^VS OF PRlNCf^

>^

^^OtOG ICAL S Vi\^^^

BX 8915 .W5 1815 v,9

Witherspoon, John, 17231794.

The works of John

Witherspoon

THE

WORKS
OF

JOHN WITHERSPOON,

D. D.

SOMETIME MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL AT PAISLEY, AND LATE

PRESIDENT OF PRINCETON COLLEGE, IN NEW JERSEY.
CONTAINING

ESSAYS, SERMONS,

8cc.

ON

IMPORTANT SUBJECTS

INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE AND ESTABLISH THE DOCTRINE OV

SALVATION BY GRACE, AND TO POINT OUT ITS
INFLUENCE ON HOLINESS OF LIFE.

TOGETHER WITH HIS

LECTURES ON MORAL PHILOSOPHY,

ELOQUENCE AND DIVINITY;
HIS SPEECHES IN

THE AMERICAN CONGRESS;

AND MANY OTHER VALUABLE

PIECES,

NEVER BEFORE

PUBLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY.

VOL. IX.

EDINBURGH:
PRINTED FOR

J.

OGLE, PARLIAMENT-SQUARE J M. OGLE,

GLASGOW OGLES, DUNCAN, & COCHRAN, LONDONj

AND T. JOHNSTON, DUBLIN.
'y

isia

CONTENTS
OF

VOLUME

IX.

Page.

An

EfTay on Money, as a

medium of Commerce,

with Remarks on the advantages and difad vantages of Paper admitted into general circulation,

Refledlions on the prefent

and on the Duty and

im.portant

flate

Intereft of

America

'

crifis,

Thoughts on American Liberty,

On
On

of Public Affairs,
in this

"

"

the Controverfy about Independence,

66

73
78

83
88

Condu6ling the American Controverfy,

-

Ariftides,

Part of a Speech in Congrefs, on the Conference

Howe,

propofed by Lord

Speech

in

'

"

99

Congrefs on the Convention with General

Burgoyne,

Speech in Congrefs, on a Motion

for

Paying the
-

117

-----

125

Intereft of Loan-Office certificates,

Part of a Speech

in Congrefs,

on the Finances,

Part of a Speech in Congrefs, upon the Confederation,

135

Speech in Congrefs, on the appointment of Plenipotentiaries,

On

the Propofed

Camp,

142

Market in General Wafhington's

-

Addrefs to General Wafhington,

148

154

CONTENTS.

VI

Page.

Memorial and Manifejlo of the United States of

North America,

to the

mediating powers in the

conferences for peace, to the other powers in

who

rope, and in general to all

On
On

fliall fee

Eu-

the fame,

the Affairs of the

United

States,

17

Obfervations on the Improvement of America,

Supplication of

Recantation of

A
A

J. R********,
Benjamin Towne,

Defcription of the State of

Few

Refle(^ions

New

178

180

192

Jerfey,

humbly fubmitted

fideration of the Public in general,

to

199
the con-

and in

parti-

cular to the Congrefs of the United States,

On

154

the Conteft between Great Britain and America, 166

the Georgia Conftitution,

The Druid,

21s

220

224

AN

A Y

ON

M O N
AS A

Y,

MEDIUM OF COMMERCE;
WITH

I^IARKS ON THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF PAfER

ADMITTED INTO GENER.iL CIRCULATION.

FROM

we
many of

every channel of public intelligence

learn, that there

is

a difpofition in

the legiflatures of this country, to emit

bills

of

by authority of government, and to make

them in fome meafure at leaft, or in fome cafes, a
credit

Jegal tender for debts already contradled.

This

a matter of great delicacy and danger.

has oc-

It

cafioned a controverfial difcuflion f the fubjel

pamphlets

and

plaufible things,

periodical

and but

publications.
a

fevi^

is

ifi

few

that deferve that

charftler,

have been publiflied in defence of the

meafure.

Many

flirewd and

been offered againft

it

fenfible things

but even

theffe laft

have
have

not been fo connected and fatisfying, as they might

and ought

to

have been.

Some

of the pieces

ha^

been verbofe and declamatory, with many repetiVoL. IX.

B

ESSAY ON MONEY.

10
tlons

others have been full of antlthefes, quaint

fayings,

dency

and witticifms, which have no great ten-

to convince

or perfuade

and fome have

been mingled with the local and party

Perhaps thefe different ways of

particular ftates.

writing

may be

very proper for feveral

readers, and have a

certainly others

politics of

good

effel:

who would

clafles

of

but there are

require a different treat-

ment, becaufe their miflakes are owing not to debut

intentions,

ceitful

me

This has given

judgment.

erroneous

to

a flrong defire to try

what can

be done upon the fubjel by difpalTionate reafon-

By

in^;

this I

matter back to

mean, endeavourmg to carry the

them

principles, to explain

firft

its

in fo fimple a manner, as that the unlearned

imderfland them
tical

and then to deduce the

-,

confequences with the general theory

may

j>rac-

full in

view.
It is impoITible to

ing

many

things

which

manner have been

forgiven

me

purpofe, without fay-

in a feparate'and detached

by others

faid

becaufe

fyftem before the

my

reach

mean

*,

to

but

this

lay the

and every part

readier,

mud

be

whole

in its pro-

per order and connei:ion.

Let us then begin by

confidering what gave

to

it*

nature and ufe

upon the
hut for

earth,
his

rife

If there

money, and what

were but one man

he would be obliged

habitation,

to

is

to prepare a

dig roots for his fuf-

tenance, to provide (kins or fig-leaves for his covering, &c.-, in

fliort,

to

do every thing for himfelf.

li

but one or two more were joined with him, it

would foon be found that one of them would be
more ikilful in one fort of work, and another in a,

ESSAY ON MONEY.
tUtTerent

common

fo that

it

woald

interell;

dlrecl

them, each to apply his mduftry to what he could

communicate the furplus

of what he needed himfelf of that fort of work to

do beft and fooneft

to

the others, and receive of their furplus in return.

com-

us, that a barter of

This diredly points out to

modities, or communication of the fruits of induflry,

is

the

As

the efl'ence of commerce.

the partition of

but

(till

indeed conftitutes

principle, or rather

firft

employments

fociety increafes,

greatly diverfified

is

the fruits of well directed induRry, or the

things neceffary and ufeful in

life,

what onl/

are

can be called wealth.

In eflabliiliing a mutual exchange of thefe,
firft

thing neceflary

common

or

feveral

may be

a ftandard of computation,

is

meafure,

by which

to

by purchafers.

Without

fale,

this

eafy to fee that the barter of commodities

to

This ftandard or
thing that
general or

is

common meafure muft

known

well

common

ufe.

is

and very great

very great difficulties,

the

firil

it

is

liable

errors.

and of

eflays in

things are generally rude and imperfel

or

be fome-

to both parties,

As

the

eftimate

commodities that may be offered to

defired

tliO

any

fo I think

monuments of remote

antiquity,

that in the early ftages of fociety, cattle

were the

it

appears from the

firft

things

made

But

ufe of as a ftandard *.

* Servius Tullius, one of the

Roman

kings,

is

it

said to

have stamped some pieces with the figure of cattle ; art

This was as much as to say, this piece is;
ox, or a sheep.
of the value of an ox or a sheep. Hence it is said, the

Roman word

pecunia, comes from peaiSy cattle.

B2

Others

ESSAY ON MONEY.

12

would foon appear

meafure

from

that this

w^s a

mofl; inaccurate

bccaufe one ox might be as good as two^

There-

or other circumftances.

fize, fatnefs

fore in place of this fucceeded meafures both of dry

and

liquid, that

of thefe was of

corn, wine, and

is,

Men, upon an

eat nearly the

The

iirft

others the mofl proper ftandard,

all

becaufe univerfally necefTary, and

variation.

oil.

ages and countries.

would probably

average,

fame quantity

in

to little

liable

the

mofl diftant

feems to me, that

It

this cir-

cumftance of a ft#ndard of computation being ne-

commerce, and the

cefTary in

firfl

thing necefTary,

has been in a great meafure overlooked by mofl

writers on

money, or rather

with the

flandard

of the
mifft

it

the

fjgn,

although

and the equivocal

terms has occafioned great confufion.

however obferve, not only

cefTarily

felves

has been confounded

of

value

from

eflentially different

it

be taken

to

flandard of

known commodity,
and more

but that

in,

as

intelligible

if

that

we

tliis

uf<e

mufl ne-

confine our-

computation only, fome

meafured grain,

is

better,

and unalterable than any

money whatever, that either has been or will be

made. The a;reat alteration in the value of sfold
and filver is known to every perfon who has but
dipped into hiftory ; and indeed is known to many,
even by memory, in tliis country, fince its fiift
fettlement

*.

have thought

it

was from the use cf leather for monej'-,

But the first etymclogy seems to be

quasi pecuchon con'o.

the best.

See a subsequent note.

* Tliere are two estates near one of the colleges in

Scotland,

wh> h were

originally taxed an equal

number of

ESSAY ON MONEY.

