my of impotence and contempi-and to render the blocked up the town, and reduced to beggary and folly equal to the disgrace, they are an army of ir- famine 30,000 inhabitants. But his majesty is ritation. I do not mean to censure the inactivity advised that the union of America cannot last.— of the troops. It is a prudent and necessary inac- Ministers have more eyes than I, and should have tion. But it is a miserable condition, where dis-more ears, but from all the information I have grace is prudence; and where it is necessary to be been able to procure, I can pronounce it a union contemptible. This tameness, however disgrace solid, permanent and effectual. Ministers may ful, ought not to be blamed, as I am surprised to satisfy themselves and delude the public with the hear is done by these ministers. The first drop of reports of what they call commercial bodies in blood, shed in a civil and unnatural war, would be America. They are not commercial. They are an immedicabile vulnus. It would entail hatred and your packers and factors; they live upon nothing, contention between the two people, from genera- for I call commission nothing; I mean the minis. tion to generation. Woe be to him who sheds the terial AUTHORITY for their American intelligence. first, the unexpiable drop of blood in an impious The runners of government, who are paid for their war, with a people contending in the great cause intelligence. But these are not the men, nor this of public liberty. I will tell you plainly, mythe influence to be considered in America, when lords, no son of mine nor any one over whom I have we estimate the firmness of their union. Even to influence, shall ever draw his sword upon his fellow subjects.

I therefore urge and conjure your lordships immediately to adopt this conciliatory measure. I will pledge myself for its immediately producing conciliatory effects, from its being well timed: But if you delay, till your vain hope of triumphantly dictating the terms shall be accomplished-you delay forever. And, even admitting that this hope, which in truth is desperate, should be accomplished, what will you gain by a victorious imposition of amity? You will be untrusted and unthanked. Adopt

then the grace, while you have the opportunity of reconcilement, or at least prepare the way; allay the ferment prevailing in America, by removing the obnoxious hostile cause. Obnoxious and unservicea. ble; for their merit can be only inaction. "Non dimicare estvincere." Their victory can never be

extend the question, and to take in the really mercantile circle, will be totally inadequate to the consideration. Trade indeed increases the wealth and glory of a country; but its real strength and stamina are to be looked for among the cultivators of the land. In their simplicity of life is founded the simplicity of virtue, the integrity and courage of freedom. Those true genuine sons of the earth are invincible; and they surround and hem in the mercantile bodies; even if those bodies, which supposition I totally disclaim, could be supposed disaffected to the cause of liberty. Of this-gene

ral spirit existing in the American nation, for so I wish to distinguish the real and genuine Americans from the pseudo traders I have described: of this spirit of independence, animating the NATION of America, I have the most authentic information. It is not new among them; it is, and ever has been their established principle, their confirmed persuas by exertions. Their force would be most dispro- sio; it is their nature and their doctrine. I rememportionately exerted, against a brave, generous, ber some years ago when the repeal of the stamp act and united people, with arms in their hands and was in agitation, conversing in a friendly confidence courage in their hearts; three millions of people, with a person of undoubted respect and authenticity the genuine descendants of a valiant and pious on this subject; and he assured me with a certainty ancestry, driven to these desarts by the narrow which bis judgment and opportunity gave him, that maxims of a superstitious tyranny. And is the these were the prevalent and steady principles of spirit of tyrannous persecution never to be appeas- America: That you might destroy their towns, and ed? Are the brave sons of those brave forefathers to inherit their sufferings, as they have inherited their virtues? Are they to sustain the inflictions of the most oppressive and unexampled severity, beyond the accounts of history or the description of poetry? "Rhadamanthus habet durissima regna, castigatque auditque." So says the wisest statesman and politician. But the Bostonians have been condemned UNHEARD. The indiscriminating hand If illegal violences have been, as it is said, comof vengeance has lumped together innocent and mitted in America, prepare the way, open a door guilty: with all the formalities of hostility, has of possibility, for acknowledgment and satisfaction.

cut them off from the superfluitics, perhaps the conveniencies of life, but that they were prepared to despise your power, and would not lament their loss, whilst they had, wHAT, my lords-Their woods and liberty. The name of my authority, if I am called upon, will authenticate the opinion irrefragably.

