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Irt: PREAT-BRITAIN with AMERICA, TRANSLATED FROM THB FRENCH* . ^^nic rumkna dies et ineludlabile tempus. * "- ViRO. ■4 '■« iS P H r L AD E L P H I A: l^iiiNTHD BY JAMES HUMPHREYS. junio»| IM Front-Street. KtOCQfLXXt. ^t ^' Kif' '*«rj. * .wr MEl '■ M, i'H ^■'•■ •vM"~-l It ■ r' Tt . >.'"-,;i:'^''«' *-h ?M;'^,-. ■■* J'.i u T r <-• a 11 i: 'J \ »' . T ''"J *ii:f' -!,' ;0 *. ■ \-^^V,.. '->',^y(- « a :/.K'^j:'sJI:^ .Sa^i-^-^^ iC:!^ AX'?'«iN^,}!-*'^ ■^^^./fi: I," • _ • •■* t^^'V *^*'*'*pjr* * *t\--ill}' $.ii-',*\,i\ ."uivV 4, ■"r;,4iif;^«a!ir,i^sjH»'2<- . *^H "'• -•r-'':^5Si'=^r*PS^„^^ ■.'•iv^f- •*\, ADVERTISEMENT. GR E A T - B R I T A I N's unhappy c^ifpntes' wi'tfj- the Engjifh iVipericari colonics pl^im ?in.d en- ^r^e a large fhare qf the pubhc attention. The qvieftiQn feems to be, whether immppfe i^yipbers of Eng^iJOh fubjefts, Hying in reippte regions, who have hitherto participateid of the bleilinef pf th,e Enghfh copftitutiop to which they are ibdifpi^tal^ly intitled^ (bou)d be taxed by any ipan or what i^ fhe fame thing afiy body of men, with refpea to whom they Jiave no right of ekftion, np power of eontroi;! ? *JhJs quelligri hath been long a^itafec}, within the WaJIs of the Sepate-houfe anjd withqut doors ; in 4 Variety of fljapes, on 4 variety of grounds ; with great ^cytepefs and Bo littje^ciimony op all hands. /L coRteft fo jiDportant ip it^ nature, (p dpcifive in its qopfeqiiences, i^nufl naturally warn) or eycn inOarpe )he ^^ijids of thofe who are inte|:^fte.d in its fate. JEverv fubje£): of |he Britifli cnjpjre; who thinks or who feels mull tal^e ^ fiide. At fuch a Gfifts it cannot be impertinent to Ir^y before the public the fentiipents pf ^ difpafl)o,nate foreigner on Jthe fiibjeft. 0f no party, lie ff^^y be .^cJlT^itted ^§ a faif umpirp ; and if ^y^j^ed in Oj^hpjr refpe^s, if poffcITed of adequate ii^Wims ^1x4 i^fori^aiion, .^s- decifig.n , 11^11^ . l\ave Vfiightt ' ■ ~ ■" ■ ■"'■ '' ^ • T ^ p s jE ponfijdef^tipQs account, for .this little pub- ^atipfli of ;^n extrpii f^pm L Jiijlqrie pjiilojophi^iie et politique des etabiiffements ft 4y> f^infui^T'c^ dts Eurbpeens . dum les deux Indes. A valuable work aitributed to the Ai)ba Rey^icl j tp wbpfe ^thority a kind of fanftion hath been given by its being quoted as to a , certain point (if the news-papers ire to be aedited) by a nople Lord high in office. It would be hard? A 2 then. w i C iv 3 tncn to deny its weight in other matters equally "within his competency. But authority is a dangerous thing ; truth needs not, difdains its proteftion ; its wings ferve but to (helter error. Let principles, let fads, let argument fpeak. The writer along with uncommon talents is furnilhed with fmgular information. No poflible meafure of thefe however can be fuppofed totally to exempt a man from error Some miflakes and in- accuracies will be found even in this ihort extraft. They will be forg^iven when it is confide red that the author's fituation is diftant, and that the fubjeft, co- pious and complicated in itfelf, is not fingly and profeffedly difcuffed, but merely in the courfe of a large and comprehenfive work. It was once intended to have pointed out a few inftances of this fort which occur; but as thefe muft readily be detefted by the attentive and intelligent reader, and as they do not affe6l the author's reafbning or conclufions, this was on fecond thoughts looked on as a fuperfluous labour. The tranflator hath contented himfelf with aiming at fidelity and exaftnefs ; even fo far as to imitate the manner of the original, which is in general (hort and fententious. The fecon'! edition, printed in 1773, has been made ufe of. It is fcarce neceflary to add that thefe obfervations where of courfe prior to the accumulated violences of the late Parliament. *But it is eafy ^o conjefture what the Abba's fcntiments muft be with refpeft to thefe and fome later proceedings, the po- litical turpitude of which can onlj^^'c equalled by their unexampled barbarity. mi Dii meliora piis» erroremque holtibus Ulum ! March 17, 177J. )>'ni-^.^^ -,. j _.,-,, , ,, **'V^ / r. * mf( ^ v?*' "■■''" SENTIMENTS >" I ^Wz^orii'. ,• ij -■!? "OF A • "' ' "' '-'■^' — '^''' - FOREIGNER, Sec' :y^mif'\ii^^' ,1"' THE firft Colonifts who peopled Iforth- America, devoted themfclvcs, in the ".■:-.. 1'.