But

computation had been

a ftandard of

after

I3

agreed upon, in commerce, even of the moft mode-

would be abfolutely

rate extent, fomething farther

The

neceffary.

a6lual and immediate barter of com-

modities could in a few inftances take place.

man might

have the thing that

wanted

but he might not need or defire what

to give for

it.

fpare, but not

to purchafe,

was willing

Another might want what

have what

wanted

had to

to purchafe

with

Beiides, bulky or perifnable commodities could

it.

not be carried about at an uncertainty, or with

fafety.

became very early neceflary,

be fome fign or figns agreed upon,

Therefore,

that there fliould

it

which fhould reprefent the abfent commodities, or

rather fhould reprefent the ftandard of computation,
in

all its

divifions

muft b fuch

and multiplications.

as could eafily

Thefe Hgns

be carried about, and

therefore could be readily appHed to every kind of

tranfadions, which were connected with the

com-

mutation of property.
bolls

of grain

(a boll is

about ^bushels) to that institution..

In very remote times, it pleased the proprietor of one of

these estates, with consent of the college, to convert the
pa3'-ment into

which was

money, according

to the then current value,

pence sterling for a boll. At

this present time, the one of these farms pays the same

number of

a groat, or four

bolls, that

the other does of groats

about thirt3--two for one.

an old lease of

There

is

a burro\v acre near a

which the tenant was

pay

which

is

also said to be existing

town

in Scotland, for

of wheat, and a

boll of
he did not bring the grain between Christmass and Candlemass, the proprietor was not obliged to

to

a boll

barley, or if

accept of

it,

but he must pay a

sum which

is

now

10-i2th3

of a penny sterling" for the boll of wheat, and 3n2t\isiov.

the boll of barley.

B3

14

ON MONEY.

ESSAY

Let us examine the nature and meaning of thefc

move

figns

tally, that is to

and afcertain

who

perfon

Tbey

particularly.

fay, they

intended to mark

are

Now

fa<Si:.

are of the nature of

the fact

that the

is,

can (hew thofe figns, having purchafed

goods or induftry, i^ entitled to receive

them by
from fomebody, a certain valiie, or to a certain
amount, which they fpecify, of the ftandard af
computation. They have always a reference to the
his

ftandard of computation, and at

laft,

by

that

known

them and the

and they become

reference, the ditLisi61:ion between

ftandard of computation

loft,

is

a fecondary ftandard of computation themfelves.

Thus

a piece

is

intended

of a meafure of grain

make

their bargain

at firft to

but

fignifie^l.

Thus

fometimes

fterling

be no coin

is

pirecifely

the

tO'

in (lead

at leaft,

an

hy the other two, comes

to be the ftandard of computation

pound

men come

ufing the iign for the

alfo,

ideal meafure, generated

the

be of the value

laft

by the number of pieces

of the number of meafures

thing

at

money

England,

as in

unit,

though there

correfponding to

This

it.

is

fufficient to explain the relation of the fign to the

ftandard of computation,

fpeak
I

fign

fo,

have
is

body.

and

confolidation with

its

faid

at

above, that the perfon pofTefling the

roafon of this

is,

fider the fign as

is

it

is

from

/.ffif"

bccaufe his debtor

not the fame in every ftate of things.

other,

may

it.

entitled to receive a certain value

The

if

laft,

If

we

is

con-

given from one individual to an-

of the nature of a promlflory note, and

a confclhon of having received fo

Probably there

were often fuch

much
figns

property.
or tokens

ESSAY ON MONEY.
given In the infancy of fociety
(Ignify, that if the

and

were

feller

1^

to

would

It

come

theit

again, at a

diftance of time, and find the buyer in polTcfTion of

fuch goods as he wanted, he would be entitled to re-

amount of the fign or token that had bee?!

But the convenience of ufing figtis is (o
given him.
great, that it would immediately occafion their beceive the

ing

made

plied

ufe of

and,

at

by general confent, exprefs or imlaft,

th matter would be taken

Tinder the direction of the ruling part of the

com-

In both cafes, but efpecially in this

munity.

laft,

who

the fociety becomes bound to the perfon

re-

ceives the figns for his goods or induftry, that they

(hall

be to him of the value that they fpecify.

will afterwards fliew, that this

the

laft ftep

reafons for

when we

was not

the

but

firit

taken in the ufe of figns, and give the

it ;

but

it

is

proper to mention

now.,

it

are confiderine the nature and ufe of fi<yns

in that fingle view.

Let
if

it

be obferved here that as

we aim

at

no more than

was before

better than any

money,

to a fign only feparate

fo if

from

fald,

a flandard of com.puta-

fome commodities are not only

tion,

that

it

we

but

confine ourfelves

a flandard,

might be named are not only

as good,

many

things

as good, but far

or what we
money, becaufe they are much more eafily
reckoned, tranfported, and concealed. This appears
particulary from the flate of figns in modern times,

better than either the flandard

itfelf,

call

after fo

place.

much experience and improvement

For

if

we

can guard

has taken

fuilicier.tly againit

the

dangers to which they are expofed, figns inconceivably facilitate commerce.

"We can put any value

l5

we

ESSAY ON MONEY.
pleafe in an obligation written

of paper, and can fend

very

little

few inches

over the world

it

expence, and conceal

there ihall be

But

on

no danger of

its

it

fo

itfelf at

eafily

that

being taken from us.

muft have appeared, and did fpeedily appear, that all mere figns labour under an eflential
it

They depend

defe6l.

ultimately on the faith or

credit of the perfons ufing or anfwerable for them.

Now, whether

thefe be individuals or the multi-

tude by general cufbom and implied confent, or

even the ruling part" of the fociety, there

make

a complete fymbol or

general commerce, and that

of value that

may

the thing given for

it,

and

needed by him that holds

may
fure

is,

medium

is

of

a pledge or ftandard

be a fecurity or equivalent for

to purchafe a like value of

dity well

very

Therefore fomething farther

great uncertainty.
neceflary to

is

at all

any thing that may be

it.

known, or even

times be fuflicient

An

abfent

commo-

in idea well underftood,

common meamay be a fign,

be a ftandard of computation and

-,

any thing almoft whatever

though, fmce the art of writing has been known,

paper
there

is
is

the beft, but both are eflentially defecElive

wanting

a value in the fign,

;,

that fhall give

not only a promife or obligation, but actual poflef

fion of property for property.

The mentioning of thefe three diftindi ends to be

medium of commerce, and illuftrating

ferved by the

them

feparately,

was not

to

convey the idea that

there were three fteps of this kind taken at a dif-

tance of time from each other,

or that

continued long to deal in grofs barter

that invented figns, and

men
and

firft

after

were content with them

J;

ESSAY ON MD^^Er.
for another period

was

it

to

niedium of univerfal
able to ferve

and that

at laft, perfected the plan,

On

figns pofTeiled of real value.

by getting
contrary,

and

if

the

fhew that any thing ufed as a

or general commerce, mud be

the three fore-mentioned purpofes

all

there

any production of nature, or

is

fabrication. of art, that can unite the whole, at leaft

muft

as far as they are capable of being united, this

Now

be the great deftderatum.

it

has been found

in experience, that the precious metals, efpecially

thofe

now

anfwer

by that name, gold and

called

filver,

the three ends in a great degree.

all

do

can-

It

not be denied that they have been ufed for this purpofe, in

from the

fa(3:,

times, and through

earlieft

every natioti in the old world, and indeed alfo ia

the new, with fuch exception only as will confirm

that this has

whim

or caprice of mankind, as one would fufpecl

writing, he

is,

was

uniform or

fo

what

able
able.

2.

with

qualities a

poflefs.

rare

mufl

qualities beig.

It

3-

Whoever

tention,

fo lafting.

whim
The

elfe,

tlie

qualities

appear to any impartial perfon

will confider,

ought to

eife6l of

view

who

to the preceding princi-

medium

of general

commerce

ought then, to be

portable

will

ne-

mentioned above.

ccfTary for the purpofes

will

fpeech and

in

thefe metals do pofiefs in a great de-

thivc

gree fuperior to every thing

This

No

greatly miftaken.

is

or accident ever

ples,

thinks

happened by accident, or through the

from the language fometimes ufed

truth

man

If any

the principles of the theory.

4.

divifible

i.

5.

valu-

dur-

examine the matter with

perceive

that

any one

of

wholly or greatly wanting, the

at-

thefe
fyf->.

l8

ON MONEY.

ESSAY

tern

would be either

Let us examine them feparately.

mud be valuabte ; that is to fay,

injured.
It

I.

have an
tint

entirely ruined or remarkably

worth

intrinfic

from the form.

in

in

itfelf,

By

mud

it

fubitance dif-

value or intrinfic worth

here, muft be underftood precifely the fame thing

that gives to every other

Do

value.

you

alk

commodity its commercial

what that is ? I anfwer, its be-

ing either neceflary or remarkably ufeful for the

purpofes of
to be fo

life in

a focial ftate, or at lead fuppofed

and therefore the

Without

this

nor indeed

human

objei: of

defire.

could be no more than a bare fign

it

fo ufeful in this

But we want fomething'

view

as

many other

figns.

muft not be only a

that

ftandard of computation, but a ftandard of value

and therefore capable of being

ed for

It

it.

likely

is

fome

and fecurity

a pledge

to the holder, for the property that

he has exchang-

What

will fay,

They

the

is

intrinfic

value of gold and filver

wealth

they are but the fign or reprefentative of

commodities.