My lords-This country superintends and controuls their trade and navigation; but they TAX

THEMSELVES. And this distinction between external

Trade

But proceed not to such coercion, such proscription: head, the distinction I contend for, is and must be Ccase your indiscriminate inflictions; amerce not observed. thirty thousands, oppress not three millions, for the faults of forty or fifty. Such severity of injustice must forever render incurable the wounds you have given your colonies; you irritate them to unap-and internal controul, is sacred and insurmountaWhat though you march from ble; it is involved in the abstract nature of things. peasable rancour. town to town, and from province to province? Property is private, individual, absolute. Though you should be able to force a temporary is an extended and complicated consideration; it and local submission, which I only suppose, not reaches as far as ships can sail, or winds can blow. admit, how shall you be able to secure the obedi It is a great and various machine—To regulate the ence of the country you leave behind you in your numberless movements of its several parts, and progress? To grasp the dominion of 1.800 miles combine them into effect for the good of the whole, of continent, populous in valor, liberty and resisrequires the superintending wisdom and energy of tance? This resistance to your arbitrary system of the supreme power in the empire. But this supreme taxation might have been foreseen; it was obvious power has no effect towards internal taxation-for from the nature of things and of mankind; and it does not exist in that relation. There is no such above all, from the whiggish spirit flourishing in thing, no such idea in this constitution, as a supreme that country. The spirit which now resists your power operating upon property. taxation in America, is the same which formerly Let this distinction then remain forever ascertainopposed, and with success opposed, loans, benevo lences, and ship money in England-the same spirited. Taxation is theirs, commercial regulation is which called all England ON ITS LEGS, and by the ours. As an American, I would recognize to Engbill of rights vindicated the English constitution-land her supreme right of regulating commerce the same spirit which established the great funda- and navigation: As an Englishman, by birth and mental and'essential maxim of your liberties, that principle, I recognize to the Americans their suno subject shall be taxed, BUT BY HIS OWN CONSENT. If your lordships will turn to the politics of those times, you will see the attempts of the lords to poison this inestimable benefit of the bill, by an insidious proviso: You will see their attempts defeated, in their conference with the commons, by the decisive arguments of the ascertainers and maintainers of our liberty; you will see the thin, inconclusive and fallacious stuff of those enemies and nature-immutable, eternal, fix'd as the firmato freedom, contrasted with the sound and solid ment of Heaven! To such united force, what force reasoning of serjeant Glanville and the rest, those shall be opposed! What, my lords, a few regigreat and learned men who adorned and enlightened ments in America, and 17 or 18,000 men at home! this country, and placed her security on the summit The idea is too ridiculous to take up a moment of of justice and freedom. And whilst I am on my your lordships time-nor can such a national prinlegs, and thus do justice to the memory of those cipled union be resisted by the tricks of office or Laying papers on your great men, I must also justify the merit of the ministerial manœuvres. living by declaring my firm and fixed opinion, that table, or counting noses on a division, will not such a man exists this day [looking towards lord avert or postpone the hour of danger. It must Cambden]; this glorious spirit of whiggism animates arrive, my lords, unless these fatal acts are done three millions in America, who prefer poverty with away; it must arrive in all its horrors: And then liberty, to golden chains and sordid affluence; and these boastful ministers, 'spite of all their conwho will die in defence of their rights, as men-fidence and all their manœuvres, shall be forced to as freemen. What shall oppose this spirit? aided hide their heads. But it is not repealing this act by the congenial flame glowing in the breast of of parliament, or that act of parliament—it is not every whig in England, to the amount, I hope, of repealing a PIECE of pancament that can restore You must repeal her at least double the American numbers! Ireland America to your bosom. they have to a man. In that country, joined as it fears and her resentments, and you may then hope is with the cause of the colonies, and placed at their for her love and gratitude. But now insulted with

preme, unalienable right in their property; a right which they are justified in the defence of, to the extremity. To maintain this principle is the common cause of the whigs on the other side of the Atlantic, and on this. 'Tis liberty to liberty engaged, that they will defend themselves, their families and their country. In this great cause they are immoveably allied. It is the alliance of God

thought the wisest poet, and perhaps the wisest nen in political sagacity, the friend of Mæcenas, and the eulogist of Augustus. To him the adopted son and successor of the first Cæsar, to him, the master of the world, he wisely urged this conduct of prudence and dignity,

Tuque prior, &c.

