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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m^thoda. 1 2 3 1 6 W; I .-if ESSATT Modem Reformef^s i '^%^,?..;ipr ■ ADDRESSED ^0 THE PEOPLE QF UPPmCANAD^, \it;iV ^^ *>«r- ;*T0 WHr.CK It ADDED, .,.:V^ , ;;.., •■\ ' -^^ LETTER, ^ Mr. Robert Gaurlay ; ;:^- '^^'^H ^%' '^»^-'U»i^,- J*'-^ BY *fOHN SIMPSON, ■■'ifx ■ , ■ ' ■ ^ Augusta, Upper^Canad^. m5f I.I • • • , , ••••••••••••» "''t^ , i .K-{ GRA 4 ■SHi''-/' n. ■i;-m KINGSTON : fWNTED BY STEPHEN MItES. r i m. isia •-'4' ^ #:* M te ; > ^ ji, X TO ^rm PUBLIC. »'lll The Author trvfis that the common reader of ihi foUowing Pages wili not withhold thu time neaffary fat the perUfal^ it'Jeaft of the ktter to Mr. Gouriay. // is circulated gratis, thiat no invidious §bfervations^ from the oppoftte pafty, may Jiigmotize the author with the profit of Book makings a leading feature in the publican tions now teeming againji the Government, Neither the labor of compofition, or the expenfe tf the werk^ will be begrudged to thofe whf will read it* To the refinea andclajffic reader^ who may objeSi t§ the inaccuracies ofjiyle^ or t/^e inelegancies of ettprejfton , it is hoped that the Jhott f pace of two days, all that could be allowed for the pjriting and printing ths letter will be afiifficient apology for the many faults it contains* Augusta, Upper Canada, JuDethe lil, i8i8. t ,. tt |^';*';ife- , ,ihif. _ « . • J , S ;^i *- ♦ * ■ "» .'r ' i-v '&■ r \ "W •1" ^. : of thi ary fit y- vationSi T with publica- rijf the u bjeii t$ at could will te ^ .w £ »,•/;'■ V ^\'\ ESSAY '■' ^' i-a V- ^r^^^ '1'. I • O N ^{■'1 »■' f» 'it' Modem Reformers. ,rrvm:-py. .H'm-^, y F I were to addrffs the People of this' province to warn them againlt the baneful effects of modern reform it (hould be in the following words. " Amongft the devices by which public attention may be excited 5 and putilic compalli'm awakened, ti»wards thofe, whom, neither genius, nor induftry,- nor virtue, would have forced into diilindlion, the moft frequent, and, perhaps, the; moll fuccefsful, is ^ |the art of connecting illegal tranfactions with popu* lar purfuits, and rendering the Adminiflration of' Government odious, by complaint and ciaoK ur ag» ' jainft thofe denials, which have been defervedly, nay ' [olten deiignedly, incurred. There are a fpecies of offenders in this country, ' [who daim merit from the avowal of deliberate ma- lignity ; whofe public virtue is diilinguiHied only - Iby an oppofition to public juftlce, and whoie policy ' coniifts in taking advantage of that difpoiition ia fome minds, thaf. conliders all government as an op- ' preflion^ — that feels all fubordination as a mifery, iSach a difpoiition, inflamed Unpopular clamour, and ' ^ireded to the purpoies of faction, has often coun- teracted the ends of julticc, by converting its fen- tencc into reward ; and the defperate rioter, the . inalicioiis libeller^ and the trc ionabie uiipenier of - [4] fedition, have been enabled to revel in the dainties of a luxurious imprifonment, and thrive, on the revenue of a profitable pillory. There is another fouvce of advantage to this firft and loweft fpecies of reformers, in the topics of el- oquence they often furnifli, and the popularity they fometimes procure, to parties, adverfe to Govern- inent, they may be considered as leffer inftruments, lis fubordinate wheels, in the great and complicated machine of oppofitiori ; the duties and fervices re- quired by the fyftem of party arefo various and even oppofite in their nature^, as to demand abilities of every degree, and characters of every denomination. There are fome invectives too indecent, fome accu» fations too malevolent, fome exprediuns too fliame- lefss, and fome falfehoods too dangerous, to be pro- pagated by any but the loweft drudges of faftion. The architect, however accurate his judgment., how- ever elegant his rafte, muft be indebted for the exe- cution of his plans, to the humble labours of meaner artificers ; and fince the mighty fabricators of fe> dition cannot, thcmfelves, accompUfh every mif- chief »hey projed, they muft, on fome occafions, pur- chafe the afliftance