and nothing short of an entire disavowal of any right or authority of Great Britain over her Colonies is now insisted upon. Can any man in his senses then suppose that she will make no opposition; that she will not make a point of reducing us to obedience, and establishing her authority over us upon a sure and permanent foundation. If we may argue by analogy from smaller things to greater; if we may conclude from the experience of former ages and Nations; if we consult the dictates of human nature, she certainly will; and if she should, would it not be well for us to sit down and count the cost before we think of an opposition. Does not prudence, does not a regard for our safety, and every thing that we hold dear, demand the most serious consideration? Nothing less than rebellion is in question. Who can think of it without shuddering? who can rush into it without the most desperate madness? And when we reflect upon the little probability we have of success, the project appears ten times more senseless, unaccountable, and absurd; our folly a thousand times more glaring; and the danger infinitely more real and extensive. No single circumstance is in our favour, while every thing seems in a most extraordinary manner to conspire against us. We have no Officers capable of conducting an Army, and if by chance there should be any, they are men who will never sacrifice their honour, credit, character, reputation, and conscience, by engaging in open rebellion. No Soldiers disciplined for service; for let me assure you, that notwithstanding the parade and noise that has been made about learning the manual exercise, and the frequent trainings which you have had among you, these will never make you Soldiers fit for service;—these are but mere outside tinsel and ornamental show in comparison with the various manœuvres, evolutions, marchings, counter-marchings, advancing, retreating, breaking, rallying, and a thousand other circumstances, which (being unacquainted with military terms) I don't readily recollect, and of which you can have no idea. Most of you suppose, by all that can be collected, that the several Armies, should there ever be an engagement, will stand on the same ground, till a superiority of numbers and mere personal courage (which you vainly take for granted is on your side) shall decide the day in your favour against disciplined veterans; but be not too daring, from any misapprehensions of this kind; you will find yourselves at once astonished, confounded, and put to flight, by sudden and unexpected attacks from every quarter; at one time you will seem to have a handful of Troops to oppose; and the next minute they will appear almost innumerable, merely from their dexterous movements, and the different situations in which they will be placed. And should you be able to perfect yourselves even in this part of the discipline, your skill will rebound with tenfold destruction upon your own heads; for by far the greater part, when matters shall be brought to such extremities, will declare on the loyal side, and extricate themselves from the guilt of rebellion, by the most vigorous efforts to suppress it. Add to this, that you neither have, nor can procure Camp Equipage, Military Stores, Arms, or Ammunition, except the trifling pittance already in our possession, (for nothing can be easier than to prevent the increase of your stock,) and how long do your infatuated zealots suppose that this can serve you? Perhaps they may endeavour to persuade you that Heaven will interpose and save you, by making your warlike stores inexhaustible, like the widow's cruise: this I firmly believe if their diminution depends upon your making use of them. But to be serious—God is a God of order, and not of confusion; he commands you to submit to your Rulers, and to be obedient to the higher powers for conscience sake, and therefore can never be supposed to favour Traitors and Rebels. So that if you should die in a state of actual rebellion, you will not only forfeit your worldly interest to your injured Sovereign, and entail misery, poverty, and infamy upon your posterity, but inevitably draw down the vengeance of the Almighty upon your guilty souls. But a terrible reverse of circumstances is presented to your view, if you turn your thoughts to those whom you will be obliged to oppose. They are commanded by a General, who, although respected, and amiable for his social virtues, for his prudence, humanity, long suffering, and clemency, of which you all cannot but be sensible, is nevertheless universally allowed to be a brave soldier, cool, intrepid, watchful, and resolute; perfectly acquainted with the military art; he will improve every advantage in his favour, and never expose himself by his imprudence or rashness. His exquisite sensibility and humane disposition will doubtless recoil at what his duty and interest oblige him to undertake; but those he will willingly sacrifice when his loyalty to his King, and his regard for the interest of both countries require it at his hands. How different also is the character of the Officers and Soldiers under his command from yours? Many of them have fought in defence of their country; many of them justly merit the character of true British veterans, for their honourable and successful services; many of them have been in battles which have reflected the highest honour upon themselves, and the most extensive reputation upon the British Arms; and all of them are skilled in military service and discipline; they are all firmly established in the most loyal principles, and entertain a just indignation at the unwarrantable and illegal practices which they daily see carried on under your direction and patronage; they are amply provided with all kinds of Military Stores, and can very readily at any time be recruited, should there be any necessity for it; they are engaged in a cause which their duty to God, their King, and country, require them to espouse, and will enable them to support. Here let me pause;—can any man upon this cursory, though true representation of facts, hesitate to determine at once to return to the allegiance from which he has revolted, and to make some atonement by his future loyal and dutiful behaviour for his past misconduct: or if he is not yet tainted with the infectious phrenzy of the times, to continue a faithful and true subject of the British Realm? He certainly cannot; the most powerful motives which can ever influence human counsels, urge him on one side, while nothing but what every good man must deprecate and abhor can stimulate him to a contrary conduct.

But I will now suppose that we have gained our wished for Independence, and admit for argument sake, (what is not supposed in fact) that Great Britain will relinquish her jurisdiction over us, disclaim all her authority, and give us up a prey to our own madness and folly; what mighty boon should we obtain? Let us consider the consequences; let us see in what manner it would probably affect us, abstracted from the influence it may have upon other States and Kingdoms in Europe. It will be necessary immediately to determine upon some form of Government; and here what intestine jars and jealousies must be the necessary consequence. Various as are the faces of mankind, so different are they in their opinions upon Civil Government, especially when every bold, ambitious man finds room for the exertion of his abilities; he will want no other motive to induce him to object to any plan proposed, than that any one has recommended it before him. Determined to be the leader of a party, his art and address will gain him followers, and you will soon have as many forms of Government contended for, as there are men who have ambition, resolution, and ability sufficient to conduct their cause. Necessity will then oblige you either to submit to a set of petty tyrants, who, unless divested of the passions and feelings which have uniformly actuated the conduct of all their predecessors, will at once be intoxicated with success, and rule you with a rod of iron, or to live in a state of perpetual war with your neighbours, and suffer all the calamities and misfortunes incident to anarchy, confusion, and bloodshed. Scenes of this kind we may naturally expect within the limits of a single Province. But when we extend our thoughts to the controversies which will arise between the several Colonies and Provinces, about the Seat of Government, each contending for its own Metropolis; the general form of Government to be established over the whole Continent; the choice of a Monarch; members of the Aristocracy, Oligarchy, or Democracy, as either of those modes shall be preferred, language fails me in the description of the universal carnage and desolation which must inevitably ensue. The most unfeeling breast must, on this occasion, be pierced with the most exquisite sensibility, and the very dumb creation burst with indignation at our astonishing folly, provoking madness, and unpardonable stupidity. But can any one suppose that the powerful states of Europe would sit still and lose so valu-