Superficial

are not

and even

philofophers,

fome men of good underftanding not attending

the nature of currency, have really faid
is

gold, fay fome, the value

can neither eat nor wear

clothe, nor

warm

trinfic value, is

applied to

you.

is all

it j

it

to

What

fo.

in the fancy

you

neither feed,

will

Gold, fay others, as to in-

uot fo good as iron, which can be

many more

ufeful purpofes.

Thefe per-

fons have not attended to the nature of commercial

value,

which

fcarcenefs.

is

in a

If iron

compound
were

ratio

of

as rare as gold,

probably be as valuable, perhaps more

many

its

ufe and

it

fo.

wouKl

How

inflances are there of things, which, thougii

ESSAY ON MONEY.
a certain proportion

of them

but indifpenfably neceflary to

is

^9

not only valuable,

yet which
abundance have no commercial value at
Take for examples, air and water. People do

from

life

itfelf,

their

all.

not bring thefe to market, becaufe they are in fu-

perabundant plenty.
place that render
tained, and

their value

rifes

one of thofe

above

all

who were

the black hole at Calcutta, have given to

window

get but near a

will the

immediately

What would

computation.
ftifled in

But let any circumftances take

them rare, and difficult to be ob-

crew of

for a little

a fhip at fea,

expended, give for a frefh fupply

Gold and

filver

have

air ?

And what

whofe water

is

nearly

intrinfic

value as metals,

becaufe from their dudility, durability, and other

qualities, they are exceedingly fit for domeftic
utenfils, and many purpofes in life.
This circumftance

was the foundation of their ufe as a medium of

commerce, and was infeparable from it. No clearer proof of this can be adduced, than that in the
earlieft times,
even when ufed in commerce,

they were weighed before they were divided into

,

fmaller pieces, and pafTed in tale.

ly

-They muft

then have had intrinfic value;

was

fure-

for their value

in proportion to their bulk or quantity.

This

made them worfe, but as a

made them better. The fame thing
appears as clearly from the praftice of modern
times.
Even when they are taken into the management of the rulers of fociety, and ftamped under vacircumftance as a fign

valuable metal

rious denominations, there muft be an exa6t regard

had

them

to their
is

commerical value.

the/^, the

intrinfic

The ftamp upon

worth of the metal

is

^O

E^SAT ON MONEY.

the Kmlue*

now

It is

found, and admitted by eVery

nation, that they miift give

nomination and value

in bullion

and

if

to every piece that de-

in legal currency, that

any do other wife, there

authority nor force fufhcient to

The

firft

is

Gold and

more

three

perfons

Dr. Franklin,
filver

value with iron

of

name

in

the

whom

he makes to fay,

are not intrinfically of equal

a metal of itfelf capable of

beneficial ufes to

mankind.

many

Their value

on the eflimation they happen

chiefly

neither

pafs *.

world in fupport of a contrary opinion.

literary

'

it

bears

author referred to in the note has given us

quotations from

.The

make

it.

is

to be in

refts

among

the generality of nations, and the credit given to

the opinion that that eflimation will continue*, other-

wife a pound of gold would not be a real equivalent

for a bu(hel of wheat."

The

feoond

is

Anderfon

on National Induftry, who fays, " Money confidered

in itfelf, is of no value ; but in many civilized nations,

who have found how

convenient

it

is

for

An author on this

subject iaa pamphlet lately publish" The value of the precious metals is however

td, says,

enhanced by their peculiar aptitude to perform the office

of an universal money beyond any real inherent value they
This extrinsic value of gold and silver, which
possess.
belongs to them under the modification of coin or bullion,
Is totally distinct

i'rcynx

their

inherent value as a

commo-

dity." I do not very well comprehend what this gentleman means by the intrinsic value of gold and silver. Per-

haps

the stamp or nominal value affixed to

it is

the state

but whatever

I will

them by

venture to assure him,

is so far from being totally' distinct

must be precisely the same "vvith, tlieir value
commodity.

that their value as coin

fi-om, tliat

as a

it is,

it

ESSAY ON MONEY.
facilitating the barter or

for another,

it

exchange of one commodity

has received an

that although ufelefs in

among

accepted

all

tl

itfelf,

civilized

proving that the perfon

who

value

artificial
it

has

come

fo

be

to

nations, as a token
is

pofleffed of

it,

had

given fomething of real value in exchange for

and

on

is

that account accepted of

exchange for fomething that

intrinfic worth*"
The third

by another

of real

is

utility

it,

in

and

Sir James Stuart,

is

who fays,
I underftand any commodity
which purely in itfelf is of no material ufe to man,
but which acquires fuch an eftimation from his opinion of it, as to become the univerfal meafure of what
" By money,

is

called value,

thing

and an adequate equivalent for any

alienable."

great foever, will

when

perceive that in any inftance he has

taken his fubjed.

with

all

The name of any man, how

not have much weight with me,
This

I believe,

has been the cafe

the gentlemen ju(l iHentioned.

There

confiderable confufion in the ideas exprefTed

laft

two

rtiif*

but the thing in which they

all

is

by the
agree,

and for which they are adduced by this author, is,

that they feem to deny the intrinfic value of gold
and

filver,

and to impute the eftimation

they are held, to accidental opinion.

beg leave
intrinfic

to obferve,

as to the

in

Now

which
I mulh

comparifon of the

worth of gold and

to determine whether,

iron, if it were poflible

on fuppofition of Iron and

gold being in equal quantity, the one or the other

would be the moft valuable, it would not be worth
a fingle ftraw in the prefent queftion

for if iron

were the moft valuable, it would in that cafe be

the money, and the gold would be but in the next
Vol. IX.
C

2i

ESSAY ON MONEY.

degree*

with
to a

Accidental opinion has nothing to do

from the nature of things.

It arifes

it.

pound of gold not being,

quivalent to a

bufliel

as to intrinfic value,

of wheat,

might with

it

equal truth be affirmed, that to a

with hunger,

man

of gold, as

it

perifliing

mountain of gold would not be

equivalent to half a pound of bread.

any argument

As

But

is

this

againft the intrinfic commercial value

has taken place fince the beginning of

the world.

As to the other two authors, they feem to fay,

that money is in itfelf of no value, and of no maIf by tnoftey they mean gold
terial ufe to man.
and

the propofition

filver,

is

directly falfe

they are both of material

But what has led them

fecial life.

becaufe

ufe for the purpofe of

into this error

has been their abftrafting the idea, and taking

money

in the fingle light of a fign,

(idering

as

it

gold, while

it

Then no

ftandard.

continues in this form,

commodity.

other

For

it is

nail,

doubt, even
is

of no other

But how

ufe than as a fign of property.

this to the purpofe

without con-

little is

equally true of every

while

it

continues

of no other ufe but joining boards to-

nail, is

gether, or

fome

fimilar purpofe,

be lock nor key

and can

but a quantity of

neitlier

nails, or the

iron which they contain, can be eafily converted

into

either

while

the one or the other.

continues^ a guinea,

it

is

So

a guinea,

of no ufe whatever,

but as an inftrument of commerce; but the gold

^f

which

a guinea confifts, can eafily be converted

into a ring, or any thing

xeach.
priety,

This
its

is

what

is

ititrhific value.

which

called,

its

quantity will

with perfe6l pro-

BSAY ON MONEY.
2.

be

That which

this,

tion

becaufe

medium

commerce mull
to fay much upon

of

not be neceflary

It will

rare.

the

is

ZJ

has already received feme illuftra-

it

from what has gone before.

medium

be obferv'ed, that the

may however

It

of

commerce muft

within commercial-

not only be fo rare, as to bring

it

value in ordinary cafes, but

muft be much more

rare,

it

than moft other things, that

its

value

may be

and a fmall quantity of k may reprefent

increafed,

goods of confiderable variety and bulk.

If

gold

were only twenty times as plentiful as

they are at prefent, they would ftill have a proper
value, could be bought and fold, and applied to
and

filver

many ufeful

purpofes, but they

would be

quite unfit

for general circulation.

3.

The

medium muft he portable.

circulating

It

muft be capable of being carried to a diftance with

little trouble or expence, and of pafling from hand
to

hand with

the reafons

mention

why

alfo

by

This

and expedition.

eafe

muft be rare

it

bacaufe

itfelf,

but

it is

may be both

eeive of things that

is

one of

deferves

poflible to

con-

valuable and rare,

and yet incapable of being carried about, and pafting

from one to another. Some precious drugs, and

fome curiofities, may be fo rare as to have a high
value, and yet

may be

quite improper for circula-

tion.
4.
It

The medium

of

commerce muft be

divifible.

pught to be capable of divifion into very fmall

quantities.

This

the divifion of

is

neceflary in order to anfwer

many commodities, and

niency of perfons of different ranks.

the conve-

It is

of fuciv

knportance, that in the calculations of a complex

C2

ESSAY ON MONEY.