- gi:. '■j^ beginning, entirely to agriculture. They foon perceived that their exports did by no means enable them to pur- chafe what they ftood in need of, and they found them- felves obliged to attempt fome coarfe manufa<^res» This innovation was thought to claih with the intercfts of the mother-country. It was complained of to Parliament,^ where it was difcufs'd with all the attention it deferved. There wanted not member^ bold enough to defend the caufe of the Colonifts. They urged, that as the labour of the fields could not give conftant employment to the inhabitants throughout the year, it would be rank ty- ranny to force them to wafte in inaftion that portion of their time, which the foil did not demand } that as what they earned by agriculture and hunting was not commenfurate to their wants, to prevent their fupply- ing the deficiency by a new fpecies of induftry, was to bind wretchednefs upon them} in fine, that the prohi- bition of manufa^res had a direct tendency to raife the ' ( ^ ) -.=.. r .-># prieo vf geo49 in an infant ftat«, ta diminiOi if net to* ially obftr\ift the fale of them, and tp 4ircour3ge fiew fcttler*. The evidence of thefe principles was incontrovertible. It prevailed after very yarm debates. The Americaris were permiXed to manufi^ure. their own clQathiog, but under fuch reftriftions, as betrayed the reludlance of an avaricious fpirit thro' an exterior of equity. All com- munication in this refpe£t amongft the provinces was fe- verely interdifted. They were forbid, under heavy pe- nalties, to fend from one to another any kind of wool, eithet raw or Wrought. ' Scune jnaniifaftlirqrt of hats however broJce thro' thefe barkers. To put a ftop to this terrible diforder, as it was called, Parliament had recourfe to the expedient of regulations, at once little and crueU . . No workman, poijld- e jej,- cifiP his trade till after an appriinticeiHip of feven ydars ; no mazier was aUew«(i jto have more than two apprentices at ^ time, or to em- ploy any flave in his work-houfe,. The mines of iron, v?hlch one would thiflk might a!K folve men from all dependency, were fubjed^ed to reftric- tions ftill more fever?. It could only be exported to the mother-country in the rude form of pigs or bars, with-i out furnaces to caft, n^aebines to |i)oulc), or fledges apd anvils to forge it. The converting it into fteel was yet more peremptorily prohibited. Their importations were hampered with a variety pf fhackles. Np foreign veffel, unlefs it be in evident dan- ger of fliip-wreck, or loaded with bullion, C4n enter any of the ports in North-Ajncrica. Even EngliOi ^fhip?) ^rc not admitted if they come dire£lly frorn a harbour of the nation. The merchantmen of the Colonies trading to- Europe, muft bring no commodities back with «^em, buf what have been purchafed from the capital, excepj th^ Wines of Madeira and the Azores ; and what Calt is ne.- cdrai7 for the fifheries. ■ * » Formerly { 7 > '"'<^ Formerly all their exports were to touch at Engladd. Weightjr cooiiderations have fince difpofed government to relax, a little of this exceffive rigour^ The Colonies are now permitted to tarry direfily t» the Southward o£ Capc-Flniftere) grain, flovr, rice, pvlAe, fruit, falt>fi{h» planks and timber. All their Other produ^d go exclii«> lively to the,mother-couata7. Even Ireland, which of* fer'd an advantageous out4cf tp the wh«at> dax, ^d lumbor of the Colonies, w^ ihut up by an a^ of Par> liament in 1766. The fenate which reprefont; the DatioA) inAftd on the right of direfting commerce through all the vaft Extent |c^e^i0i|s l^etween the capital- ^nd the Colonies, of maintaifii^g a communication, a- beneficial and reciprocal i'e«&^iQB, afnoQ$,ft the fcattcrft ed pai-fs of aq jmmenfe empir!e< In fa^, fome one pow-: fr ought tQ 4€)t6rmii:>e, in tiktt la(l: Jl'ejurt^ ott theft; rel«« tivc circumftances which qnay ifijurc cnr promO*^ the jgef neral good qf the whole Jyftem, Parliament «lo*e ca«i tlaim this tranfce«daHt.jj>i9er<)gatite. ,, But, Pa^'Hament liiould ^^3^ercire_ it tp tl%e. I^utu&il the movements 06 which :have been all -ini^i,»Hed and lidjuftid, with a rpe«. cial vieiv to national libef.ty a: i-^-T-ji ■- ;, Ir..: ,T~z.v:q c; 6u( -they deputed fri>m this f re^ prtJKiple of impar*: tialhy, whkh alone can- pre^ci^ve an- eqtHalhy of hnde^. pendance among the members of a free goveinment, when they obliged the Colonies to pour into the capital all their produ^s, even thofe whkh wete not to be con<« fun:ed in it j when th^ forced them to take from the capital all their merchandize, even thoie which wci**- brought into it from fpreign nations. This imperious and fterile conftraint, loading the faks and purchafcs o£ the Americaos with uiekfs ohAtgca, t mere dead lois^ r>-, , which 71 ^°t&£ii.'