of hirelings, to whom trealor is a practical trade, and fcurrility a daily occupation. To iliuftrate this theory by examples, may feem almoft fuperfluous in an age fo fertile in Political Re- formers. Thus the Coloffal power of oppofition in England extend their influence into the minuteft ramificati' ns, and delegate an obfcure and unfafti- ioned individual to co-operate in the treafonable de- fign of eftranging the affefkions, and weakening the allegiauf e of this Colony. Ihus, the Committee of almoft every Townihip, and the Printet of almoft every Newfpaper, feed on the hope, or enjoy the recoUedion, of authority infulted, or jufticc provo- 'ti flatntioi on the [lis fird IS of ci- ty they jovern. imentSy plicated ices re' id even ities of inarion. le accu- ibaine- be pro- faftion» it,, how- le exc- meaner of fe. y mif- 08, pur- ifor is a ion. r feem :al Re- tion in tiniiteft unfaih- ible de- ig the ittee of almoft )y the )rovo- [5] kcd, fpecuUtc on the profit of fufFcrings, and pant f6r the celebrity of perfecution. Perfccution, tho ever fucccfsful pretence by which contending fadions have alterniitely triumphed ; by which, in the days of Cromwell, a good and legitimate Monarch was beheaded, and a legitimate line was deferred ; by which, in the days of Walhington, a world was loft ; by which, the moft celebrated adventurers of our own times, have been enabled, through a courfe of beneficial punifhments, to attain the higheft obje6b of lucrative ambition,— to derive fafety and fubfill- encc from exile, the enjoyment ot luxuries, and the difcharje <>f debts from imprifoninent, and the Jirm pofs^ton of Parliamentary honors from expuijion, A f"Cond fpecics of political reformation, mere hazardous indeed, but often productive of greaior emolument than the former, confiUs in the noble and difmterefted profeflion of relinquifhing fome pre- fent advantage in the fuppofcd certain profpcft of exalted pow^r or more ample profit. To facrificc the profeflion of a lucrative employment, wears, at the firft glance, fo ftrong an appearance of fincerity, that we almoft overlook the folly of unfteadinefs, and forget the treachery of defertion ; yet, on a nea- rer view of circumftances, mnd character, we (hall not confider the Political Reformer nierely as a con- vert to falfe popularity, but a^ a refined (though of- ten difappolnted) fpeculatift, who w^eighs the chan- ces of events, and calculates the flu vilify the pcrfcms with whom he had a£ted, accufe, ^ vi'nh more than fadious rancour, and threaten, with worfe than patriotic fcurrility, we (hall then admit ^ that nothing can be wanting to the completion of > ' fuch a charadler ; we (hall then look back with ■ wonder at tlie fteps, by which he has reached a (um- ^ mit of political infamy, unknown before ; and the > mind of aq honeft fpedator, (hocked by the exam- * pie of perfidy, (hamed by the outrage of decency, will • (ind no other quiet, than, in reconciling indignatioa ' with contempt* • i-.- ■ ."»i>f'«:|'- 't*^ ?r ■•.->■'-■■. ..i:*i'..i ?i>';.^ t.*''-*}fJ.rv;.-;: A third fpecles of Political Reformers would be ^ deemed too ludicrous to deferve notice, did noi the « fupport they receive originate in a very dangerous, « as well as a very curious fyllem of n[)odern policy, 'rhc(e are the felf created Reformers, the felf pro- v claimed victims to p iditical reftraints, who court the > public favor by inftiliing the ideaof imaginary wants, of vifionary fufferings & fancied privations j who ele. t vate political enthyfiafm to treafonable mania ^ and thus, with ability not above the ordinary attain- ments of a Sunday School education, and the per*; fevering induftry of the mole, (whofc; underminings, - I i i ' like the Reformers, is in the dark and the dirt) can convert former aJlcgiance into a hoftile and never leafing enmity, and finiih their career, 'vith the ex- altation of a Demon, on the fcaffold. In the front of this venerable band, appears the tnodcrn remover of Political reftraints, the r^drcffcr of grievances, armed with recriminating invectives, ihielded by new formed connedlions, ftored with voluminous harrangues, arrayed with all the