24
and

commerce, we

diverfified

find divifions

and

fra^ional purts even of the fmalleft coins or deno-

minations of money, that have ever yet been brought

into ufe.
5.

be

The medium

Laflly.

durable.

accounts

hand

ought to

It
firft,

to hand,

commerce ought to
have this quahty on two

that

and, fecondly that

perpetually paiTmg from

in

may

it

of

not be broken or wafted

if it is

preferved or laid up, as

may be fometimes neceiTary, and often agreeable

or profitable, it may not be liable to be fpeedily
corrupted or confumed.
Ail thefe particulars are not of equal

and they have an intimate

relation

moment,

one to another

them is fingly and feparately of importance, perhaps more than will be at firft view apyet each of

I think it is alfo plain that there is

prehended.
thing yet

known

fo fully united,

which

is

to
as

no-

mankind, in which they are

they are in gold and

the true reafon

why

all

filrer

thefe metals have been

applied as the inllrument of

commerce,

fince the

beginning of the world, or as far back as hiftory enables us to penetrate *.

It

has been suggested to

silver possess

me by

a friend, that gold

another quality different from

all

and

the above,

which, in an eminent degree, fits them for circulation as

The meaning of
a medium, viz* that they are equable.
tliese species,
of
each
metal
of
this expression is, that the
when pure, is of the same fineness and worth, and perfectly similar,

from whatever different mines, or from

it may have been procured ; which,

whatever distant parts

it

is

said,

is

not the case with any other metal.

is

af-

comes from one mine,

which comes from another, ever

firmed, that the copper or lead that

will be preferable to that

It

ESSAY ON MONEY.
it

win probably throw fome

theory,

we

if

upon the above

take a brief view of the matter, as

has taken place in hO:

it

from the beginning of the

may be done now

This

world.

light

2^

to the greater ad-

vantage, that the efFecls of particular caufes, and

the events that will take place in fociety in particular circumftances, have been fo fully afcertalned

by the experience of ages,

we

fcience, that

are

able

to

and the progrefs of

make a better ufe of

the few remains of ancient hiftory, than could have

been done by thofe

which

who

are recorded.

It

lived nearer to the events

appears then, that the dif-

Govery and ufe of metals was one of the

tainments of mankind.

pected

This might naturally be ex-

they were within reach at

if

their very great utility in all

indeed for

all

Therefore,

but

it

is

earlieft at-

all,

becauCe of

works of induftry, and

the purpofes of convenience and luxury.

fuppofe this fal will not be doubted

a truth neither fo obvious nor fo

much

known, that gold, filver, and brafs, or rather copper, were the moll ancient metals, and all of them
antecedent to 'iron *.
Thefe metals being applied
been refined to as high a degree as is
gold and silver completely refined are

after this last has

possible

but that

all

come from Asia, Africa, on

do not pretend to a certain knowledge of this;

perfectly alike, whether they

America.
but if

it

be true,

it is

well worthy of being mentioned in.

this disquisition.

* See upon this

subject President Goguet's Rise

Progress of Laws, Arts and Sciences.

He

sufficiently proved the fact, but also assigned the

probable reason for

it,

and

has not only

that these metals were found in

most

many

places of the earth almost pure, so as to need very little

art in refining

whereas extracting iron frpm the ore

C3

is.

26
to

ESSAY ON MONEy.
the purpofes of

all

came of courfe

life,

to confti-

tute a great part of the wealth of the people of ancient times.

have mentioned brafs, becaufe

one of the metals

earlieft

made
Its

ufe of for

being

now

in a great

meafm'e

ancient nations.

left

out for no other reafon than

is

many

its

an

illuf-

faid.

It

having

loft

That it
money amongft the Hebrews

qualities, vix.

ufe of for

appears from

out

what has been already

one of the necelTary

was made

the beginning

in

money by many

tration and proof of

is left

known, and upon the very

down, was

principles above laid

was

it

rarity.

We

circumftances.

read of

gold, filver, and brafs, brought as contributions to

the tabernacle fervice in the time of Mofes, and to

the building of the temple in David's.

That

brafs

money in the early times of the

Greeks and Romans, appears both from the afler-

was made

ufe of as

tions of hiftorians, and

both nations, for there

money

in general *.

from the very languages of

it

made

is

That

it

neither so easy nor so obvious.

ufe of to fignify

ceafed to ferve that

We

learn

from Homer,

that in the wars of Troy, the weapons of war, offensive

and defensive, were of copper ; and some historians tell us

that they had a method of tempering or hardening it so as
to make it tolerably fit for the purpose, though certainly
not equal to iron or
'^'

but

Roman

In the

money

derived

steel.

language, as signifies not only brass,

in general,

as,

and from

are vmtare, to

buy or

sell

be

^vithout

many
;

other words are

as alieftum, debt

money, &c.

tongue, cholkos signifies brass,

came

it

aroriiwi, tlie treasury

So in the Greek
achalkos and achalkein, to

money, or poor. Wlien the other metals

money, the words received the same

to be in use as

ESSAY ON MONEY.

27

purpofe afterwards cannot be accounted for in any

other way than as above, efpecially as the neglel
of

it

has been juft as univerfal as the ufe of

it

was

formerly.

We

are alfo fully fupported

ing, that

thefe metals

all

were

by hiftory

in affirm-

at firft eftimated

and

commerce by weight. We fee that Abraham gave to Ephron for the cave of Machpelah,
four hundred ihekels of filver *. The Greek money
pafled in

was of

nifFerent weights

which was the

talent,

word Pondo was,

as

it

from the lower

largeft.

The

forts to

old

the

Roman

were, the ftandard, and the

tions.

conftituted their different denominaFrom this we feem to have derived the

Englifh

word pound.

divifions of

came

it

Very

pieces
to have either coins, or at lead fmall

Abimelech gave

reckoned by number.

one

brother,

Sarah's

as

thoufand

Jofeph was fold for twenty

his brother

the

foon, however, they

word

kefeph^

and he gave to

Benjamin three hundred

kejeph

been reckoned by

filver,

fignifies
tale,

Abraham,
and
kefeph ;

to

kefeph.

As

they muft have

and are probably very juftly

in the language, as, Argenti sztisattri sacra

fames, the desire of money. Things proceeded in a way

meaning

perfectly similar in the three ancient nations of

whom we

have the distinctest accounts, the Hebrews, Greeks and

Romans. Nahus keseph zahaiv, in Hebrew ; ckalkos arguYGS and chrusos in Greek ; and ces argentum and aurum, in
Latin, are
* See

the

all

Gen.

money

used for
xxiii. 16.

in general.

And Abraham weighed

to

Ephron,

that he had said, in the presence of the sons of

Heth, 400 shekels of

chant.

money

silver,

current

money with

the mer-

ESSAY ON MONEr.

28

f Agreeably to all this, the timewhen the Romans began to coin brafs, and fome
hundred years afterwards, filver and gold is dift?anflated pieces,

tintly

mentioned by the hiflorians

may

It

be proper to obferve here, that feveral

antiquaries have mentioned that

tions

made

iron,

and even

money.

*.

fome barbarous na-

ufe of bafer metals, fuch as lead, tin,

This

and bark of

leather, fhells,
is

trees for

no way contrary to the above

theory, for fome nations might indeed ufe lead, iron,,

and

tin,

as things

of value, upon the fame princi-

ples as others ufed gold, filver,

and indeed

it is faid,

it is

and

brafs.

think

more than probable,

that,

the nails given by our voyagers to the inhabitants of

the South-fea iflands, pafled from hand to hand as

inftruments of commerce.
I fufpeft

fome part of

As

to leather, fhells, ^r..

this is fabulous

take place in any meafure,

it

but

if it

has been a rude

did

efiay,,

ufing the fign feparately from the ftandard,

and

could not be of any great extent or long duration.

We

know

indeed of one nation, after fociety had>

made

been

far advanced,

when

very plentiful, for money, viz. the Lacede-

monians.
*

But

this

that

was not

ufe of iron, even

at all

from rudenefs or

We have the express testimony of Pliny upon this sub-

" Servius rex primus signavit

33. cap. 3.
Antea rudi usos Romae Timaus tradit.
Signatum
nota pecudum unde et pecunia. appellanta. Servius

ject, lib.

aes.

est
first

Timaus says, they used it formerly rough or

uncoined at Rome. It was marked with the figure of cattle, whence also it was called pcainia."
The same author tells us, that silver began to be coined at Rome in the

coined brass.

485th year of the city, and gold 7^ years

after.

ISSAY ON MONEY.
ignorance
^

inftitutions,

29

was one of Lycurgus's extraordinary

intended by it (and did not con-

It

who

ceal his intention) to banifh riches, or real and pro-

per money, from the

He

ftate.

indeed baniftied in-

duftry at the fame time, for none of his citizens

were allowed even

be hufbandmen, or to

to

This was

vate their lands.

the flaves.

left to

not find, therefore, that there

is

culti-

any thing

deferving credit, that militates againft

do

in hiftory

tlie

theory

laid down.
Having thus laid down the theory of money, and

above

fupported

it

by hiftory and experience,

proceed to

draw a few inferences from it, and apply them to

fome opinions which have taken place, and fome
meafures which have been adopted or propofed with
refpeO; to currency and

commerce

in this country.