..'i. .', ,1^. ..'mix t 8 ) i^* ■ -■ > ' t^rKicK hatli naturally and niceflarily checked their aftU vUy, and of courfc hurt their circumftanccs ; and it is purely to enrich feme merchants or fome brokers of the capital, that the rights and interefts of the Colonies are facrificed. Yet they owed nothing more to Englattd for the proteftlon (he had afR)rded them, than a preferenec in the fale and importation of itieh of their commodities'- as fhe could confume j and in the purchafe and expor- tation of fuch merchandifes as fhe manufa^rid. With- in this line the fubmifHon of the Colonies was grateful acknowledgement } beyond it every reftraint was down- right violence. . . : Accordingly, Contraband was the ofFsprirtg^^df this ty- ranny. Tranfgreffion is the firft efFe£k of iniqtiitirtis laws^ wherever defpotifm hath not trampled on coaes, formf and tribunals; fole ramp'tMrt, legitimate and facred of that independency which is the birth-right of man. In vain were the Colonies told a hundred and a hundred Mmest that fmuggling was contrary to the fundamental principle of their eiVablifhment, to ptilitibal wifdom, to tile expreHr intent of the laws. In vain was it proved in a Variety of publications that the citi2en who paid the duties' Was op- prefTed by the one who did not, and that the fraudulent trader robb'd the fair merchaUt, by difappointing him of his lawful profits. In vain were precautions multiplied to prevent, and chaftifements to punifh, fuch tranrgref^^ fions. The voice of intereft, of rdafon, of cquhy, was an overmatch for the hundred mouths and the hundred paws of the revenue-hydra. Foreign comrrtoditics, fmug- gled into the northern part« of Englifh- America, amount- ed to a full third of what paid the duties. A freedom of trade undefined, or only reftraincd within juft bounds, would put a ftop to thefe illicit prac- tices which excite fuch an outcry. Then would the Co- lonies attain that meafure of affluence, which would en- able them, aot only to ihakc oflf the weight of four mil- Uops AT -•■*fi5. :lr afti- nd it is I of the rules are a red for fercntfc lodhies" tttpor- With- ^ateful down- 'this ty- tislawst, , forms blfthat In vain d t5me< irinciple cxprefir 1 iety of was opo udulent him of iltiplied infgref* tyi was undred , fmug- nount- trained t prac- heCo- ild en- r mil- liop ( 9 ) lions Sterlings which they owe the mother-conn try, but to take from her annually upwards of two millions woith of merchandizes, which their prefcnt couiiimprion de- mands. But in place of this plcaUng pcrlpccTtive, wiiich ihould naturally arifc out of the Liiglilh conftitution, by what fatality is it that a claim unwarrantable in a free ftate, hath carried under the harlh form of taxation Into the centre of the Colonies, a root of trouble and diiTui- fion, perhaps a conllagrajion by n j means fo eafiiy tx- tinguiihcd as lighted lip? ; j „r,orf {rjiiiir. England had juft concliuicd a war, which might be called a univerfal one, in the coiirf'e of which her ilects had hoifted the flag of vi(flory in evtiy fea, while her con- quefls had enlarged her dominipns by an immenr*" acqui- fition of territory, in both the Indies. This fuddcn and unexpefted growth gave her a brilliancy in the eyes of othuT nations, which made envy and admiration fpealc, or aftonilhcd them into iilence; yet v^ithin herfeif flu; was compelled to mourn inccflantly over her fplcndid tri- umphs. Crufh'd by the preflure of a debt of one hundred and forty eight millions, the intcreft: of which amounted to four millions nine hundred and fixty three If thoufind four hundred and forty four pounds, with a ^ revenue of ten millions fhc cou'd fcarcely provide for tlie current expences of the rtate; and this revenue, without a chance of increafe, was in danger of finking. ., • The Land-tax was rated higher than it had ever been in time of peace. New duiies on Houfes and Windows injured that kind of property; an augmentation of re- venue on the regiftry of deeds, bore heavy on real efbates. The veins of luxury had been exhaufted by additional taxes on wrought plate, cards, dice, wine and ardent fpirits. Nothing more could be expeclcd from commerce, already loaded with duties in every port, to every port, on the merchandizes of the Eaft, on the products of the Wtft, oa groceries, on mercery -wares, in a wo;-d, on all fub- J3 jcfts S;:A .