pomp of burlefque enquiries, and adorned with all the trophies of partial approbation. In vain would Common fenfe oppofe her ftrength againft the pow- er of RevolutioL ry eloquence, in vain might (he reprefent that true patriotifm would require no aid fxom the refinements of fophiftry, that real exploits would borrow no ornament from the p»mp of de- clamation, that the Patriots of former days eilabliih- ed their glory, and extended the empire of their country, not by tedious recitals, not by feditious meetingSi^ but by a^ual and effe^ual entet prizes ; tjiat the proofs of patriotic fervice did not then reft Upon the opinion of friendly witneffes or felf ejacu- lated panegyrics, but on the records of impartial Hiftory, by the grateful applaufe of their country- tpen, or the univerfal fenfe of mankind. Vain in- deed would be fuch arguments with thofe who deem it their intereft to conjure up ideal accufations, to complain of fancied oppreffions, and reprefent as mere infinuations of a Government, that diflatisfac- tion and difguft which their own condtidl has infpt- red in this Colony. The obftinate adherents to an- cient prejudice would rejoice in fome inftance of ar- dour obedient tothe dirc^ion of judgment and cau- tion, invigorated by the alacrity of zeal. — In their vcak apprehenfions, though treafon might often be {fi^ijedA ^iQd vror fometimes atoxted, yet beneficial re< C8]- iblt, and diftinguiOied fuccels could atone watfslnt claim to appbuie and admiration. And indeed therci is fomc plaufihility in this mode of reafoning, nof ^ill it be very rafy to find an inllance in which its truth has been called in queilion, from the days o£ Catiline to Cromwell, and from Cromwell to Wat- fon. • , . , ' The fa^ is, the principles of feme arc nearly Inver* ted by the ingenuity of modern time ; the patriot- ifm of the modern Reformers commencc6 from their difappointments. There is a gradual and equal pro^ grefs in their difappointments ; and their blame^ and their private animofity, is elevated in propor*' tion, as the public inter eft advances. Thus, the re- fufal of a grant of land, from the Land Office of Up* per Canada, is no flight omen of the rifing merit of our Colonial Reformer ; who, lured with 17 yearg of indefatigable employment in oppofition at' home, fhali, with the mofl pure and immaculate motives of tumultuary reformation here, like a Po- litical Meffiah, fave us from the dcilruftion of over- whelming corruption, and renew the primitive fim- plicity of manners and civilization. Then indeed may he claim applaufe, inferior only to the honors of that Reformer, who, by feditious publications, and harangues, may congratulate himfelf ot having^ f^rrngthened domeflic revels, ard encouraged for*-' cign hoflility. What, though the teflimony of public applaufe be* wanting to commemorate their fervices ! yet the partiality of friend3, the intereft of dependants, aild' the fury of party zealots, fliall raife a clamour, loud' at leafl, if not univerial, vehement, if not fincere.' The thunder of party eloquence fliall aufpicior.fly aict their revenge ; and their biowh. though not encir- cled with laurel, iball yet be adorned with all the^I i E9] hoaorahle iadp^nta of af{' elevated Pillory. To enumerate fully, and defcribe 'ninutely, tbo-^ feveral inferior claflfcs of kcfdrmers, woald perhap% ' be an endlef^, as \^eU as irkfome ta0L. The diiap^ pointment of extravagant profpecVs, the denial of an» reafonable reque(ls,the apprehendon of fancied ii^jiK ries, excite confli<5ls of a thoufand reftlefs p ifHonSv too ftroni'lyr implanted in our nature. And as, oa fuch occaiions, we are not always inclined to judge; with perfed impartiality, or to trace the difuuiet of our ininds to its ori|2;inal fonrce, eifery refufal to promote ambition, to dignify pride, to enrich ava» rice, to abet injuftlce, or even to flatter fclf conceit, infiantiy becomes a topic of bitter complaint, and t ground of inveierate enmity. Such are the charac« ters extolled-^fuch are the meafures adopted,— and fuch the indruments employed by parties, who have dtftingufhed themfelves of late years by a furious tnd unremitting