VIRGIL.

an armed force posted in Boston, irritated with an, feelings of men; ad establishes solid confidence bostile array before her eyes, her concessions, if in the foundation of affection and gratitude. So you could force them, would be suspicious and insecure: They will be, irato animo: They will not be the sound, honorable pactions of freemen; they will be the dictates of fear and the extortions of force. But it is more than evident that you CANNOT force them, principled and united as they are, to your unworthy terms of submission. It is impossible. And when I hear general Gage cen. Every motive, therefore, of justice and of policy, sured for inactivity, I must retort with indignation of dignity and of prudence, urges you to allay the on those whose intemperate measures and im- ferment in America, by a removal of your troops provident counsels have betrayed him into his pre from Boston, by a repeal of your acts of parliament, sent situation. His situation reminds me, my lords, and by demonstration of amicable dispositions toof the answer of a French gen. in the civil wars of wards your colonies. On the other hand, every France, Monsieur Turenne, I think. The queen danger and every hazard, impend to deter you said to him, with some peevishness, I observe that from perseverance in your present ruinous meayou were often very near the prince during the cam-sures: Foreign war hanging over your heads by a paign, why did you not take him?-The Mareschal slight and brittle thread: France and Spain watchreplied with great coolness-J'avois grand peur, ing your conduct and waiting for the maturity of qui Monsieur le prince ne me pris,-I was very your errors; with a vigilant eye to America and much afraid the prince would take me. the temper of your colonies, more than to their

To conclude, my lords, if the ministers thus persevere in misadvising and misleading the king, I will not say that they can alienate his subjects from his crown, but I will affirm that they will

make the crown not worth his wearing: I shall not say that the king is betrayed, but I will pronounce

THAT THE KINGDOM IS UNDONE.

When your lordships look at the papers trans-own concerns, be they what they may. mitted us from America, when you consider their decency, firmness and wisdom, you cannot but respect their cause, and wish to make it your own -for myself I must declare and avow that, in all my reading and observation, and it has been my favorite study—I have read Thucidydes, and have studied and admired the master states of the world -that for solidity and reasoning, force of sagacity, and wisdom of conclusion, under such a complica. tion of different circumstances, no nation or body of men can stand in preference to the general congress at Philadelphia.-1 trust it is obvious to your lordships, that all attempts to impose servitude on such men, to establish despotism over such a mighty continental nation-must be vain-must be futile. We shall be forced ultimately to retrac, whilst we can, not when we must. I say we must necessarily undo these violent and oppressive acts: The Lord God of Gods-the Lord God of Gods-He knoweth, and

-they must be repealed-you will repeal them: I pledge myself for it you will in the end repeal them: I stake my reputation on it: I will consent to be taken for an ideot if they are not finally re

pealed.— Avoid then this humiliating, disgraceful necessity. With a dignity becoming your exalted situation, make the first advances to concord, to peace and happiness, for that is your true dignity, to act with prudence and with justice. That you should first concede is obvious from sound and rational policy. Concession comes with better grace and more salutary effect from the superior power. It reconciles superiority of power with the

A SERMON

On the present situation of AMERICAN AFFAIRS: Preached in CHRIST-CHURCH, June 23, 1775, at the request of the officers of the third battalion of the city of Philadelphia, and district of Southwark

By WILLIAM SMITH, D. D. Provost of the college in that city.

Israel he shall know, if it be in rebellion, or in transgression against the Lord-save us not this day-Joshua, xxii. 22. These words, my brethren, will lead us into a train of reflections, wholly suitable to the design of our present meeting; and I must beg your

indulgence till I explain, as briefly as possible, the

solemn occasion on which they were first delivered hoping the application, I may afterwards make of them, may fully reward your attention.