*>*s ( lb ) » 11 jt'cis of ex---or importatibii, 1\'hether raw materials ei tnaimfadlures. The curb of the Eiiclfc had hap|>il;^ cl'.cck'd the abufe of fpirituOiis liquOrs, but at the ejt^ pence of the public revenue. A cbmpfcrifatioh had bceil look'd for froiti one of thofe refoUrces whJth are readil^ Tound, but not fafely fought, in the articles of gehieriil confumption and greateft neceflity: The excife had Iaio viblient nice both io pro- ons, Who the Ehg- :m in all )le of the :6mmerec hnated At is balance : htindrtd ers yearly lie func's. lie Pt^ople s relieved were ine- m ng to ac- ^ , fo much Houfe of ace of the the waht irlty, and tng in the ing theui on AppA' ad.of *11 s ^«$, bjnJs on the djffcrent members which compofc sn ejnpire, an obligation to contribute to the cxpcnccs of it if^ prppojL'tJQii ty their rqrpC(Etivc abilities. The fecmity of tlije Americaij Proy^ncts callp for fuel; aids froia thtm i\s njay eiiable ihj; m^OJther-cOiUnt^-y to protect tliem on all Qcc^iiops. It wa? to deliver them from lormtntiiig dif- qtiijetudes, t^at /he engaged in a war wh^ch hat)l\ mu!- ti^Ue4 h^v debts } they IhoulJ therefore aflifl: her iu be.*fii)g or i>n leflenii}g this addijcional load. Safe from tjje ef>terprizes pf %. foi-midable neiglibour, nov/ happily for th«m removed tp;^ dill.vnce, can |thcy without inj'aiiic c ^•e.fnfe tQ thg prefling exigencies of th-ir deliyerci-, that ti'iC^fure which the pAre of their prefervation hath coll bJm? Tl^e enepuragewcnt? which jrKis generous protector gfiy.9 fo.A' a lengtl) 0;f time to the rich productions of thdir foil, the gratuitous adv:inces which he ftill laviihes to ihoi'e i^egion? which ^re not yet ckarod; fuch and fo many good and kind ofllces, are they not intitleJ to a ir^tui'n of cprdifil f; mpathy and eftcntial fervice-.? Such were tl-ie cynfiderations which couvlncej the BritiUi govcrnmenit t^lut they had a right to lay internal ijijce? on the Colonics. They feifed the opportvmity ai"- forded by thc Ijift W^V, to exhibit a claim ib da^igeroiis to I'berty. iFor who yvcr attends to it inuft fee, that war, ■;wh€ther prpfpe;:ous or the reverfe, furniihes evermore; j^hc pretej^t for the viu'ious yfui^piitipns of govcrnmcuts, as ,vf the ruler^j of bulligerant n,itions had it inlinitely more a.t heart ;to enflave their fubjeefis than t() vauquiih -their ei!,>e|ni0s« The Amerifraa l^ruv.inces were accard- jngly ordered to prpylde the trooops ilnt frcyii the capi - tiil for tljeir .d«?fepce with a part of their iii;ce/rarics. The dread of ir^temvpting that iutcra*l harmoirv wrhich J^ fo (jil^Hitial in the midfl: of fv^rrounding eucinics, in- ,veigh(, {es-% ifig they cqvl4 not he ^flim^ted at rnpre than i^j^teenr pence a head. This v^a« npt an objedl to flartle a^ jq[>f^ menfe pop^latioFi, whof^ puhlic tj^penditur* hath OP* ver exce^4fi4 QAP hya4rq4 p 1 fixt^ ti^j}f^94 po«*>^fl«. apnDaUy. < ' > — - r • It was n^t the dread of i^nding th^mf^Wes in lei* eafy circumdances. The H^ciirity they derived f*'0^ the cefr- j^ons extorted from France ; the ificreafe of ;;h/ei]r M'«^de with the Indians, the ^xteniipn of their whale, cod, ^i>4 feal fifheries, the right to <:tit wood ia th^ \3t^y pf Caw- peachy, the 9 ,. lit waj not ajQ appr^henfion that the colonics woyld fef (drained of nvliat little fpeqie remained i^ .circulation 4r mong them* The pay of eight thouf^i^d four ^yndre^ Regulars, which the capital maintains ip North- AiIWsri-» ca, muft spring in more caih th^p this tax Cjovld ppillh^ carry out. It wa^ i)ot an indifi*erenc« for the p^rent-Hiadt. T^N^ colonics, fc far fron^ being ugratefyl, h^d evidQpce4 jTucih zeal for her interefts during the laft wzir, that P%Pj. liament fr<>>m a principle ©f equity, r^m^ted thcm vovy confiderable fums, by way of reftitution or ind^rnnjfica-" *Jon. L.u:.-: •;. ... . 'i -. .;; • r Nor w»5 it in fine, an ignorance of tlue duty which f\ib'' je^ owe, or of the obligations which they ftand uml^r to government. Had the colonies nqt thpMght themfelyep bound to contribute tp the liquidation of the national 4iebc, though perhaps they had qccafi^^aed the greatcil tpautttf it» they lp»?w very w§U ih^t |hey were bound to ; IT contjfibiutjc N. ( IJ ) eetttribute to the «*pencBs of th« nary, to th^ maifate- ttbAce bf the diffel-eht eftabliihment* ih Africa and Amc* tica, in a word to all thofe common charges whith had t^lalion to their faiftty and pro4'j>«i'ity, as well as to thofe t>f the mother-country. If the new world t-efufed to fuccour the old, it was becaufe that was exacted which it weald have been fuf* ficidnt to have aflted ; becauie that muft be held on the -footing of her Obediente> which fliould have only been foiicited fVorti her liberty. Her non^cotn|>Ilance was «ot capfice, but juft jealonfy of htr rights. Rights which fliould nor, cannot be contefted. During the courfe of two centuries that the Englifti have had fettJettients itt North- America, tlieir country hath fuftalned many expenfive and bloody wai-s, hath been diftiirbed by enfei'priiing and tumulruoxrs Parlia- ments, hath been governed by dtfriag and corrupt mi- nifters, evdr ready