influence; we are now to decide upon the fate of millions, through a long series of ages, and the part which every man shall take on this occasion must stamp him with characters indellible through all eternity—a Patriot or a Parricide. It is, sir, from the collisions of controversy that those radiant sparks are struck out by which Truth lights her sacred torch—nor have I less expectation from those gentlemen who are but just initiated into Parliamentary business, than from your veteran politicians, "deep on whose front engraven" (to use the phrase of Milton) "deliberation sits and publick care." Such veterans might, indeed, be our surest guides, were we now about to agitate questions wrapt up in subdolous Machiavelian mystery, and only to be developed by the acutest abstract reasoning. The present juncture, sir, requires only a well principled heart, and a head moderately conversant with the nature of men and things.

It is not, I own, I feel, given to a young Member to deliver his ideas with that guarded correctness, that unagitated confidence, which long habitude of speaking usually supplies; but will he, sir, yield with less ductility to the dictates "and honest zeal of inward conscience? He comes among you at least with a judgment unbiased; he has not pledged himself to any partial junto, whose maxims and interests he is at all events to adopt for the measure of his political career; he has not stood forth an accomplice to any of those manifold mischiefs and blunders which have heretofore been committed in the administration of your Colonies; he has had no share in inflaming the evil by temporary anodynes; nor has he treated the imperial concerns of that wide-stretched Continent, as only accessary to, and of trivial account when compared with his own private schemes of ambition and aggrandizement. Upon the whole, sir, I can but think him rather the more likely to execute the share of such important award committed to his discretion, as becomes an upright delegate of the people at large, heedless whether his conduct therein may quadrate with the narrow, selfish views of this or that set of men who are candidates for titles or power; not but that I have the satisfaction to' see here present some characters animated with the true patriotick spirit, who have long and worthily been seated within these walls; on whose eminent talents, on whose approved integrity, America rests her best hope.

Such gentlemen as come within the scope of any of those disadvantageous allusions I have just thrown out, will consider that a well-timed recession from errour claims the next praise to a perfect exemption therefrom: they will no longer endeavour to palliate a dreadful disease, which, if once arrived at a full paroxysm, it will baffle the Esculapian skill of their expertest state doctors to cope with.

Our present sagacious rulers had, it seems, drawn their political clue in that quarter of the globe to so Gordian a tie, that despairing to revolve by patience and sober wisdom through the several implications their hands had wrought, they took a summary recourse to the edge of the sword. Sir, their sword-law will best agree with the arbitrary principles and system of government applied to almost every department of the state by that flagitious confederacy which hath latently presided over the councils and arcana of the Cabinet ever since the accession of our present most gracious Sovereign. I say, sir, that these occult dictators to the royal conscience should prefer the sword-law, I am not at all astonished; but that the ostensible adviser, a man of profound judgment and the clearest penetration; a man whom the most slanderous of his enemies allow to possess the tenderest feelings of social affection, to be even prodigal of the practices as well as professions of humanity, that he, sir, should, with a ruthless composure, adopt and carry into execution their bloody mandates, may well create general consternation and the deepest concern. It was pronounced by a consumate Minister, who once held the reigns of Government with so much honour to himself, and transcendent glory to the whole Empire of Britain, that the Canadian America was conquered in Germany. It is, it seems, by the German policy of dominion, which our own clan-bred feudists are ever prone to expose, that British America is to be reduced to vassalage: but let the all-potent minions beware, lest while they are bowing the stubborn necks of these Colonists to the yoke, they find not their own necks bow to the block of an executioner.

Sir, the far more considerable part of the people of England do now wish us to use temper, moderation, and forbearance towards America, "Dignos esse qui Romani fiant" (said the illustrious Consul to the Senate of certain tributaries in allegiance to the Roman eagles) "eos, qui nihil prceterquam de libertate cogitent." Sir, when the two most renowned Republicks of ancient time had long contended for universal empire, and victory over many a well-fought field had held almost an equal balance, then it was the rigid censor (M. Cato) denounced that memorable judgment, "Delenda est Carthago." Sir, the Carthagenians were the natural rivals of the trade and glory of Rome; they had, in cool blood, inhumanly put to death one of the most perfect heroes and patriots her annals could boast: in their national character they were perfidious to a proverb; and they early led their children to the altar to lisp assent to solemn adjuration of eternal warfare and vengeance against Rome. In short, sir, the further existence of these Africans was become quite incompatible with the peace and security of the Roman Commonwealth.

The words "Delenda est Carthago" were, in the reign of our Charles the Second, borrowed by a Member of the other House of Parliament, the famous Earl of Shaftesbury, in height of passionate resentment, against the Hollanders: but, sir, though the Hollanders had, to the most substantial injuries, added the provoking insult of sailing up to the emporium of your commerce, with brooms at their mastheads; though they had by many an inveterate combat on the Ocean brought your marine power, and consequently our very being as a people, to as desperate a crisis as ever befell Rome during the rage of the Punick wars, yet, sir, it is a well-known anecdote of that, day, there was scarce a Peer in the assembly but stood aghast and shuddered at the unchristian severity of the sentence. "Delenda est Carthago" has been applied for the third time: it has, sir, been recently and publickly applied, by an avowed zealous partisan of the present administration of your Government, to our fellow-subjects of America) and the news will, I fear, ere long reach your Colonies.

I am not master of language sufficient in energy to give the due comment to such an expression; but, sir, should it be here uttered in sobriety, and calmly listened to, might you not be apt to imagine yourself seated midst the Deputies of the Indian Tribes, near the interiour Lakes of that Continent, and sacrificing to the demon of revenge, rather than with the Deputies of the free, polished natives of the British Isles, in their imperial seat of legislation? I can, indeed, easily conceive that the gentleman alluded to (Mr. Van) was rather more forward, rather more ingenious, than the chieftains of his cause will thank him for: they hardly could mean that the final catastrophe of this their tragick plot should be discovered just at the opening of the very first act.

It was a noble sentiment of Fenelon (Archbishop of Cambray) that "he loved his friend equal to himself; his "country far better than his friend and himself; mankind1 "in general beyond all put together." What that amiable prelate makes Mentor say, on revealing a celestial form to the son of Ulysses, (who had just attained to years of manhood) may afford an allegory to assist the British Legislature at some future period, in the safest and sagest conduct towards her Colonists. "I have guided you through rocks and quicksands, through the ensanguined battle, and the various calamities incident to the human species; I have taught you, through forcible experience, the good and the bad maxims by which Government may be carried on; it is now time that you be fully emancipated. Love your fellow-creatures; endeavour to renew the golden age; avoid effeminacy, profuseness, and ostentation; let simplicity be your best ornaments; on virtue and your own just actions rest your chief security; pure liberty, peace, delightful abundance, and unsullied glory ever attend you."

I am sensible, sir, that I have too long withheld the attention of the House from persons of far superiour weight and abilities. I shall, therefore, at a future day, hope for the same indulgence that has now been shewn me; while I urge that to compel the Americans) by a military force, to acknowledge the paramount and unbounded authority of Parliament, in the taxation of their property—property created by their intellects and industry, is neither just, poli-