justice of our king, as our happy constitution leads us to expect. In that condition, let us behave with the propriety and dignity of freemen; and thus exhibit to the world a new character of a people which no history describes.

May the all-wise and beneficent Ruler of the Universe preserve our lives and health, and prosper all our lawful endeavors in the glorious cause of FREEDOM.

Ex. XIV. THE CONTRAST.

Speech in Parliament, May 1, 1771.

EARL OF CHATHAM.

MY LORDS: It is not many years since this nation was the envy and the terror of its neighbors. Alone and unassisted, it seemed to balance the half of Europe. Nor was the aspect of its affairs abroad more flattering than at home. Concord and unanimity prevailed throughout the whole extent of the British empire. Whatever heats and animosities might have subsisted between the grandees, the body of the people was satisfied. No complaints, no murmurs were audible. Nothing was heard on every side but one general burst of acclamation and joy. But how is the prospect darkened! How are the mighty fallen! On public days the royal ears are saluted with hisses and hoots, and he sees libels against his person and government written with impunity, juries solemnly acquitting the publishers. greater mortification can befall a monarch! Yet this sacrifice he makes to his ministers. To their false steps, not to his own, he owes his disgrace.

What

My lords, were the sacrifice of our honor and interest abroad compensated by the wisdom of our domestic government, it would be some comfort. But the fact is, that Great Britain, Ireland and America, are equally dissatisfied, and have reason to be dissatisfied, with the ministry. The impolitic taxes laid upon America, and the system of violence there adopted, have unfortunately soured the minds of the people, and rendered them disaffected to the present parliament, if not to the king. The imprudence and indeed the absolute madness of these measures demonstrates, not the result of that assembly's calm, unbiassed deliberations, but

ANNIVERSARY ORATION,

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the dictates of weak, uninformed ministers, influenced by those who mislead the sovereign.

The Americans had almost forgotten, in their excess of gratitude for the repeal of the Stamp Act, any interest but that of the mother country; there seemed an emulation among the different provinces who should be most dutiful and forward in their expressions of loyalty to their real benefactor. This, my lords, was the temper of the Americans; and would have continued so, had it not been interrupted by your fruitless endeavors to tax them without their consent. But the moment they perceived that your intention was renewed to tax them, their resentment got the ascendant of their moderation, and hurried them into actions contrary to law, which in their cooler moments they would have thought upon with horror.

But, my lords, from the complexion of the whole of the proceedings, I think the administration has purposely irritated them into those violent acts for which they now so severely smart, purposely to be revenged on them for the victory they gained by the repeal of the Stamp Act, for this seems to be the only motive they could have had to break in upon that peace and harmony which then so happily subsisted between them and the mother country.

Ex. XV.-ANNIVERSARY ORATION.

Delivered March 5th, 1772.

DR. JOSEPH WARREN.

THE infatuation which hath seemed, for a number of years, to prevail in the British councils with regard to us, is truly astonishing! What can be proposed by the repeated attacks made upon our freedom, I really can not surmiseeven leaving justice and humanity out of the question. I do not know one single advantage which can arise to the British nation from our being enslaved. I know not of any gains which can be wrung from us by oppression, that they may not obtain equally from us, by our own consent, in the smooth channel of commerce; we wish the health and prosperity of Britain-we contribute largely to both. Does what we contribute lose all its value because it is done voluntarily?

The amazing increase of riches to Britain, the great rise of the value of her lands, the flourishing state of her navy, are striking proofs of the advantages she derives from the commerce of the colonies, and it is our earnest desire that she may continue to enjoy the same emoluments until her streets are paved with American gold, only let us have the pleasure of calling it our own while it is still in our own hands. But this, it seems, is too great a favor; we are to be governed by the absolute command of others; our property is to be taken away without our own consent. If we complain, our complaints are to be treated with contempt, if we assert our rights, that assertion is deemed insolence; if we offer to submit the matter to the impartial decision of reason, the sword is judged the most proper argument to silence our murmurs! Surely this can not long be the case-the British nation will not suffer the reputation of their justice and their honor to be thus sported away by a capricious ministry. No! they will in a short time open their eyes to their true interest; they nourish in their own breasts a noble love of liberty; they hold her dear, and they know that all who have once possessed her charms, would rather die than suffer her to be torn from their embraces. None but they who set a just value upon liberty are worthy to enjoy her; your illustrious fathers were her zealous votaries; when the blasting frown of tyranny drove her from public view, they clasped her in their arms-they cherished her in their generous bosomsthey brought her safe over the rough ocean, and fixed her seat in this then dreary wilderness. They nursed her infant age with the most tender care; for her sake, they patiently endured the severest hardships, for her support they underwent the most rugged toils, in her defence they boldly encountered the most alarming dangers. Neither the ravenous beasts that ranged the woods for prey, nor the more furious savages of the wilderness, could damp their ardor. While with one hand they broke the stubborn glebe, with the other they grasped their weapons, ever ready to protect her from danger. No sacrifice, not even their own blood, was deemed to rich a libation for her altar! God prospered their valor; he preserved her brilliancy unsullied; they enjoyed her while they lived, and dying, bequeathed the precious inheritance to your care. And as they left you this glorious legacy, they have undoubtedly transmitted to you some portion of their heroic spirit, to inspire you with virtue to merit, and courage to preserve her; and you surely can not, with

