IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I 1.1 ^ l&i 12.2 Sf U& 12.0 iL25 III 1.4 HA 11.6 6" FliolDgFaphic ;,Sdmo£ CorpcBBiion '4!«^^ m^^^ as WMT MAM STRUT wmTiR,N.Y. i4sae (7U)I72-4S09 '4^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHIVi/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian institute for Historical IMicroroproductions / instltut canadien da microraproductlons historiquas ^ Tschnical and Biblioflraphic Notas/Notas tachniquaa at bibliographiquaa Th( to Tha Inatituta haa attamptad to obtain tha baat original copy availabia for fiiming. Faatura' of tliia copy wliich may ba bibiiographicaily unif; j'^ whicli may aitar any of tlia imagas in tha raproduction, or wliich may aignificantly changa tlia uauai mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. D n n CoSourad covara/ Couvartura da couiaur I I Covara damagad/ Couvartura andommagAa Cova^D ?"1:: T fi ;• f \ » O V V * - * -J ^ r ri's;-'"'} 1 w -.- _^ * -. > ■ -« H^ / ) A rr ,- ■f» .McMASTER UM:VcR3!TY LIBRARY T o LORD GEORGE GERMAINE, D • . » ' ^ My Lord, AS you are defervedly placed at the head of the American department, and are accountable to your country for the propriety of your adminiilration ; permit me to fay a word to your Lordship, on the fubjedt of our pul^llc a^air« ; that yot^^ as a minifler^ may ^hrow my remarks into the fcale of your deUberatipns ; and/, as a citizen, offer my mite towards promoting the welfare of this JECingdpm. The brevity pf conferences with your XordOtip at your Levees, and tha abiurd dif- ficuljjy pf private accefs to men in authority, ,x-end$?r it imppflible for a man in my retired iitaation, tg addrej^ you in any other way, tthan by letter. That method I have here pui?fued» and in a public manner, that, the 'world, as well as your Lordfl^p, may be ac- quainted with my fentimentss that if the jta^s I advance are untrue, or my n ifoning iallacipus, your LordHiip inay be better in- .formed -, and not be miiled by opinions, which will not (Igad t)ie tefl pf the mofl liberal jJifcufliQU. B I have ( 4 ) I have not prefumption enough to fuppofd^ that what I can fay, will be new to your Lordihip, or any other perfbn, who may be at the trouble of perufing this little perfornl- ance ; the fubjed has been too much beaten already, by abler pens, to admit of novelty on my part : all that I propofe is, to give a frefh fpring to argument, and to call the public at- tention to that critical point, in which Great Britain appears to me to (land, at this junc- .ture; that if I am not an inflrudtor, yet I may do the ofHce of a monitor, and caution againfl evils which threaten this diflracted na- tion. In a controverfy that is trivial, and where the fufFrage of an individual is of no confequence, let men, fond of difputation, wage war with one another as warmly as they plcafe } a moderate man need take no fhare in it; but in a difpute of fo momentous a nature, as to involve in it mifchiefs, which, ' if not attended to, may (hake the very foun- dation of Government, fllence in every one, (who at lead in fpeaking his mind, hopes to be ufeful) then becomes criminal. A word or two more to your Lordfhip, and then my preface fhall be ended. I wifh to have it underftood, my Lord, that I am no flatterer. Adulation, which, as I conceive, implies the fordid gift of praife to one who does not merit it, is as detedible a vice to ♦ fti*, as the vilifying a characfter which defcrves applaufe. It is an incenfc I never pfFcr, and *- I hold in contempt ths man who wishes to receive youf ay be fornl- seateti Ity on ifrefli lie at- Great junc- yct I aution :ed na- 1, and of no tation, 13 they ) {hare itous a which, f foun- ry one, opes to lip, and wifh to am no )nceive, ne who vice to ieferves 'er, aii'd [{hes to receive ( 5 ) . receive it i yet> as a friend to truth> a d^ity I never offended, I am at a)l times ready to give every commendation* which I think is due to virtue. If a Miniiler has done we//, we cannot be too lavifh in his praifes ; but if he has done /'//, and from a wicked intention, no rank or fortune ought tq protect him from the fevered reproaches and execration of his country. Had your Lordlbip's condudi: ap- peared to me to have been of the latter kind, my language would have varied very much from what you will here find it to be ; but as, fron> the maturefl and mof^. difpailionate re- fledtion, it has, in my apprehenfion, borne every mark of integrity and difciprnment, I cannot avoid giving this teflimony of my ap- probation of it;* America, and its affairs, feem to be fo w^U known, that mankind in general fpeak as fa- miliarly of them, as about events which happen in their own neighbourhood ; yet, in fa<^, there are few who know more of them* than they do about that great Kingdon^, which we are told from the higheft authority-— is to come. Withoiit any information, but what they colled from the daily papers, (and a man mufl have the credulity of a faint, to believe one word in ten which is there related) with- out being acquainted with the number or dif- pofition of troops in a battle, the fituation of a country ; and what is flill more illiberal, vvithout paying the leaft regard to th« repu- tation of a foldier, they deal out thfir ■'.-■ Tri ; 'J J., ( 6 ) fures on men and meaAires* as freely as they fwear at a waiter in a ttvern» whofe only fault perhaps niay be, bi« being a witnefs of their nocturnal excefTes. So fluduating are they at the fame time in their opinions, that if tne Rebels givs way to the fuperior force of the Britifh Legions, they ar« immediately pronounced to be the greateft poltroons upon earth ; but if, by a reverfe of fortune^ they happen to gain an advantage over the Royal Army, then they become the braved troops, and Mr. Wa(hington the greateft general «hat ever was at the head of a body of men i and fotnt ladies, fired with the ether ial Jpir it e( I'atriotlih), which trould be pr^lfe-worthy On another occafion, think of iending hitll portraits of their fair perfons, which Would be more Aattering, and do him more honour, than if they were to pre(bnt him with cafkets filled with the richeft jewels. If a commanding oi'Hcer thinks it prudent to decline an engagement, and wait for a fhore favourable opportunity to make an at- tack, rather than rifk a defeat, and thereby endanger the great jau^ for which he is con- tending, he is charged with want df cou^- rage, tales are fabricated about his diffipation, atid Amours ; and lucre, and not the good of hk tOuHtry is fuppofed to be the governing principle of his a nourable terms to his adverfary, rather than commit an aft of defperation; he is firft taught to believe he was ^ifv^/^^/by theminiAryi and then, in his turn, has his misfortunes increased, by the envenomed flings of cen- fure and ridicule. To judge of an enter* {>rize by no rule but that of Aiccefs, is a weaknefs of the mind, and betrays a want of generofity, which is the moft exalted virtue in the human foul i to make frail man an- fwerable for confequences, unlefs a power was given to him, which no mortal ever pof- fe(led, is unreafonable. It is fufficient to de^- ferve fuccefs, a misfortune not to obtain it. When gentlemen are remote from their native land, aiding in fupport of the injured honour of their country, and expofed to every hazard and inconvenience which war can occafion, not to be tender of the chara^ers of fuch men $ but on the contrary, wantonly to pubiilh the moft injurious reports of them, is a cruelty that would be difdained by the favage$ them- selves, who have of late been fo much abufed, . and, f 8 ) find, 16 the didionour of Brltidi freedom, is to be found on/y among the fans of Liberty* If gentlemen of fucn cafl would be pleafed to fufpend their vehemence, and wait for in- formation, which can be relied on ; they would And, I am perfuaded, that the delays and difapointments complained of, proceeded not from any imperfe^on in the plans of the minider, or want of ability or refolution in thofe who were appointed to execute them ; ))ut from a conjundure of events, which no human being could forefee, or ability render inefFedtual. In all ages and in all places the fate of war has been uncertain, much more mufl it be fo, in a country, (where a late fui- render was made) incompaiTed with moun- tains, and in large portions of it, tracklefs to all but the wild beads which frequent it. A country incapable of affording a fupply of provifions ; and lying fo immediately on the hack of the moil populous provinces, that the firfl attempt to poflefs fuch an imhofpitable region, might prove abortive ; without excit- ing any great alarm, flrengthening the enemy, or adding one ray of hope, of their being fuc- cefsful on any other occaiion. 1 would af]^ any one acquainted with America, whether General Burgoyne's orders for opening a com- munication between Canada and Sir William Howe, were not indijpcnfibly proper ? Whe- ther the Americans can be iubdued in any other manner, than by driving them from their back country, which ptherwife would affprjl then^ \ < 9 ) '' them an afylum when forced from their lowdr or maritime fettlements ? and laftly, whether this great deiign can be carried into execution in any other more affedlual method, than by ' having the command of the lakes, deftroying their forts, and making Albany a place en flrength and importance ? I am hardy enough to think, that no one will anfwer in the nc*- 'gative, to thefe proportions. If then the plan was a judicious one, to whom is honour ' due ? If it was not as happily executed, as it was wifely defigned, to whom is the blame to be afcribed ? To this laft queflion I will anfwer, not to the minifler ; and we ought to entertain too high an opinion of the gallant officer who was to perform thefe fervices, to lay it at his door. We (hould therefore confi- derthe failure as a misfortune which could not ' be prevented, and derive to ourfelves thofe ad- vantages which the difappointment may give -us, tf onr future efforts are vigorous, and our unanimity wflr^ prevailing, . '^'^ ''"•- When the Rebek fled fo preci> -itately from ' General Burgoyne at Ticonderoga* the mo^ -important fortrefs they held, and which il^./ boaded was impregnable; who could have im- agined that the troops he had with him were not fufficient to make their ivay to Albany, where his difficulties would have ceafcd ? If •^at generaPs quota of troops had been lapgar than it was, the tugmentation might have weakened ther divifions of the army j; by which a more decifi ^e mifcarFfage than his I ( 10 ) ^render might have h^pptned. A nd if thic ^timber of troops in America w6re not iu^ cifot to anf¥0r the purpofe of the war> it pro- ceedled from the contra^d ideas of the gen- tlemen in oppofftionA who being enetnie; to the war in ail ha ihapca«mng aip alarm ijirovgh the nation ^s to the expence of it> and threw ^Qvery iinptdiment in the way» which was likely to cfuufe difappointiioent and bring itowA cenfiire on the minifter. Things ane now my Lord brought to a frridt ; U negocf adon fails, you muft either give up America* or wit4i redoubled energy reiiew your endeavours to iubdae it. Foi ^he honour of this nation kt the latter he adopted. These if nothing wanted to crisfii r€bel|ion»and being tiic Rebelfi to a fenie of their i<^ly, but a pro- |»er ibrce. Let it never be faid in the annals 4)f this Kingdom, that a^ime has exiikd whem this great empire cottld not ^orre^ the info- iencte of her ions, however £rm they m\ght have been in their difofbedienci^ orpowfcfulJy iiipported % Sme^Ti aHillftncQ. Mifif$t:tunes ^o generous minds aA only as inceoitivps to fidbler ^«rttiiN»s.W'hen the Romans werei»|b- j«gated byth&Samnites* thegreafeft difliono.