The two tribes of Reuben and of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, had chosen their inheri tance, on the eastern side of Jordan, opposite to the other tribes of Israel. And although they knew that this situation would deprive them of some

privileges which remained with their brethren on country, a. in the fullness of gratitude, on the the other side, and particularly that great privilege banks of Jorlan, at the common passage over of having the place of the altar and tabernacle of against Canaan, they built an high or great altar, God among them; yet, as the land of Canaan was that it might remain an eternal monument of their judged too small for all the twelve tribes, they were being of one stock, and entitled to the same civil contented with the possession they had chosen.-and religious privileges, with their brethren of the And thus they spoke to Mosesother tribes.

"It is a land of cattle, and thy servants have But this their work of piety and love was directly much cattle. Wherefore, if we have found grace in misconstrued. The cry was immediately raised tby sight let this land be given to us for a possession, against them. The zealots of that day scrupled and we will build sheepfolds here for our cattle, not to declare them rebels against the living God, and cities for our little ones; and we ourselves will violators of his sacred laws and theocracy, in go ready armed before our brethren, the children setting up an altar against his holy altar, and thereof Israel--and will not return into our houses, until fore the whole congregations of the brother-tribes, they have inherited every man his inheritance."—that dwelt in Canaan, gathered themselves together, to go up to war against their own flesh and blood, in a blind transport of unrighteous zeal, purposing to extirpate them from the face of the earth, as enemies to God and the commonwealth of Israel!

"And Moses said unto them-If you will do this thing, and will go all of you armed over Jordan be fore the Lord, until he hath driven out his enemies from before him; and the land (of Canaan) be subdued (for your brethren;) then afterwards ye shall return, and this land (of Gilead) shall be your possession before the Lord."*

This, then, was the great original contract, under which these two tribes and a half were allowed to

separate from the rest, and to dwell on the other side of Jordan. They were to assist their brethren in their necessary wars, and to continue under one

government with them-even that of the great Jehovah himself-erecting no separate altar but com. ing to perform their sacrifices at that one altar of SHILOH, where the Lord had vouchsafed to promise his special presence.

Though this subjected them to inconveniences, yet as uniformity of worship and the nature of their theocracy required it, they adhered faithfully to their contract.

In that awful and important moment (and, oh! my God that the example could be copied among the brother tribes of our Israel, in the parent land) 1 say, in that awful and important moment, some milder and more benevolent men there were, whose zeal did not so far transport them, but that, be

fore they unsheathed the sword to plunge it with

unhallowed hand into the bowels of their brethren, they thought it justice first to enquire into the charge against them. And, for the glory of Israel, this peaceable and prudent council prevailed.

A most solemn embassy was prepared, at the head of which was a man of sacred character, and venerable authority, breathing the dictates of religion and humanity; Phinehas, the son of Eleazer, the high priest, accompanied with ten other chiefs or princes, one from each of the nine tribes as well as from the remaining half tribe of Manasseh.

Great was the astonishment of the Gileadites

In the fear of God, they bowed themselves at his altar, although not placed in their own land; and, in love to their brethren, they supported them in on receiving this embassy, and hearing the charge their wars, "till there stood not a man of all their against them. But the power of conscious innocence enemies before them;" and at last, JosHUA, their is above all fear, and the language of an upright great leader, having no farther need of their assis. heart superior to all eloquence. By a solemn ap. tance, gave them this noble testimony-That they peal to Heaven for the rectitude of their intenhad, in all things obeyed his voice as their general, tions, unpremeditated and vehement, in the words and faithfully performed all they had promised to of my text, they disarmed their brethren of every Moses the servant of God. Wherefore, he blessed suspicion. them, and dismissed them to return to their own "The Lord God of Gods," say they (in the ferland "with much riches, and with cattle, and with vency of truth, repeating the invocation) "the Lord silver, and with gold, and with much raiment." God of Gods"-He that made the Heavens and the

No sooner, therefore, had they entered their own

*Numb. 32.

