nue is immediately concerned. Consequential loss, for instance, in the great article of Tea, for want of the usual supply of Sugar, or in any other articles, I do not dwell upon here, but leave to reflection.

Thus far, sir, I hope that I have proved what was your situation, happy in receiving from your Colonies all the possible advantage attainable in the nature of things. Could our forefathers, the authors of such a system, which, exclusive of foreign profit, could bring the numerous subjects of the same state in such dispersed habitations over the earth, thousands and thousands of miles asunder, to a concurrence in the extirpation of idleness, in promoting the comfort, and calling forth the faculties of each other:—could those venerable founders of a structure so stupendously great arise, and seeing it brought to such perfection by time and experience, yet find it within the last ten years so roughly handled in a conflict with finance, what looks would they cast on their blinded posterity—almost the whole British people, who, on every start of pecuniary contribution from America, have, under three Administrations, been openmouthed, and are still for American taxation? Let the three Administrations have all the justification of "defendit numerus, junctceque umbone phalagens." But I, an unconnected man, firmly pronounce, that the consenting voice of all mankind cannot make two and two, more or less than four; that the Vox Populi is not always the Vox Dei, and among us, upon the present subject, resembles the popular cry in old Jerusalem of, Crucify! Crucify!

Yet, sir, I likewise sincerely wish that the gloomy aspect I have given to our future situation may be all nugatory, all misrepresentation unintended; but not, therefore, less the result of errour and blindness. Hitherto I have looked on one side of the question only: permit me now to contemplate the other.

It is the general acceptation, that the associated Provinces submit in consequence of the measures taken. The measures I allude to are publick facts; and, with some relief to my own dejection, I apply them to introduce another fact, incontestible and brilliant, whereon I gladly dwell for a while: it is a subject of praise, requiring but few words, because it is true. I have named the Romans; we have among us a select body, whom I compare with them, as their equals at any the most distinguished epoch of their martial science and prowess. I will not hazard a panegyrick. The grateful sensations of all our memories retain the illustrious and recent achievements of the British military, by Land and Sea, with a warmth which would render the most elaborate encomium spiritless and cold. But themselves, lettered gentlemen of England, and versed in history, will allow, that the peculiar superiority derived from discipline, possessed by them in its highest excellence, is but the effect of human art; that there are left at large in human nature certain sparks, whose occasional concurrence produces operations not to be circumscribed or controlled by art or power, and hath caused such wonderful vicissitudes, recorded in times past, but I hope will make no part of our future annals: I allude to that violent agitation of the soul, enthusiasm. Such vicissitudes, not to be shunned by art or power, merit the most attention when most is set upon a cast.

Many without doors have treated the existence of this uncontrollable spirit as imaginary. I did not reason with those who either feel no enthusiasm for any thing serious, or retain just so much as may be requisite in the eager pursuit of diversions, pleasures, or profit. I would have accompanied others more speculative through their several gradations of hope, still disappointed, and still reviving, but for one observation, which I have generally kept concealed, but will soon reveal to you. But for this observation I might have concurred with the publick belief, that the capital of a Province, now declared in rebellion, would have submitted on the landing of a few Regiments; this failing, that other Provinces, from ancient jealousy and disgust, would not have interfered, rather sought their own advantage out of that Town's distress; this failing, that they never would have proceeded to the length of constituting a certain inauspicious Assembly among themselves; this failing, that the Members of such Assembly would have disagreed, and not framed a single Resolution. This last hope having proved abortive, a new one is popularly adopted; that the first intelligence of enforcing measures, at least the bare commencement of their execution, will tame the most refractory spirits. I will here stale the grounds of this, and all the preceding hopes; afterwards, with your indulgence, the ground of my original and continued doubts.

Our trading Nation naturally assumed, that the present contention would be with the traders in America. The stock of a trader, whether his own, or in part, and often the greatest part a property of others, confided in him, is personal, lodged in a magazine, and exposed in seasons of commotion to instantaneous devastation. The circumstance of such property, the considerations suggested by common prudence, by the sense of common justice to those who have given a generous credit, rarely make room for that intrepidity which meets force with force. Hence I admit, that the mere traffickers would have submitted at first, and will now, whenever they dare. The reason why they have not dared, is the foundation of my doubts.

I am speaking to an enlightened assembly, and conversant with their own annals. In those ages, the reverse of commercial, when your ancestors filled the ranks of men at arms, and composed the Cavalry of England, of whom did the Infantry consist? A race unknown to other Kingdoms, and, in the present opulence of traffick, almost extinct in this, the yeomanry of England; an order of men possessing paternal inheritance, cultivated under their own care enough to preserve independence, and cherish the generous sentiments attendant on that condition, without superfluity for idleness or effeminate indulgence. Of such doth North America consist. The race is revived there in greater numbers, and in a greater proportion to the rest of the inhabitants; and in such the power of that Continent resides. These keep the traffickers in awe. These, many hundred thousands in multitude, with enthusiasm in their hearts, with the Petition, the Bill of Rights, and the Acts of Settlement, silent and obsolete in some places, but vociferous and fresh, as newly born among them; these, hot with the blood of their progenitors, the enthuslastick scourges at one period, and the revolutional expellers of tyranny at another; these, unpractised in frivolous dissipation and ruinous profusion, standing armed on the spot, delivered down from their lathers, a property not moveable, nor exposed to total destruction, therefore maintainable, and exciting all the spirit and vigour of defence; these, under such circumstances of number, animation, and manners, their Lawyers and Clergy blowing the trumpet, are we to encounter with a handful of men, sent three thousand miles over the Ocean to seek such adversaries on their own paternal ground.* But these will not fight, says the general voice of Great Britain. Agreed. I desire to meet my antagonists in argument upon no better ground.

That Exports to the associated Provinces have ceased for months, is a fact. May not their Non-Importation Agreement singly be a weapon sufficiently effectual in their bands, without striking a blow? Why strike without occasion?

To overset this suggestion, an assertion is brought, that necessity will break the combination. I take this fresh ground to shew that necessity, in conjunction with enthusiasm, may produce a directly opposite effect. I throw but a transient glance on the extraordinary stock of Goods laid in by the Colonists last year, though said to be sufficient for the consumption of two. The arguments I shall use carry their own evidence with them. Let the population in the associated Provinces be three millions, as delivered into the Congress, or be reduced to two and a half, white and black. At a moderate computation per head, the quantity of Goods, including all uses besides apparel, is not adequate to half their consumption, which I stated before to the amount of three millions sterling, without separating some considerable articles for the month. This annual supply they never did annually pay for, but always remained under a heavy debt to the mother country; a capital advantage to her, as shall be explained in its place. How is the other half of their consumption, unsupplied from hence, provided with the several articles for clothing and other necessaries? What is introduced through illicit trade with the foreigner must be paid for in ready money, and is chiefly

* The following remark might have been trite to the honourable hearer, but may not occur to every common reader: That if time are any seeds of talents and genius in a country, they are drawn into action and vigour by publiek ferments and troubles; but might have remained in times of tranquillity for ever useless and unknown, perhaps at the plough, under a shed, or amongst the lowest class of mechanicks.