In ihejirjl place, the above theory will enable every

intelligent perfon to fix
is

This phrafe

we meet with

mind

meaning of a

or ought to be the

dium.

in his

in

is

precifely

what

circulating

me-

every body's mouth, and

continually in the eflays publifhed in

it

the newfpapers, and the fpeeches of fenators in

We

public aflemblies.
verfial divines

faid

is

Not long
it

fay of this as contro-

ufed to fay long ago, that a mifcon-

ception f this
ror.

may

the proton pfeudcSy the radical er-

fince a writer in

was agreed on

all

one of the papers

hands that there

is

at pre-

medium. To this I
not agreed upon on any hand,

fent a fcarcity of a circulating

anfwer, that

it

is

but among thole

who

meaning of the

expreffion.

dium

is

are

wholly ignorant of the

not yours nor mine

The
;

it is

circulating

me-

not the riches of

Holland, nor the poverty of Sweden,

It is that in-

ESSAY ON MONEY,

30

definite quantity of the precious metals that

among
Whether any

particular perfon, city, or nation, is

more or

rich or poor, has

medium

that

his property

been Oiewn that

one

rarity is

it,

Every one will receive

by

entitled to

comparatively of

lefs

nothing to the purpofe.

of the circulating
is

made

the nations conne6led in commerce.

ufe of

is

is

quantity which he

or induftry.

has

It

of the qualities of a

medium. If it were more rare than it

is, a lefs quantity would be fufficient to reprefent a
dated meafure of property. If it were more plenticirculating

ful

than

a greater quantity

it is,

would be neceflary

but the comparative riches or poverty of nations or

perfons would be altogether the fame.

any body ignorant that half a century ago in

Is

man might have bought

this country, a

wheat

for

one quarter of a

he muft pay

whole

dollar then as

tvhole dollar
rich
I

good

now

is

who had

it

muft further

dium, becaufe

dollar, for

Was

dollar.

it

it

which now

not the quarter

medium
And was not the man

a circulating

in his pocket?

fay,

a bufhel of

was a

was of

as the
jufl:

Undoubtedly.

Nay,

better circulating me.-

lefs fize

Has

and weight.

not the quantity of the precious jnetals increafed

greatly fmce the difcovery of the mines of

America

Is

not the quantity

any confiderable purchafe

fome

now

fo great as to

in the tranfportation

The

South

necelTary for

be burden-

price of a

good

horfe in filver would at prefent be a great incum-

brance on a long journey.

How

eafy

were

point out places and countries in which there

greater quantity of the circulating

where

elfe,

and yet

at

the

medium

to-

it

is

than any

fame time greater na>

ESSAY ON MONtY.
fcional

3I

and perfonal poverty, and probably for

What would

very reafon.

in the mines of Peru,

if

this

fignify to a labourer

it

he (hould get half

a johan-*

nes, or even two, for a day's work, if at the

fame

time he could hardly purchafe with both as

much

body and foul together ? Are

? Are they not known to be

provifion as to keep

not thefe things true

fo

What

then mufl

we

fay of the extreme igno-

rance and inattention, to fay no worfe, of thofe perfons

who

are continually

want of

medium

filver a circulating

Are

when

there

without

us that there

is

Are not gold and

medium, whofe currency is uni-

circulating

verfal

telling
?

thefe then too fcarce for that purpofe,

is

filver

hardly a negro flave, male or female

buckles in their (hoes, and

many of

them with rings and other ornaments of gold,

which five hundred years ago would have denoted a
prince or princefs

on
to

Perhaps

have

infifted longer

than was neceflary, but' I have been induced

this
it

by the frequent complaints upon

this fubjel:,

and the abfurd application of the phrafe, a circulat-

More

ing medium.

ed with

In the

difcourfe.

ing to

my

flare in

reader,

which we

want property,
circulating
2.

From

qualities,
it

medium

the fubfequent parts of

mean time
you and

live

I will clofe,

may

may be

an

we may

not.

down

one of

as

intrinfic, that is to fay, a

muft be not only a

by fay-

and^credit, but a

the principles above laid

money having

my

be poor men, the

a poor ftate,

rents, refources,

medium we want

appear, that

value,

reflelions will occur, connedb-

this fubje61:, in

fign

of -commerce, but aUo

it

will

its eflential

commercial

and ftandard, or a
itfclf a

commodity

ESSAY ON MONEY.

32

There

or a fubjet of commerce.

money

tions refpe(^ing

which
it

fmgly in

confidered

it is

me

unnecefTary for

is

where

tranfac-

nation;

alienation,

in

Thefe

this view.

enumerate, but even

to

me-

applied directly or principally as a

it is

dium of

many

trading

in

are

value as a ftandard doth and

its

muft always follow and accommodate itfelf to its

Hence it follows neceflarily
value as a commodity.
that

money muft be

fubje^t to every rule that other

commodities are fubjet to

One

of the chief of thefe

is,

that

it

muft

price according to the quantity that

fall in

This

is

felling.

and

rife

brought

compared with the demand there

to market,
it.

buying and

in

is

for

an unavoidable confequence, and as

is

neceffary in the cafe of

money

commodity whatever.

If

inoney than before

is

as

in that of

greater

quantity of

brought into any country,

even though brought by the

faireft

and moft ho-

nourable means, viz, increafing induftry

fitable trade,

it

any

r.nd

pro-

have the effel of raifmg the

will

price of other commodities in general, and of in-

which

duftry,

the fource of

is

But we muft
in a wrong light.

obferve, that

by

own

its

plenty

more

it

would be

fo,

We

commodities.

are apt to view this

rife

of prices, of

commodi-

all

at leaft as proper, or rather

to fay, that

goods had

all

One commodity may rife or fall

or fcarcenefs
but when there is

a great and general

ties,

men

money had

fallen,

much

than that

rifen.

had

fo large experience of this during the

war, -by the excelFive emiflions of paper money,

that

it

needs hardly any

illuftration.

It

is

true,

fome perfons did then, and do now fuppofe, that

ESSAY ON MONEY.
the depreciation of the

money was owing

much

as

inhabitants, and

fome

difafFedion of

to the

33

the

counterfeiting, and other artful endeavours of our

enemies to deftroy

But

in this they

fufpicion of the
ferent eiFe<ls

do not

fell

very dif-

from a gradual and continual

a fufpicious piece of

my

of

This was indeed the cafe with

Befides

it

plain, that the

is

was moft doubtful, and

its

rife of-

money,

goods, but refufe to

doubted the money of Congrefs

v/ar.

Jealoufy or

money would have had

raife the price

them.

who

as to the increafed quantity.

were quite miftaken.

meet with

If I

prices.

it,

in

all

thofe

time of the

American caufe

enemies moft numerous

1776 and 1777, and yet the currency

of the money was then very general, and its deprein the years

ciation flow

when
otlier

in

whereas in the three following years,

confequence of the French treaty and

European

and confidence of the

alliances,

public in the caufe was increafed, the depreciation

was
here

accelerated in an amazing degree.

make

muft

alfo

remark upon another opinion often ex-

prelled during the war, that the depreciation

mufl

have been owing to other caufes than the quantity,

becaufe

it

was greater than

wJiat they called

the

natural depreciation, in confequence of the quan-

By this they meant, that it was not regular j

but when the quantity had arifen, fuppcfe to five
tity.

was

for one, the depreciation

twenty
Thefe perfons did not underftand the depreciation of a commodity in confequence of its
as fifteen or

for one.

quantity, for

it

is

not regular and equable,

Jis

in

arithmetical progrefiion, but rapid and increafing,

fo as foon to get

Vol. IX.

beyond
'

all

computation.

If there

ESSAY ON MONEY.

34

more of dny

is in any country but one tenth part

commodity than there

will probably fall

is

any demand

more than one

half

for, the price

;

and

double or treble the quantity needed,

is

what merchants
all,

but

if it

if

there

will be

it

a drug, that cannot be fold at

call

be a perifhable commodity, muft fmk in

the hand of the poflelTor.

I

have faid above, that the increafe of money,

even though in confequenee of national profperity,

that

and profitable trade,

to fay, internal induftry

is

will yet neceflarily have the effe6l of raifing

price of

induftry,

muft evidently be

--over,

attended with
it is

and

thrown

when

in a far higher degree,

much more
found

in capacious mines, or

by the authority of

ilTued

pernicious efFe6ts,

and without end.

and

when

into <:irculation without induftry

filver is

the

how-

This,

fruits.

its

paper

as
is

a ftate, without ntieafure

that

I verily believe,

if as

many

millions of filver dollars had fallen from heaven and

been thrown into circulation

by the United

iftued

Jiave
it

been

as there

as great or greater than

would have been

have been, that

were paper ones

States, the

fo at firft, the

filver

would

diforder

At leaft
difference would

it

was.

being current over

all,

it

would have foon gone abroad and found its level,

fo that the alteration would have been ultimately
not in the United States, but in the general circuThofe, howlating medium over the whole earth.
ever,

among whom

ceived

it

without

it

Among them

it.

lazinefs

and luxury.
it

firft

induftry,

moft by
"drained

was

it

found, and

would have

who

re-

fulxered

would have produced

Other nations would have

from them only by fuperior

induftry.

