An Humble Address and Earnest Appeal to Those Respectable Personages in Great-Britain and Ireland Part 1

An Humble Address and Earnest Appeal to Those Respectable Personages in Great-Britain and Ireland, Who, by Their Great and Permanent Interest in Landed Property, Their Liberal Education, Elevated Rank, and Enlarged Views, Are the Ablest to Judge, and the Fittest to Decide, Whether a Connection with, Or a Separation from the Continental Colonies of America, Be Most for the National Advantage, and the Lasting Benefit of These Kingdoms.

by Josiah Tucker.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

Though the Author of the ensuing Tract may be below your Notice, as an Individual, yet the Subject he treats upon, highly deserves your most serious Attention. In the present unhappy Disputes between the Parent-State and the Colonies, he undertakes to point out, what Measures the Landed-Interest of _Great-Britain_ and _Ireland_ ought to pursue in future, for the Sake of themselves and their Posterity. And if what he has to offer, should, after a due Examination, be found to be reasonable, solid, and satisfactory, he relies so much on your own good Sense and Judgment, as to believe, that you will not reject his Plan, merely because it originated from an inferior Hand. This is all the Favour he asks, or expects from you.

Upon this Subject, he waves the Consideration of every Thing, which might have a Tendency to keep the present Question out of Sight. _Great-Britain_ and her Colonies are now at open War. THIS IS THE FACT. But if it should be asked, How these Things came to pa.s.s? From what Causes did they spring?

Which are the real, and which are the apparent Motives in this Controversy? Moreover, who were originally and princ.i.p.ally to blame? And what Methods ought to have been taken at first, in order to have prevented Matters from coming to their present Height?--The Author having already given his Sentiments on each of these Heads in his 3d, 4th, and 5th preceding Tracts, and also in his Letter to Mr. BURKE, will not here repeat the same Things.--The grand Object now before him is simply this; _Great Britain and her Colonies are at open War_: And the proper and important Question arising from such a Fact is the following, _What is to be done at the present Crisis?_

Three Schemes have been proposed;--the Parliamentary,--Mr. BURKE's,--and my own.

The Parliamentary Scheme is,--To maintain _vi et armis_ the Supremacy of the Mother-Country over her Colonies, in as full and ample a Manner, as over any Part of the _British_ Dominions.

Mr. BURKE's is, [tho' not in express _Words_] To resign or relinquish the Power of the _British_ Parliament over the Colonies, and to erect each Provincial a.s.sembly into an independent _American_ Parliament;--subject nevertheless to the King of _Great-Britain_, with his usual Prerogatives:--For which Favour of acknowledging the same Sovereign, the Colonists are to be complimented with the most precious Rights, Privileges, and Advantages of _British_ Subjects:--I say, _complimented_, and complimented even _gratuitously_:--For as to their contributing any Proportion, either of Men or Money, towards the public Expence, and in Return for those Favours--All this is to be entirely left to their own innate Goodness and Generosity, to do just as they please.

My Scheme [which Mr. BURKE, in his last Speech of _March_ 22, 1775, is pleased to term a _childish_ one] is,--To separate totally from the Colonies, and to reject them from being Fellow-Members, and joint Partakers with us in the Privileges and Advantages of the _British_ Empire; because they refuse to submit to the Authority and Jurisdiction of the _British_ Legislature:--Offering at the same Time to enter into Alliances of Friends.h.i.+p, and Treaties of Commerce with them, as with any other sovereign, independent States.

Now, in order to determine, which of these Schemes is the most eligible;--it would be right to consider, which is the easiest and most practicable,--which is least expensive,--which is likeliest to prevent similar Disturbances and Disputes for the future,--and which will least endanger the _English_ Const.i.tution and our domestic Tranquility. For all these Circ.u.mstances ought to be taken into the Account, before a due Judgment can be formed.

In regard to the first, I wish for the present to be silent about it;--partly out of Respect to that august Body, which has given a Sanction to it;--partly because it is now upon Trial, whether it can be executed or not;--and partly likewise because this must fall of Course, if either Mr.

BURKE's, or mine, should be judged to have the Preference. For these Reasons, I say, I wish to keep a respectful Silence on this Head.

