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Show tzii [25] polition feems alfo to have been calculated more partich larlv to lull into fatal fecurity our well-affected fellow fubjee‘ts on the other fide the water, till time {hould be given for the operation of thofe arms, which a Erin/[7 miniiter pronounced would inftantaneouily reduce the "' cowardly" fons of flmcrz'ca to unrefervcd fubmiihon." WHAT mull always appear aflonifhing is, that the Bri-4 tifh miniftry could ever have fuppofed that the propofition could be fatisfaé'tory, or rather that they could bar-2 hour a doubt, that it would be rejec‘ted with contempt ; yet left this fhould not be the cafe, no opportunity was ever given to try the efficacy of it: for on the nineteenth of April, the fatal blow was flruck at Lexington, which fevered the empire. The reafons are apparent. Their force and our weaknefs gave them unbounded confidnicc. They fuppofed tlieitiiblves certain of victory. They fup- pofed us equally certain of defeat. Palpable therefore as was the artifice of the conciliatory motion, it was not impoffible Congrefs at their meeting in May, might lay hold of it as a ground of treaty. If they fhould, the good fenfe and the juftice of our fellow fubyréts might have interpofed to prevent our deilruétion. No time therefore was to be loft in putting that to the iffue of arms, which would not bear the tef't of argument. It was hoped that the juftice of our caufc would be hidden by our inability to fupport it ; and their ufurpations difguifed and adorned by the fplendors of fuccefs. Here then commences anew sera. THE unprovoked hoftilities at Lexington gave fire as might have been expe&ed to the inflamable difpofitions excited throughout America. The call to arms wa general, and the popular rage amounted almofi to frenzy; But the emotion fo fuddenly and forcibly excited, daily became more moderate. Thejoys of victory by degrees filenred the mourning dirge. Wife and good men in- terefted themfelves to afl'uage a tempcft, the bounds and effects of whofe violence neither wifdom could foreiie nor virtue confine. The partizans of Great-Britain (for firange as it may feem, fuch there were) mingled with :heir fellow citizens and induftrioufly gave a favourable tu 'n to this this atrocious 9.6}. It was not perhaps impoflible even then to have flayed the deflroying fword. But as the neighbouring people had colleétcd themfelves to prevent a repetition of the like injuries, upon the arrival of the generals Howe and Burgoyne, it was determined not to fuff'er that fpirit to evaporate which was deemed neer-iiiiry for the purpofes of domination. At Bunker's Hill a fecond and more bloody facrifice was made to the god of war. Left the intended acOts of violence fhould be attributed to accident, or to any other of the many caufes which might be, and which by the friends of our enemies acotually were afligned, and in order to intimidate the great council of America into a mean and abjeé't fubmiilion, a perfon was fent from the miniftry to ail‘ure them of the truth of the following paper: " THAT it is earnef'tly hoped by all the real friends of the Americans, that the terms exprefTed in the refolution of the 20th of February lai't, will be accepted by all the colonies, who have the lealt affeétion for their king and Country, or a juft fenfe of their own interefl‘. " THAT thefe terms are honourable for Great-Britain and fafe for the colonies. " THAT if the colonies are not blinded by fac‘tion, thefe terms will remove every grievance relative to taxation, and be the bafis of a compact between the colonies and the mother country. " THAT the people in America ought, on every confi- deration, to be fatisfied with them. " THAT no further relaxation can be admitted. " THE temper and fpirit of the nation are fo much againfi conceflions, that if it were the intention of admi- niftration, they could not carry the quef'tion. " BUT adminiftration have no fuch intention, as they are fully and firmly perfuaded, that further conceffions Would be injurious to the colonies as well as to GreatBritain. " THAT there is not the leaf: probability of a change of adn‘iiniftration. " THAT they are perfectly united in opinion, and de« termined to purfue the molt eflbfiual meafures, and tr;1 ufe D t e |