ESSAY ON MO'NEY.

The

of the Spanlfli monarchy at prefent ought

flate

and indeed

to be,

35

leflbn to the

meafure has been, a

a great

in

At

whole world.

when they

the time

got pofleffion of South- America they were the moft

powerful and wealthy

any man

"Would

Europe.

in

ftate

time have been reckoned found in

at that

judgment who would have affirmed,

his

would have grown

fiiver mines } Yet

that they

poor, by the means of the gold

and

there

is

fiiver

would

without working

had of

it,

who were
3. The
what

is

and

fo,

now

hardly any politician fo fhallow but he can.

aflign the reafon of

and

has happened

it

that gold

once procure them every thing,

at
;

They thought

it.

but forgot that the more they

much

they mufl pay fo

willing to

work

more

the

to thofe

for them.

above principles will clearly {hew, that

commonly

called paper

money,

bearing that the perfon holding them

fum fpecined
money at all.

receive a certain

perly fpeaking,

that

It

is

entitled to

is

them,

in

is, bills

is

not, pro-

barely

a fign

without being a pledge or ftandard of value, and

therefore

is

univerfal

commerce,

defective as a

elTeutially

the different kinds of

and proper ufes

will

medium

of

afterwards fpeak of

and point out their real

it,

but in the mean time

obferve,

arm fuch bills with the authority of the

and make them a legal tender in all payments,

that to
ftate,
is

an abfurdity fo great, that

with propriety upon

offence
for

if I

not eafy to fpeak

Perhaps

it.

fnould fay,

American

it is

it

legiflatures

is

it

would give

an abfurdity referved

no fuch thing having

*,

ever been attempted in the old countries.

It

has

been found, by the experience of ages, that money

ESSAY ON MONEY.

36
muft have

a ftandard of value,

if

any prince or

debafe the metal below the ftandard,

ftate

make
make

utterly impofliblc to

can

and

be poihble to

it

no value

at all ?

In

all

it

It

How

fucceed.

that fucceed,

is

then

which has

may be

fuch Inftances, there

great injuries done to particular perfons by wiping

off debts
is

its

oblige

men

is

there

Why

very face.

dity in

general currency

The meafure

wholly impoffible.

Are

money

but to give fuch

carries abfur-

you make

will

money when it is
any who refufe it when it
to take

a law to

offered
is

good

them
If

?
it

neceffary to force them, does not this demonftrate

that

it

is

not good

We

have feen indeed this

fyftem produce a moft ludicrous inverfion of the

For two or three years

nature of things.
ftantly

faw and were informed of

creditors

we

con-

running

away from their debtors, and the debtors purfuing them in triumph, and paying them without
mercy.

Let us examine

Money
Money

is

medium

the

Is

itfelf

tranfatlion in

bargain, or as

it

is

concerned, by being

is

well called in

To

common

lan-

give, therefore, autliorlty

or nominal value by law to any

in

Therefore every

ftridly and properly fpeaking,

guage, an agreement.

fmg by law,

fully.

of commercial tranfa6lions.

which money
is

more

little

commodity.

given or promifed,
a

matter a

this

commerce, and

money,

is

is

Interpo-

precilely the

fame

thing with laws regulating the prices of commodities,

of which, in their

full extent,

perience during the war.

more

radically unjuft,

or

than laws of that nature.

we had

Now

fufficient ex-

nothing can be

more eminently abfurd,

Among

all civilians,

the

ESSAY ON MONEY.

yj

commerce are ranged under the head

Without entering into the nicer
of contral:s.
diflin^tions of writers upon this fubje6t, it is fufficient for me to fay, that commerce, or buying and
franfatIons of

felling, is

found upon that fpecies of contracts that

They

moft formal and complete.

proper and juft value
promifed, on both

who
it

to have the

what he

That

fides.

it

is

to fay, the perfon

does

fale,

and he thinks

to fpare,

with

parts

would be

it

Well!
a

fair

and

buys, in like

is it

on both

open

as

in

many

and

commerce

it

but

it

elfe,
is

founded

tell

who

he pleafes written

as

me whether

be free and mutual.

be fomething

is

Let then any perfon

many books

fubjedl,

always fuppofed or

he does not

effential conditions

of a lawful contrail, and indeed the

that

tranfac-

fides.

ao-reed that all

?

is

always find there that one of the

force,

him to rethe money.

better for

juft value

complete contrat):

upon the

is,

him

but thefe do not affect the argument in the

profeffed to be given

will,

better for

the commodity, than to retain

leaft.

on

becaufe he has

who

and he

There may be miftakes or fraud

tions

it

would be

money, or fome other commodity, than

manner, thinks
ceive

where the

fuppofed to be given or

is

any thing to

offers

are called in the

Onerous contraBs^

language,

technical

is

firft

V/ithout

of

this

it

them

may

and have fome other binding

not a contrail.

To make

laws

therefore, regulating the prices of commodities, or

giving nominal value to that which had no value

before the law was made,

the tranfacStion altogether.

is

altering the nature of

Perhaps

comparlfou

of this with other tranfaclions of a different kind

D3

ESSAY ON MONEY.

Suppofe

-might fet this matter in a clear light.

man were

to fay to

fubjet as follows

on

a tax,

and

public and

me

telling

common

muft pay

You may

much

fo

expences of the

ftand this very well.

authority.

ftate, I

to the

under-

under the head of

It falls

on an improper or injuoperate unequally, or not be

lay

dicious tax that will

produdive of what you expet \ but ftill this

within your line, and if I have any complaint,
can only wifh that

war may give a

and waggons to
an army.

this

me

falls

that

it

call the rights

of this

that

fect but that

no

civil

fome

of

alfo

common

know,

v/e

get

my

horfes

The meaning

necejfity.

conflitution can be fo per-

which the

cafes will occur, in

utility

and

writers

under the head of

property of individuals muft give

of

tranfport provifions or baggage for

what they

call

we may

and take

prefs- warrant,

undcviland

tell

is,

next election

at the

is

Again, a Juftice of Peace in time of

wifer men.

reafoners

one of our lawgivers upon this

When you make a law, laying

way

to the urgent

Thus

or general danger.

that in cities, in cafe of a

a houfe, without the confent of

its

fometimes

fire,

owner, will be

deftroyed to prevent the whole from being confum-

But

ed.
to

fell

if

my

you make a law that

grain,

certain price,

my

cattle, or

any commodity,

you not only do what

impolitic, but with' all refpe6t be

nonfenfe

*,

for I

them: from me.

and
I

am

do not yt7/ them

You

be obliged

I fliall

it

at a

is

unjuft and

faid,

you fpeak

at all

you take

aie both buyer and

feller,

the fuiTerer only.

cannot help obferving that laws of

have an inherent we^iknefs

in

them

this

kind

they are not

ESSAY ON MONEY.

^9

only unjuft and unwife, but for the

They

practicable.
rity to that

extend

we

it

which

beyond

are an attempt to apply autho-

not

is

its

proper objeCl, and to

natural bounds

its

be fure to

fhall

part Im-

rr.ofl

in

both which

The production

fail.

com-

of

modities muft be the effeCl of induftry, inclination,

The

hope, and interefl.

of thefe

firft

very im-

is

perfeClIy reached by authority, and the other three

cannot be reached by

it

at

Perhaps

all.

ought

rather to have faid, that they cannot be direfted by

it,

but they

may be

greatly counteraci:ed

as peo-

ple have naturally a ftrong difpofition to refift force,

and

to

efcape from

found in
ever

this country,

tried

duced an

and every other fociety

meafures found,

fuch

dire61:ly

efFeCl:

Accordingly

conftraint.

pected from them.

we
who

that they pro-

contrary to what was ex-

Inftead of producing modera-

tion and plenty, they uniformly produced dearnefs

and

fcarcity.

fome of our

It

is

worth while

legillatures

faw

to obferve, that

fo far into thefe matters

as to perceive, that they could not regulate the price

of commodities, without regulating the price of the

Therefore they re-

induftry that produced them.

This however,

gulated the price of day-labourers.

though but one fpecies of induftry, was found

be wholly out of their power.

to

There were fome inftances mentioned at the

time when thefe meafures were in vogue, which
fuperficial reafoners fuppofed to be

gulating laws attended with good

examples of reeffects.

Thefe

were, the regulation of thp prices of chairs, hackney-

coaches, and ticket porters in

and fome others.

But

this

cities,

was

public ferries,

quite miftaking the

ESSAT ON MONEY.

40

nature of the thing.

Thefe inftances have not the

leaft

connection with laws regulating prices in volun-

tary

commerce.