But in respect to Mr. BURKE, I need not stand on so much Ceremony. For tho' he is confessedly a great _Rhetorician_, and can with his magic Voice raise a mighty Tempest of metaphorical Lightenings and Thunders;--yet, Heaven be praised, there is the Period of all his Powers: And his _verba ardentia_, his _flaming Words_, are found to end at last (like many other Explosions) in Noise and Smoke. Nor doth it, I humbly apprehend, at all follow, that the Orator is endowed with a greater Portion of political Discernment than other Men, or with more disinterested Sincerity, and real Love of his Country, in making a just and honest Application of that Discernment;--merely because he has more Words at Command, and can muster up a greater Army of bright Similes, and florid Expressions.

But be that as it may:--I now consider myself as standing at the Bar of the public Tribunal: And therefore before the Jury is struck, and the Trial begins, I humbly beg Leave to claim, and to exercise one of the distinguis.h.i.+ng Privileges of _Englishmen_ in such Cases, viz. To except against all such Persons in the Pannel, who appear to be under a wrong Bia.s.s, and an undue Influence respecting the Nature of this Dispute.

And 1st. I except against _Courtiers and Placemen_, considered _as such_.

This is not uttered out of a Spirit of Resentment, Pique, or Disappointment, according to the Mode of modern Times. For, I thank G.o.d, I have no Cause to complain of any Disappointment; having since my Advancement to the Deanery of _Glocester_ in the Year 1758, neither directly nor indirectly made the least, or the most distant Application for any other or higher Station. This Renunciation of aspiring Views is a Circ.u.mstance, which I am persuaded Mr. BURKE knew perfectly well, by various Means, and from different Persons, especially from a n.o.ble Lord, formerly high in Office, and a great _Favourite_ at Court, but now his Coadjutor, and a flaming Patriot. And yet the Orator has been pleased to characterize me by Name in his Speech of the 19th of _April_, 1774, with out any Provocation, as one of those _Court-Vermin_ (such was his polite Phrase) who would do any thing for the Sake of a Bishopric.--Moreover I do not make this Exception against Courtiers from any bad Opinion I have conceived of the present Set of Ministers; for I think it may be fairly allowed, without paying them any Compliment, that they are to the full as _able_, and as _honest_ as the best of those who are endeavouring to supplant them. But nevertheless, as they are subject to many unhappy Bia.s.ses, which may draw their Judgments aside without sinister Intentions, they ought to be excepted against in the present Dispute. In fact, while the great Continent of _North America_ shall continue to be united to this Island under any mode whatever, Persons in Administration will necessarily have a Mult.i.tude of Places and Sine-cures to dispose of, many lucrative Contracts to bestow; and, to speak in coa.r.s.e tho' very expressive _English_, many JOBS of various Kinds, wherewith to gratify their Friends, and Dependents. Not to mention, that if ever a total Separation (such as proposed by my Plan) should ensue, the Ministry for the Time being, would run a great Risque of falling a Sacrifice to the blind Zeal of popular Discontents, and the knavish Intrigues of Party-Factions. Therefore for all these Reasons, I must insist, that Courtiers and Placemen ought to be excepted against, as being not sufficiently unbia.s.sed, or disinterested to determine impartially on the present Subject.

