their Provinces, and seized the publick stores of Ammunition. They are therefore no longer subject, since they refuse the laws of their Sovereign, and in defence of that refusal, are making open preparations for war.

Being now, in their own opinion, free States, they are not only raising Armies, but forming alliances, not only hastening to rebel themselves, but seducing their neighbours to rebellion. They have published an Address to the in habitants of Quebec, in which discontent and resistance are openly incited; and with very respectful mention of the sagacity of Frenchmen, invite them to send Deputies to the Congress of Philadelphia,—to that seat of virtue and veracity, whence the people of England are told, that to establish Popery, a religion fraught with sanguinary and impious tenets, even in Quebec, a country of which the inhabitants are Papists, is so contrary to the Constitution, that it cannot be lawfully done by the Legislature itself, where it is made one of the articles of their Association to deprive the conquered French of their religious establishment; and whence the French of Quebec are, at the same time, flattered into sedition, by professions of expecting from the liberality of sentiment distinguishing their Nation, that difference of religion will not prejudice them against a hearty amity, because the transcendant nature of freedom elevates all who unite in the cause above such low-minded infirmities.

Quebec, however, is at a great distance. They have aimed a stroke from which they may hope for greater and more speedy mischief. They have tried to infect the people of England with the contagion of disloyalty. Their credit is happily not such as gives them influence proportionate to their malice. When they talk of their pretended immunities, guarantied by the plighted faith of Government, and the most solemn compacts with English Sovereigns, we think ourselves at liberty to inquire when the faith was plighted and the compact made; and when we can only find that King James and King Charles the First promised the settlers in Massachusetts Bay, now famous by the appellation of Bostonians, exemption from taxes for seven years, we infer with Mr. Mauduit, that by this solemn compact, they were, after the expiration of the stipulated term, liable to taxation.

When they apply to our compassion, by telling us that they are to be carried from their own country to be tried for certain offences, we are not so ready to pity them, as to advise them not to offend. While they are innocent they are safe.

When they tell of laws made expressly for their punishment, we answer, that tumults and sedition were always punishable, and that the new law prescribes only the mode of execution.

When it is said that the whole Town of Boston is distressed for a misdemeanor of a few, we wonder at their shamelessness; for we know that the Town of Boston, and all the associated Provinces, are now in rebellion to defend or justify the criminals.

If frauds in the imposts of Boston are tried by commission, without a Jury, they are tried here in the same mode; and why should the Bostonians expect from us more tenderness for them than for ourselves?

If they are condemned unheard, it is because there is no need of a trial. The crime is manifest and notorious. All trial is the investigation of something doubtful. An Italian philosopher observes, that no man desires to hear what he has already seen.

If their Assemblies have been suddenly dissolved, what was the reason? Their deliberations were indecent, and their intentions seditious. The power of dissolution is granted and reserved for such times of turbulence. Their best friends have been lately soliciting the King to dissolve his Parliament, to do what they so loudly complain of suffering.

That the same vengeance involves the innocent and guilty, is an evil to be lamented, but human caution cannot prevent it, nor human power always redress it. To bring misery on those who have not deserved it, is part of the aggregated guilt of rebellion.

That Governours have been sometimes given them only that a great man might get ease from importunity, and that they have had Judges not always of the deepest learning or the purest integrity, we have no great reason to doubt, because such misfortunes happen to ourselves. Whoever is governed, will sometimes be governed ill, even when he is most concerned in his own government.

That improper Officers or Magistrates are sent, is the crime or folly of those that sent them. When incapacity is discovered, it ought to be removed; if corruption is de tected, it ought to be punished. No Government could subsist for a day if single errours could justify defection.

One of their complaints is not such as can claim much commisseration from the softest bosom. They tell us that we have changed our conduct, and that a tax is now laid By Parliament on those which were never taxed by Parliament before. To this we think it may be easily answered, that the longer they have been spared the better they can pay.

It is certainly not much their interest to represent innovation as criminal or invidious; for they have introduced into the history of mankind a new mode of disaffection, and have given, I believe, the first example of a proscription published by a Colony against the mother country.

To what is urged of new powers granted to the Courts of Admiralty, or the extension of authority conferred on the Judges, it may be answered in a few words, that they have themselves made such regulations necessary; that they are established for the prevention of greater evils. At the same time, it must be observed, that these powers have not been extended since the rebellion in America.

One mode of persuasion their ingenuity has suggested, which it may perhaps be less easy to resist. That we may not look with indifference on the American contest, or imagine that the struggle is for a claim, which, however decided, is of small importance and remote consequence, the Philadelphia? Congress has taken care to inform us, that they are resisting the demands of Parliament, as well for our sakes as their own.

Their keenness of perspicacity has enabled them to pursue consequences to a great distance; to see through clouds impervious to the dimness of European sight, and to find, I know not how, that when they are taxed, we shall be enslaved.

That slavery is a miserable state, we have been often told, and doubtless many a Briton will tremble to find it so near as in America; but how it will be brought hither, the Congress must inform us. The question might distress a common understanding; but the Statesmen of the other hemisphere can easily resolve it. Our Ministers, they say, are our enemies; and if they should carry the point of taxation, may with the same Army enslave us. It way be said we will not pay them; but remember, say the Western sages, the taxes from America, and we may add the men, and particularly the Roman Catholicks of this vast Continent, will then be in the power of your enemies. Nor have you any reason to expect, that after making slaves of us, many of us will refuse to assist in reducing you to the same abject state.

These are dreadful menaces; but suspecting that they have not much the sound of probability, the Congress proceeds: "Do not treat this as chimerical. Know that in less than half a century the quit-rent reserved to the Crown from the numberless grants of this vast Continent, will pour large streams of wealth into the royal coffers. If to this be added the power of taxing America at pleasure, the Crown will possess more treasure than may be necessary to purchase the remains of liberty in your Island."

All this is very dreadful; but amidst the terrour that shakes my frame I cannot forbear to wish that some sluice were opened for these streams of treasure. I should gladly see America return half of what England has expended in her defence; and of the stream that will flow so largely in less than half a century, I hope a small rill, at least, may be found to quench the thirst of the present generation, which seems to think itself in more danger of wanting money than of losing liberty.

It is difficult to judge with what intention such airy bursts of malevolence are vented: if such writers hope to deceive, let us rather repel them with scorn, than refute them by disputation.

In this last terrifick paragraph are two positions that, if our fears do not overpower our reflection, may enable us to support life a little longer. We are told by these