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Show (10') the extent 3 That is indeed a very ferious quellion (I!) and perhaps well worthy of conflderation. Our colonies are content that we lhould at our pleafure regulate their trade, provided that what we do is bona fide, really, trulyand fincerely for that purpofe and that only; but they deny that we {hall tax them. never yet had reafon to boal‘t ourfelves of fuch expedients, nor, let me add, ever to repent us of the They alient and agree to the fill ; but they abfolntely refine the laft. Thefe two diflErent poin's do likewife not l‘tand on the flame foundation: they have to the one, fubmitted ever fince their origin; it has been corroborated by their perpetual and conllant confent and acquielcence; the other is a novelty, contrary conduct. There are no doubt in all governments many, molt important points unfettled and undetermined; inch in particular as relate to the limits between the power of the Sovereign and the obedience of the fubjeét. This mull always be the cafe between Kings and their People, principal States and their dependencies, Mother Countries and their Colonies. It is very much the part of every prudent ruler, whether the Firll; Miniller of a Prince or any other, to avoid With the ntmoll care and folicitude all meafures, which may poiii‘ily bring any fuch critical circumllances into public debate and difpute. It is alwaysa bad light againlt which they have from its firil attempt," molt firongly protelled and ac‘ted. Why cannot we thereore content us with the line drawn by themfelves and with the prefent ellablilhment, from which we receive fuch prodigious benefit and advantage, now when {uch contellsarife; they cannot do [0 without extend their ohjctftions to this alfo ? The courfe of things and the flux of years will certainly produce very many things more extraordinary than that. All the diforder of the whole, but they are to the Sovereign in particular, ever dangerous and often fatal. They may perhaps be compared to gunpower, than whole grain nothing is more harmlefs, while it is at ariling,- and yearly increafing 1' But may northey in tune the whole of our colonies mutt no doubt one day without force or violence fall of? from the parent flate, like ripe fruit in thematurity of time. The earth itfelf having had a beginning, cannot but decay likewife, pals array and have an end. But why ihould We be over curious about objects perhaps very relt ; but let it he put into aftion and it will make the wildel‘t ravages all around, or overthrow the firongel't own circumllances, according to which the events of it mull be bulwarks and fortifications. To how many of thefe queilions did our Charles the Firlt give in his time rife or occalion, and how dearly did he abide it ! How many points of this fort arc tandetermined between Great-Britain and Ireland, which are now to our mutual happinefs intirely dormant, but which ltarted and purl‘ued with obflinacy and eagernel‘s, might make one or borh of the iflands run with blood. They need perhaps be no further ‘loolted for, than certain doé'trines formerly advanced ward and hallcn thele events even before Poinings on the 0th r. But it has pleafed Providence to lheltcr us hitherto from this niilchief. It is not now perhaps many months, fince we did not want an fan remote, and diliurb ourielv‘es about a futurity which does not affect us, and the dilianc e of which we don't know. ‘Why lhould we {halte the fruit unripe Irom the tree, becaule it will of courfe drop oil: when it {hall he ripe. Every time has its provided for, when they happen. That cannot flow De done. \ New and unreal‘onable demands, in- JURICQ oppreflion, violence on our parts, will fortheir time; let us wrtliholclour hands from thefe things; we have never by Mr. Molyneux on the one hand, and the law of opportunity to have engaged in one fuch. The alte- rations of a late bill from that country were only accidental. |