to eXah the dignity and prerogative of the tlirone, on the ruin of the rights and privileges of the people. Yet, ambition, avarice, failions, ty- i-ariny, fell of them in their turns have recognized, all h^Ve refpe6ted the liberty which the colonies enjoyed of laying on themfelves every tax for the ^urpdfe of creat- ing a revenue. A folemn eontt'a On what grounds do they pretend to pri.ileges greater than what the citizens of the parent-country enjoy? No, reply the Colonies, we afk not a fuperiority, we only claim an equality with our brethren. In Great-Britain, the man who po^efleth a freehold of forty lliillings a year hath a voice in taxation; and he who owns in America, immenfe tra(n:s, Ihall not have tbe fame pre- rogative ? No, what is an exception to the law, a dero- gation from the general rule in the Capital, fhould not be a fundamental conftitution for the Colonies. Let the Englifli, who wifli to deprive the provinces of the T^eftern world of the exclufive right of taxation, fup- pofe for a moment the Houfe of Commons, no longer the creature of their choice, to be nothing more than an hereditary and permanent tribunal, or one arbitrarily appointed by the King ; if a body thus conftituted could levy money on the nation at large, without confulting the public opinion or aiking the general confent, muft not the Englifh, on fuch a fuppofition, own themfelves to be as complete flaves as their neighbours? Yet five hundred men in the midft of feven millions of fellow- fubje^s, would probably be kept within the bounds of moderation, if not by a principle of equity, by the well- founded dread of the public indignation, which purfues the oppreflbrs of a people even beyond the tomb. But the lot of the Americans, taxed at the difcrction of the fenate of the capital, would be hopelefs and forlorn in- deed. Too remote to be heard, they would be crufhed by heavy impofts without tie leaft attention to their complaints. Even the tyranny which cruflied them would be decorated with the fair name of Patriotifm. Under the pretext of relieving the mother-country, the Colonies would be loaded with impunity. This frightful profpeft will never allow them to part with the exclufive right of taxing themfelves. While they continue to regulate the public levcnue, their in- C teicftt f I ( I8 ) M « terell? mufl be refpe^ed) or ihQul4 their rights be at any time infringed, they will pbuio a fpcedy redreft of • t^eir grievances. But their rcmonArances will lofe aU their efficacy with goyernment, when they are no long^f backed by the right of granting or refuiing their money; tp the exigencies of the ftate. The power which hath ufurped the right of fixing the impoils, will «afily ufurp that of adminiftring them. Sole judge of the levy it will become the a^^biter of the expenditure j and funds deffcined, in appe; nee, to the fafety of the people, will be employed to enflave them. Such hath ever beeA the folemn pace of empires. No civil community hath- preferved even a fhadanir of liberty, when it hath ones lofl the privilege of voting in the fan^tion and promul- gation of revenue laws. A nation is for ever a flave, when it no longer boafts an afiembly or body of men^ veAed with power to defend its rights againd the efw croachments of the authority which governs it. < .^ The provinces of Englifh America have every thing to fear with rcfpedl to their independence. Their un-. fufpe^ing confidence may betray them, may deliver them up bound into the hands of the mother-country. They are inhabited by an infinity of plain and hone(^ people. They do not even fufpeft that thofe men who hold the reins of an empire, may be carried away by paiBons unjuil and tyrannical. Their old country they fuppofe under the influence of no other than thofe ma-* ternal fentimcnts, which accord fo well with her tni^ interefts, with that love and veneration they entertain for her. With the blindnefs of thefe upright citizent, who indulge fo pleadng an illuflon, coincides the filenc« of thofe who thinic they fhould not didurb their tran* quility, on account of fome light and trival impoft$. Thefe indolent men do not difcern that it was meant, at iirft, to lull their vigilance to repofe by the fmallnefs of the impoiition i that England only feeks m example of > .. fubmiilioa T""^ ( '9 y fobmfflioft," to fdiirtd * title on \t\ fiitwc ; tKat !f Par- Hament can levy one fhrlling, it may one hlirtdrtd thou- foud i and that thert can be tt6 better rcafon for limit- ing this claiira hereafter, fhtn their is tio\^ for ttH^kig ht. But a cltifs of men, thi moft permclous to liberty, arc thofe ambitious people Who. dlAlnltlng