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guished their proceedings. They alfo contended that this meafure would establish a moft pernicious prece dent, as it would neceffarily follow, that every petiti on from whatever quarter of the globe, must be accom panied by evidence to establishi its anthenticity. They observed, that improper questions might be asked Mr Penn, which might draw from him what might tend to prejudice him with respect to his private for tune and affairs in America; that his evidence might have the fame effect with respect to others who were friends to government in America, and who, by a public expofure of their private conduct in its faveur, would be liable to perfonal danger, and ruin to their fortunes. Thefe trifling objections were all anfwered in fuch a manner, that none of the minifterialists could make a reply, but the motion was rejected by a majority of 36 to 22. The nobleman who made the motion, and who is remarkable for his perfeverence, made another, that Mr Penn be examined at the bat the next day. Tho' this motion could not decently be refused, yet fo difagreeable was every fpecies of enquiry to the miniftry, that another debate arofe upon it; but it was at length agreed that he fhould be examined, at a time appointed, which was the icth of December.

Many curious particulars came out in the examination of Mr Penn, which government would have defired never to have been known. He informed the House, in the most clear and distinct manner, of all the particulars concerning which he was interrogated, and spoke with an ingenuity that did him much honour. He informed them concerning what the colonifts intended to do, and what they did not, and among other things, declared that they had no inten

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tion to attempt independency, unless they were driven to it by the violence of the mother country. He made no hesitation in declaring the firength of his own province, and informed them that the colony contained 60,000 men able to bear arms; that of thefe 20,000 had entered voluntarily to ferve without pay, and were armed and embodied before his departure. Being alked concerning that volunteer force, he replied, that it included men of the best fortune and character in the province, and that it was compofed generally of men who were poffeffed of property either landed or otherwife. That an additional body of 4,500 minute-men had fince been raifed in the province, who were to be paid when called out to fervice. That they had the means and materials for cafting iron cannon in great plenty; that they caft brafs cannon in Philadelphia, and that they made finall arms in great abundance and perfection. He concealed nothing that might be of fervice to inform this nation of what was her intereft and duty to obferve concerning the colonies.

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After the examination was finished, the Duke of Richmond, who had propofed it, made a tion for reconciliation with America upon the footing of the petition, which, after a long debate, was rejected by a large majority, and matters left to proceed upon the ruinous plan upon which they had been hitherto carried on. It was eafy to perceive that government was determined to purfte the fanguinary meafure of reducing the colonies to unconditional fubmiffion, in fpite of all conviction of the impoffibility thereof; for though all conciliatory fchemes were rejected, the prohilory at was brought in and fupported with great zeal. was a full proof of the lengths they intended to go,

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This bill

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and fully fhewed the extent of their purpofes. This act totally forbade all trade and intercourfe with the thirteen united colonies. All property belonging to the Americans, whether of fhips or goods, on the highfeas, or in the harbours, were declared forfeited to the caprors, being the officers and crews of his Majefty's fhips of war; and feveral claufes of the bill were inferted, to facilitate and leffen the expence of the condemnation of prizes, and the recovery of prize money. There were feveral other claufes in this bill inconfiftent with all the rules of policy and found judgment, which gave the Congrefs a fufficient handle in point of argument for proceeding to their act of independency. They were now thrown out of the King's protection, and made rebels and out-laws by a new act of parliament, which was confidered by them as inconfiftent with the feveral laws of the constitution; for which reafon it was argued, that the compact between the King and the people being thereby diffolved by an act of the ruling powers, the people in the colonies were thereby freed from all obligations of obedience, and were again brought back to a state of nature. There appeared a real want of wisdom and juftice in this prohibitory bill; for though they had yet no proof that the province of Georgia had acceded to the affociation, yet that province was included in the bill, and given up by authority of parliament to be plundered by every warfhip that should come upon the coaft. But what was moft barbarous and abfurd in the restraining act was, that all thofe who fhould be taken on board any American veffels were indifcriminately to be compelled without distinction of perfons to ferve as common failors in our fhips of war. This was a refinement in tyranny which was worfe than death, and which the

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most favage nations had never thought of nor practifed. To make prifoners, who fhould have the misfortune to be taken in this plundering war, fight against their own families, kindred, and countrymen, and after being plundered themselves, to become accomplices in plundering their brethren, was a ftretch of cruelty beyond the invention of heathens, and could only be devised by Papists or Jacobites. This cruelty was still heightened by this dreadful circumftance, that these unhappy perfons who were thus compelled were fubject to the articles of war, and liable to be shot for defertion. This devilish and ty rannical law refembled much the Scotch law of inquifition, by which the prifoner was fqueezed or racked with boots and thumbikins till he discovered all his friends or accomplices, and thereby was made the inftrument of the ruin of thofe that were dearest to him, and whom he loved beft. If ever any human creature fhall, in any age of the world, attempt to vindicate or colour this law with the varnish of humanity, he muft be, by all the friends of human nature, confidered as allied to a rank of beings, who are ftrangers to every idea of mercy and benevolence. To be reduced to fuch a condition as this law fuppofes, is the laft degree of wretchednefs and indignity, to which human nature can be fubjected. It obliged Englishmen to practise a cruelty unknown to the most. favage nations. Such a compulfion upon prifoners as this bill enforced, was never known to be practised in any cafe of war or rebellion; and the only examples of this fort that can be produced, must be found amongst pirates, the out-laws and enemies of human fociety. The chicf author of this tyrannical law may cafily be traced from a fpeech of a certain law lord, who declared while the bill was depending, That we

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were not now to confider the questions of the original right or wrong, juice or injustice; we were now engaged in a war, and mult ule our utmoft efforts to obtain the ends propofed by it; we must fight or bẽ pursued; and the justice of the caufe must give way to our prefent fituation, To this he applied the la conic fpeech of a scotch foldier of fortune in the fet? vice of Guftavus Adolphus, who pointing to the enemy, faid to his men, See you thofe lads? kill them or they will kill you. Such a fpeech from one of the tint judges of the nation, thews plainly what juice we may expect, provided our ju.ies do not protect us. The fevere punishmen, that could be inflicted upon fuch an enemy to human nature, would be to confine him to be a perpetual with fs of fupreme benevolence and philanthropy. It is fufficient to roufe the refentment of all who have the finaleft degree of humanity in them to hear or read fuch a fpeech, It brings to the readers remeinbrance afpeech which Milton puts into the mouth of one of his fallen angels: EVIL, BE THOU MỶ GOOD,

The colonists who had hitherto deferred the project of independency, which was fuggefted to them by the meatures of the parliament, were now driven to this measure by the violent proceedings that have been already mentioned. They found that they were now to be perfecuted with all the vengeance that the government could inflict, and that while they remained in a ftate of dependence upon Great Britain, no nation could afford them any affistance. They therefore came to a refolution to declare themselves independent ftates, and to renounce all allegiance to the British government, and all political connection with the mother country, in their declaration of inde

pendency

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