard,’ answered Durand, then in London as Minister.² ‘The opposition during this reign will always be strong, for the cabinet will always be divided; but the genius of the nation, concentrating itself on commerce and Colonies, compensates the inferiority of the men in power, and makes great advances without their guidance.’ ‘My position,’ observed Choiseul as he contemplated, alike in Asia and in America, the undisputed ascendency of the nation which he called his ‘enemy,’³ ‘is the most vexatious possible; I see the ill; I do not see the remedy.’ Anxious to send none but the most accurate accounts, Durand made many inquiries of Franklin, and asked for all his political writings. ‘That intriguing nation,’ said Franklin,⁴ ‘would like very well to blow up the coals between Britain and her Colonies; but I hope we shall give them no opportunity.’

‘In England,’ observed Durand,⁵ ‘there is no one who does not own that its American Colonies will one day form a separate State. The Americans are jealous of their liberty and will always wish to extend it. The taste for independence must prevail among them. Yet the fears of England will retard its coming, for she will shun whatever can unite them.’—‘Let her but attempt to establish taxes in them,’ rejoined Choiseul, ‘and those countries, ’