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270 ACTS RELATING Part ll. " by open and rebellious forcez" diflurb‘- ances the complexion of which feems not improperly fummed up in the flrong- ex" prefiions ufed by general Gage, in his let- ter written on the 4th of November of the fame year: " that all from the high" efl to the loweft were acceflary to this " infurreétion," in the threats " to plun" der and murther thofe who flxould take "‘ the‘flamps *." Some we are told have faid, that " all " the dif‘turbances in America were creat-s " ed by the repeal ofthe Stamp Act." But "the falfehood, 'ba‘f'enefs, and abfurdity " of this aflertionT" has railed fuch a tuv mult of indignation in the breaft of the great orator, as would have torn atommon man to pieces-\Vith {ohmiflion however, the miltake is all his own. No man ever meant " to attribute a precedent Scét.XI. TO THE Cotomes. 27r " dilturbance to a fubfequent meafurez" no man ever thought that the difiurbances previous to the repeal of the Stamp Act were caufed by that repeal. But many have thought, and continue to think that the timid repeal of that aft did caufe all the dil'turbances that have fucceeded. And however violent were the diilurbances caufcd by the Stamp Act, they were not ofa nature to be lalling; they might eafily have been quelled.--And had they been quelled, the dil'turbances which have fince happened, and which are of a much more alarming nature, had been efl'eélually pre- vented-«Inflcad of which the appearance of weaknefs and timidity (lid, as it was foretold it would, bring on farther inlults. For the firlt of thefe allertions there is as rel‘peé'table authority as the bare word even of this orator. The protelt of no fewer than two and thirty peers againfi the re- * The reader may fee an ample account of-thefc difturbances prefixed to the Colleélion of Charters, printed for Almon. 1 Mr. Burke's Speech, p. 67. 2 peal. A protel't which the noble lords entered, among other reafons, becaul'e " they were convinced from the unani" difiurbance " mous |