oppofition to Government ; who^ b^lnflammatory fpeeches, pervcrfc interpretations, tnd interefted cabals, have not much contributed to j^eal thofe public evils, fo frequently lamented, and ^Q induftrioufly eXpofed. To dlftinguilh thofe claffes of men, who, thoug;h %d^erfc to Government, cannct be friends to fret* ■om, to detect the arts of hypocrify, and to expofe 3ie pretences o( impofture, is, iurely, an undertaking worthy of fome approbation, when prompted by If ttth, or performed with fiaccrity. If, as we arc told, that it is only by an union of the pureft inten <|]ions, of the Wifeft councils, of the moft acllve and f ifforous meafures, that national dignity can be now icitorcd, or national ruin averted, we muft fcrupu- loufly examine the character of every candidite for power, of every competitor for fame and diftinclion. And yet, though neitlier difgretion, por decency^ w^^m tio 1 l^dmh tl8 ira^ly to t>rcnounce on their feveral Htm grees of virtue and ability, yet it fequires little con- liberation to point out fome, in whom public confi- dence ought never to abide. It requires little ex* perience to afiure ourfelves, that thofe who nioft ve- hemently oppofii are not, tor that rea/ortj alone the fitteft to diredt the meafures of Government ; nor ought vice to be honored, malevolence praifed, or treachery rewarded, merely becaufe the perfon adorned Avtthfuch qualities, employs them in the giorioua fervice of oppcfuion. ' To proclaim the errorc, and triumph in the fait« ures pt Government, have long been the favorite topics of party declamation ; and thei e never, per- haps, was a time in which fo loofe a r«ign was given to th^in:pctuofity of political refentment. That fpen, who have fo little regard for the credit and re* pofe of others, ihould arrogatf to themtelves' an in" violable taniiiiy^ is a caprice, fo unaccountably ridicu*. lous, fo prepofteroufiy unjuft, that it muft be left to their own eKplanation ; for (hould a fingle error ia their conduct be IheWn, ihoirl^ the abtlities of the meane/h, or the int(^Hty of the beft of their phalanx^ \)t called for a momeDt into queftion, the facrilegi- ous attempt fhail draw on its devoted author, the harfhefV epithets that ever were combined by rheto« rical acrimony. But it is not by any illiberal impu- tation that difgrace can be affixed to the freedom of juft enquiries, and remarks : an impartial obferver^ will rather applaud the juilice of thofe who mark the features of political treachery, and develope the intrigues of fa^ious cabal, in whatever party they difcern them ; w|io, by an honef^: endeavor to fepa- rate faUe pretences from real merit, by warnin|; their country againft malignity, never to be counter nancedy and perfidy, never to be trufted, have madt m Kk v-\ .1 w I £•0 it the leading obje^l ot their brains to ^nliaticc ther value i>f pacriotifm, and to exalt cbe dignity oi virtue TO ROBERT GOURl^AY, Esq. HAVtNG in *he preceding Essay, made some general o6- fer^atfons upon that class of reformers to which you belong, per- mit mc qowto advance one step further and to address myself jiorc particularly to you. If in the following remarks I shall in any way oter step the es* palier of liberal discussion, or trespass beyond that decorum which one gentlemiin e^ittpcts from an other, though I may be liable to censure from th9partial peruser of these p^ges, you, I am sure with that oa/)r/our,that ingenuousness which pervades the whole tenor of your poltticitt strict uresy tha* modest unnssuming ttite^ which no honorabtu characterises ^our letters ; you I sav, will allow that I am induced only to vary from the old fashioned prejudices so foolishly fdhered to by the Literati of other days, out of compliment to your m^oner and feneration far your «i» ample. A compassionate regard for the feelings of others and common delicacy in your abuse of those who differed with yon in political sentiment, might have protected you from either Censure or at- tack, but since you have been so otl^oious in vilif^'iVfg the coudurt and misrepresenting the principles and character of those who refused the wished for answer to your first address, it may