2dly. I particularly except against the whole Band of Mock-Patriots. And my Reason is, because this Race of Men will of Course, prefer that Scheme, whatever it be, which can furnish them with the most lasting Fund for Opposition and Complaint. Now it is evident, that our Conjunction with _North-America_, upon any Terms, and under any, or every Modification, will not fail of becoming an inexhaustible Source of Altercation and Reproach, let whatever Measures be pursued. For Example: Had the Ministry proposed at first that very Scheme, which Mr. BURKE has now thought proper to recommend, the Heads of the Faction, and even Mr. BURKE himself (if he had not been a Pensioner to _North-America_) would most probably have proposed just the Reverse; that is, they and he would have insisted on the Necessity of _obliging_ the Colonies to contribute a Share, _proportionable to their Interests, and to the growing Benefits they receive_, towards the Maintenance, the Grandeur, and the Glory of that Empire, from which their own Preservation and Prosperity are derived. And then the popular Cry would have been, that a wicked and a profligate Administration were going to sacrifice the Honour and Dignity of the _British_ Crown, and the dear-bought Rights and Privileges of the _British_ Nation to _American_ Gold, and _American_ Ingrat.i.tude.--Then we should have been told (and every Town and Country News-Paper would have echoed and re-echoed the Tale) that _America_ was the Property of _Great-Britain_ by every possible and legal Claim;--by Right of Discovery,--Right of Occupancy,--Right of Possession,--uninterrupted Prescription,--Communication of Benefits,--Partic.i.p.ation of Posts of Honour, and Places of Profit,--general Protection,--never-ceasing Defence, &c. &c. And then we should have been told with peculiar Emphasis, that this new-fangled, ministerial Scheme of erecting so many new Parliaments, all co-ordinate with each other, under one general Monarch, was not only a notorious Breach of the _English_ Const.i.tution, and utterly repugnant to the Law of the Land,--but was also a deep-laid, diabolical Contrivance to subjugate these petty Parliaments, one after another, and all in their Turns, to the irresistible Power of one grand Despot:--In short, then it would have been said (and with great Appearance of Truth) that _divide, et impera_ was the ministerial Maxim;--and that, what was done, or going to be done in _America_, was only the Omen and Prelude to the like fatal Establishments here in _Britain_. For the next Step would be (and upon a Pretence full as good, and altogether as const.i.tutional) to break to Pieces the united Force of the _British_ Parliament, by erecting one diminutive a.s.sembly of States at _Edinburgh_, another at _York_, a third at _London_, and a fourth at _Bath_, or _Exeter_, or somewhere in the West: And then, partly by flattering and cajoling,--partly by Bribes or Bullying,--by exciting their Hopes, or their Fears at one Time,--and their Jealousies at another,--and by playing off each of these puny a.s.semblies against its Rival, the Minister would necessarily become omnipotent;--and then farewell to the Liberties of _Old England_.

3dly. I object also against all those of whatever Denomination, from the roaring Patriot in the Senate, to the miserable Scribbler in the Garret, who are the Pensioners of _France_, or _Spain_, or of any other rival Power:--I say, I object against their being Judges in this Dispute, because the very Intent of their receiving Pay is to promote Discord, and to cherish Faction;--and because they cannot earn their Wages with more Facility, or with surer Success to their Employers, than by patronizing such Schemes, as will necessarily keep up the Disputes between _Great-Britain_ and her Colonies.

But here the Smartness of Debate (to use one of Mr. BURKE's very smart Expressions) will be apt to say, "Who are those Persons against whom your Insinuations are levelled? Name them, if you are able: And as you ought to be furnished with the most positive Proofs, before you are ent.i.tled to throw out such Invectives, give them to the Public, in order that we may hold these Traitors to their Country in just Abhorrence."

To all which strong Words I would beg Leave to suggest the following Answers.

1. I think it may be allowed, without injuring the Cause of Truth, or even Charity, that a Man may be fully convinced of a bad Design, or a wicked Scheme being in Agitation, without being able to prove, who are the Persons concerned in it. It is not usual for the Guilty to call upon the Innocent to step forwards and be their Accusers: Nor can it be expected, that the Names of the Conspirators should be the first Thing in any Conspiracy which is to be brought to Light. Indeed, generally speaking, this is the last Part of any Plot, or of any bad Design, which can be fully known, or legally ascertained. And therefore, if either the Experience of former Times, or the Nature of the Case, can afford probable Reasons, and circ.u.mstantial Evidence in Support of this a.s.sertion, _That there are Numbers of Pensioners to Foreign Powers now among us_--surely we have obtained all the Proofs that are necessary at present towards establis.h.i.+ng a general Belief of the Fact, (which is the only Point here contended for;) and we must leave to Time, that great Discoverer of political Machinations, to unravel the rest.

Wherefore, 2dly. Let it be observed, that the History of this very Country furnishes us with striking Examples in Confirmation of the above a.s.sertion. Particularly during the memorable Reigns of CHARLES the Second, and WILLIAM the Third, that is, just before, and just after the Revolution, there were many venal _Englishmen_, both in the Senate and out of it, the Pensioners of _France_; who, to be sure, meant nothing by what they said or did on these Occasions, and for such Pay, but the Good of their dear bleeding Country; who therefore stormed and thundered, speechified and harangued, printed and published out of pure, disinterested Zeal for the Welfare of poor, old _England_!

