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Show (I!) (IO) fpread throughout England. And as theyjudgu ed the time was now come, to advance a little further, the leading men, both at home and abroad, began more and more confidently to affert, " that the Eng/M) had no right to tax " the American Colonies." The affertors o£ this new pofition in England, firongly exhorted. thofe in Amrrz'ca, to withf'tand what they were pleated to call this illegal, uncaiflitntional oppnfflan. Thus encouraged, the Bqflonz'ans, under the aufpices of Mr. Hancock, (whole interef'c was particularly at flake) feorning to do any thing fecretly, paraded the town at noon-day with colours flying, and bravely threw the Eng/2]}; tea into the fea. This was the firfi plain overt aft of Rebellion, not of a few, but of the town of Bq/Zon. Reparation of the wrong was demanded; but it was not obtained. Till it fhould be obtained, the Parliament ordered Bqflon harbour to be fhut up. 12. But things were not yet ripe for an open rupture. Therefore the Americans fiill gave the government good words. They pi‘ofeffed their loyalty, their great regard for the King, and their delire of obeying all his legal commands. But all this time they were ufing all poflible art and diligence, to blacken firflr the miniftry; after a time the Parliament too; and then the King liimfelf. Of this I had a. clear and particular, account from a friendin P6117361‘ Pmn/fl-vania, who then obferved a fiorm rifing in the North, and moving on toward the Southern Colonies. And it moved on apace. A new Supreme Power, called a Congrgfi, appeared. It openly affumed the reins of government, exercifed all the rights of Sovereignty, burft all the bands, and totally dilblaimed the authority both of King and Parliament. , 13. But {till the Americans tal/crd of allegiance, and fln'a', they defired nothing but the liberty of Eng-Zyb/nrn. Many in England cor- dially believed them: I myfelf for one. And many more (though they {aw deeper; perhaps were in the fecret) a 557a! to believe them, defended them with all their might, and pleaded their caufe, in public and private, as honefi, upright men, who only withfiood oppreflion, and defired nothing but what was their legal right. 14. While we were warmly debating thefe things in England, the flmrrirans, believing matters were now in a proper forwardnefs, wholly threw off the maflt, openly took up arms, feized upon his Majefty's fiores and lhips, and avowed themfelves to be Sovereign States, independent on Britain, or any other. And herein they were fi'ill vehemently encouraged by their numerous friends in England. Some ofthefe (and they were perfons ofno mean account) wrote them letters, (which were |