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them. They then afk, what is of fered to them by the late act of parliament in their place. And from thence proceed to a fevere examination of the Quebec act, in which they attempt to fhew, that it does not afford them, and has not left them a civil right or fecurity of any kind, as every thing it feems to grant, and even the laws they poffeffed before, are liable to be altered and varied, and new laws or ordinances made, by a governor and council appointed by the crown, and confequently, whol. ly dependent on, and removeable at the will of a minister in England; fo that all the powers of legiflation, as well as that of granting and applying the public fupplies, and difponing of their own property, being thus totally out of the hands and controul of the people, they are liable to the most abject flavery, and to live under the moft defpotic government in the universe.

After pretending to point out numberless deformities in that law, and placing them in fuch points of view, as were fufficient to render it odious to mankind, as well as hideous to the Canadians, they reprefent, as an infult added to their injuries, the hopes upon which, they faid, it had been founded by the minifter; he expecting, that through an invincible ftupidity in them, and a total inability of comprehending the tendency of a law, which fo materially affected their dearest interefts, fhould in the excefs of a mistaken gratitude, take up arms, and incur the ridicule and deteftation of the world, by becoming willing tools in his hands, to affift in fubverting the rights and liberties of the other colonies; VOL. XVIII. 1775

without their being capable of fee. ing, that the unavoidable confequences of fuch an attempt, if fuccefsful, would be the extinction of all hopes to themselves and their pofterity of being ever reftored to freedom; for idiotcy itself, (fay they)" cannot believe, that, when their drudgery is performed, they will treat you with lefs cruelty than they have us, who are of the fame blood with themselves."

They again apply to their paffions, and partiality for countryman, by calling up the venerable Montefquieu, and defiring them to apply thofe maxims, fanctified by the authority of a name which all Europe reveres, to their own ftate; they fuppofe him alive, and confulted by the Canadians as to the part they fhould act in their prefent fituation. They are told (after expatiating on the fubject of freedom and flavery) that they are only a fmall people, compared with their numerous and powerful neighbours, who with open arms invite them into a fellowship; to feize the opportunity in their favour, which is not the work of man, but prefented by Providence itself; that it does not admit of a question, whether it is more for their intereft and happinefs, to have all the reft of North America their unalterable friends, or their inveterate enemies; that as nature had joined their countries, let them alfo join their political interefts; that they have been conquered into liberty, if they act as they ought; but that their doing otherwife will be attended with irremediable evils.

They endeavour to obviate the jealoufies and prejudices which might arife from the difference of [C]

their

their religious principles, by inftancing the cafe of the Swifs cantons; whole union is compofed of Catholic and Proteftant ftates; who live in the utmoft concord and peace with each other, and have been thereby enabled to defeat all attempts against their liberties. This inftance, though perhaps the moft appofite that could have been brought for the purpofe, would not, however, have born the teft of much examination.

They declare, that they do not require them, to commence acts of hoftility against the government of their common fovereign; that they only invite them to confult their own glory and welfare, and not to furfer themfelves to be inveigled or intimidated by infamous minifters fo far, as to become the inftruments of their cruelty and defpotilin. They conclude by informing them, that the congrefs had with univerfal pleafure, and by an unanimous vote, refolved, that they fhould confider the violation of their rights, by the act for altering the government of that province, as a violation of their own; and that they should be invited to accede to their confedera. tion, which had no other objects than the perfect fecurity of the natural and civil rights of all the conAituent members, according to their respective circumftances, and the prefervation of a happy and lafting connection with GreatBritain, on the falutary and conftitutional principles before men

tioned.

In the address to the colonies they inform them, that as in duty and justice bound, they have deliberately, difpaffionately, and impartially examined and confidered

all the measures that led to the prés fent difturbances; the exertions of both the legislative and executive powers of Great-Britain, on the one hand, and the conduct of the colonies on the other. That upon the whole, they find themfelves reduced to the difagreeable alternative, of being filent and betraying the innocent, or of fpeaking out and cenfuring thofe they with to revere. In making their choice of thefe diftreffing difficulties, they prefer the courfe dictated by hohefty, and a regard for the welfare of their country.

After ftating and examining the feveral laws that were paffed, and the measures purfued with respect to America, from the year 1764, to the prefent period, they enquire into the motives for the particular hoftility carried on against the town of Boston, and province of Maffachufett's-Bay, though the be haviour of the people in other colonies, had been in equal oppofi tion to the power affumed by parliament, and yet no ftep what ever had been taken against any of them by government. This they reprefent as an artful systematic line of conduct, of conduct, concealing among others the following defigns: ift. That it was expected, that the province of Maffachufett's would be irritated into fome violent action, that might difplease the rest of the continent, or that might induce the people of England to approve the meditated vengeance of an imprudent and exafperated ministry. If the unexampled pacific temper of that province fhould disappoint that part of the plan, it was in that cafe hoped, that the other co lonies would be fo far intimidated, as to defert their brethren, fuffering

in a common caufe, and that thus difunited, all might be easily subdued.

After examining the Quebec act, and pretending to affign the motives on which it was founded, they fay, that from this detail of facts, as well as from authentic intelligence, it is clear, beyond a doubt, that a refolution is formed, and now is carrying into execution, to extinguish the freedom of the colonies, by fubjecting them to a defpotic government.