Hence therefore I infer, 3dly, That the like may happen again, or rather has happened already, unless it can be shewn, either, that _France_ and _Spain_ want no such Agents at present; or if they did, that they cannot now, as heretofore, find them here in _Britain_. In regard to the first of these Positions, whosoever will give himself the Trouble, to examine coolly and impartially into the slender Reasons alledged on our Parts, for beginning two of the most b.l.o.o.d.y and destructive Wars, that ever were known, will find sufficient Cause to believe, that those Powers will always think it to be more for their Interests, to cut out Work at Home for these restless and turbulent Islanders (as they are pleased to call us) than to let us be at Peace among ourselves, lest that Circ.u.mstance should give us an Opportunity of picking Quarrels with our Neighbours. And most certain it is, that both the former _Spanish_ (or the _No-Search_) War, and the latter _French_ (or the _Acadia_ and _Ohio_) War, were begun and carried on princ.i.p.ally with a View to promote the immediate Interests of the Northern Colonies; the former to protect their Smugglers, when hovering about the Coasts, and when actually trading in the prohibited Ports of the _Spanish West-Indies_; and the latter, (a War, alas! begun, without so much as a Declaration of War!) to do, I know not what! unless it was to enable the grateful Colonies to rebel against the Mother Country, perhaps a Generation or two sooner, than otherwise they would have done. But be that as it may, one Thing is certain, and beyond Dispute, that the more we are embroiled among ourselves, the less Cause will the other Powers of _Europe_ have to fear our giving them any Disturbance: And that 20,000l. or 30,000l. a Year spent in Bribes and Pensions, properly disposed, to raise an Opposition against Government, and to enflame the Populace against their Rulers, will do more effectual Service to the Courts of _France_ and _Spain_, than thirty Times these Sums laid out in manning Fleets, or equipping Squadrons or preparing and embarking Troops for an Invasion.

If therefore these Points are so self-evident, as not to be denied, the only Question now remaining is this, Can it be supposed, or is it credible, that a popular _British_ Senator, a _British_ Pamphleteer, or a _British_ News-writer, in an Age so pure and uncorrupt as ours, would accept of a Bribe, or a Pension on such dishonourable Conditions? And are not all these ill.u.s.trious Personages either of such well known independent Fortunes, or of such spotless Characters, and approved Virtue, as to be superior to any Temptation of this Sort? Now here I say nothing, but chuse to be silent; and earnestly entreat every Reader to judge for himself.

Indeed there was a Time, when a Text of sacred Scripture might have been urged, as carrying some Weight in deciding the present Question: "Beware of false Prophets, who come to you in Sheep's Cloathing, but inwardly they are ravening Wolves. Ye shall know them by their Fruits. Do Men gather Grapes of Thorns, or Figs of Thistles? Even so every good Tree bringeth forth good Fruit; but a corrupt Tree bringeth forth evil Fruit. A good Tree cannot bring forth evil Fruit, neither can a corrupt Tree bring forth good Fruit.--WHEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM." I say, there was a Time, when the Authority of such a Caution would have been regarded as more decisive than the Productions of our modern licentious Presses.

But as we now live in very extraordinary Times, full of new Lights, and new Discoveries, I forbear, lest our Patriots should accuse me of Bigotry, Priestcraft, or Superst.i.tion[1].

4thly. I expressly except against all Persons of _Republican_ Principles for very obvious Reasons; for tho' they dignify themselves by the Name of WHIGS, yet as they are not the genuine, _const.i.tutional Whigs_ of this Kingdom, but an unnatural Superfoetation, and the avowed Enemies of the _British_ Const.i.tution, they ought not to be allowed to sit in Judgment in a _British_ Cause. They are, it is well known, the professed Advocates for continuing and cementing the Union between _Great-Britain_ and her Colonies; and yet they wish, above all Things, to see these Colonies totally exempt from, and independent of, the Power and Jurisdiction of the _British_ Legislature. Now, how are we to reconcile these glaring Contradictions? And what is the Reason for professing such a preposterous Zeal for _America_, in Preference both to the Interests and Honour of their native Country? The Reason is this:--They think, that by cheris.h.i.+ng and protecting a republican Government in the Colonies, they are paving the Way for introducing a similar Establishment into _Great-Britain_.

Therefore _Republicism_ is the Bond of Union between these unnatural _Englishmen_ and their Fellow-Labourers of _America_: _Republicism_, I say, [pardon the Use of a new Word, where the Language doth not afford a better] is made the _common Cause_ for uniting Persons of the most discordant Interests and different Inclinations in other Respects.