not 6e improper, it may not {le surprising that your ovm character ahould now undergo the fullest investigi^tioQ. You have come all the way from Nlagura in search of tha character you lost by our reply : Diogenes, the Cynic, with ra- ther more of the Philosopher than I apprehend i^ppertains to y* so peitinacloasly omit. I have incurred your displeasure :ind tlM chaise •fUlil»enUit|ry by reoMfingjroac tirgt address at tba PfTP* C>2 3 •fan^ird of your political principles ; I will not perserere in th» fftme'iltbenility, by receiving your recent productiuns as the stan- dard iif your CoUe>;iate embcllishmonts ; yoa have asserted yoor Academical advaatages, and therefore i am bound to believe ^.lU although your compositions will never coutict you. in the first place, 1 shall not be induced to travel ^' outof th« Record," 1 will not, with whatoTcr advantage mi^ht result from the more perfect display of your Political character fo? the Isa^ 37 years, go back, but commence with your political descent here, the era of discontent and faction in Upper Canada. In your first address, you make a parade of " certain politcal restraints to im^provement," this you have since speciously endea- toured to explain by asserting that the political restraints to im- provement related only to the *^ Lands of non-residents not be« ing taxed.*' This appears to fiave satisfied your scientific ad- herents, but a little attention to the first rudiments of your Uni« ▼ersity acquireroects, would have taught that one dees not con- stitute the plural and therefore yk)ur boasted *^ political rest* rnints^ is either a falsehood in fact onI falsehood in grammar. I will pass over your murder of 20,000 men, though you have rot condescended to explain that point, 1 will pass over your Willinji; degradation of the human species, by their employment «t VVapping, a pajt of London, from whence probably you d'eri- Ved your Academical degrees, deserved a. " fellowship," an4 Completed your Political Education on arriving at the honor of— •* Senior Wrangler!" Consi.->tency is, by a system of modern refinement, considered to be the life and soul of political disquisition, as necessary e^ea ps truth tethe patriots of the present day ; how then will your aapient supporters, the enlightened <*' worthies^^ of the Western District reconcile your Political apostasy in the following sen* tences. "• At hoiue zee have experienced evils, we know that in» ^uences are there, which war against the yrinciplcs of the Co^* stitution and counteract its most benevolent designs,. fiere^ (mark in Canada,) *' we are free ^vom sui;h ivjluences, we are perfectly contvnted and a fine field lies open for cultivating the bestftuiis of civil and religious liberiji.^^ See Addrefs^ dated Qf* tohcr 19, 1817. <* Gentlemen, (he Constitution of this Province is in danger t; ftl I the blessings of social compact are running to waste. For three years the laws hav« been thwarted and set aside by Exec** titive power, for three sessions your Legislators aat in assembly, and given sanction to the monstrous, tbe hideous abuse." *^ l)a joa expect uy thiof from a new aet of repreieatati? es ; here a- C^3] g«in yeu will be AeceWed. It is not the men, it is the system tha^f blasts every hope of good, and till that system Ts OTerturned, it ift lu vain to expect any thing of value from chan^^e of repreaentativet or Governor." See letter dated April 2, 1818. There are some inconsistencies too glaring, some assertions too tnaliKnant, and some reasoning too fallacious to require refuta- tion ; yet when the cause ot truth, liberty or religi< n is roncero- (d, exposure may be necessary, exposure may be even desirable. In Oct. 1817, the people of Canada are "• free of those ii>Hu- «Dces which war against the principles of the Constitution, and counteract its most benevolent designs." In a few short months, like Hamlet's mother, all this change is •fleeted, at loast published by you, and yet yr.u say for thref years precocding, this corrui)t induence, this Fara of Govern>» aaent has beeu carryin^j on, t;>r three sessions our Legislatott kav6 given ^anetion to this monstrous, this