«ir that GOttld hi^pen to a war«»like peop)e i d^ they ^11 into ptrivate bickerings* tradneeoqe andther,and tiflniidfy oilfer -an aGCommodat^on to their cneftAes? No^ my Locdf they unitod more clofely j declared war againil:. thpiie ma* tions who had allied the Samnites, and by an «fiort gkrious to themfelve$> and esram- plaiy I ( II ) plaryto nlankind, vanquiflied their enemies, and replaced their dignity throughout their do- minions. If this piece of hiftory was related in the mode pf a fable, the moral would ferve as an inftruiSive leflbn to the prefcnt times. The Americans, my Lord, notwithff andirig all their vaunted triumphs, are, at this moment fubdued; and muft, if this country, does not, by its languor, invite them tohold out longer, acknowledge it, and give ^he point up. They are. divided in their councils, and fome of their delegates have left the congrefs, difcontented with its proceedings. The people are far from being unanimous ', and it is, unanimity alon^, if any things which can give them fuccefs. They are deflitute of cloathing ; and fait, which is an element to them, is not to be purchafed. The French fupply them with a little tinfel, and articles of fmall value ; but things of real ufe, are not to be had amongd them, at any price. Their teft oath is admi- niftered to all perfons above the age of {ixteen, by which they fwear forever to renounce the authority of George the Third, and perpetu- ally to maintain, the independence of the united colonies. Confifcation of property and baniftimcnt attend all, who refufe to take this oath; though the fufferers may have fworn fifty times before, to bear true allegiance to their lawful Sovereign. Such defpotifm as this, cannot be of long duration. The fe- vcrity, with which, thefe arc treated^who of- fend againft one tit fie of their law, and the C : "/ * want '■ / ' ' ' ' ' - - ■ ■ .\ ^,j^ !;3 ■M '( 12) \V'ant of protedion, keep the friends of goV vernment from (hewing the'r abhorrence of the daring ufurpation of the Congrefs. But perfeciition, which ever increafes the number of profelytes, land coitipuffiVe oaths, which are the offspring of fufpicio>7, on the one liand ; and the want of the nieceffaries of life on the other ; added to the unremitting ftea- dinefs of government, muft in the endj if things ireleft to take their courje, do the bu- firiefs. The pi6ture I have drawn of thefe infatiiaied men, is not, my Lord, an imagi- ^hary one. Fadts are too obflinate to be de- nied. Afl meii, I lament the wretchednefs of their condition-; as nlembers of this grdat enlpire, their fyftem I hold in deteftation. • I ttiuft repeat again, my Lord, that the gande isiip' with them. Men- are mortal, and for- ' titiide has its boundaries ; and unlefs this • coDritry thwarts the evident tendency of * things in its favour, I haVe not a dbubt, but that peace, in a (hort fpace of tiine, will- \)Q r6ftored to all his Majefty's dominions,- Eftso perfetua, * A mighty-clamour has been raifed about . employing the Indians againfl the Amcncans,- J. which, for argument fake^ 1 fhall take for ,. granted, was done in ccnfequenee of orders from this place. We have been told, that it , was unprecedented ; that it was unbecoming . the charader of a civilized people, to enter into an alliance with favages, whofe delight ■ i% ia crud^y j and much more Tq to engage themir ( 11 ) them againft the Americans ; who, (notwlth- flanding all cncleavours on their part, to dif- ,folve every connedtion with this country,) are ilill call,ed our brethren, friends, apd country'- men* War, my Lord, to an Indian, is aprofeflion. He has no o,ther way of diftinguifhing himfelf, whilft liying, or immortalizing his name af- ter his death, but by his valour, proved by -the nuqibe^ of fcalp^ he <:an producie. .Rela- tions of vidiories are little attetided to ; fcal j's are the only evidence of his prowefs. He wants no jproyocation \o lead him to war ; he is a mercenary, apd will engage on either ^dci where l^e finds it moft to his advantage ^p be concerned. In a war carried on in his r own country, his inclination to take a part could not be doubted; neutfdlity would frave cut off every profpedt <^ being fupplicd with ijie neceffaries of life. In the preieht difpute, the Indians knew that their affiftance would ht foUicited from both fides; their compli- ance was refervcd for the higheft bidder. The Afnericans made the firft application to them; , they waited to hear ^he propofitions of this ^country^ ?erni« were offered and approved of, ,and thfey were inlifted iii t^e Britimi Service., ^hefe peopie have always teen employed in ' ^the wars df America. In the laft war, many ' of their tribes were fo clofely conne(^ed with |the French, that they were almoft incorporated "with thena. The fons of Canada ri^arried Ixidian womcB, and the ftridieJft friendfliip C 2 Wi§ 3 I I, / *:. •|k#-5#. i ! (1.4) was cultivated between the two nations. Ge- neral AmhcrA employed them. General Forbes had many in his fcrvice when he took Fort Duquefne, and General Wafhington, when he conrimanded a body of troops raifed in Virginia, was never without them. Thje Virginians were Co fenfible of their import- ance, that, when they found them backward in joining them, they endeavoured to frighten them into an alliance ; for their Affembly gave a reward of ten pounds for every male Indian jenemy's fcalp, above the ?ige of twelve, and afterwards augmented it to forty pounds per head. This anfwered a double purpofe j for not only the Indians, but the French I fear, had realon to lament the bounty of that Af- fembly. ,When the fcalp was prefented, and the premium' demanded, no queftibns were afked ; the trophy pafled under the denomi- nation of an Indian fcalp. In I'^yd* the Convention of Virginia fent a deputation to ibme of the neighbouring Indian Tribes, in order to obtain their afliftance againft the Englijb, pointed out a method in which they were to be inlifted, and appropriated a fum of money for the pay and fupport of them : and left the Indians fhould imagine that this in- vitation had not the fandion of the Congrefs, they directed their Commiflioners to inform them, that it was thQ jfenfe of the Cofjgrefs, in their fejoliition dnd is pujc- - zled to know what to do with 6lje V^ife; he " can tnanage and ktcp quiet a dozen. ^Iridians> ^'fny Lord, are termt^ favages, but ^how f^r they deferve that appellation, mayipei-haps be made' a fubjcdt of difpute, by ihc^fe'Who ire ^ laeqiiJiihted'With them. It is irtie, that they ^ are not Chriftians, biit they have ^n idea of a fuprerne' Being; and pay their Jldo<=iition to 'him as the'^Kirig of ' kings *Wf>?^//y,.btit'^harve 'no outward Ibmi or mode orw^rlhip. The ^..itw.iji v'U ........... iim- if . ^u :f: w \ I i' ( i8 ) flmp'licity of their lives rdquire's but few laws ; but fuch as they have, are univerja'ly obeyed. Their knowledge extends only to things of common utility; beyond thefe, they think that fcience is detrimental. In Virginia, there is an eflablifhment of the gi'eat Mr. Boyle's, for the education of Indians^ to teach them to read and write, and to inflil in them the principles of civilization and the Gofpel. Formerly, many of their boys were fent thi- ther, and were improved, according to the intention of that benevolerit inflitution ; but of late, the office of the preceptor has been almofl a fmecure. A Governor of Virginia being in company with a number of Indian Chiefs, afked them, why they difcontinued fending their youths, to receive the benefit of a fchool which was founded for their im- provement alone ? After taking time to con- lider the queflion, they replied, that they did not think it an advantage to have their young men' brought up among the Whites ; for when they returned, though they were the beft fcholars, yet they were always the greateft villains in their nation j and there- fore they thought it more eligible to keep them at home, in ignorance, and make ho- neft men of them, than fend them to Virgi- nia, give them learning, and put them to death for their roguery, when they return to their own country. Their conceptions are not very profound, but have great good fenfe in them^ and are conveyed in language, a- bounding ♦^ fe »& ( 19 ) aiyounding wiith allegories, and fimiles drawti from fubjeds tlxat are moft ilriking and bed known to every one. There is as much ho* ndky to be found amongft them in their traf<- 6ck, as perhaps, in any people upon earth 4 War and hunting are their delight. VVhilft chey are engaged in theie occupations, their ivivies remain at home, cultivate the land, und do the huiinefs of the Icimily. They have a tradition amongil them, that die Almighty permitted them to grow out of the earth, as the trees do ; but one circum^ fbnce will ierve to prove, that they are the regular defcendants of Noah ; for, their fondnefs iov firong drink, as they call it, is unconquerable. Their intercourfe with the €®lonies has leflened their numbers very cons- iderably, owing to the rum (^hey are fupplied with, which is drank in great quantities by iioth &xe6. They hav-e ^ iiagi^r cuftom 'among them. Whenever a relation is killed, •be it in peace or war, it becomes the bufi- ^th of the next of kin to revenge his death. If the deceafed falls by the hand of one of ^heir awn people, the lex talionis is immedi-- ately in Aided on the author. M by the hand of a foreigner, Indian or White ; if no .a- ther means of pacification o^rs itfelf, the a • j^renger goes unattended into the country of the offender, let the diflance be ever fo far, and takes the fcalp of the firfb perfon he meets; ,and'then returns well &tisfied, thinking that he .has appeafed the unhappy manes of his departed kiolman. When a warrior is taken D in ' ( 20 ) in battle, the conqueror caniiot oblige hint more, than by putting him to death with uncommon tortures, becaufe he conceives it to be a completion of his heroifm.to die with- out complaining in the midft of the mod ex- quifite torments. In (hort, if the pofTeflion of many virtues, fullied but with few vices* can redeem thefe people from the imputation of being Savages and Barbarians, differing but little from the brutal part of the creation ; thefe epithets are improperly applied to them ; for tvcry one acquainted with their hiftory muH: allow, that