And I will add, as an Ill.u.s.tration of this Matter, and to shew how far certain Persons will go to obtain their Ends, that the Republicans in the Reigns of CHARLES II. JAMES II. and WILLIAM III. joined the Const.i.tutionalists in bringing about the Revolution, chiefly with the Hopes, that a Prince who owed his Election to the Voice of the People, might the easier be dethroned by the same People, whenever they could get them into the Mood to do it, whether with, or without a Cause. For the very Sound of Monarchy, however limited, or however well administered, is grating to their Ears. They cannot bear to think, that one Man, or one Family should be so much exalted above _themselves_, in Contradiction to their darling Maxim of a NATURAL EQUALITY. And this Scheme for laying the Foundation of a _new_ and _equal_ Republic is what the Republicans really intend by using the Phrase _Revolution Principles_ at this Day. In short, we have now the most authentic Proofs, that their Predecessors of old tried all Means in their Power, and even applied to the Court of _France_ first to prevent, and then to defeat the Revolution, and to set up a Republican Form in its stead; alledging that it was more for the Interest of that Court to have a Republican Government take Place in _England_, somewhat after the Example of that of _Holland_, than any Kind of Monarchical Const.i.tution, because this, at one Time or other, might become a troublesome Neighbour, and a dangerous Rival; whereas nothing of that Kind was to be feared from a mere simple _Democracy_. Moreover in some Years afterwards, when the Crown was settled on the House of _Hanover_, we know it well, (for it is no Secret) that the Republicans both then, and since, had no other Merit towards that House, notwithstanding all their Boastings, than that of reserving its Princes, like the Prisoners in CACUS's Den, _to be devoured the last_. A mighty Favour truly! For which our Ears are perpetually dinned with a Repet.i.tion of the Services of these Men towards the ungrateful House of _Hanover_!

And now, my Lords and Gentlemen, having excepted against Courtiers and Placemen as _such_,--against pretended Patriots _on every Account_,--against the Pensioners of foreign Powers,--and against _rank Republicans_;--my humble Request is, that the Cause between Mr. BURKE and me may be tried by the LANDED INTEREST ONLY. _They_ are certainly the properest and most unexceptionable Judges; for they have _the most at Stake_; and their Interest, and the Interest of the Public, must necessarily coincide. They can gain nothing either by War, or Peace, by a Submission to, or a Separation from, the Revolters in _North America_, but what must tend to the general, as well as to their own particular Advantage. Whereas almost every other Rank of Men may find their Account, in countenancing and supporting such Measures, as may greatly enrich themselves, tho' at the Expence of depopulating and impoveris.h.i.+ng their native Country.

Nor, my Lords and Gentlemen, is this Cause beneath your solemn Notice and Regard. In the former _Spanish_ [or no-search] War, you spent above _Sixty Millions_ Sterling, including the extraordinary Sums raised, and the fresh Debts contracted:--And in the last _French_, _Ohio_, or _Acadia_ War, you spent above NINETY MILLIONS STERLING, if computed after the same Manner, viz. Additional Sums annually raised, and new Debts contracted. And all, alas! for what!!!![2]

But without any Retrospect to Things past, let us look towards what is to come.

The first Thing to be considered in the Dispute between Mr. BURKE and me, is, which of Our Schemes _is the easiest to be executed, and the most practicable_? He proposes that all Concessions should be made on our Parts in Favour of the Colonies; but that none, or next to none, should be made by them in Favour of _Great Britain_. Now this Proposal can never terminate the Dispute between us and them, but on one or other of the following Suppositions.

First, that the Parliament and People of _Great-Britain_ are now convinced, that they have acted injuriously, illegally, and unconst.i.tutionally in pretending to make any Laws, whether good or bad, to bind the _Americans_: Because they (the _Americans_) have their own Legislatures, which are totally independent of ours: And therefore we take Shame to ourselves by revoking these pretended, usurping Laws. For in short, the first Step in Politics, as well as in Morals, towards sincere Repentance, is _Rest.i.tution_. Or, secondly, though we should not give up the Point of _Right_, of making Laws, and cry _peccavimus_,--yet we take for granted, that no improper Use will be made of the great and manifold Concessions, contained in Mr. BURKE's Scheme; because we have to deal with a People, who, (we know by long Experience) may be trusted with every Thing, as being the _Quintessence of Honour and Honesty_, both in public and private Life, and particularly the _fair unsullied Monuments of national Grat.i.tude_.

