not only strengthening with their strength, but ex-
ceeding, in the swiftness of its progression, as it
ever has done, all the artless advantages that can
acrue to the governed. These advance with a regu-
larity, which the divine Author of our existence has
impressed on the laudable pursuits of his creatures :
but despotism, * unchecked and unbounded by
any
laws--never satisfied with what has been
done, while any thing remains to be done, for the

* As virtue is necessary in a republic, and in a monarchy honor, so fear is necessary in a despotic government: with regard to virtue, there is no occasion for it, and honor would be extremely dangerous.

Here the immense power of the prince is devolved intirely upon those to whom he is pleased to intrust it. Persons capable of setting a value upon themselves would be likely to create revolutions. Fear must therefore depress their spirits, and extinguish even the least sense of ambition.

MONTESQUIEU's Spirit of Laws, vol. I. book III. chap. 9.

An idea of despotic power.

When the savages of Louisiana are desirous of fruit, they cut the tree to the root, and gather the fruit. This is an emblem of despotic government.

Idem. book V. chap. 13.

The principle of despotic government is fear; but a timid, ignorant, and faint spirited people have no occasion for a great number of laws.

Every thing ought to depend here on Two or THREE ideas; therefore there. is no necessity that any new notions should be added. When we want to break a horse, we take care not to let him change his master, his lesson, or his pace. Thus an impression is made on his brain by two or three motions and no more. Idem book. V. chap. 14.

accomplishment of its purposes--confiding, and capable of confiding, only in the annihilation of all opposition-holds its course with such unabating and destructive rapidity, that the world has become its prey, and at this day, Great-Britain and her dominions excepted, there is scarce a spot on the globe inhabited by civilized nations, where the vestiges of freedom are to be observed.

To us therefore it appears, at this alarming period, our duty to God, to our country, to ourselves, and to our posterity, to exert our utmost ability, in promoting and establishing harmony between Great Britain and these colonies, on a constitutional foundation.

FOR attaining this great and desirable end, we request you to appoint a proper number of persons to attend a congress of deputies from the several cololies, appointed, or to be appointed, by the representatives of the people of the colonies respectively in assembly, or convention, or, by delegates chosen by the counties generally in the respective colonies, and met in provincial committee, at such time and place as shall be generally agreed on: and that the deputies from this province may be induced and encouraged to concur in such measures, as may be devised for the common welware, we think it proper, particularly to inform you, how far, we

apprehend, they will be supported in their conduct by their constituents.

[In this place was inserted the argumentative part, which in this publication is called " An Essay."]

66

THE assumed parliamentary power of internal legislation, and the power of regulating trade, as of late exercised, and designed to be exercised, we are thoroughly convinced, will prove unfailing and plentiful sources of dissensions to our mother country and these colonies, unless some expedients can be adopted to render her secure of receiving from us every emolument, that can in justice and reason be expected, and us secure in our lives, properties, and an equitable share of commerce.

MOURNFULLY revolving in our minds the calamities, that, arising from these dissensions, will most probably fall on us and our children, we will now lay before you the particular points we request of you to procure, if possible, to be finally decided; and the measures that appear to us most likely to produce such a desirable period of our distresses and dangers. We therefore desire of you

FIRST. That the Deputies you appoint, may be instructed by you strenuously to exert them

selves, at the ensuing congress, to obtain a renunciation, on the part of Great-Britain, of all powers. under the statute of the 35th of Henry the eighth, chapter the 2d.of all powers of internal legislation of imposing taxes or duties internal or external and of regulating trade, except with respect to any new articles of commerce, which the colonies may hereafter raise, as silk, wine, &c. reserving a right to carry these from one colony to another a repeal of all statutes for quartering troops in the colonies, or subjecting them to any expence on account of such troops--of all statutes imposing duties to be paid in the colonies, that were passed at the accession of his present majesty, or before this time; which ever period shall be judged most adviseable-of the statutes giving the courts of admiralty in the colonies greater power than courts of admiralty have in England

of the statutes of the 5th of George the second, chapter the 22d, and of the 23d of George the second, chapter the 29th-of the statute for shutting up the port of Boston-and of every other statute particularly affecting the province of Massachusetts-Bay, passed in the last session of parliament.

In case of obtaining these terms, it is our opinion, that it will be reasonable for the colonies to engage their obedience to the acts of parliament com

monly called the acts of navigation, and to every other act of parliament declared to have force, at this time, in these colonies, other than those above mentioned, and to confirm such statutes by acts of the several assemblies. It is also our opinion, that taking example from our mother country, in abolishing the "courts of wards and liveries, tenures "in capite, and by knight's service, and purveyance," it will be reasonable for the colonies, in case of obtaining the terms before mentioned, to settle a certain annual revenue on his majesty, his heirs and successors, subject to the controul of parliament, and to satisfy all damages done to the EastIndia company.

THIS Our idea of settling a revenue, arises from a sense of duty to our sovereign, and of esteem for our mother country. We know and have felt the benefits of a subordinate connexion with her. We neither are so stupid as to be ignorant of them; nor so unjust as to deny them. as to deny them. We have also experienced the pleasures of gratitude and love, as well as advantages from that connexion. The impressions are not yet erased. We consider her circumstances with tender concern: We have not been wanting, when constitutionally called upon, to assist her to the utmost of our abilities; insomuch that she has judged it reasonable to make us recompences for our overstrained exertions: and we now