In

all

thefe cafes the perfons

who

are employed folicit the privilege, obtain a licence,

and come under voluntary engagements

higher prices

fo

that there

is

to afk

no

complete a free

as

contract as in buying and felling in open fliops.

am

fo fully

convinced of the truth and juftice of the

above principles, that

think,

were

proper

it

at this

time, I could fhew, that even in the moft enli^h-^

tened nations of Europe, there are

which work

fubfifting

are

They

laws

are

now

againfl:

fome laws

in diret oppofition to the in-

tention of their makers.

the

flill

Of

this

kind in general

and

foreftalling

regrating.

indeed moft of them alleep, and

what the lawyers

call

in defuetude

but fo far as

they are executed, they have the moft powerful

tendency to prevent, inftead of promoting,

reafonable markets.
(kill

in that branch, a

in time of the
It

war

ordained that in

and

own

As an example

of our

law was paft

Pennfylvanb

precifely

all

full

in

upon

imported

that

principle.

articles there fliould

be but one ftep between the importer and confumcr,

and therefore that none but thofe who bought from

the {hip ftiould be allowed to

fell

again.

I cite this

by memory, but am certain that fuch was the

The makers of it confidered that
fpirit of the 1 iw.
every hand through which a commodity pafled muft
have a profit upon it, which would therefore greatinftance

ly

augment the

coft to the

confumer

at

But

Lift.

could any thing in the world be more abfurd

How

could a family at one hundred miles diftance from

the feaport be fupplied with what they wanted

In

ESSAY ON MONET.
oppofition to this principle

no carnage

fafely affirmed,

is

intereft in

ari

that

equal
fo cheap, nor any diilribution fo

or fo plentiful, as that

may be

more merchants the cheaper goods, and

that the

have

it

4*

have gone into

it,

which

is

made by

and expea a

thofe

from

profit

who
it.

this detail in order to iliev/ that

tender laws, arming paper, or any thing not valuable in itfelf with authority, are direaiy contrary to
the very

principles

firil

more

certainly the

This was

of commerce.

necellary, becaufe

advocates for fuch laws, and

many

many

of the

of thofe

are inftrumental in enaling them, do

ignorance, without any bad intention.

it

who

from pure

It

may

pro-

bably have feme efFea in opening their eyes to ob-any

ferve, that no paper whatever is a tender in

Even the notes of the bank of

England, which are as good as gold, and thofe of
the bank of Holland, which are confiderably better *,
nation in Europe.

are not

armed with any fuch

fanftion, and are not

a legal tender in the proper fenfe of

That

is

to fay,

though

fuppofe both of them, or

any other paper circulating

* Perhaps

it

may

that word.

in full credit,

may be

be proper to inform seme readers

It refers to the agio of the

^vhat this expression refers to.

bank of Holland. A bill of that bank generallj^ goes for a

little more in paj-ment with any dealer than the sum it
specifies, and this advance or difference is called the agio
of the Bank, and rises or falls like the rate of exchange.
This probably arises from its perfect security, and the
verj' gTeat advantage in point of ease and expedition, in
transferring, reckoning, and concealing of paper above
gold and silver. It gives occasion to the vulgar saying m
i

that country,

comes

out.

That money

goes into the bank but never

42

ESSAY ON MONEY.

tender in equity, fo far as that the perfon offering

them without fufpicion of their being refufed, could

not be condemned in any penahy or foifeitmei yet
if

who was

the perfon

fay, I

am

vWould

lie

money fhould

to receive the

going abroad,

want gold or

filver

it

upon the debtor and not the creditor to

go and get them exchanged. We may perhaps

even fay more,

viz.

that the coinage of gold

any country

filver in

not fo much,

is

oblige perfons to receive

it

and

ail

to

at a certain value, as

to

if

at

them that it is of the value ftampt upon

Without this, ignorant perfons would be con-

afcertain
it.

tinually at a lofs to

know

the finenefs and the weight

of a piece offered to them.

the

two following remarks,

This will appear from

by any accident

(i.) If

in the coinage, or fraud in the officers of the mint,

fome of the pieces had not the

were not of

were ever
I

genuine,

fo

though the flamp

finenefs,

fufficient
if

J could

difcover the defe61:,

fhould be juftified in refufing

fometimes a fluctuation
gold and
a debtor,

by

and

filver,

in the

it.

(2.)

There

lias

though no doubt

crept in be relifiei

authority, has a right to pay in any lawful

were

felling goods,

yet

if I

its

value, I might fafely

what coin
yard of
lings,

are

you

this filk

but

if

to

me

me

the

to
?

for twenty-one

you give

in

you a

fterling filver fhil-

a guinea I

of this ferves to fliew that nothing

is

cuaomer,

will give

ther fhilling before I will part with

ney, which

money,

gold had fallen in

oiv-l

lay

pay

is

comparative value of

in thefe cafes,

the error that

till

quantity, or

full

mufl have anoit.

fliort

The whole
of real mo-

of ftandard value, ought to be cnfor*^

ced by law in a well regulated fociety.

ESSAY ON MONEY.
4.

The

down

principles above laid

to perceive clearly

what

medium

culating as a

As

dard.

It is

to

of commerce, what

nature,

its

its

properly an obligation, or to ufe a

it is

mo-

a promifTory note.

not money, as has been fhewn above, but

ney either on demand or

real

dangers and de-

promife of fome perfon or body of

at

is its

a fign but not a ftan-

is

it

dern commercial phrafe,

is

will enable us

the nature of paper cir-

is

and proper ufe, and what are

fers.

43

at

men

to

It

it is

pay mo-

particular time, or

fome general undefined future time.

Obligations

of this nature are of more forts than one.

Some-

times they are given by particular perfons, or trading

who

companies)

are confidered as perfons

and

fre-

quently in America they have been given by the

In the general definition I

legiflature of the ftate.

have included

all

kinds of negotiable paper, but

it

upon more than two

will not be neceflary to
of them, viz. the notes of banking companies, and
infill

ftate emiflTions.

to pafs

Bills

of exchange are not fuppofed

through many hands, but to proceed as

may be

fpeedily as

Government

fecurities are only

otlier property,

obJigatiors,

of their payment.

to the place

and

may be

are willing to receive

bought and

fold like

any bonds or other private

fo

transferred as

them

often as people

but the notes of bank-

ing companies, and the flate emiilions of this country are intended to be, properly

lating

medium.

They

fpeaking, a circu-

are of various regular deno-

minations, and intended to anfwer

of

money

in the fmaller

all

the purpofes

tranfations of fociety as

well as the larger, and even go to market for purchafing the necelTaries of

life.

ESSAY ON MO>mY.

44

As

obligations

to value, fuch

pend upon the

muft plainly de-

credit of the fubfcriber or obliger,

and the opinion or expedation of the receiver.

to

Thefe are mutually ncceffary

Let the refources or

merce.

ber be what they may,

it

is

their ufe in

vi^ealth

com-

of the fubfcri-

the public opinion that

muft ultimately give them currency. This opinion,

?K>wever, may be in fome inftances better, and in
fome vrorfe founded. That paper which may with
moft certainty and expedition be converted into
gold and filver, feems evidently to have the advanTherefore the notes of bank-

tage on this account.

ing companies, while they maintain theit credit,

and continue to pay on demand, appear to be the

They feem alfo to
beft calculated for general ufe.

have another advantage, that private perfons and

com.panies are upon a footing with the holder of the
can a^reft them, and bring them to account and have juftice done upon them j whereas
he cannot call the legiflature to account, but muft

He

bills.

wholly depend upon their fidelity as well as refourYet it muft be owned there have not been
ces.

wanting inftances formerly in this country, in which

paper emiffions by the ftates have obtained full
confidence, and met with no impediment in circulation.

Let us

now

confider

what

paper currency, or whether

Many

all.
it

and

We

the proper ufe of

be of any real ufe at

perfons in Europe have declared againft

altogether as pernicious.

flate this
of,

it

is

matter with

all

will

the clearncfs

to give the reafons for

what

endeavour to
I

am

I fhall

capable

advance.

have feen above, that nothing can be more ab-

ESSAY ON MONEY.

45

furd than to fay that m'G

now want

medium, and

is

pofe.

that paper

a circulating

neceflary for that pur-

medium we have

circulating

in too fmall, but in too great quantity

who

perfon

underftands the fubjel

that gold and filver,

]eaft

one of the

efpecially the

already, not

fo that

may

laft,

any

perceive
lofing at

is

qualities neceflary for that purpofe,

and becoming too bulky and heavy for eafy and

Brafs, as has been iliewn

convenient tranfportation.

above, was once as juft and proper a

commerce

and

as gold

filver

cheap,

of

has

all

now.

are

the qualities necefl^ary for that purpofe

rarity

medium
It
ftill,

except

it were not too plentiful and too

would be money to this day. It is pro-

fo that if
it

bable that this circumflance of the abundance and

weight of the precious metals

many

is

what gives to

fuch an inclination for paper money.

will appear flrange to fome, yet I believe

bottom

The

juft.

cry with

many

is,

They

gold and

miftake their

filver.

own

this

Is

and

filver

is

at

is

juft

fuch a
?

No.

poverty, or the nation^s

poverty, for a fcarcity of gold and filver

in faft, gold

it

we muft have

paper for a circulating medium, as there

fcarcity of

This

ufed as a circulating

whereas

medium

are fo cheap, and the quantity of a moderate

fum is
fuch an incumbrance that we want paper, which
can be much more eafily carried, and much more
efFe6tually concealed.
So that, contrary to the
vulgar idea,

we

are obliged

to

have recourfe to

paper in feveral cafes, not for want of gold and

filver, but their too great abundance.

