sest of the Means for defending ourselves, of which till lately we were in Want. With Hearts fortified by these animating Reflections, We do most solemnly before God and the World declare, that, exerting the utmost Energies of those Powers, which our beneficent Creator hath graciously bestowed upon us, the Arms we have been thus compell'd by our Enemies to assume for our-just Defence, we will in Defiance of every Hazard with unabating Firmness and perseverance, in De fiance of every Hazard, now we will employ for the preservation of our Liberties, deeming it infi nitely preferable being with one Mind resolved to dye free men rather than to live Slaves.

Least this Declaration should disquiet the Minds of our Friends and fellow subjects in any part of the World Empire, we assure them, that we mean not in any Manner to dissolve that Union with them in which we have has so long and so happily lived subsisted between us, and which we so ardently much sincerely wish to see restored. The Necessity must be hard indeed has not yet driven us into that desperate Measure, or to excite their other Nations to war against them. We have not rais'd armies from with ambitious Designs of separating from Great Britain and establishing independ

arms we have been compelled by our enemies to assume, we will, in defiance of every hazard, with unabating firmness and perseverance, employ for the presevation of our liberties; being with our [one] mind resolved to dye Free-men rather than live Slaves.

Lest this declaration should disquiet the minds of our friends and fellow-subjects in any part of the empire, we assure them that we mean not to dissolve that Union which has so long and so happily subsisted between us, and which we sincerely wish to see restored.Necessity has not yet driven us into that desperate measure, or induced us to excite any other nation to war against them.-We have not raised armies with ambitious designs of separating from Great Britain, and establishing independent states. We fight not for glory or for conquest. We exhibit to mankind the remarkable spectacle

ent States. We have fight not invaded that Island proffering to its Inhabitants Death or Slavery for Glory or for Conquest. We exhibit to Mankind the remarkable Spectacle of a People charged till attack'd without any Imputation or even Suspicion of Offence by unprovoked Enemies, who proffer-to them the not milder Forms Condi tions than Death or Slavery boast of their Freedom Priviledges and Civilization, and yet proffer no milder Conditions than Death or Slav Servitude or Death.

In our Native Land, in Defence of Liberties the Liberty Freedom that is our Birthright, and which we ever enjoyed till the late Violations of it,-for the Protection of our Property acquired, solely by the honest Industry of our Forefathers and ourselves, against we have taken up arms, solely to oppose and repell the violence actually offered to us Violence actually offered, we have taken up Arms. We shall We shall lay them down when Hostilities shall cease on the Part of the Aggressors, and all Danger of their being renewed, shall be removed, and not before.

With an humble Confidence in the divine Mercies of the supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the Universe, we most devoutly implore Almighty God his divine Goodness to conduct us happily thro' this great Conflict,

of a people attacked by unprovoked enemies, without any imputation or even suspicion of offence. They boast of their privileges and civilization, and yet proffer no milder conditions than servitude or death.

In our own native land, in defence of the freedom that is our birth-right, and which we ever enjoyed till the late violation of it-for the protection of our property, acquired solely by the honest industry of our fore-fathers and ourselves, against violence actually offered, we have taken up arms. We shall lay them down when hostilities shall cease on the part of the aggressors, and all danger of their being renewed shall be removed, and not before.

With an humble confidence in the mercies of the supreme and impartial Judge and Ruler of the universe, we most devoutly implore his divine goodness to protect us happily through this great conflict, to dispose our adversaries