their hdppl- fl«?fi Ardth that of ihe public and of poiVerity, btirn with rf deftri; t6 au'gWvent their credit, their rank, and theif rfchei. The Britifli miniftry, from tvhich thefe rtiifcrt- smts have obtainetl or expoft advancement, Aadi thtfm ^vtsiys ready to promote thcfr deteftable fcheme*, by bRc contagion o'f thelt^ htiury and of their vices, by the tfraft of their ii^flha.ttions, b^ the irtlldious pliancy of tlkeir milnners arid addrc^., -' liCt th« gertnihc patriots theft ftru^le, t^rhunremit- fiii^ firmnefi, agaihfl: prejudice, inrdmencc, fedu(^ion j attd let then* nbt rfif^ait of crtttrfrig^ vldorious out of a *Drtfli than the giving (lability to the peace and fecurity of the colonies. The colonies, on the other hand, contend that their lands, on which their wealth intirely depend- ed, have funk confiderably in their value iince this im^ menfe extenflon of territory } that their population di- miniihing, or not advancing, their country muft be moi*e expofed to the ravages of invafion ; that their provinces have found a formidable rival, the more northern ones in Canada, thoie to the fouthward in the Floridas. The Colonics enlightened, with regard to futiire times^ by the hiftoi*y of the paft, even infift that the militaiy government eftablifhed in the new conquefts, that the numerous troops difperfed through them, that the forts confi:ru(^ed in them threaten, one day, to faften chains on countries which have ilourifhed, which have prof* pered but by the influence of liberty^ ,,. ; Great-Britain enjoys in her Colonies all that autho« rity which fhe fhould defire. She hath a negative oil all the laws which tihey ena6t.. The whole of the exc* cutive power is in the hands of thofe to whom (he dele- gates it. An appeal lies to her tribunal ia all civil caufes. It is her fovereign will that decides with refpeA to all commercial intercourfes which the Colonifts are permit-> ted to form and keep up. To hang weights on th^ yoke ^/ 1: ^" { 21 ) yoke of a domination fo wifely combined, would be toC plunge again a new continent into a chaos, from which it hath with difficulty emerged by the efforts of two a^es. of unremitting labour ^ it would be to compel the fons of toil, who haveclear'd and cultivated it, to arm themfelves in defence of thofe facred rights which they hold equally by nature's charter and by focial compaiSts. The peo- ple of England — that people fo paffionately fond of li. berty, as on fome occafions to have protcfled it in regions remote from their climate and unknown to their intecefts, {hall they abandon thofe fentiments which theif' glory, their virtue, their inftinft, their fafety, render it their eternal duty to adhere to ? Can they fo far betray thofe tights which are fo deaf to them, as to aim at re- ducmg their brethren and their children to flave^y^ Should famous fpirits however form fo deadly a con-: fpiracy, and in an hour of madnefs and intoxication^ prevail on the mother^country to adopt it; what ought the refolutions oi the colonies to be, to fave themfelves' from falling into the moft deteftable dependence? ' Previout to their throwing their eyes forward to tKi^ fubverfion of the political fyfteni, let them revolve' in their thoughts all the benefits which they derive from' their original country. England hath ever been -to them an out-work of defence againft the potent nations o^ Europe. She hath fervid thetn as a guide and a gbverftoi'V to prevent or to heal thofe civil difTenfions, which miilual jealoufy and emulation are too apt to excite -amoiigfl* infant colonies growing up in each other's nelgh^Ui'^ hood. To the influence of her excellent conftitutiOnt are they indebted for that peace and profperity Which' they enjoy. While the colonies continue to live undei* a rule fo falutary and fo gentle, they muft go on-pro^ greffively in that hdlmdlefs career, which the vigour of theirl indufiry .ynlLiluetch even to the remoteft tiefarts'.'' I Let thdc lave of the parent-country however .be ki* L. I tended ■1 ..^1„ I ♦'I 7 ( ai ) tendeid with a ctfrtftiik jcirioufy rcfpc^ing tluir 6wii IW berty. Lot their rigbti be conunually examined, ex* plaiaad, 4Arcufl*edi let 8hcii> xuAom theaoiWives t«i chcrlih thoft wbO) 03 >ctvcry occa^cno, rctnind thtm oi thcfe rigjbitS) a» theii' bcft aiuienSi. /Thit veftbia tmdt anxiouf rpirit bttcortitft »ll £ree ftaoes i bot it is indifpflnf^ able ia complicated -ri- '^ i^t-^Jt Sboi^ adminiilratioiTy' for ever camjioitd-oS nvph'aiiiOmt Hieoi errea in the fre eft iiiatea, attemfit t6 augmcM in this extremhy of t^eak* n«f$ and of mifcry. They feH the dignity of humm nature fufficientiy iq vafift oppreffion, wer^ it tt the basard of their lives. . Thii enlightened people kfftcnf 4^ #eH tht^ YioUm meafurei and the lad appeal tan only be juftified, wheft every gentle means of conciliation hath been tried iif vain. They know alfo that reduced to the dire alter- n!