They then proceed to ftate the importance of the truft which was repofed in them, and the manner in which they have difcharged it. Upon this occafion, they fay, that though the ftate of the colonies would certainly justify other meafares than thofe which they have advised; yet they have for weighty reafons given the preference to thofe which they have adopted. Thefe reafons are, that it is confiftent with the character which the colonies have always fuftained, to perform, even in the midst of the unnatural diftreffes and imminent dangers that furround them, every act of loyalty; and therefore they were induced to offer once more to his majesty the petitions of his faithful and oppreffed fubjects in America. That from a fenfe of their tender affection for the people of the kingdom from which they derive their original, they could not forbear to regulate their fteps by an expectation of receiving full conviction that the colonifts are equally dear to them. That they ardently with the focial band between that body and the colonies may never be diffolved, and that it cannot, until the minds of the former fhall become

indifputably hoftile, or their inattention fhall permit thofe who are thus hoftile to perfift in profecuting, with the powers of the realm, the deftructive measures already operating against the colonists; and, in either cafe, fhall reduce the latter to fuch a fituation, that they fhall be compelled to renounce every guard but that of felf-prefervation. That, notwithflanding the vehemence with which affairs have been impelled, they have not yet reached that fatal point; that they do not incline to accelerate their motion, already alarmingly rapid; and they have chofen a method of oppofition that does not preclude a hearty reconciliation with their fellow citizens on the other fide of the Atlantic.

That, they deeply deplore the urgent neceffity that preffes them to an immediate interruption of commerce, which may prove injurious to their fellow-fubjects in England; but truft they will acquit them of any unkind intentions, by reflecting that they fubject themselves to fimilar inconveniences; that they are driven by the hands of violence into unexperienced and unexpected public convulfions, and that they are contending for freedom, fo often contended for by their ancestors.

They conclude by obferving, that the people of England will foon have an opportunity of declaring their fentiments concerning their caufe. "That in their piety, "generofity, and good fenfe, they repofe high confidence; and can

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State of affairs previous to the diffolution of Parliament. The new Parliament meets. Speech from the throne. Addresses. Amendments propofed. Debates. Proteft. Apparent irrefolution with refped to America. timates of Supply formed upon a peace establishment. Reduction in the naval department.

W

HILST matters of this magnitude were tranfacting in America, an unexampled fupineness with regard to public affairs, prevailed among the great body of the people at home. The English nation, which ufed to feel fo tremblingly alive, upon every conteft that arofe between the remoteft powers in Europe, and to intereft itself fo much in the iffue, as fcarcely to be with-held from becoming a party where-ever juftice or friendship pointed out the way, by a ftrange reverfe of temper, feemed at this time, much more indifferent to matters, in which were involved its own immediate and dearest interests. Even the great commercial and manufacturing bodies, who must be the first to feel, and the last to lament any finifter events in the colonies,

and who are generally remarkable for a quick forefight and provident fagacity in whatever regards their intereft, feemed now to be funk in the fame carele ffness and inattention with the rest of the people.

Several caufes concurred to produce this apparent indifference. The colony contefts were no longer new. From the year 1765, they had, with but few, and those short intermiffions, engaged the attention of parliament. Moft of the topics on the fubject were exhaufted, and the vehement paffions which accompanied them had fubfided. The non-importation agreement, (by divifions within the colonies, which, if not caused, were much forwarded by the conceffions with regard to feveral of the taxes laid in 1767) had broken up, before it had produced any ferious confequences.

confequences. Moft people therefore flattered themfelves, that as things had appeared fo very frequently at the verge of a rupture, without actually arriving at it, that now, as formerly, fome means would be found for accommodating this difpute. At worst it was conceived, that the Americans would themfelves grow tired. And as an opinion was circulated with fome induftry and fuccefs, that a countenance of refolution, if perfevered in for fome time, would certainly put an end to the conteft, which (it was faid) had been nourished wholly by former concefGons, people were in general inclined to leave the trial of the effects of perfeverance and refolution, to a ministry who valued themselves on those qualities. The court had alfo with great tenacioufnefs adhered to this fyftem for fome years. It frequently got the better, not only of the regular oppofition, but of parties in the miniftry itself, who were from time to time inclined to relax either from fear, wearinefs, or change of opipion. All these things had hitherto indifpofed the body of the nation from taking part in the fanguine manner they had hitherto done on other fubjects, and formerly on this.

From thefe caufes, adminiftration being totally difengaged at home, was at full leifure to profecute the measures which it had defigned against America, or to adopt fuch new ones, as the oppofition there rendered neceffary towards carrying the new laws into execution. The times indeed were highly favourable to any purpofe, which only required the copcur

rence of that parliament, and the acquiefcence of the people.

Notwithstanding these favourable circumftances on the one fide, and that general indifference which prevailed on the other, it was not totally forgotten by either, that the time for a general election was approaching, and that the parliament had but one feffion more to compleat its allotted term. In fome few places, where the popular fpirit ran high, tefts were already propofed to be figned by their future candidates, previous to their receiving any affurance, or promife of fupport from the electors. At a meeting of the freeholders of the county of Middlefex, a teft was propofed to Mr. Wilkes and Serjeant Glynne, and by them figned, in which they engaged their utmoft endeavours to promote bills for fhortening the duration of parliaments, for the exclufion of placemen and penfioners from the House of Commons; for a more fair and equal reprefentation of the people; for vindicating the injured rights of the freeholders of that county, and through them of all the electors in the kingdom; for procuring a repeal of the four late American acts, viz. That for the province of Quebec, and the three which affected the town of Bofton, and the province of Maffachufett's-Bay; befides binding themfelves, fo far as in them lay, to restore and defend that excellent form of government, which had been modelled and established at the revolution.

Tefts, upon much the fame principles, were propofed in London and fome other places; and it is fill the opinion of fome of thole, who were fanguine in that mode [C] 3

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