The two tribes and a half are here briefly and generally denominate. Gileadites, from the name lof the land they had chosen.

earth, who searcheth the hearts, and is acquaint-pedigree with yourselves, and entitled to the same ed with the most secret thoughts of all men-"He civil and religious privileges. knoweth, and all Israel shall know,” by our unshaken constancy in the religion of our fathers--that this charge against us is utterly false.

This noble defence brought an immediate re conciliation among the discordant tribes. "The words, (when reported) pleased the children of Israel--they blessed God together" for preventing

Then turning from their brethren, with unspeakable dignity of soul and clearness of conscience, the effusion of kindred blood, “and did not go up they address the Almighty Jehovah himself

to destroy the land where their brethren, the chil dren of Reuben and Gad, dwelt."

Oh thou sovereign Ruler of the universe-our God and our Fathers' God-"if it be in rebellion or The whole history of the bile cannot furnish a in transgression against thee," that we have raised passage more ins ructive than this, to the members this monument of our zeal for the commonwealth of a great empire, whose dreadful misfortune it is of Israel "save us not this day!" If the most to have the evil demon of civil or religious discord distant thought has entered our hearts of erecting gone forth among them. And would to God, that an independent altar; if we have sought, in one the application I am now to make of it could be instance, to derogate from the glory of that sacred delivered in accents louder than thunder, till they altar which thou hast placed among our brethren have pierced the ear of every Briton; and especially beyond Jordan, as the common bond of union and worship among all the tribes of Israel-let not this day's sun descend upon us, till thou hast made us a monument of thine avenging justice, in the sight of the surrounding world!

After this astonishing appeal to the great God of Heaven and earth, they proceed to reason with their brethren; and tell them that, so far from intending a separation, either in government or religion, this altar was built with a direct contrary purpose "That it might be a WITNESS between us and you, and our generations after us, that your children may not say to our children, in time to come, ye have no part in the Lord." We were afraid lest, in some future age, when our posterity may cross Jordan to offer sacrifices in the place appointed, your posterity may thrust them from the altar, and tell them that because they live not in the land where the Lord's tabernacle dwelleth, they are none of his people, nor entitled to the Jewish privileges.

their ears who have meditated war and destruction against their brother-tribes of Reuben and Gad, in this out AMERICAN GILEAD. And let me add

would to God tog that we, who this day consider, ourselves in the place of those tribes, may, like, them, be still able to lay our hands on our hearts in a solemn appeal to the God of Gods, for the rectitude of our intentions towards the whole com. monwealth of our BRITIRH ISRAEL. For, called to this sacred place, on this great occasion, I know it is your wish that I should stand superior to all partial motives, and be found alike unbiassed by favor or by fear. And happy it is that the parallel, now to be drawn, requires not the least sacrifice either of truth or virtue?

Like the tribes of Reuben and Gad, we have. chosen our inheritance, in a land separated from that of our fathers and brethren, not indeed by a small river, but an immense ocean. This inheritance we likewise hold by a plain original contract, entitling us to all the natural and improvable advantages of our situation, and to a community of privileges with our brethren, in every civil and religious respect, except in this, that the throne or seat of empire, that great altar at which the. men of this world bow, was to remain among them.

But while this altar stands, they shall always have an answer ready. They will be able to say "Behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made." If our fathers had not been of the seed of Israel, they would not have fondly copied your customs and models. You would not have Regardless of this local inconvenience, uncankerbeheld in Gilead, an altar, in all things an imitation ed by jealousy, undepressed by fear, and ceinented of the true altar of God, which is in Shilob, except by mutual love and mutual benefits, we trod the only that ours is an high "or great altar to see" path of glory with our brethren for an hundred from far. And this may convince you that it was years and more-enjoying a length of felicity not intended as an altar of sacrifice (for then it would have been but three cubits in height, as our law directs) but as a monumental altar, to instruct our generations forever, that they are of the same

Though for brevity, the sacred text, in this and other places, only mentions Reuben and Gad, yet the half tribe of Man sen is also supposed to be included.