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ties. O, my Lord! if your Lordship knew but one half what I know of America, your Lordship would not persist, but be instantly for peace, or resign. But, my Lord, construe this epistle as you please; nevertheless, my meaning is that it should not in the least convey, or even hint any thing about the legality or illegality of the unhappy dispute. Many great and celebrated writers have moved every nerve, but hitherto in vain. What then can I do, who am but a babe? Not much, truly. But when a house is in flames, all run without distinction, some with buckets, some with grapplings, and others with engines, wishing they providentially may extinguish the fire. Now, my Lord, the British empire is really in flames. I cannot, therefore, be inactive. Suffer, then, the insignificant with the most significant, to help forward with something. I present, therefore, for your Lordship's acceptance, an engine of facts. The carved works are but homely; but the essential parts are sound and substantial. Try them lawfully and faithfully, and I, by God's permission, will pledge my life they will stand the test. Facts are at all times proof against the most inveterate foes. By way of apportenances, I must add: Up the North river, in the Province of New-York, there is erected an impregnable fort, against which vessels cannot possibly, many minutes, survive. In the New-England Governments, batteries are already made before most of the sea-ports. The minute-men before mentioned, like firemen, have all things proper and ready to attend on the first alarm. The American coast, long as it is, both by land and sea, is faithfully watched, and posts are every where established. Whether, therefore, Administration have in view the east or west of the continent, it matters not. Set but a foot ashore to execute their plan, and the same will instantly find enemies. Nay, let thousands be landed, and they will immediately find swarms of foes; for the electrical posts, riding day and night, will soon make them sensible thereof. My Lord, Administration have not one friend they can call theirs, in every respect, that is a resident among the Americans. They have several, it is true, who for sordid gain act under the rose; but wo to them if they should be discovered. Many examples have been already made, and this may be relied on, that in a few months, as ways and means are now under consideration, Administration will, in every respect, in America, be friendless. The destroying of Falmouth, and Lord Dunmore's Proclamation, proclaiming a jubilee to the slaves and convicts in Virginia, provided they repair to the royal standard in due time, have exasperated the Americans beyond description, and made the breach infinitely wider. A few days ago, his Lordship's party was repulsed with great loss. His Lordship, my Lord, can do nothing but cause the men and treasure, now under his command, to be sacrificed and expended in vain; for he is surrounded by hundreds of the best riflemen, who have driven his troops out of their intrenchments, &c. Most, if not all, by this time, of His Majesty's Governours are afloat, and rendered incapable of fulfilling your Lordship's commands.*
The most celebrated military authors are reprinted for the use of the young officers, that they may be furnished with every prerequisite against spring. The ship-carpenters are very busy in getting the rest of the privateers ready, and also other hands to equip them wholly for sailing.
Now, right honourable sir, what will you do? Where will your Lordship look? Where can Administration fix their ideas with the least view of success? Say, my Lord, that their troops are good; the Americans have again and again repulsed them. Not one plan of Administration hath had the wished-for success; in general they have turned out abortive. Say, further, that twenty or thirty thousand, nay, double the numbers, shall be sent to subdue the Americans. Twenty thousand (descending to the camp phrase) may nearly serve for a breakfast, or rather do for a relish, and so from time to time British troops may be transported for the American sacrifice. But Administration can, destroy all their sea-ports. I reply, a few months ago they might have wrought such devastation, but now they will find it impracticable. Some harbours are blocked up, batteries before others erected as above-mentioned, and when the icy impediments are dissolved in their harbours, no marvel, my Lord, if some of the British armament, as well as transports or store-ships, be taken. About an hundred privateers, with the most intrepid marines, and those persons who last natural war immortalized their names, again chosen for captains, are, touching their schemes, no contemptible enemy by sea. Convinced I am fully, that an hundred thousand of the best troops Europe can raise will not subdue the Americans, nor make them acquiesce in the Parliamentary claims. Let Government say what they please in favour of their forces, remember, my Lord, the Americans have just such blood, the like courage, the same spirits, and are equal in colour and stature, and as well disciplined. Some of their fathers, grandfathers, and great-grandfathers, are to British dust returned, and in silent repose, while their sons and grandsons are struggling for their birth-rights; for they traditionally or constitutionally retain the idea of liberty, and with him of old say, "God forbid that we should sell the inheritance of our fathers."
Whether this will be believed or not, I don't know; but one thing I know, albeit the King requesteth, nevertheless, like Naboth, they will resist even unto death. Blessed be God, we have no Jezebel to stir up His Majesty; for his consort is the best of queens, and as such the Americans extol Her Majesty daily. Perhaps, my Lord, this may be viewed as partiality; but I can assure your Lordship I write from conviction, and not from a partial spirit. If I am charged any where herein with partiality, (as it is most natural and also very fashionable now to act the sycophant, where one's interest is,) I certainly flatter your Lordship, as I fear too many have; for I have no interest nor kindred here, nor hopes of interest for, or reward for any thing of this nature that I have done or can do. But, I have immense hopes and views. My time here is very short; and ere long I shall be in a world of spirits, where the most noble, the right honourable, and reverend, persons must all appear. I know not, therefore, how to give flattering titles unto man; for in so doing, my Maker would soon take me away.
If figuratively two persons may represent both parties in dispute, there is a striking similarity in sacred writ, with which your Lordship is perfectly acquainted, and by which I beg permission to mention the following things:
I view both sides, as to their precious blood, as good old Jacob viewed his sons, Joseph and Benjamin, and am equally with him unwilling that either should be slain. If the British troops must be represented by the elder brother, grieved to my very heart I must be to hear that he is sacrificed; and if the American forces may be compared to the younger, I shall equally lament his death. May God of his infinite mercy save both by a speedy accommodation. Benjamin hath repeatedly petitioned Joseph for redress of grievances; but Joseph would not receive his petitions, but made himself strange, and spake roughly unto him, charging him with having and holding unjustly Pharaoh's cup,* of which the poor lad is perfectly innocent. O! that Joseph would take Benjamin in his arms, and embrace him, for they are brothers. If Benjamin have erred, let the age and wisdom of Joseph overlook and obliterate all. Let him no longer refrain, but fall on his neck and kiss him, and let love and virtue reunite them. As Joseph embraced and owned Benjamin as his brother, and returned his money, so let the parent State embrace and own the Colonies without fee or reward, and instantly the sword on both sides will be sheathed; and then Benjamin as usual will go and carry corn and money to Joseph, and take his superb clothing in exchange. But if Joseph will yet refrain, and not be reconciled, Benjamin is determined to clothe himself with his own wool, and keep his money, and send his corn to other merchantmen. Let facts, my Lord, apologize for prolixity. I will conclude now with a few lines.
The Americans may be led with a hair; but they have too much English blood in them, are too well disciplined and too numerous, to be driven even by an hundred thousand of the best forces Government can raise. Where Government can produce one thousand on the Continent, America, with as much ease and expense, can produce ten thousand in opposition; for men, women, and children, are against the proceedings of Administration throughout the
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