Or if this likewise should prove to be a Pill too large, and too nauseous for _Englishmen_ to swallow;--then, thirdly, we are to suppose, in order to end all Controversy, that the Trade with these _North-Americans_ is so essential to our Interests, as a commercial Nation, that we must keep them in good Humour at any Rate, and at any Expence;--least they should deprive us of their Custom, to the utter Ruin of our Manufactures, s.h.i.+pping, Navigation, &c. &c. &c.

Or lastly, we must suppose, that old _England_ is in Fact grown so exceedingly weak and impotent, and _America_ so very strong and powerful, that it is in vain to resist any Encroachments, which the Colonies may make on the Mother-Country:--For in such Circ.u.mstances, it is more prudent to submit to the present Evils, great as they are, than to provoke our Conquerors to inflict still greater.

I say, one or other of these four Suppositions must necessarily be made, before Mr. BURKE's Plan can terminate in real Peace, and restore that Harmony, of which he makes such continual Boastings. Let him therefore, at his own Leisure, take his Choice of either of the four, or even adopt them all, if he pleases, and make the most of them.

In the mean while, deign, my Lords and Gentlemen, to cast your Eyes on my Plan (_childish_ as it is represented by him to be) of a _total Separation_. And first of all, is it practicable in itself? And could it be executed with Ease, if heartily set about?--Suppose therefore, that you were to recall your Fleets and Armies, and publish to the _Americans_ the following Manifesto, couched under the Form of an Act of Parliament.

"Whereas many of the _British_ Provinces, Colonies, and Plantations in _North-America_, after having made, from Time to Time, various Attempts to throw off, or subvert the legislative Authority and Jurisdiction of _Great-Britain_, have at length proceeded to the greatest and most daring Outrages for accomplis.h.i.+ng the same, by entering into illegal Combinations and traiterous Conspiracies, and even by breaking out into open and undisguised Rebellion: And whereas the Inhabitants in general of the said Provinces, Colonies, and Plantations shew not the least Signs of Sorrow and Contrition for their past Offences, nor any Desire to implore the Clemency of the Parent-State, which hath in all Instances cherished, supported, and protected them at an immense Expence both of Blood, and Treasure; but on the contrary, continue to encrease their hostile Preparations for opposing, by Violence and Force of Arms, the Execution of the Laws made by the supreme Legislature of Parliament for the due Governance, and const.i.tutional Dependence of such subordinate States and Provinces;

"Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and of the Commons of _Great-Britain_ in Parliament a.s.sembled;--that every such Province, Colony, and Plantation which either now is, or at the ___ Day of _____ next ensuing shall be found to be in Arms and Rebellion against the Laws and Authority of the supreme Legislature of _Great-Britain_, shall, from and after the Time above mentioned, be totally cut off, severed, and separated from the British Empire; and that all its Inhabitants shall be declared, and are hereby declared to have lost and forfeited all Privileges and Advantages, Benefits and Protection both by Sea and Land, belonging, or supposed to belong to the Subjects of _Great-Britain_; and that they shall be deemed, taken, and reputed, in all Courts of Law, and in all Respects whatever, to be as much Aliens and Foreigners, and subject to the same Incapacities, as if they had been Aliens born.

"Provided nevertheless, and to the Intent, that as far as the Nature of the Case will admit, the _Innocent_ may not be involved in the Punishment intended only for the _Guilty_; be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty, and for his Heirs and Successors, at any Time, to grant a Pardon to a whole State, Province, or Colony, now in Rebellion, under the Great Seal of the Realm; or to one or more Inhabitant or Inhabitants thereof under the Seal Manual, and to _restore_ such Colony, or such Person or Persons to their former Rights and Privileges, as _British_ Subjects, when it shall appear to his Majesty in Council, that such a Province, or Colony, or such a Pet.i.tioner or Pet.i.tioners is, are, or shall be deserving of his Royal Clemency and Favour."

Suppose, I say, such a Manifesto, or one to this Effect, and couched under the Form of an Act of Parliament, to be proclaimed to the World concerning the Rebellion now existing in _America_: And then I ask, what possible Difficulty could attend the Execution of it? Or who would even attempt to prevent it? The only People or Nation, who would wish to obstruct the Execution of such a Law, are the _Americans_ themselves; for they have no Manner of Objection against partic.i.p.ating in all Kinds of _Benefits_ to be derived from an _Union_ with us; tho' they raise such terrible Outcries against sharing in any of our _Burthens_: And yet their Efforts and Opposition would all be in vain; because, tho' you should even allow, that they are able to maintain their Independence in _America_, that Circ.u.mstance would not render them the Conquerors of _Great-Britain_, much less of the rest of the World; who must of Course remain independent of them.