exclufive of a little treachery in war, and perhaps fome degree of cruelty more than is pradtifed by better informed nai- tions, (the only errors which I think can be attributed to them j ) they fill up the narrow circle in which heaven has placed them, with as much dignity and propriety, as many do, in their enlarged fpheres, who think it a crime to have any communication with thofe untu- tor'd inhabitants of the weftern hemifpherc. There is a variety of nations amongft the In- dians who are independent people ; but they refemble each othe: fo much, that an account of one, will fervc very well as a defcription of them all. Permit me, my Lord, to fay a few words more as to employing the Indians, and then I (hall take my leave of the fubje- fortunate defeat of General Braddock ; for the army which oppoied his march, confided chiefly of Indians, who filled the Britifh fol- diers ears with the mofl dreadful yells ; but feldom gave them an opportunity of feeing the authors of the lamentable carnage which was made on that occafion. The American woodfmen pofifefs the fame knowledge, and practice all the arts which are to be found among the Indian warriors. Suffer me to prefume, my Lord, that the Britifh foldier is a flranger to both, difdaining to pro- te(5t himfelf in any other mannei* than by his bravery, and in the ^ce of his ad- verfary. Was it not then very proper to engage the Indians to attend general Bur- gpync, that they might fcour the woods for D 2 him^ ■ t-'i I- 1 « i* ( aa ) him, difcover the rebels fculkin^ parties, at- tack them in their own way, and preferve the Britifh army for more important fervices ? The anfwer of every ingenuous mind muft be in the afHrmative. Having made a few obfcrvations on thofe great topics of converfation and noife, the unfortunate furrender of General Bureoync*, and the junction of the Indians with his ar- my } I (hall now taks the liberty to mention to your Lordship what were the original four- ces of difcontent among the Americans, that if peace is reflored, your Lordship may be a competent judge, what alterations it may be necefTary to make^ in their future government. The period, my Lord, is not very far dif- tant, when the Americans thought them- felves, and really were, the happieft people under the fun. They vied with each other in duty to their fovereign ; and in thejr de- portment to the mother country, adted as be- came affedtionate children. No fulpicions, as to the Parliament, rankled in their breads } no jealoufies interrupted their confidence ; but one common intereil feemed to pervade all his Majefty's dominions. Such was their re- verence for the Houfe of Hanover, that when the Scotch firft went to fettle amongft them, though it was evident fucb inhabitants would open fome very advantageous branches of trade, and encreafe the value of American commodities ; yet they met with a cold re- , . ;; . ;. u . ception; ( S3 ) ceptlon ; becaufc they ware fuppoffc} r\ot to be ioya/» to the ppefent family i but now ihf cafe is Co much altered, that they will net fuflFer any of that people tg continue longer with them i becaufe they cannot perfuade them to become, di/toyuL Whenever pert'ons were on a voyage to P^ngland, it wa$ faid they were going borne i an expreilion which com* prehended in it every acknowledgment that wa3 necelTary, to (hew their union with and dependance on this country. America^ my Lord, is a country vaft in its extent, and in its fertility, wonderful. It has inexhauftible treafures in its bowels i and Its forrefts of timber arc unbounded. Every climate is to be found within its limits $ and every produdiion of the earth will flourifh in its bofom. No gloomy face of nature is to be found there ; the elements feem to combine to difFufe a chearfulnefs, and to give refidence to health. Their rivers not only fupply the inhabitants abundantly with fi(h j but afford them an eafy communication with the fea. No country can be better calculated for com- merce ; and the genius of the people has a turn to it. Happy, thrice happy might they have been, nad they kn&wn their own good, and enjoyed in peace, thofe blcflings which heaven had beftowed on them ; but plenty and fecurity begat pride, and pride ; the bafis of all folly, begat difcontent, and this in the end has reduced them to that de- plorable Aate, under wiiich they now labour. %:■ When 1 1, i ■«"l 11 < ( 24 ) When peace put an end to the laft war, and the terrors which Canada excited, were rc- movcd, by a ceffion of that country to his Majefty, things began to wear a new appear^ ance. As the Colonics thought they flood lefs in need of the afliftance of the parent kingdom, their attachment to it declined in proportion. This difaffedion was not equal in all the Provinces; it prevailed in New England more than in the fouthern govern- ments. A dodtrine was propagated, that as nature had made all men free $ fubordination was againil her laws ; although many thou- fand Blacks were held in the mofl abjedt fla- very by them. Nothing happened at that ^ime of fufHcient notoriety, to enable any one to determine with precifion how far their fentiments extended ; but this I can venture to fay, that the pafTing the Stamp Aiei<;d as fooii to the Sttitop A^, as accepted of it, iih*- kift thcit irptfefentatives had heen fo aa- tiiisrous, «s ico oonfHvute a majotity in ihb Htfiife'of 'GottMftOins. Every «ft« uwift admit, thtft Ibfe advcfitarers, who iirft fettled Briitiilh Ndtth America, were the sfefbjeias of E»^ land* They iemfigrared tin^r thie {>rateimy oth erica ; but would by lio means geknpvvledge the fypcemacy pf Pv- £ liamenc m hi- ■I 1 i':h %■:■ if' y \¥ I- ill* i aS ) liament over them. And 'tis obfcrvabie, that' the motto of the ancient arms of Virginia, was. En dat Virgi?iia ^artam^ fuppofing that that Country was as diftin(fl from this, as ei- ther of the other two, which give additional titles to the Kings of Great Britain. If then, my Lord, the Emigrants who firft fettled North America, were the fubjedts of England ; they certainly carried with them the laws end conftitution of their country. Upon what principle then, can their defcendants fuppofe themfelves to be out of the reach of Parlia- ment, which holds a fupreme power over all perfons and things belonging ta the flate ; and controuls and modifies every branch of the conftitution as occafion may recjuire; a power which has been exercifed from the be- ginning of time, as may be proved by the prefent exiftence of Magna Charta, our great Palladium; which has received fo many am- putations ; that there is fcarce an entire limb . of it, remaining at this day. If they claim this immunity from their charters, the argu- ment will be ftronger againfl them j for by thefe grants they are confidered only as Dem" zens', and mexprefs terms, are prohibited from paffing any adts d affembly, repugnant to the laws of England. If this reftridion does not keep them within the power of Parliament, i know not'what language could be found, to anfwer that purpofe. Some very refpectable writers have infifted, that the Stamp Ad: was in its nature unconftitutiona]> becaufe it v^s intended I I -1 1'' ent" om the not ent, to able was idcd '» { 29 ) intended for general purpofes; and yet ofily a ^•nall part of the Empire, and that not in- cluding the reprefentatives of the people, was the objeft of it. But this appears to me to be arguing very vaguely. I own, that it is a great fecurity to an Englifliman in point of taxation, that no burden can be laid on him, but what is likewifc impofed on his reprefen- tatives i and 'tis admitted, that the Stamp Ad: affeded the Americans only. But t3 put the matter on a fair footing, let me alk this quef- tion ; will the Americans agree to bs united "with England, fo that the whole expences of the Empire fhall be equally, or in any juft pro- portion, defrayed by the feveral branches of it? if they are inclined to come into this regula- tion. Great Britain I am confident will rejoice in fuch an union ; chearfully fliare with them all their Provincial charges; and give them as free a trade, as the people of this Ifland no^v enjoy. To fay therefore that the Americans {hall not be taxed by Parliament, either by themfelves, or when joined with the people of this Kingdom for any purpofe whatfoeverj becaufe the firft is partial, and in the other cafe they are not reprefented ; is to declare in plain words, that they (hall pay nothing to- wards the fupport of government, but what they in their condefcenlion may think pro per to grant ; which I take upon me to f?./, is an uhreafonable propolition. If they are unable to bear the immenfe load of expences which the people of this country are obliged E 2 .. to 1 '<■ • m m^ I'^ v. :• I m ,1. ■ gS! 3 it < 30 ) to fuftain,- let them contribute according to their ability; but let not the quantum of that fupply depend on their aflembliesj for though it has been faid, that they were always ready to give whenever applied to in that line j yet the hiftory of the laft war will contradi(5t that aflertion, and aiford ftrong reafons to prefume, that upon an application for a quota, many of their aflemblies would refufc to give one (hilling. It would be proper to leave to the refpedive aflemblies the mode of raifing the fum demanded of their Province ; but to be upony«r^ ground, the fum ought to bQ previa oujly afccrtained. The trade of America it muft be allowed, has been almofl ingrofl^ed by Great Britain; but when the drawbacks on goods exported, and the bounties on thofe imported are taken into the account, the trade will be found not to have been a fufficient l^ecompence, for what Great Britain has ex- pended in the protedion of that country. So that the predicament in which the Colonies muft appear to ftand, in the eyes of everyone who is not blinded by intereft, or che rage of party, is that of great corporations, capable of making local regulations, but by no means intitled to the priviledge of having indepen- dant Legiflatures. It muft be granted, that their aflemblies have frequently exercifed greater powers, than were permitted by their charters ; which, out of tendernefs to them, liave not been repealed by his Majefty ; but to turn an indulgence into a right, and to V - ^ - Jiolc| I ( 30 liold it a£ 91 weapon againfl a benefa^ory 1$ to jurtify a faying of Sylla's, when he was in- fulted after he had laid down his di(5tatorihjp» that fuch behaviour was a Icflbn to Princee^ never to part with a power when once pojfjjcd of it, I therefore, my Lord, under the fullcll: convidion, that my jugdment can receive, from the moft difinterefted, candid, and im- partial examination of the fubjeft, think my- felf bound in confcience to acknowledge it at my opinion^ that the Stamp Ad:, was not ai> pnconflitutional one, and that the violence with which it was oppofed, was indecent and .unwarrantable. But rights^ my Lord^ and tfx exercife of thoje rights, are fometimes found to he wry different conjiderations. The Stamp- Act itfelf