hideous abuse, and nothing can be elfucted by change of Goverborii, Lords or Com* moDS. I ne'er hear'd yet , That any of the bolder vices wanted Less impudence to gainsay what they did^ Than to perform it Hrst. Oh ! Glorigius standard of Political consistency ! Oh matddei^ proof of the sincerity of your Elementary ethics. We are ordered by the Mosaic law, not to set up any Brazea images to ourselves ; how the good people of the Western Dist* rict can reconcile their worship of you, with the commands of the decalogue, I leave for them to determine. ** Well, time is the old justice that examines all such offenders." Y«u say ^^ it has been the cant of time immemorial to make mys- tery of the art of Government. The follyt>f the million and the jBunniag of the few in power, have equally strengthened the reigning belief, but it is false, deceitful and ruinous. The peo- ple of every pation may at any time put down either domestic ty- ranny or abuse. They may at any time lay a simple foundation Cor public prosperity, they have only to be honest and in their lionesty boI^>" Here sir, you have passed the Rubicon. Here you have ati^ain- ed the grave climacteric of Revolutionary ambition : Here is the rane.wal of the old cry of Rt^ivoiutionary France, Bgalite. you appeal to the ignorant, rous^- the inanimate and iosidi- OUfly profnulgate supposititious oppressions, that yuu may ipvi^- 9rat« the irreiolute and tostifate the tunquil, with the most'pro>« i m C14 3 trusive officioustiess, 70U dissemintte yoar poisoH) thtt yott may enjoy the coaHunimatioD of Rebellious distinction. « > < -< r< -^ lo this you bear no small resemblance to your immortal Protoi* type Cromwell : He was ordained by nati^re to gain tba confi* 4e«ce of men by what was mean, vulgar, and ridici'^tus. Fa* miliar e?en to buffoonery, servile even to contempt, be omitte4 BO knetiiurcs, however vile, no steps, however degrading, to strengthen his cause. Hating Monarchy while a subject, and. lit herty while a citizen. He was secretly plotting the Wuy for the mere perfect establishment of his own unlimited authority. Yofi would reduce the arcana of Political ethics to the capacity of 4 •chool boy, and the forms of Government to the routine of ^ ISounfing House occupation. You next tell us, that the British Constitution is << that beautU All contrivance by which the people-^ when perfectly virtuous^ become all powerful." Ridiculous contexture of unintelligiblei jargon r This possibly too has had the commendatory effusions of your Political admirers ; it may pass with them for the ve^y ' harmony of political dissertation — the very euphony of language," ' — tbe very sublimity of the sublime ; but I will be bold, enough* tft say, the confusion of Babel before the flood, the Heb "^w, the ^haldea, and Arabic, are simple and intuitiv«;, compared with your idea of the British Constitution ; I will further say, that Great Britain will never have a Constitution if it (depends on that event. It is not in human nature to become all virtuous. |t is not in any people to become omnipotent. Now Sir, the Constitution of Great Britain is an InstHotien of early tiroes retined and finished by succeeding ages, it is a super- structure of King, Lords, and Commons. It consists in the har- gtonious proportions of power and protection, assistance aed sup- port, security of property, und aUcgiance to the Throne, immuni- ty from oppression, and submission to the Laws. It has the Mag* ^9. Cbarta for its Base, and you for one of its disturbers. The British Constitution yon say, " has provided for itt owa improvement in peace und quietness, it has given us the right of •etitioningthe Prinee or ParKameqt.'