^tivc of flavery or civil war, if they muft take up arms in defence of liberty, it is their dmy to avoid fullyin^ fo fair a caufi^ by the horrors and barbarities which are the attendants of fedition : and that with the determin- ed purpofe of never fheathing the fword till they have recovered their fights, they lliotild deem the re-efta- blifliir.cnt of their original their eonffitutional indcpend* ence, a fuflScient fruit of their viifloiy. And in faft we fhould be cautious how we confound that reiiftance whieh the EngliOi colonies ought to op- pofe to the mother-country, with the fury of a people driven by a lafting and intolerable opprcfllon to revoW againft their forereign. When once the flave of defpoJ tifm hdth burft his chains afundar, hath committed hrt tate to the dccifion of the fword, he is obliged to maf-* facro his tyrant, ro exterminate his race and his pofterl- ty, to change tlie form of that government of which he had been the viftlm through fucceflive ages. If he durft not do all thir fooner or later he would be pu- fiiflted for poffciTing btit a half-courage. The yoke would HM bade upon his hesed with addinonal force and prcf-' furc ; and the feigned moderation of hi« tyrants would jprove hot a new toil In which he would find himfelf «axtgbt msd entangled forever. Swih u the ciirfe o^ fa^ions t^'iU « *.! "i i T H \ i I ( 24 ) factions in an abfolute government, that neither prince nor people can know, any bounds in their refentmenty becaufe they hav(S*jaot known any in the exercife of au* thority. But a well poifed conftirution, like that of the Engliih colonies, carries in its principles and the limi- tations of its different powers, a prefervative and anti- dote againft the evils of anarchy. When ever the mo- ther country hath removed the ground of their com- plaints, by re-eftablifhing them in their original fituati- on, they fhould reft contented, that being, on the whole, the happieft to which a wife people could juftly afpire. They could not embrace a fyftem of abfolute inde- pendence without burfting the bands of religon, of oaths, of laws, of language, of blood, of intereft, of commerce, of all thofe habitudes, in fine, which hold them united among themfelves, under the peaceful in- fluence of their common parent. Who fees i jt, that fuch rending to pieces muft reach the entrails, the heart, the very life oi the colonies ? Should the) !iave the good fortune to efcape the fatal extremity of civil wars, would it be an eai'^ matter for them to agree on a new form of government ? Was every colony to become a diftindl: and fcparate f^ate, what endlefs divifions a- mongft them ? One may judge of the reciprocal enmi- ties which would originate fiom fuch a feparation, by the fate of all focieties bordering on each other. Should fuch a number of little common-wealths, where the di- verfity of laws, the inequality of riches, the variety of poflerTions muft fow, in fee ret, the feeds of an oppofi- tion in interefts, be difpofed to form a confederated u- nion, how adjuft the rank which each fhould hold in it, and the influence which each fhould pofTefs, in pro- portion to their refpedlive "ifks and importance ? Jea- loufy, and a hundred other paflioriS, which fo early di- vided the wife ftates of Greece, would not theft fpread difcord through a multitttde of colonies^ ri^ther aflbci- , ated t ^5 ) itcd by refcntiAeftt and indignation, which are but tfah- Ctoi^y and galling ties, than h-/ the fober well-weighed J)rinciplcs of a natural and permanent union ? All thcfe toitildcrations feem to evince, that an eternal divorce fi-oin the capital would be a great and grievous misfor- tune to the Eriglifh colonies. ' - -* ' One may g6 a little farther, and altert, that were it In the pOwer of the European nations who reign in the licw world to bring about this great revolution, it would Hot be their intereft to wifli it. This may be a paradox, perhaps, in the eyes of thofe ftates who fee their colonies continually menaced by an invafion at their doors. They conclude, no doubt, that if Englarid was not fo ftrong In America, they would there enjoy in peace, thofe riches, which flie envies and often raviflies from them. It cannot be deriied that England dei-ives the influence flit; is miftrcfs of, ci^ecially in the} new world, from the extent and population of her northern colo- nies. It is they v^ho put it