did not furprife the Americans fo much, as a piece of policy which accompanied it. The a£t dircdted, that the duties fhould be paid in fpecie ; and the trade with the Spaniards, which was the only chan> nel through which gold and filver flowed into the colonies, was flopped. This reftridion, not only put the Americans under an impof- iibility of complying with the ad, but, at the •fame time, was a particular injury to this country. The greateft part of the coin in America, after a certain courfe of circulation, ultimately centered as bullion in Great Bri- tain. The Icarcity of bills, the height of cx-r change, and various other circumftances, made gold and lilveh, in many inftances, the fureft and moft eligible remittance to this place. ;■(■• ! ;i: '• I f M II 1 , h In ■I 8. II { 3« ) To deprive the mother country therefore of fo great an advantage, and to frudrate the dc- fign of the 3(51 fo efFedually, was fuch a po- litical manceuvre, that a man mud be more than a Machiavel to know how to account for it. Difcontent became univerfal upon the paf* fing of this ad:. Every thing was put in motion, in order to bring the difpute to the fame iflue that is now depending. Petitions, memorials, and remonft ranees, were pom- poufly prepared and publiflied. The courts pf juftice were fhut up; and merchants who had ihips ready for failing, and who had, perhaps their whole fortunes embarked on board them, were threatened with perdition, if they made ufe of a ftamp ; and every one was treated as a foe to his country, if he was daring enough to aiTcrt, that one Ipark of vir- tue was to be found in the Britiih parliament. In this ftate of things, when nothing but riot and diforder prevailed, an event happened, which huflied all their clamours, the parlia- ment was fjized with a fit of— lenity ; and the patpjcyfrn produced a repeal of the Stamps Ad. The ofteniible caufe of uneafinefs being re- moved, tbe nation was lulled into an opinion, th^t the efFedt would ceafe alfo j; but they . wer? miftaken in their expectations; difcord had taken up her abode ; her feeds were fown, and had taken root in & fruitful foil, and tho* thejeafon was unfavourable, yet notliing could prevent their coming to maturity. The lead- ers I I. (33) dcrs of fa(5liori faw, that noife (a cotomodity they dealt pretty largely in) carried with it, its own price ; and they were determined to have a iiifficient quantity of it at market. They became utterly diflatisfied with the go- vernment of this country, and conftrued into a grievance, every meafure that related to them. The oppreflions under which they fuppofed they laboured, were held out to the people with every colouring they could re- ceive ; and they were multiplied as much as poflible ; that what they wanted in weighty might be made up in number. The Con- grefs afterwards pubUilied a code of them ; but, I believe, their principal grievance was their dependance on Great- Britain. I (hall mention to your Lordfhip a few of thofe things, which were the fubjci ri Hi ( 48 ) haftenine very faft towards pcrfedlion, but the prefent difpute put a ftop to the rapidity of Its progrcls. At prefent, there are great ef- forts made by the Virginians and people of Carolina, to get this Henderfon to, unite him- felf to one of them ; but it is in9agine4r he will difappoint them both, and infift uppp ad- jding one flripe more to the arms of America. As the reafons for enlarging the boundaries of Canada were not at prft knowi^ ; it her came a prev^iiling opinion, that jt was ijitiend* ed to iupply tl^e place of the nevvr colony t^er fore-mentipn^cC and would be prp^vidii;^ qf greater iriifchicfa, as the Froich, >vh9 k^ ever been ajccufloi^ed to defpotifni, v^er^e. qn the fppt ready, and in all probabiU4;y wUliijig to reduce the other colonies to a le.V:el \yith thenifelves : but the ferment was a good 4p9^ lowered, when tim^ and infqrmatipn aCor^d their reafon an opportunity of exercifii^g it- felf. The (King certainly h^d a right to grantt, or fettle his land in any manner he thp^ght proper. The neijghbquring colonics could have no caiufe of coau>laint, unlefs fuch grants had interfered with their limits. This cquld not be, becaufe there was a provifp in the A(^, declaring, that it was not inti^nded io ^e£i t'ke bowidaries of any other colony* Xf the Crown ever meant tpimake ufe pf the French, againil the liberties of America, it could be done, as well under the old extent of Canada as the new.*— Jt wfa^ univerfa^y known* that many dciperate men left thek lower fettle- ments. I (49) milriti, and fixed thcmfelvcs m the back '' country, out of the reach of legal procefe, and indeed out of Lie bounds of any of the Provinces j and it was ftrongly fufpeAed, that they fbmetimcs aflumed the appearance of" Indians, ivent into the interior parts, and plundet^d many plantations with which they were before acquainted. It was therefore ne- ceflary, to include thefe freebooters within fome government. Canada was thought the mofl proper, as its inhabitants were woodf* men, and would make it a point, to hunt out thefe pefts of fociety. — The ikin trade had been carried on in a very irregular man- ner, and the Indians were greatly impofed on in their barters with the traders ; who dealt v> ith them without authority, and took every advantage they could of thefe unguarded peo- ple. Government fhewed great wifdom in their intention, to reduce this trade to feme advantageous fyftem 5 which it was very plain tliey could, under proper regulations. Ca- nada, from its fituation, the extent and courfe of its rivers, the variety of fettlemcnts on thofe waters, was beyond a difpute the beflf place, when enlarged, to be made the center of this trade. A very judicious pamphlet Which was publiflied, ilating the jullice and policy of this Ad, lilenced, lor fome time, all objedions to it ; and every clamour, which was made to it afterwar»ls, arofc from the idea of loling the Fur Trade, by its being transferred by this new regulation to the people V ( 5o) people of Canacla« and which was certainly a very beneficial meafure to this country. Gentlemen were very much divided in their opinions, with refpedt to the e^ecfts of a paper currency, which was introduced the laft war, to anfwer the purpofes of government j and which from further exigencies has been ever fmce kept on foot amongft them. 3ome . thought, that as the trade with the Spaniards* from whence gold and filver came, was pro- ^ hibited, that commerce muil: decline for want of a circulating medium. Others infiftedy that a creation of paper would be an exclufion , of fpecie ; and that a clandefline trade would . bring in a fufficient quantity of caih, to an- fwer the bufinefs of circulation, fiut as foon . as an adt of parliament palTed, procured as it was imagined by fome mercnar who knew very little about the matter, ir. siting the alTemblies from making; it a legal tender ^ there was but one voice about it, and every one declared, that the Colonies muft be ruin- ed under fuch a reflridtion. Had fome branches of trade been left open, there is no doubt but the neceflity of emitting paper would have been removed i but at all events* the merchants were alarmed without reafon, for fuch a guard was put upon it, that it was impoilible they could receive an injury from it. There has been an inilrudtion to the Go- vernors of many years (landing, to difallow appeals to the King and Council, where the value in difpute is under cooL flerling. This f^ I . •1 ■■ ♦'.I ¥ ' ( !' ) This was thought to be a hardiliip to the Tui- tbrs, and very impolitic to the mother country. It amounted, it was faid, to an exclulion of ap- peals, the birthright of the fubjed; as there are few caufes tried in the Courts of America, of that confequence. The judges in the Co- lonies may be very upright men, but never can be thought of fufficient M\'ity,JinalIy to decide cafes that are under their confideration. When queftions are debated before different judges verfed in law, the truth cannot lie long concealed 5 and parties become fatisfied, when their cafe has undergone a variety of difcuf- iions 5 but when matters of confequence are determined by one fet of judges, and they perhaps but little acquainted with the law, irretrievable errors mufl frequently happen, and the fecyrity of property be rendered very precarious ; beildes, a judge, when he knows that his opinions lie open to the criticifm of a fuperior, will be more accurate in his deci- iions ; but when he is under no controul, his paflions may operate on his judgment^and great injuftice arife from his determinations. There is nothing which can give a greater inlight into the policy and manners of a people, than a knowledge of their forenfic controverfies. Mens paflions are apt to kindle upon thefe occafions ; and theiowprogreflion of fuits, afford them time to coUcdt every thing they can againft one another. Referve is put afide, and every thing is laid before ihe judge. This circumflance, in cafe appeals from the Colo- H nics rprrr t'i ".|! ^!i,! ('! \i ^le 1' M ;i .:..,■••,, --' :. > ( S2 ) • .. ^-_- nlcs had been more frequent, befides pirtdrtg money into the pockets of many perfons here, would have brought more information with refpedl to the people of America, than could have been colle(5led from any other quarter. However notwithftanding thefc remarks, I • think it was proper to retrain appeals tofbme certain value, (otherwife the time of the King and Council would have been chiefly employed by American caufes) efpecially, under the la- titude always allowed of removing cafes to England by a ,^ecial mandamus, when the intricacy or i'njuftice of them made fuch a proceeding proper. There were many other circumftancesof dif- . content difplayed by the Congrefs» in order to accumulate their grievances to as gr^at a bulk as pdffible ; but they are of too little confe- quence to be mentioned at this time.Thofe that I have enumerated were the chief, which were confidered by the people as indications of the tyranny of this country. Groaning, as they pretended under thefc repeated a£ts of oppref- iion, and fearful that greater burdens would be. laid on tbem, the leaders of the populace of New England, thought it high time to be- gin the great work of independance. They looked at their numbers, and fnagnified xhztt% to three millions ; they took it for granted, that their trade would purchafe the afliilance of France; and they flattered themfelves that the found of liberty, would draw to them all the valuable inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland. IS here, >n with 1 could juarter. irks, I to ibme le King iployed the la- Da fes to len the fuch a ;of dif- >rder to a bulk confe- :'rethat h were of the s they ppref- would pulace tobe- They ^them •anted, iilance zs that em all in and eland. ( 53 ) Ireland. In ibort, they conceived they had a great deal to hope, and but Hale to fear; for ht the event be as it would, they aflured them- fclves, that America muft be