yet knows it must be done； hates to set about it； wishes it over； and is continually haunted with the thoughts of its necessity。
。d xs
APPENDIX
since the publication of the first edition of this pamphlet； or rather； on the same day on which it came out； the kings speech made its appearance in this city。 had the spirit of prophecy directed the birth of this production； it could not have brought it forth； at a more seasonable juncture； or a more necessary time。
the bloody mindedness of the one； shew the necessity of pursuing the doctrine of the other。 men read by way of revenge。
and the speech； instead of terrifying； prepared a way for the manly principles of independance。
ceremony； and even； silence； from whatever motive they may arise； have a hurtful tendency； when they give the least degree of countenance to base and wicked performances； wherefore； if this maxim be admitted； it naturally follows； that the kings speech； as being a piece of finished villany； deserved； and still deserves； a general execration both by the congress and the people。 yet； as the domestic tranquillity of a nation； depends greatly； on the chastity of what may properly be called national manners； it is often better； to pass some things over in silent disdain； than to make use of such new methods of dislike； as might introduce the least innovation； on that guardian of our peace and safety。 and； perhaps； it is chiefly owing to this prudent delicacy； that the kings speech； hath not； before now； suffered a public execution。
the speech if it may be called one； is nothing better than a wilful audacious libel against the truth； the mon good； and the existence of mankind； and is a formal and pompous method of offering up human sacrifices to the pride of tyrants。
but this general massacre of mankind。 is one of the privileges； and the certain consequence of kings； for as nature knows them not； they know not her； and although they are beings of our own creating； they know not us； and are bee the gods of their creators。
the speech hath one good quality； which is； that it is not calculated to deceive； neither can we； even if we would； be deceived by it。
brutality and tyranny appear on the face of it。 it leaves us at no loss： and every line convinces； even in the moment of reading； that he； who hunts the woods for prey； the naked and untutored indian； is less a savage than the king of britain。
sir john dalrymple； the putative father of a whining jesuitical piece； fallaciously called； 〃the address of the people of _england_ to the inhabitants of _america_；〃 hath； perhaps； from a vain supposition； that the people here were to be frightened at the pomp and description of a king； given； （though very unwisely on his part） the real character of the present one： 〃but〃 says this writer； 〃if you are inclined to pay pliments to an administration； which we do not plain of；〃 （meaning the marquis of rockinghams at the repeal of the stamp act） 〃it is very unfair in you to withhold them from that prince by whose _nod alone_ they were permitted to do any thing。〃 this is toryism with a witness！ here is idolatry even without a mask： and he who can calmly hear； and digest such doctrine； hath forfeited his claim to rationality an apostate from the order of manhood； and ought to be considered as one； who hath not only given up the proper dignity of man； but sunk himself beneath the rank of animals； and contemptibly crawl through the world like a worm。
however； it matters very little now； what the king of england either says or does； he hath wickedly broken through every moral and human obligation； trampled nature and conscience beneath his feet； and by a steady and constitutional spirit of insolence and cruelty； procured for himself an universal hatred。 it is now the interest of america to provide for herself。
she hath already a large and young family； whom it is more her duty to take care of； than to be granting away her property； to support a power who is bee a reproach to the names of men and christians……ye； whose office it is to watch over the morals of a nation； of whatsoever sect or denomination ye are of； as well as ye； who； are more immediately the guardians of the public liberty； if ye wish to preserve your native country uncontaminated by european corruption； ye must in secret wish a separation……but leaving the moral part to private reflection； i shall chiefly confine my farther remarks to the following heads。
first。 that it is the interest of america to be separated from britain。
secondly。 which is the easiest and most practicable plan； reconciliation or independance？ with some occasional remarks。
in support of the first； i could； if i judged it proper； produce the opinion of some of the ablest and most experienced men on this continent； and whose sentiments； on that head； are not yet publicly known。 it is in reality a self…evident position： for no nation in a state of foreign dependance； limited in its merce； and cramped and fettered in its legislative powers； can ever arrive at any material eminence。 america doth not yet know what opulence is； and although the progress which she hath made stands unparalleled in the history of other nations； it is but childhood； pared with what she would be capable of arriving at； had she； as she ought to have； the legislative powers in her own hands。
england is； at this time； proudly coveting what would do her no good； were she to acplish it； and the continent hesitating on a matter； which will be her final ruin if neglected。 it is the merce and not the conquest of america； by which england is to he benefited； and that would in a great measure continue； were the countries as independant of each other as france and spain； because in many articles； neither can go to a better market。 but it is the independance of this country on britain or any other； which is now the main and only object worthy of contention； and which； like all other truths discovered by necessity； will appear clearer and stronger every day。
first。 because it will e to that one time or other。
secondly。 because； the longer it is delayed the harder it will be to acplish。
i have frequently amused myself both in public and private panies； with silently remarking； the specious errors of those who speak without reflecting。 and among the many which i have heard； the following seems the most general； viz。
that had this rupture happened forty or fifty years hence； instead of now； the continent would have been more able to have shaken off the dependance。 to which i reply； that our military ability； at this time； arises from the experience gained in the last war； and which in forty or fifty years time； would have been totally extinct。 the continent； would not； by that time； have had a general； or even a military officer left； and we； or those who may succeed us； would have been as ignorant of martial matters as the ancient indians： and this single position； closely attended to； will unanswerably prove； that the present time is preferable to all others。 the argument turns thus……at the conclusion of the last war； we had experience； but wanted numbers； and forty or fifty years hence； we should have numbers； without experience； wherefore； the proper point of time； must be some particular point between the two extremes； in which a sufficiency of the former remains； and a proper increase of the latter is obtained： and that point of time is the present time。
the reader will pardon this digression； as it does not properly e under the head i first set out with； and to which i again return by the following position； viz。
should affairs he patched up with britain； and she to remain the governing and sovereign power of america； （which； as matters are now circumstanced； is giving up the point entirely） we shall deprive ourselves of the very means of sinking the debt we have； or may contract。 the value of the back lands which some of the provinces are clandestinely deprived of； by the unjust extension of the limits of canada； valued only at five pounds sterling per hundred acres； amount to upwards of twenty…five millions； pennsylvania currency； and the quit…rents at one penny sterling per acre； to two millions yearly。
it is by the sale of those lands that the debt may be sunk； without burthen to any； and the quit…rent reserved thereon； will always lessen； and in time； will wholly support the yearly expence of government。 it matters not how long the debt is in paying； so that the lands when sold be applied to the discharge of it； and for the execution of which； the congress for the time being； will be the continental trustees。 。
i proceed now to the second head； viz。 which is the easiest and most practicable plan； reconciliation or lndependance； with some occasional remarks。
he who takes nature for his guide is not easily beaten out of his argument； and on that ground； i answer generally……that _independance_ being a _single simple line；_ contained within ourselves； and reconciliation； a matter exceedingly perplexed and plicated； and in which； a treacherous capricious court is to interfere； gives the answer without a doubt。
the present state of america is truly alarming to every man who is capable of