in her power to attack at all times, with advantage, the ifles and the continent of other liations, to conquer their lands or to ruin their commerce. But let it be donfidered that this crown hath, in the other quarters of the glob", interefls which day run counter to her progrefs in America, which may haiAper or* retafd her enterprises there, which may atiriih'late her conquefts by the neceffity of i-eftltutions, ■ Gut the knot which ties old Bi-itain to the newj foon Would the northern colonies alond pofTefs more force than they ha^e now united to thri mother-country. This vaft continent fet loofe from every convention in Europe would enjoy .he Kbdrty, the command of all her oWii movements. It would then bf come a meafure of equal imporiancc and facility for her tO feize thofe lands whdfe treafurtfs might fupply what the mediocrity bf her own productions dehies her. Her independent poiltion would enable her to complete the preparations for invaiiou, ^^■^ "0 bt'forc "--Jl^ll i' "^Vj* : .-^i.: 1' I ( 26 ) before the rumour of tbexn could reach oisr.,climfite% Her warlike operations would be conducted with, am energy peculiar to new focicties. She might chuft hicf enemy, the field, and the moment of her vi^orics. Her thunder would always difchargc itfelf on coafts whjcrc i]t was leaft expected, on feas but feebly guarded by diAaojt ftates. Thofe countries, for the dcifence of which forces were fent over, would be conquered before they CQuId be fuccoured. They could neither be recovered by trea- ties without great facrifices, nor prevented from falUi\^ again under that yoke from which an enfeebled band had delivered them. The colonies of our abfblute monarchies would haften, p&rhaps, to acknowledge- a mafter, who could offer them no condition To vexatious as that of their own government *, or elfe, animated bjr th^ example of the Englifh provinces, they would break the chain which fattens them fo fhamcfully to Europe-^f; j Let nothing then induce the rival nations of England to precipitate by their fecret counfels, or by clandeftin<» fuccours, a revolution which can only deliver them from a neighbouring erjpy, by giving them at a diflance one m-'ifh more formidable. Why accelerate an event which xnufl one day fall out from the inevitable concurrence of fo many others ? for it would be againft the natui^p of things, that provinces fubordinate to the dominant nation fhould remain under her empire, after they hav^e rifen to an equality in population and in opulence. Thus evei7 thing confpires to that great difmembci'ing, the precife moment of which it is not given us to fprcfec. Every thing- leads to it, the progrefs of good in the *iew hcmifphere, and the progrefe of evil in the old. Alas ! the prompt and rapid decline of our morals and our ftrength, the crimes of kings and the calamities of the people, muft render even univerfal that fatal ca* taftrophc which is to difunite one world from the other. The mine is already prepared under the foundatippsi pi our A »:^VW 7 ( «7 ) our tottering empires ; the materials of their deftmflioii are made up and accumulated of the ruins of our laws, of the collifion and fermentation of our opinions, of the fubverfion of our rights which fupported our courage, of the luxuiy of our courts, and of the mifery of our fields, of the . ineiqpiable l^atred which for ever fubflfts between thc'^ feeble, 'th6 ' HeartleiV and Vnwiorthy, who pfiSefs all th« wealthy jind th^ robu%pA7Y^ifti:^t^r|Kien| Vho have no longer any thing to ible but their lives. Id proporti/OR ^l^ thcrnaiionarp^JipjppW ^tus^^'V^aken and fifttc under each otHef, population and agriculture advance in Amcficai th^, arts, tranfplanted by us take root there and will fpeedily flourilK ; that vaft country flai thig um uf iretlilug btirus-";o flgUH'e lints lurn un am face of . ^ho gigib^ ^^. jpr )ij^C)arv»l> pf tfeft i Ff orj^f O pofterity, perhaps thou Ihall be more fortunate than thy wretched and defpicabl^^fitherh Pmay this laft wifh be accpmplipied. and ^o/^fple th£ qxpirj;^ jcnciattiwijvixh -V -- ^- • inA—.k lA A ;i ii J J. :i ■ ) ■.;■ .■ '. 'i /. .21 J A l" ■^•ijibn'j^i" I A 1 1 I ':i ::>■ Mh.:.. . iH,'! i U-fiiJ-. T I !l w f fs^^t m •a» I: )■ /. ■^M . .1 ^: .,.,1 -luo TO 8«*'."i 2«ff W hojj.Iiimo3jfi haz ipr obr.m •> j J A WE§ H01M;i>H1i B I^S, Wior, in "^di^rUld ,;..'..^j» .|^ RO U F, a F AR eti"' ,'■■'' ^> Tlic Hiftoty of Sii* GEORGE ELl-ISON, '^ UM of REAL itJ ' 3ecoii!i Am^icvn .Edition of *■'••* Tlie Search after HAPPINESS, t > PASTORAL DRAMA— And ARMINE and ELVIRA, , y.^ A Legeodai7 TALE. ill ^■"i.-» V -. <« * e"! »^ *"^ 7r ^IW- 01 ijj6< sfJj 'la ftrceii 5S, A, -iT- .^