a gainer in the conteft. As the lower clafs in a nation, do the drudgery in all arduous undertakings j it was thought necefTary to prepare their mind«, fo as to alienate their afflrdtions from the mother country, and to incline them to ad: the part which was to be allotted to them. Ha- rangues were delivered to induce them to think that their looms would be rupprcffed, or at leaft very heavily taxed by Parliament ; their fkill and induftry having become, as it tvas hinted to them, objects ofjealoufy to t^c Englifh ; that their property, though earned by the fweat of their brows, would be drawn from them to pamper the pcrfons of their Tax Mafters ; rhat tea was a poilbnous drug, upon which a fmall duty was laid at firft> in order to fix a precedent, by which everything they ufed in their families, would in future be taxed. The peafantry in all countries are ripe for commotion, when they are led to be- lieve that oppreffion is at hand. This was the cafe with the populace at Bofton ; they were fired at the idea of labouring for others, who from their diftance could make no re- turn, by /pending any part of their fortunes gmongft them. The riiigleaders of the re- bellion, finding that the minds of the people vvere wrought up to the pitch they wifhed ; gnd being infgrmcd, that theEail India Com- H 2 pany ►,« :.C I I ( 54 ) pany had leave to import tea into the cplp- nies, a large part of which was defined to Bofton ; thought the deftrudlion of it, on its arrival, would be a good ground to procec4 on, as they were convinced, that his Majefty would refent fuch a violation of property, and endeavour to punifh the authors of it, and then the quarrel vvould begin. Accordingly when the tea arrived, a large body of men tumultuoufly affen^bled, and in the moft info- lent and outrageous manner, went on board the {hips and threw it all into the river. This was done without confulting the other colo- nies ; for they thought that when it was done, it woi^ld fix them in making it a commoii caufe ', and that ftep by ftep, their great pur- pofe might be efFedted. Every thing fucceeded to their wi(h, the other Provinces juftified very readily, the adt of the Boftonians, and fol- lowed their examplej except in one or two pla- ces where the tea was not immediately deftroy- ed, but its execution was poftponed, until it could be performed with greater folepinity,an4 in a more exemplary manner. The King and Parliament receiving fuch an infult in this outrage, proceeded to make an example of the authors of it. Amongft: other things the port of Bofton was Ijiut up, and the conftitutiori of ihe country changed, and brought into a line more analogous to the government of the other colonies, and to the principles of the Britifli conftitution. This was moft loudly complained of, and was thought a capital part ' -. /. " ' • " of i. .an( . ( 55 ) qf the tyranpy of this country. I fhall not^ my Lord, enter into the grounds of this mea- fure, as it would render me very tedious to explain my ideas of it j but I muft fay that there is no man who knows what a conftitu- jion is, but muft allow, that no government ever ftood more in need of an alteration in it^ form, than New England did. Charters arc jt is true facred grants j but the due exerciie of the powers given by them, are equally to be obferved, and there are a thoufand inftan- jces, in which it was plain, that they looked on their charters as mere blank pieces of paper. On the day that the Bofton port bill was to take efFe(fl ; fafts were ordained, and every one under pain of the mob's difpleafure, was bound to obferve them with the utmoft ex- adtnefs. By circular letters, eacb colony was jdefired to fend a number of reprefentatives, who were to meet at Philadelphia, to con- fider of the ftatc of America, and be ftiled delegates, and the colledive body to be called a Congrefs. Upon their firft meeting they took upon them a power, which the Roman Confuls had upon urgent occafions given them, 'videant confuies ne quid detrimenti republica ac- cipiat : all government upon this was thrown off in the colonies; the King's right to the lands was denied -, the governor's power to diflblve the aflemblies treated as an ufurpa- tion j their perfons, as well as thofe of the crown officers infultcd ; every province was ruled by a convention, and every county by a com- ¥ I If -I i :1 Ji mi lit ( S6 ) a committee j and nothing but confufion reigned throughout America. I have good rcafon to aflert, that though in the ^r/i con- grefs, nothing was mentioned ptiilic/y, yet that a majority of the members, upon com- paring notes privately together, thought that America was ripe for a feceflion from the Mother Country. Their opinions were found- ed on the idea they had of their own diftance and flrength, and the encouragement they received from England. They were aflured from various quarters, that the luxuries of ^his country had melted down the valour of ^he great, and that the common people were fill on their lide; that the manufadturing towns would be ruined if the trade of the co- lonies was difcontinued J that Lord North had in many places been burned in effigy, and would foon be brought to a fcaffold, for his adminiftration towards them ; that the minority who were their fteady friends, were men of the firft ccnfequence, and were daily Jncreafing, by the acceflipn of many refpedt- able charadtefs to its number ; that then was the critical moment to make a ftand, againft the unnatural and arbitrary encroachments of their parent country, which from its fitu- ation, muft give them their own terms ; and they were flattered with an idea, that liberty had abandoned Europe, and had iixed her creft on the arms of America, as the only place where (he could be feen, in her pro- per luftre. When the Americans found they were 'St ( 57 ) were deceived in thefc firft aflurances, 'tis arto- niffaing, that they (hould place a confidence in any others ; but by a kind of magic the pre- tended friends to that country, have found means to keep up the dehiiion to this day. And here, give me leave to exprefs my won- der, that a difpute of this nature fhould, on the part of America, find a fupport amongil the gentlemen of this kingdom. The point io queflion is not now, whether the parlia- ment can confidantly with the conflitution» tax the colonies : in that cafe» a divifion might be expedted ; but whether the Ame- ricans ihall become an independant people to the prejudice pf this nation, whofe blood and treafure have been laviflied in their protec- tion 5 and to the injury of a great number of individuals, who from their adherence to order and duty, muft be ruined, if fuch an event (hould happen. DifTolute men, who have no regard to their own, cannot be ex- pedted to pay any attention, to the welfare of their country. Peifons of defperate for- tunes, whom nothing but the wreck of the empire can rcftore, may wi(h to accomplifh its ruin. Obfcure and infignificant beings, like Eroftratus, who burned the temple of Ephefus, to perpetuate his name to poAcrity, may feize the only opportunity of making thcmfelves confpicuous, by fignalizing thcm- felves, in promoting the deftrudtion of their country. Ambition may prompt another cla(3 to found an alarm and promote confufion, in order K U ill *■ ■t ill m -i •■: « ^ ( S8 ) brder to bring about a removal of the minif- try, ftep into their places, and then fay that their eyes are opened, and do the fame things which they are now condemning. But that men of fortune and underfta'nding ; and dig- nified members of ths church, v^hen the Americans profefs fuch an utter diflike to epifcopacy, have expelled their pacific Clergy, aboli(hcd all livings, and left the whole at the mercy of their parifhioriers ; that fuch men ihould cherifh rebellion, afid throw every ob- Aacle in the way to prevent a fuppreffion of it, is to me the moft aftonifliin'g circumftance, that I believe is to be found in the hiftory of man. If thefe gentlemen would refledt, that the American trade employed at leaft 2000 fhips, and 30000 feamen ; that this country could draw from thence any quantity of tim- ber and n^val ftores j that the colonies took of the goods and merchandizes of Great Bri- tain, to the amount of three millions per an- num : though thefe advantages were not fui- ficient to entitle them to an exemption from taxes J yet the perfons I allude to, if thefe confiderations were attended to, would, I am confident,acknowledge, that every nerve fhould be ftretched, to fupport the honour and dig- nity of this infulted Kingdom. The encouragement which the rebels re- ceived from England, was greatly ftrength- ened by their own fuggeftions, arifing from the repeal of the Stamp Ad:. On that day, when the Parliament refcindcd an adt, which they re- t 59 ) . they had palTed with Co much deliberation 5: not from any convidiefl— o£ its impropriety, but with the hope of appealing the violence which was ufed in oppoiition to it, the genius of England departed from her; and from thence we may date the lofs of her influence Over the colonies. The Americans faw that the fame caufe would produce the fame effedl; and that if this country gave way to vehemence in one infl:ance, they would in another -, they attributed this relaxation not to a defire to keep peace, but to an in- ability to maintain its authority. Wheihcf they were miftaken or not, time will make a difcovery. Whenever a regulation is like- ly to afFed: a number of people, it ought to be weighed with the utmod caution and deliberation ; but when once the decree is pafled, and the meafure adopted ; if the ftandard of violence is raifed agalnft it, ruaf ealiim fiat jufl'ttia. Though the majority of the Congrefs were very clear, as to indepen- dance in a fubfequent meeting, yet, when it was propofed to the people, they were far from being unanimous in their opinions upon that important fubjedl. Some of the fenlible part of them forefaw the diftrefs they mud be involved in, if they feparated from the mother country; and were therefore willing to piifh off the evil to a future day ; to be en- countered by pofterity, as better able to en- gage in a caule of fo much hazard and diffi- tuhy. But the New Jinglandefs and cotp- I • mon *T^ rv.t ( 60 ) mon people of the other Provinces, who hail feizcd all the power, and were become tho general dire<5tors of the ftate in all cafes, re- jedled every idea of accommodation, and were refolved to break off all connexion with this country. The mobs had inftituted a mode of punifliing the difafFedled, as new as it was curious > which kept mankind in the moft perfect order, as it required not the fo- lemnity of a trial previous to it, but was im- mediately inflidled on the fufpcded, as fooa as a number of people could be colledted, in order to take warning from this exemplary j-unifliment : this was called and known by the polite name of, tarring and feathering. The method of performing this elegant ope- ration is as follows The unhappy vidlim is firft flripped of his cloaths and fliirt, and in folemn procef^oii, amidft the hiflings of a multitude of fpet!tators, is then led and tied to a long pole fixed in the ground, on which the infignia of Liberty are moft triumphant- ly difplayed. Near to this pole is placed a large pot of tar, with a bru(h or mop ; imple- ments very happily calculated to execute this moll: civilized puni(hment ! After the people are informed of the hcinoufnefs of the fuf- fercr's crime, which is, that he has proved himfelf to be inimicaiy (a word technically ufed on this occafion) to his country, the ex- ecutioner enters upon his office, and the cri- minal is plentifully fuffufed with this fragrant aromtatic from head to foot. This is repeated, , ,.