ried advanced by the Virtues and Abilities of one Man, are at Length distracted by the present most most alarming Convulsions, that now shake it to its lowest deepest Foundations. The new Ministry finding the brave brave Foes of Brit ain subdued, took up the unfor tunate Idea of defeated bravely 1 tho frequently defeated, yet bravely still contending, took up the unfortunate Ideas of granting them a hasty Peace and these to them, and then of subduing her faithful Friends.

1

They judged these devoted Cot onies were judged to present to then

[A paragraph of some nine lines incomplete and not legible is omitted. The sense and a good part of the very words seem to have been used in the next paragraph.]

These devoted Colonies were judged to be in such a State as to present a Prospect Victories with out Bloodshed, and all the easy Emoluments of statutable Plunder. The uninterrupted Tenor of their peaceable and respectful Behaviour from the Beginning of Colonization, their dutiful, zealous and useful services during the War, that has been mentioned, tho so recently and amply acknowledged in the most honorable Manner by his Majesty, by the late King, and by Parliament, could not avail to

These devoted colonies were judged to be in such a state, as to present victories without bloodshed, and all the easy emoluments of statuteable plunder.-The uninterrupted tenor of their peaceable and respectful behaviour from the beginning of colonization, their dutiful, zealous, and useful services during the war, though so recently and amply acknowledged in the most honorable manner by his majesty, by the late king, and by Parliament, could not save them from the meditated innovations.

save them from the meditated Innovations. Parliament was influenced to adopt the pernicious Project, and to facilitate its Exe eution by assuming a new Power over them, have in the Course of eleven Years, given such decisive Specimens of the Spirit and Consequences attending this Power, as to leave no Doubt concerning the Effects of Acquiescence under it. Statutes have been passed for taking our Money from us with out our own Consent, tho every Colony on this Continent has from its Beginning always we have ever exercised an exclusive Right to dispose of our own Property; for extending the Jurisdiction of Courts of Admiralty and Vice admiralty beyond their antient Limits; for depriving us of the accustomed and inestimable Priviledge of Trial by Jury in Cases affecting both Life and Property; forinter dieting all Commerce to one' of our principal Towns; for exempt ing the Murderers of colonists from legal Punishment, for suspending the Powers of Legislature of one of the Colonies; for interdicting all Commerce of another; and for altering fundamentally the Form of Government in one of the Colonies, a Form secured established by Charter, and eon

Parliament was influenced to adopt the pernicious project, and assuming a new power over them, have, in the course of eleven years, given such decisive specimens of the spirit and consequences attending this power, as to leave no doubt concerning the effects of acquiescence under it. They have undertaken to give and grant our money without our consent, though we have ever exercised an exclusive right to dispose of our own property; statutes have been passed for extending the jurisdiction of courts of Admiralty and Vice-Admiralty beyond their ancient limits; for depriving us of the accustomed and inestimable privilege of trial by jury, in cases affecting both life and property; for suspending the legislature of one of the colonies; for interdicting all commerce to the capital of another; and for altering fundamentally the form of government established by charter, and secured by acts of its own legislature solemnly confirmed by the crown; for exempting the "murderers" of colonists from legal trial, and in effect, from punishment; for erecting in a neighboring province, acquired by the joint arms of Great Britain and America, a despotism dangerous to our very existence; and for

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firmed secured by Acts of its own Legislature solemnly and assented to confirmed by the Crown; for erecting in a neighbouring for exempting the "Murderers" of colonists from legal Punishment; for erecting in a neighbouring Province, conquered acquired by the joint Arms of Great Britain and America, a Tyranny Despotism dangerous to the our very existence of the Colonies and for quartering Officers and Soldiers upon the Colonists in time of profound Peace. It has also been declared resolved in Parliament that Colonists charged with committing certain Offences, shall by Virtue of a Statute made before any of be transported to England to be tried.

But why should we enumerate our Injuries in Detail? By one Act of Parl Statute it is declared, that Parliament can "of right make Laws to bind us IN ALL CASES WHATSOEVER." What is to defend us against such so enormous a Power so enormous, so unlimited a Power? The persons assuming them Not one of a single Man of those who assume it, is chosen by us; or is subject to our Controul or Influence; but on the contrary is they are all of them exempt from the Operations of such Laws, and actually lighten their own Burdens, in exact proportion to those the Burdens they impose on us. These Temptations might put

quartering soldiers upon the colonists in time of profound peace. It has also been resolved in parliament, that colonists charged with committing certain offences, shall be transported to England to be tried.