Therefore, so far at least my System must have the Preference to Mr.

BURKE's.

2dly. The next Question is, _Which System, can be carried into Execution with the least Expence?_ And surely as we have hitherto been engaged in nothing but Profusion and Extravagance, it is now high Time to adopt, if we can, some useful Scheme of Frugality and OEconomy in regard to _America_.

Now, my Lords and Gentlemen, here again permit me to ask, What Expences can possibly attend the Execution of my Scheme?--The Thing itself is no sooner said, than done. And all the Charges attending it are summed up in the triffling Articles of Pen, Ink, Paper, and Printing. Whereas Mr.

BURKE's System, even according to his own Account, will entail upon you Expences always encreasing, nay, next to infinite. You must, for Example, win over the Heads and Leaders of the new _American_ Parliaments by means of "Great Honours and great Emoluments," [A pretty Periphrasis this to describe the Art of _Bribing_!] in order to cooperate with the Plans of the _British_ Parliament, and to bear a Share of the general Burthens of the _British_ Empire.

You must also guard their Coasts at all Times, and protect them from all Invaders: And when they chuse to amuse themselves by going _on smuggling_, _trucking_, _huckstering_, and _buccaneering_ Parties on the _Spanish_ Main, then you must more particularly stand up in their Defence, and insist on their Vessels not being searched by the _Spanish_ Guarda-costas.

And if the _Spaniards_ should think this an hard Measure, and appeal to the Practice and Example of _Englishmen_ themselves, who never fail to search the s.h.i.+ps of all Nations, if found hovering on their Coasts, you must positively and vehemently say, that the _Case is widely different_:--Then you have a sufficient Plea for declaring War against them;--then, my Lords and Gentlemen, resolve (as your Predecessors did before) never to make Peace 'till the Right of Searching is given up;--then spend another _sixty_ or _ninety_ Millions in this new Quarrel;--and at last make Peace, (as they did) without ever mentioning the Right of not being searched; for which alone they pretended to go to War.

But this is not all:--For when the Back-Settlers in _America_ shall have "topped the _Apalachian_ Mountains in sufficient Numbers to const.i.tute Hords of _English_ Tartars, pouring down an irresistible Cavalry on the unfortified Frontiers;"--who is to _resist_ these _Irresistibles_?--Not the Colonists or Provincials; for they, poor People, tho' now 150,000 strong, [see General LEE's Letter] to fight against their Protectors and Defenders, will nevertheless be so frightened at the Sight of this _Apalachian_ Tartar Cavalry, that they will again cry out for Help to the Mother-Country;--again, I say, as they did before, when only an handful of [3] _French_ and _Indians_ appeared against them. And indeed, if the Mother-Country will act the Part of _Don Quixote_ to that Degree, as to expend her best Blood and Treasure in their Cause, why should they incur any Dangers in their own dear Persons? Why be at the Pains and Charges of defending themselves, when they can so easily get the _British_ Nation to fight, and bleed, and do every Thing for them? Besides Mr. BURKE has already declared in express Terms, [Page 98, 2d. Edit.] that AMERICA MUST NOT BE EXHAUSTED. Exhaust, therefore, yourselves, my Lords and Gentlemen!

as much as you please, or as much as you can; but don't expect a.s.sistance from _America_, even in her own Defence, whilst she can get such Knight-Errants as the _English_ to fight her Battles; and whilst she can raise Patriots and Pamphleteers, News-Writers and Republicans, without Number, to yell the _American_ War Hoop, and to denounce BLACK and BITTER Days against those, who should even hesitate to obey her Commands.

But the third Question is, Which Scheme is _best calculated to prevent the like Disturbances for the future_?

And here I would humbly beg Leave to observe, that if my Scheme had nothing else to recommend it to your Notice, it most infallibly cuts off all the present Causes of Dispute and Contention between the two Countries; so that they never can revive again. Whereas Mr. BURKE's is, at best, but a temporary Cessation from Hostilities; a mere Truce, 'till both Parties can be recruited, and better provided to begin the War again.

Nay, his would be found in the Event,--not only to be no Manner of Cure or Palliation of the present Evils, but even greatly to foment them, and also to engender many new ones.