-« . . ' untii vho had )me tho afes, rc- md were vith this a mode ;w as it . in the t the fo- was im- , as food edted, in «emplary nown by ithering. gant ope- vidim is t, and in Ings of a I and tied on which jmphant- placed a ; imple- ecute this he people the fuf- as proved ;chnically y, the ex- d the cri- is fragrant repeated* until ( 6i ) until his fkin has received as much as will Hick to it ; after which, if any part of the precious liquid remains, the culprit is ho- noured with a general libation of it, by put- ting the pot upon his head, leaving the con- sents to defcend wherever it meets a pniTage, till he becomes in appearance one mafs of tar. Then this knight of the woeful figure is dragged to a quantity of feathers, and is rolled in them, till he looks like a Friezland fowl ; after this, he is made to thank his judges for the lenity of his punifliment, and is permitted to return to his own houfe, to the terror of his dogs, who are ready to de- vour him, where in about three weeks fcrub- bingi he may get rid of the tar and its per- fume ; but he retains much longer his auburn complexion, and forever after has as prevail- ing an averfion to tar, as a man in an hydro- phobia has to water. This method of col- ledling votes, foon procured a great majority in favour of independance. An occafion was now only wanted, to juftify with the people of England fo remarkable a revolution j for although the Americans hjid been greatly en- couraged fronri this country, to hold out till they obtained their own terms, yet they were not very clear, that a declaration of indepen- dance would be well received in England. But they were foon fupplicdwith\vhat they thought fully anfwered their purpofej this was the att for prohibiting all intercourfe and com- merce with America. This ad was confidered I 2 as mi! u'fi' ffl: 111 i!'! ( 60 as a renunciation of them as fubjcfls, and iufficiently warranted their reparation frorr> this kingdom ; accordingly, by a folcmn re- folution, they proclaimed themfelves an in- d pendant people, by which means they withdrew their allegiance from a prince, wliofc life is an honour to human nature, and thiCvV themfelves into the arms of an acknow- ledged Tyrant. There is no man in the community who more devoutly wifhes that peace may be re- flored to his Majefty's dominions, on honour- able and fatisfadtory terms to both parties, than myfelf. An happy union would not only fet this nation above all its enemies, but a( the fame time would be an advantage to the Americans. They are the defcendants of Britons, and are allied to them by every con- nexion which relationfhip, language, man- ner?, religion and intereft can form. Expe- rience has fhewn, that whilft they acknow»- ledged Great Britain as their head, all their difputes were eafily adjuftedj but there is great reafon to fuppofe, that if they were left to themfelves, their jealoufies would fet them at variance, and that they would tumble to pieces by their own inteftincdiflentions. Some little time ago, a difpute aroie between the ;Penfylvanians and Virginians, with refpe<5t to .the boundary of their Provinces : the former, by extending their line, took in Fort dii ^Quefne, now Fort Dunmore, which the lat- _.ter infilled belonged to tl^eir colony. Thq ; difference s, and 1 fron> mn re- an in- s they prince, ire, and :know- ty who be re- lonour- parties, ipt only , but at e to the ants of ry con- man- Expe- know»- 1 their Here is ere left them ible to Some en the pedt to brmcr, ort dii he lat- Th^ erence * ;t (63) diftercnce was worked up to fuch a height, that hoflilities actually commenced betweei^ jthem. This would moft certainly have pro- duced a war between them, had they been independant Hates : but having a fuperior to appeal to, the difpute was, after fome mcf- fagcs and letters had pafTcd between Lord Dunmore and Mr. Penn, governors of thofe colonies, left to his Majefty's determination, and all their animoHty was laid aiide. The great increafe of their flrength and riches iince the lad war, and the augmentation of their trade, evidently prove, that the hand of pppredion has never been laid on them j but that every indulgence has been ihewn them, which could poflibly be done, without a ma^ nifeft injury to this country. Every produc* tion of theirs, which was confumed in Eng^- Jand, fold at a much better price, than it would have produced at any other market. The lands, from whence thefe prqfi table com^ modities arife, are held under the eailefl te<- nures. To encourage their induOry, boun- ties have been given on a great nucaber of ar- ticles. Their coafts have always been pro- tected by (hips of war j and aji*mios have been |ent to their ailiilance, to defend them froia their enemies. In the laft war, when Jbme .of the cplonies made an exertion againii the FreiK:h, though it was immiediately for their . o%in fafety, yet the parliament diflributed a large fum of money amongft them* to cafe |hcm in fome meafure in their expences, ^hich '!'!," ■'l^ li ll ;iic p ll' 'i. i 1 hi ■ ' I 11 ' ' i * ( 64 ) which out of tendfcmcfs to them, it was feared they could not fuftain. A comparifon of the ftate of America, between that and t!ie pre- fcnt time ; muft fill every one with wonder, to obferve the aftoni(hing flride it has taken in fo fhort a fpacc, towards maturity. In the firft period, it was kept in eternal apprchenfions from Canada : and if the army under Baron Diefkaw, had not very fortu- nately been defeated by Sir William Johnfon, and the General himfelf taken prifoner, the confequence might have proved very fatal to fome of the Colonies. But fo miraculoufly have they advanced in power and confidence iince that time, that they have not only in- vaded the country, which before kept them in fuch awe; but have alfo bid denance to Great Britain, which redeemed them from thofe formidable enemies The return they baye made for all thefe benefits, lias been to fly to arms j and to rejed:all connexion with their beiicfadors and proteftors. If thefe de- luded men would have waited with a little pa- tience, till Great Britain had with its fofter- ing hand raifed them to a ftate of real Man- hood; it would, I am perfuaded, like a tender • parent, have given them every advantage at which they are now premfjturely gi'afping ; and alliance, and not authority> woulr^ have form- ed the band, by which the two countries would have been united. But all thefe fa- ' vourable profpeds feem now to be vifionary ; jrnd the fwxjcd, unlefs the pirefent fyftem of i .. ' policy Ian- tender [ge at ', and rorm* Intries le fa- lary ; jm of )olicy I ) ( ^5 ) policy fliould fuccced, mufl be the arbiter anci delernaine the controverfy. The war in America, though carried on in fupport of the dignity of this Kingdom, has involved the miniftry in much cenfure -, andi all the evils which have happened, have been laid at their doors ; it being taken for grant- ed, that they might have prevented then), had their condudt been moderate inilczdoito/ii/e in the commencement of this controverfy. I may be mirtaken in my opinion; but if I am, it pro- ceeds from an error in my judgment, bat not in my heart. I will therefore ilate this mat- ter as fhortly as I can, and leave the reader to judge, whether, upon the fadts which I fliall mention and know to be true; reprehenfion has not been very unjuftly thrown on thefe gen- tlemen who have had the direction of the pub- lic affairs, during the prefent unhappy dif- pute, I own myfelf an ititerefied man ; but by no means under the influence of any one. Previous to the year 1767, a duty of ijji y/f per pound, was fubfifting on tea, payable on exportation', upon a review at that time, of the feveral afts refpec^ting that commodity, it was thought proper to reduce the duty to 3d, and it was made payable in the colonies, inftead of Great Britain, In 1770, all the difagreeable duties were repealed, except that on tea, which the Americans at that time thought was kept up as a monument of the power aflumed by Par- liament over them. Whether the principle of ^ this '//. / i: Kii im (66) ttiis alteration » was to preferve the claim of fd- premacy over the colon iesor,to weaken the prac- tice of fmu?glin?, is imnriatefial , the regula- tion had received iti fiat^and muft abide by the confequence. That was the period when the Americans oilght to have made their ftand againft it if they difapprovcd of ii j arid there is no doubt btit that the parliament, upon a: eifCt'M rcprefentation, might have been in-i duccd to repeal it. But on the contrary, no tfmonftrance was rriade ; teas were imported, and the duties colledled throughout the colo- nies, without a fingle complaint, that was ever made public: and Lord Hillfborough's letter, declaring that the King's minifters had ho intcntiori of propofing any further tax o \ America, fcemed to give univerfal fatisfadfcion; The Eaft India company having obtained leave to import teas into the colonies, fent a large quantity of it to Bofton and other places. This was certainly a great advantage to the 'Americans ; for the confumer was enabled cd purchafe tea of the company, 1 oo per Cent. , cheaper, than he could have done in the ufukl ivay of importing it in fmall quantifies. Up- • on the arrival of the tea, the people of Bolldn tumultuoufly affembled, entered the fhips that had any on board, and threw the whole into the river. And left this adt pf violence ' Ihould not vbe taken notice of, in the manner they dedred; they added every degree of radenefs«nd cpennefs to it ; to (hew, that it Was not dpne by a t bough tlejs mob ; but with the • ♦• ( 6/ ) the general approbation of the body of the people. The miniftry waited fotne time, to fee if any reparation or acknowledgment would be made for this outrage ; or if thefe diftur- bers of the public peace, would be called on and puni(hed in the courts of juftice; but nothing of that fort paffing ; but on the contrary, the deftrudion of the tea, being publicly judified throughout the colonies; riiey very properly confidered it, not as tha adt of a giddy multitude, but as the deliberate proceeding of a rebellious country. What then was to be done ? Would it have been prudent to put up with this infult ; and let tbofe turbulent people go on as they pleafed ? Such a line of condudt, would only have added difgrace, to what has already hap- pened* It has been faid, that government ought to have demanded fatisfaction before it rcforted to arms. Upon the earlieft occafion the affemblies were convened, and every mea- fure ufed by the governors, to footh thefe un- ruly people into good temper; but before any thing could poflibly be effedted, they came to refolutions of fo extraordinary a nature, that diffolutions became indifpenfibJy necefTary.Be- fides, flopping up the port of Boilon, uniil re^ paration was made, was a demand, and the moil fuitable that could be made, to fuch an occa- iion. Others have been weak enodgh to ar- gue, that the Eaft India Company ought to have fought redrefs from the courts of juftice, inftead of involving government in the dif- K . puts. I;H' m\ 3 it !" •I Mil ifill' '! J; ( 68 ) pute. I (hould be glad to know, who were to be made the objects of their fuits ; in what judicature they were to be brought, and who were to be their agents to carry on the pro- lecution. As to the firft they were unknown, and it was hardly to be expedcd, to find in- formers, who would give in their names. Touching the fecond : No one could be fo ignorant as to fuppofe, that juftice could be obtained in any court, when the minds of the people, were fo generally poifoned as to this country ; and with re(pc(fl to the profe- cutor, if any attorney-general or other lawyer had been applied to, to ammiffi- of mak- the fub- which IS para^ lafk aKC un- :ertainly der the the ul- lon and in their conduct ( 69 ) condud, it was, in not beginning their correc- tion a little fooner. Here again they wfT; blamed, by fome for fending an army at ail ; by others, for fending too (mall a one ; but being unacquainted with the Americans them^ felves^ tiiey confulted thofe who very pro- perly were fuppofed to know them heft : and being told, that a few troops fent over 10 ftrengthen the General's hands, would inti- midate the Americans into a fenfe of their duty i they regulated themfelves accordingly. I proteft that I was of the fame opinion, though I was never afked any queilions about it. And when it was found neceffary after- wards to augment the forces ; as good (hips and troops as ever were in fervice, were fent over ; and the command given to two bro- thers, who —I fo highly unproved of, that had the nomination lain with the people, thefe gentlemen would have been appointed. When the army arrived, any conceliion from the rebels would have put an end to the affair, as it was underftood that General Gage, had orders to adt on/) on the defenfive ; but in- dead of (hewing the leaft inclination to filence the difpute, by any lenient kind of behaviour, every preparation was made for war, and be- fides an hundred other ads of hoftility ; they actually made the ^r/i fire on the King's troops. Men can reafon very \yell on events after they have happened ; and fome may flat- ter themfelves, with an idea that they would have adted with more fuccefs, had they been K 2 to-e^te.) \,m '' ■t : ■ : 'II ', ( 70 ) in adminiftration ; but I am fully convinced, and every one who was in America at the time muft agree in opinion, that government proceeded on the beft ground ; and that tem- porizing with the rebels, would not have healed the difturbance ; but on the contrary, would have lowered the honour of this coun- try, and fubjedted it to greater contempt. It is imagined, that the offer made by the rebels to fubmit to the authority of Great Britain, if the ads which diflurbed their minds fo much, were repealed, had been accepted; that it would have put an end to the diflurbances ; but I am clearly convinced, it would have made matters much worfe j for the comply- ing with one demand would have given birth to another, which would not have ended lliort of indcpendance 5 it would have ena-r bled the rebels to fmuggle more extenfively, and fupply themfelves with every thing they wanted, fo as to carry on the war with more vigour; and it would have placed the parlia- ment in a very difgraceful point of view j amounting to an acknowledgment, that they were either ifraid of the Americans ; or elle that they had not paffed an aft in the reign of George the Third relative to them, but "what was an improvident one. Upon the whole of thefe circumflances, however un- favourable the face of things may be at this Xime ; however perfofi^fe who have had no con- cern in public affairs during the war, from the ill fuccefs which has attended fome of our operations. m i ivinced, at the irnment lat tern- ot have ontrary, is coun- npt. It le rebels Britain, linds fo ed; that bances ; Id have [romply- en birth e ended ive ena-!- enfively, ing they ith more e parlia- >f viev7 J hat they ; or elle be reign em, but pon the ;ver un- le at this . no con- ir, from le of our lerationSy 3< ( 7> ) operations, may triumph over thofe vi^ho have had the diredion of thejn ; 1 could venture to pledge myfelf, that if the fame plan was to be purfued with a little more vigour, than has hitherto attended its execution ; that Great Britain will again poUefs its authority over America j and that the people of that country, when their paflions are fubfidpd, will be as happy in being refcued from their con- neiStions with France at this day, as they were in being redeemed by the power of this coan** try from the Canadians in the lad war. War being determined on, there were two ways of condtiding it. The firft, was to confine it to the fea ahne ; the fecond, on a more enlarged fcale, to fend an army to co* operate with the navy. The laft was very wifely adopted, as moft likely to do the bu- finefs with the greateft expedition. Men of warm tempers and fanguine hopes, might ex- peift to finifli the war in a campaign or two ; out thofe who knew America, and the difpo- fition of the inhabitants, muft have forefeen, that the fubdaing that people, would be a work of time. Either of thcfe methods, even at this day, if properly iafbrced, would put an end to the conteft. 15 the troops were withdrawn, and the (hips left to block up their ports, and cut off all communication with other countries, diltrefs would oblige the Rebels to fubmit to this country : but if, with the afliftancfe of the (hips, an army was on foot, fuflicient to attack them in different .. quarters ■ IKlft h:.,S t U 13'! ■i t!" ( 72 ) quarters at the fame time, and by that means divide their power* and prevent their making one army, tne ftrength of the whole Conti- nent, there is not a Shadow of doubt, but that the quarrel would foon be brought to a con- cluiion. But a third aid is called in, terms of conciliation are offered, in order to ftop the further efFuHon of blood, and iinifh* by an olive branch, what otherwije the compulfive hand of war muft put an end to. God fend that thefe overtures may prove fuccefsful, and that peace may be efVabliOied throughout all his Majedy's dominions. This condefceniion in the Parliament, vav^foJIibly have a bad elFcdt. In the beginning of the difpute, the Congrefs offered to return to their duty, provided cer- tain offenfive adts of the Legidature were re- pealed. The Parliament then refufed to com- ply with their demands; but now, after a great expence of blood and treafure, they are difpofed to come into that propofition. This may create an idea, that Great Britain is over- come, and make the Americans more obfli- nate in iniifling on their independancy. It may alfo give the Congrefs a merit with the people, (which has been lately on the decline) in finding their aflurances true, that Great Britain, if America would ho.M out, would relinquifh the fcheme of conquering them. In fuch cafe, the treaty will be at an end. If it is accepted, it may proceed from a defire to get rid of their prefent diftrefs, in order to |>lH themfelves into a better fituation^ that ' ; their ti- lt «) :at d n it to to at ir ( 73 ) their reH (lance may be more effedu^l at a fd^ ture day. But (hould this ani'cable propofal be rejected ', the refufal may produce one or both of thefe good efFefts ; it may give una- nimity to the people of this countiy; and no- thing elfe is wanted, to make them victorious over ail their enemies i for it will from thence be plainly difcovered, that no grievance, but a third after independance has occafioned the rebellion ; or it may create a divifion amongd: the individuals, if not the provinces, and in* cline thofe, who are for peace, to join the friends of government, and oblige the Con«- grefs to concur in the blefled work of peace. Though the fuccefs of this negociation is invcloped in great obfcurity, and gives rife to a variety of fentiments ; yet my opinion is, that the Congrefs (in which the people in ge- neral will certainly join them) will cordially re- ceive the propofal, and thereby put an end to the unhappy conteft* The diftrefs of the Americans is at this time fo great, that though perhaps they might be unwilling, af- ter the parade which they have made, to be the firft movers in a reconciliation ; yet they may be very ftrongly inclined to embrace any terms, when propofed originally by this coun- try. They may /eceive this propofal, not as fome people confrue it, an humiliating one ; but as a mark of the return of their parent's affeftion for them, and be heartily difpofed to renew their friendihip, aod bury in oblivjoa every animofity. They have found that their -,1,,..... .. . ftrepgtU w J) » i «»(! ?i., 1 ill ■T 1 m m ( 74 ) ^rength is unequal to the power of this coun- try, which is a truth that fad experience has told them, if we may judge from the reduced ftate cf Mr. Wa(hington*s army. This will probably bring them to reflexion, and, when they confider their want of the neceiTaries of life; the great impediment which the war has been to the cultivation of their lands; the diflrefs of private families, arifing from the lofs of many of their relations and friends, who have fallen in battle; the (ecurity it will he to gentlemens eflates, to be exempted from forfeiture; the relaxation from the fatigues and dangers of war ; the fears from which the timid will be relieved, by the reftoration of peace, added to the appearance of a large armament ready to a^, in cafe of a refufal i they certainly will be difpofed to put an end to their miferies, by an accommodation, rather than lengthen them, by continuing the war. But if they ihould ftill be fo in- fatuated, as to infift on their independance as ^ preliminary article of the treaty ; my ad- vice is, my 'Lord, that you never accede to it. Proteft againft it in the mod explicit manner, and let ihat proteflation be, like the laws of the Medes and Periians, unalterable. And if, «t a future day, any man fhould be hardy enough to move for an alteration of fuch a kc- olution ; kt him, a& was formerly done, in a ftate of Greece, by every one who moved for an innovation in government, do it with a baiter about his tmk* The chje#tpnefs of the neceflaries 1 1 r, ' It ■ (' it. ef, of if. bdy ( 75 ) neceflaries of life j the great quantity of land to be had on the eaficft terms j the encourage- ment which will be given to artificers and other people to fettle an:iongft them ; the high wages they would give to feamen, and their exemption from preffi ng ; curiofity and twen- ty other motive?, will carry over to them a great number of the inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland, as well as from different parts of Europe j which will pufh them for- ward, beyond any thing that has been expe- rienced in pail: times. And although the debt they may have contraded in the prefent war, will be found very large, and, if paid off, will throw a heavy burden on the people, (which J)offibly may alarm perfons inclined to refidc aniongft them) yet that ob/lacle would be very eafily removed, either by funding their money, and making their taxes eafy to the people, or abolifhing the debt, which would be done \n'ithout hefitation, as a purchafe of their independance. I have my fears alfo, my Lord, about the Weft Indies and Newfound- land filheries ; I wifh, that future events may not prove my alarm well grounded. Should a treaty be entered into, a great difficulty will arife, as to the paper money now in circulation amongft them. I would ftrongly recommend it to your Lo:d(hip*s bet- ter judgment, that, at all events, they may be permitted to redeem it. It may look like giving a fandtion to what has been their fiipr- port in the prefent, and may be of -pernicious • L conic- ( 76 ) conlequence on another occafion j but I am perfuadcd, that it will have a contrary cfFecft, for when the people are made to pay in real money for what was of little value to them, it will make them very cautious, how they ■will be concerned with it again. And 1 am the more llrongly difpofed to prefs this mea- fure, becaufe I know that the friends of go- vernment will be found to polTefs no other money but this trafli, which, added to their other lofles; muft effet^ually beggar them- felvcs and their families. The fums of paper money, which have been already emitted, exceed all bounds ; and I have been credibly informed, that if the war was to continue a few years longer, at the rate they have hitherto gone oxiy that the American, would be almoft equal to the national debt of this kingdom. It is a matter of curious fpeculation to gentlemen acquainted with America, to find the inhabitants of one colony fo different from thofe of another, in fentiments, man- ners, and almoft in every other circumlhncc,- except their language j that a Granger would fcarcely conceive them to be, members of the fame community. Hofpitality is to be found in a great degree in fome of the colonies, little or none in others. Pride and modera- tion, extravagance, and the love of money, outward fandtity and libertinifm, candour, and diffimulation, are evident chara(5lerifl:ics of different provinces j and yet the levelling principle prevails as much throughout Ame- ricar. It I am ^ eflfea, in reiil ) them, w they d I am is mea- of go- 10 other to their them- jf paper rmitted, credibly ntiniie a hitherto 2 almoft jdom. ition to to find iifi"i:rent , man- Ihnce,' would of the found clonics, [lodera- noney, indour, eriftics veiling Ame- ricar. {77) rica, as perhaps in any country In the world. There is an eternal jealoufy fubfifting amongrt: them, rcfpedting the dignity of their colonics. if they were to be left to themfelvcs, the point of pretcdence would forever keep them at variance. Their immediate fears of the Britifh army, in the prefent difpute, united them more clofely than was expedlcd ; but if danger had r^ot been fo near ihcm, fome etiquette, or point of characfler, would cer- tainly Jiave interrupted many of their opera- tions. During the lad war, when the troops of different colonies were joined, and any fuccefs was obtained by them, each arrogated the merit of the whole, to its own bcdy ; and when they returned to their refpe ■ the royal ftand^rd of Great br^*"riin, £v' ^ m the ports of Eng- land. The Auic {Lj,a trade iliould be con^ned withui its ancient hmits, except as to -the Spanifti Weft Indies^ which ougbt to be to- lerated under certain regulaitions ; ar>d the bounties given by parlianaent ought to be continued. The iLing's quit-rents, and the manner of granting laadi;, iiM)iild remain on the old footing, c>;.Gcpt that all the large grants of land to the Ohio, and other com- panies II* r-! i M i I ill ( 80 ) Fanies, (hould be diffolved, as moft people believe are convinced at this day, that thofe grants have not turned out as were expefted. Let the laws and government of the colo- nies be continued j except that the colonifts be allowed an eafier accefs to the throne ir^ their appeals. Let all principals in office refide in their refpedtive governments, and be appointed and patd by the Crown. Let them have their affemblies upon the fame footing that the parliament of England ilands. I have faid before, that the trade of pf America was not a fufficient recompencc to Great Britain for their expence in pro- tecting that country. Some annual fum therefore, ought to \:c contributed by the co- lonies for the general fupport of the Empire. The cpmmiffioners might very eafily fettle, from the number of inhabitants, the fum which each colony ought to pay. I would have it optional in them to pay their quota in money, or in the commodities of the pro- vince, either averaged, or it the market price ', or fent to England, to be fold, and the neat produce paid here ; fo as to prevent its being coUedted in the colonies, by a col- Icftor appointed by the Crown. That in any war which his Majefty (hall think proper to declare, each colony (hall fup- ply a certain number of men for the fea and laud to be employed in America ^zvid to be in lieu of prcfling, but not of recruiting. And when ■ ' " thcie if L; \ ( 8i ) thefe men are in fervice, the annual a11oN¥« anCe paid by the colony fini'ing fuch men, to be fufpended. When thefe preliminaries are fettled, then let the Britim parliament re- nounce all power of internal taxation, and indeed, legillation over them. The King's af- fent being neceffary to all laws, will be a fufficient check to any evil which may arife from their being exempted from the autho- rity ~of parliament. Since it is thought proper that terms fliould be offered, thefe are fuch which I think upon fait grounds may be fettled 5 and if once they are accepted, may the hand of heaven fall heavy on the man, who wifties or attempts to break through them. As to a French war, and an avowal of American independence by that perfidious nation, I am vei'y far from having thofe dread- ful apprehenlions about it, which fome people entertain. 'The hatred which an American bears towards a Frenchman, is of fuch a na- ture, that it is impo{fible that any treaty be- tween them (hould be of long duration. I am the more Convinced of this by the French officers having left general Wafliington, whicli is a fa(5t that I believe will not be de- nied by any one. This muft have proceeded from fome difcontent ; for people fo utterly different as Frenchmen and Americans arc, can never draw well together for any length of time. And if, when a common intereft was prevailing, an harmony could not be prc- ferved between the Sons of Freedom and a few foltiiers IJ t ( 82 ) fbldfers of fortune, who came to their affi - tanctffof 0n6 campaign ; no permanent union can be 6ypedted, (liould the two nations be- come mofe generally connecfled ? The view of faving their iflands influenced the French councils, and dictated the expe- diency of etitering into a treaty with the A- liiericans. Whllft there was a profpe(5t that Great Britain would be able to carry her point, France meant only to weaken her, by the aid die might fei:r^tfy give to the colo- liieSj but as fooni as fhe conceived that fuc- cefs Was likely to declare in favour of the A- meficans* ihe took a decifive part, guaran- tied their independance, and in return re- ceived from them an afTurance of the quiet Enjoyment of her o\X^n poffeffions. By inte- refting hcrfclf in this manner, in the prefent difpute, die was Certainly wanting in that penetration which fhe has (hewn upon other occalions. She held without a rival all the American trade j the commodities of ^.hat country, rice, indigo, tobacco, and naval ftores, &c. and all the gold and filver thaf could be callcifled, were dcpofited by the Congrefs in France, as a fund to fupply theni with fuch things as they might have an oc- cafion for. This flie enjoyed without any hazard or expence. ^f fhe continues to re- ceive thefe advantages ^loWj it mufl be at the rifk of a war, which will cofl her more than f.ie can gain by this trade in half a century. The r I ( 83 ) The French ought not to have wl/hed for the indcpendancy of America : they have put by this means the tenure of their colonies upon the faith of the Americans, which every one will allow is but an uncertain foot- ing ; for there can be no doubt, but that the French, as well as Spanifli dominions, will be cbnfined to Europe, if their new allies fhould fucceed in their undertaking, and come to a rupture with thofe nations. Af- ter the war is at an end, they cannot be fo fhort-fighted as to cxpedl to polfefs this trade, cfpecially as they have not fecured an exclu- five one, but have left an opening for other powers to become competitors with her. England and Holland being commercial countries, muft at all events take the moft valuable branches of it from her. The A- mericans will, under certain coriceffions from this country, ally themfelves to their natural friends, in preference to a people, whom they hold in abhorrence, and which Great Britain will undoubtedly give them, fooner than the French fhould tear from it, fo valua- ble a part of its empire. The French fliould have confidered, that the caufe which they have efpoufed, is that of perfidy ; fubjects revolting from conftitutional authority, and jcontending with their parents and benefac- tors; and how uncertain a dependance on men ading on fuch principles, muft be. They (hould have known, that the Americans M arc rr m w I are In a ftate of infanity, and that every thing done by them in that condition againft their interefl or inclinations, will be interpre- ted void,and by no means obligatory on them. If they had taken thefc things into conlide- ration, their condu6t mufl: have been of a different nature ; but as the die is caft, and things muft take their courfe, I hope that the wifdom of the Britirti councils, the unanimity of our people, the bravery of our troops, and the thunder of our fhips, will teach them this lefTon, that this great kingdom is at all times able to maintain its honour, and to chaftize, with becoming refentment, the fol- ly of her fons, and the infolence of all their abettors. April 8, 177S. a»i>,i. if ->, ■* *• FINIS, i ll PI ml t every againil iterpre- 1 them, onlide- 2n of a ft, and hat the mimity ps, and I them s at all and to he fol- II their