But why should we enumerate our injuries in detail? By one statute it is declared, that parliament can "of right make laws to bind us IN ALL CASES WHATSOEVER." What is to defend us against so enormous, so unlimited a power? Not a single man of those who assume it, is chosen by us; or is subject to our controul or influence; but, on the contrary, they are all of them exempt from the operation of such laws, and an American revenue, if not diverted from the ostensible purposes for which it is raised, would actually lighten their own burdens in proportion as they increase ours. We saw the misery to which such des

searee are too great to be offered to Characters of the severest

Administration, sensible that we should regard these oppressive Measures as Freemen ought to do, sent over Fleets and Armies to enforce them. The Indignation of the colonies was rous'd by their Virtue Americans was rous'd, it is true: but it was the Indignation of a virtuous, peaceable, loyal, sub jeets and affectionate People. A Congress of Delegates from the United Colonies was assembled at Philadelphia on the fifth Day of last September. We felt saw the Weapons levell❜d at our Brea Bosoms, but we perceiv'd them at the same Time held in grasp'd by a Parent's Hands. We cast ourselves upon our Knees prostrate at the Foot of the Throne our Sovereign. Tho for ten years we had fatigued the besieged the Throne Ears of Authority with Petitions, Supplications,'-yet the ineffectually besieged the Throne as Supplicants, yet we resolved again to offer an humble and dutiful Petition to the King, and agreed also to send an Address to our Fellow Subjects in Great Britain, informing them of our agreement at a certain Days to break off all our Commercial Intercourse with our

potism would reduce us. We for ten years incessantly and ineffectually besieged the Throne as supplicants; we reasoned, we remonstrated with parliament, in the most mild and decent language. But Administration, sensible that we should regard these oppressive measures as freemen ought to do, sent over fleets and armies to enforce them. The indignation of the Americans was roused, it is true; but it was the indignation of a virtuous, loyal, and affectionate people. A Congress of Delegates from the United Colonies was assembled at Philadelphia, on the fifth day of last September. We resolved again to offer an humble and dutiful petition to the King, and also addressed our fellow-subjects of Great Britain. We have pursued every temperate, every respectful measure: we have even proceeded to break off our commercial intercourse with our fellow-subjects, as the last peaceable admonition, that our attachment to no nation upon earth should supplant our attachment to liberty.This, we flattered ourselves, was the ultimate step of the controversy: But subsequent events have shewn, how vain was this hope of finding moderation in our enemies.

Fellow Subjects in Great Britain as the last peaceable them as a peaceable Admonition, that our Attachment to no Nation upon the Earth shoud supplant our Attachment to Liberty. This, we flattered ourselves, was the ultimate Step of the Controversy: But subsequent Events have shewn, how vain was this last Hope of Moderation in the Ministry our Enemies.

Our Petition was treated with Contempt. Without the least Mention of its our Application several threatening Expressions against the Colonies were inserted in his Majesty's Speech to both the two Houses of Parliament; and afterwards the Petition was huddled into the House of Commons the last amongst a neglected Bundle of American Papers. The Lords and Commons in their Address to his Majesty, in the Month of February, said, that "a Rebellion at that Time actually existed within the Province of Massachusetts Bay; and that those concerned in it, had been countenanc'd and encouraged by unlawful Combinations and Engagements entered into by his Majesty's Subjects in several of the other Colonies; and therefore they besought his Majesty, that he would take the most effectual Measures to enforce due Obedience to the Laws and Authority of the Supreme Legislature." Soon after the commercial Intercourse of whole Col

Several threatening expressions against the colonies were inserted in his Majesty's speech; our petition, though we were told it was a decent one, and that his Majesty had been pleased to receive it graciously, and to promise laying it before his Parliament, was huddled into both houses amongst a bundle of American papers, and there neglected. The Lords and Commons in their address, in the month of February, said, that “a rebellion at that time actually existed within the province of Massachusetts bay; and that those concerned in it, had been countenanced and encouraged by unlawful combinations and engagements, entered into by his Majesty's subjects in several of the other colonies; and therefore they besought his Majesty, that he would take the most effectual measures to enforce due obedience to the laws and authority of the supreme legislature."-Soon after, the commercial intercourse of whole colonies, with foreign countries, and