* I acknowledge it, but we 4re represented in Parliamop^ and the moderate and proper ooarse, (if we had grievances,) would he to petition through this ■kediuro. We are not to Tpcifernte invented or ideal injurieein clamour, er menace in the signature of millions, the feelings of Royalty, or the subversion wf the Gorerpment ; f»r if we were, we •bould, in the elegant and el(^ssi^al ffhr^s^vlogy «f your ewn Let* Ifer, " bethel^ all competition Indeed, t ehi&U set condescend to eomttesit v^m thttfwt Hfm Itst* 'I tal ProtoN tt\9 confi* '>us. Fa* e omitted ading, to ctf and. U^ 7 for the ity. You icity of n tine of a at beautU ▼irtuou8| Btelligible effuMoas the TeQr * language,'' d. enough' ire4 with say, that is on that 1. It Ss Kutien of a super- the har- aad «Hp. immuni. the Mag* itf owa Tight of t, but ire proper igh tMs fUfieaiD lings of rere, we Let. CIS] tiff mheti J9n ertfetho charitable dontribatiod of a dollar ff■ h X f i c»n ■t The Patcr«al car of Royalty ^hinkn no roraour too shockini; to be r«!p«»tt'cl, when coniif cted with thr happitiens auJ jiro'^pt^rity Dl bci* people. But tht> treaionabln (H»peiis«r of «e»Vition, niut tin; nialevnleiit enconrugrrs of llfbrllioii, may recoil at Ihc sound of tticirown nmchinatioiis, t|U(i tremble at the devastatiuii ihttf tooald promote. " The young men of this Province, AVho were armed in itn de- fence, had, for fhcir spritfd conduct, the promise of their Com* inaiiderHthat Land would be granted them as a rew<:trd for their services." ■ I ^ill not for a moment pay the young men of this Province, 80 ill a compliment as to believe they wanted any such stirtiitlcnt, ^-their homes, their honor, and every thitig they held dear was l| !)Ui}\<-ient excitement, and they Volu^Tkeued to go beyond Ifhe Frontier. I defy you to prove any such pruiriise on the part of frovernment. The commander In Chief ppomisvd to recon»- mend them for Land and he did so. I wilt not s&y what the Captain«and subordinate officer'; may have promised, [t is Very •well Understood iu what manner the recruiting service is con- ducted, all over the world : their teal might have carried them beyond their discretion, but the stnguinc promisesof individu- als, unauthorised by government, can never implicate it. But alttiou)(h they were not promised Land, the most undeserving n- xnoug them were he to Petition, would receive his land before the Inllamroatory Pd-lioo from you would reach the Roynl enr. — They may attain their wishes yet ; to defer is not to refuse : but if they signed the Petition before them, the Ipn«.ition too rooted gnd your career t( o 'a involved to ad jt o* re(re!i( with decencj oi respect. Von have n ached a -uininit that may attain celeb- rity, thouorh it pr'-vent virttie, temporarily enrich, though it for- bid happiness and confer popularity, yot leave you wretched. Kro'^tratus fired the Rphesian temple that he might b. t'le ex* traordinary action of His villany have his name re ; cmbered. — If you are successful in j our attempt of Hevolutionizjng this Colony you may enjoy the like detestation and immortality, " There is a class of men, for whom I have the greatest res- pect, and whom I am anxious to preserve from the contamina- tion of your disloyalty, the merchants, m^inufacturers and tradesmen of this Country. I consider the influence of the ex- ample of this class as essential to the welfare of the community, I know that they aVe in general given to reading and desirous of information on all subjects. If this little bork sho Id chance to fall into their hands after they have read yours, and the) should think that any of your objections have not been fully answered, I entreat them to attribute the omission to the brevity which I have studied ; to my desire of avoiding learned disquisitions ; — to my inadvertency ; to my inability ; to any thing rather than an impossibility of completely obviating every difficulty you have brought forward. 1 address the request to such of the youth of both se;^es, as may unhappily have Imbibed from your writings the poison of disloyalty ; beseeching them to believe that every doubt may be removed though it may not have been in my power to answer to their satisfation all your objections. I pray God that the rising generation of this land may be preserved from that taint which hasbrought ruin on a neighbouring nation ; that neither a domestic edugatioup nor dgmestig irreligion, nor evil 'm. X itn Sir, Vour most ob*t. Hble S.rvt. Ji\o. SIMPSON. Augusta J /Mrte 1, J818. FINIS I ■•a.'' ►*i 'i^ :>^ ISS . I: i; "¥'■ !■' .i'-'-^-v, -■,''■ V '■,?' ?;■ * V ' '^■A "5."-:?- ■„ ., V* •;l : * V