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such examples before your eyes, suffer your liberties to be ravished from you by lawless force, or cajoled away by flatteries and fraud.

May the Almighty Being who protected our venerable forefathers-who enabled them to turn a barren wilderness into a fruitful field, and so often stretched forth his arm for their salvation, graciously preside in all our councils. May he direct us to such measures as he himself shall approve, and be pleased to bless. May we ever be a people favored of God. May our land be a land of liberty, the home of virtue, the asylum of the oppressed, a name and a praise in the whole earth, until the last shock of time shall bury the empires of the world in one common undistinguished ruin !

Ex. XVI.-RULES FOR REDUCING A GREAT EMPIRE TO A SMALL ONE.

London, Sept. 1773.

GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE.

An ancient sage boasted that though he could not fiddle, he knew how to make a great city of a little one. The science that I, a modern simpleton, am about to communicate, is the very reverse.

I address myself to all ministers who have the management of extensive dominions, which, from their very greatness, are become troublesome to govern, because the multiplicity of affairs leaves no time for fiddling,

In the first place, you are to consider that a great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges. Turn your attention, therefore, to your most remote provinces; that as you get rid of them, the rest may follow in order. Take special care that the colonies are never incorporated with the mother country, that they do not enjoy the same common rights, the same privileges in commerce, and that they are governed by severe laws, all of your enacting, and without allowing them any share in the choice of the legislators.

However peaceably your colonies have submitted to your government, shown their affection to your interests, and patiently borne their grievances, you are to suppose them always inclined to revolt, and treat them accordingly,

Quarter troops among them, who by their insolence may provoke the rising of mobs, and by their bullets and bayonets suppress them. If, when you are engaged in war, your colonies should vie in liberal aid of men and money against the common enemy upon your simple requisition, and go far beyond their abilities, reflect that a penny taken from them by your power is more honorable than a pound presented by your benevolence. Despise therefore their voluntary grants, and resolve to harass them by novel taxes. They will probably complain to your parliament that they are taxed by a body in which they have no representation, and that this is contrary to common right. They will petition for redress. Let the Parliament flout their claims, reject their petitions, refuse even to suffer the reading of them, and treat the petitioners with the utmost contempt. Nothing can have a better effect in producing the alteration proposed -for though many can forgive injuries, none ever forgave contempt.

To make your taxes more odious, and more likely to procure resistance, send from the capital a board of officers to superintend the collection, composed of the most indiscreet, ill-bred and insolent men you can find. Let these men, by your order, be exempt from all the common taxes and burdens of the province, though they and their property are protected by its laws. If any revenue officers are suspected of the least tenderness for the people, discard them. If others are justly complained of, protect and reward them.

If the assemblies of your provinces shall dare to claim rights, and to complain of your administration, order them to be harassed by repeated dissolutions. If the same men are continually returned by new elections, adjourn their meetings to some country village where they cannot be accommodated, and keep them there during your pleasure;for this, you know, is your PREROGATIVE. And an excellent one it is, as you may manage it to promote discontents among the people, diminish their respect, and increase their disaffection.

If you are told of discontents in your colonies, never believe that they are general, or that you have given occasion for them; therefore do not think of applying any remedy, or of changing any offensive measure. Redress no grievance, lest they should be encouraged to demand the redress of some other grievance. Grant no request that is just and reasonable, lest they should make another that is unreason