This

many

will appear

peifons.

Vol. IX.

to be a

What, they

very uncouth idea to

will

fay,

too great

4^

ESSAY ON MONEY.

abundance of gold and filver when I go about

from day to day, and cannot collect what is due to
!

me

when my

cannot

fatisfy

them.

perfons

There

"What

every where.

muft

tell

Ihall

them

ty, or the nation's poverty,

and

lilver,

gold and

and

if

is

be faid to

fatisfy thefe

their pover-

is

and not a want of gold and

would be

Solomon's time the

;

there

is,

their poverty

juft the fame.

fons read the fcriptures they

filver

may

was

If thefe per-

there learn, that in

as plentiful as Jloncs

probably they will think that

people in Jerufalem

at that

as a necelTary confequence, that

thing accounted of in the days of

paper

If

is

medium, what

not

ufeful for

was

luas

tio-

Solo7?Jon.

arife

from

the ufes of paper fubftltuted for

It is

//

it

then needed as a circulating

benefits

fummed up under

the

all

time muft have lived

like princes, but they muft be told, that

added

much

there were an hundred times as

difficulties

money

a fcarcity of

plainly, It

filver in circulation as

in jerufalem

upon me and

creditors are calHng

it ?

anfwer,

money may be

two following heads

facilitating commerce.
(2.)
the

(i.)
It

is

ufeful for anticipating property or extending credit.

(i.)

it

is

ufeful for facilitating

commerce.

Nor-

thing can be more advantageous for that pupofe than

bills

of exchange, which, without the adual tran-

fportation of

money

or goods, can transfer property

even to the moft diftant places with the moft perThere have been many perfons who
fetl facility.
have doubted whether any other fort of paper
currency is not upon the whole hurtful, but the
benefit of this

is

beyond

all

queftion.

We

fliall

afterwards compare the advantages and difadvan-

ESSAY ON MONEY.

money

tages of paper

but

4\f

prefent let us leave

at

out the confideration of the evil that

is

nianifeft

there

that

great

fo

is

it

does, and

it

and

a facility

the tranfportation of paper above that of

fafety in

gold and

that

illver,

it

muft greatly expedite

mercantile tranfaclions, internal and external.

all

Sup-

pofe one hundred thoufand pounds were to be tranfported hut three hundred miles,
carried

be

in

would be

cealed, there

robbers to
that this

fliare in

good

poiTeffing

as

could not be con-

it

be carefully obferved,

it

of paper

thrown into

not from the addi-

is

Nor muft

it

from
gold and

circulation, but

fome advantages fuperior

provided that the credit of

filver,

be forgotten, that

it is

it

to

fupported.

is

in great

and ex-

tenfive negociations only that this advantage

by paper

feffed

man and man

intercourfe between

on every hour,
on the contrary,

in fmaller bargains,

for

it

that

liable to

wear and

therefore the fmaller coins are in

all

is

pof-

and that
is

no advantage

poffeffes

it is

it

a very great rifk of inviting

Let

it.

eflol:

tional quantity
its

be

to

what an immenfe load would

fiiver,

But befides the weight,

were

if it

carried
at all;

M'afle,

and

refpels to

be

perferred.
(2.)

Another ufe of paper

In

commerce

is

to ex-

Though in very large tranfaclions the

advantage of paper may be great, as it facilitate?
commerce yet when we confider paper as 'xenetend credit.

rally
filver,

circulating,
it

is

and doing the

office of

by the extenfion of
it

neceflary for

me, and perhaps not

mention

the

all

credit

can be of any advantage.

chiefly, that

ways

in

which

in

my

credit

gold and
only,

or

It is

un-

power, ta

mav be

iia-

48

ON MONEY.

F.SSAY

Some

creafed or faclllated by paper.

be mentioned afterwards

to (hew, that giving credit is

^nd indeed

my

in

opinion,

tage, to be derived

There

kind.

damped

are

bufmefs

it is

the principle advan-

many

people whofe induftry

aflifted,

in

thefe

fignal fervice to themfelves,

munity of which they

generally faid, and
ilitution of the

are

is

who

or limited by vi'ant of ftock or credit,

might do

is

one of the advantages,

from paper circulation of any

they were properly

if

my

at prefent

will probably

refpe6:s

and the com-

members.

It

has been

believe with truth, that the in-

banks in Scotland has improved the

country in the courfe of

little

century, to a degree that

is

alfo probable, that the

more than

half a

hardly credible.

It is

manufactures and commerce

of England have been greatly promoted by the eafy

methods of obtaining credit from the

iind regular

public and private banks.

am

fenfible that fom.e

very intelligent perfons in Britain have condemned,

tlie

paper circulation even there, and affitmed, that

does more harm than good.

it

for

me

to enter

of that queflion.
is,

that if

good

not neceflary

arguments -on either

All that I

am

concerned to prove

does good upon the whole, or whatever

the occafion of extending

think can hardly be denied. *

is

it

That

and

this I

m:iy state the matter with fairness and fulness,

J will just observe, that the enemies of paper say, the

provement
sed by

fide

does in any degree, arifes from the credit

it

which

it

into the

It is

them

Vv'as

in

im-

only coeval with the banks, but not cauThe banks

whole, nor in any great degree.

happened to be

nearly' coeval

with

union of Enrrhnd and Scotland

tlie

revolution, and the

both which importatit

ESSAY ON MONEY.

Let US next confider the

paper.

This

is

what

49
that

evil

done hj

is

would particularly requeil

it was what this difcourfe
evince, and what the public

the reader to attend to, as

was

chiefly intended to

feems but

little

aware

of.

The

evil

the

and

filver,

medium, and thereby,

the

increafes

This confequence
certainly

adds to the quantity of

as has

been fhov/n above,

of ifiduftry

price

All

this.

and obtaining

paper introduced into circulation,

credit as gold

is

and

unavoidable, and follows

is

from good paper

fruits.

its

as-

more

as bad, or rather

medium is increafed only by that

credit.
At the fame time this con-

certainly, for the

which obtains
fequence
pafs

among

becaufe the

local,

is

paper does

other nations, and therefore

againfl the intereft of the people

who

not

works

it

ufe

it,

and.

events are supposed to have been causes of improvemenf^

to Scotland.

However the experience of the

last thirty

or

forty years appears to be considerably in favour of banks

and dealers in money and

tially

bills,

wliich I consider as essen-

the same.

* This will perhaps be misapprehended

They

will say, a

by some

high price for our industry

readers.

This

is

just

what we v/ant, and what all desire. But the price I mean,
here is not the price which you get for your industry, but
that which j^'ou pay for it.
A high price, by a great de-mand from foreign nations, is your profit but the cost
which you pay for servants, tools, rent of land, kc. lessensthat profit, and it is this which is increased by increasing
the circulating medium, and not the other.
Make as
much money as you please, this will not make foreign
nations call for any more of your grain, fish, lumber, to-^
;

bacco, rice, &c.

but

it

will just as certainly

you more before you can bring them

adding two to three will make five.

cost
as

E3

make

them.;

to the market;,

ESSAY ON MONEY.

^O

draws

neceffarily

mud
may

and

oiF their gold

be made ufe of in

all

Men

foreign payments.

think what they pleafe, but there

tending with the nature of things.

no con-

is

Experience has

every where juftified the remark,

paper

which

filver,

that wherever

introduced in large quantities, the gold

is

The

and fdver vanifhes univerfally.

fum of

joint

gold, filver, and paper current, will exactly reprefent your

whole commodities, and the prices will

be accordingly.

It is therefore

brim

a velTel

fill

making

full,

water and the other

as if

half the quantity

the lad being fpecifically

oil;

lighted, will be at the top, and

water, the

ning

is

temptible then

fdver

none

is

medium has
and fend

all

abfurd and con-

which we have of
viz. the gold and

we mud

its

it

have

a direct

away by

is

much againd

tendency

is

into circulation
is

paper

us, the

to incfcafe the evil,

a quicker pace.

paper, as fuch, good and bad, fo far as

there

to fay,

that this confequence follows

faid,

and

If the geld

place.

indeed going away from us, that

the balance of trade

How

the reafoning

have paper to fupply

if

you add more

going away from us, therefore

is

filver is

left.

frequently in print,

feen

late

if

only will run over, and continue run-

oil

there

till

you were to

but every one

mud

it

from

enters

perceive, that

a peculiar, and indeed a different evil to be

feared from paper of a doubtful kind, and efpecially

from

that

which being doubtful,

fupported by coercive laws.

ral fufpicion,

This

is

obliged to be

mud

raife

gene-

and confequently bring on a dagna-

tion of

commerce, from univerfal and mutual

trud.

For the fame reafcn

it

mud

dif-

amiihiliatQ

ESSAY ON MONEY.

*I

real

and make every cautious perfon lock up his

money, that is, gold and filver, as he cannot

tell

but he

credit,

This

evil

may be

cheated in the re-payment.

very extenfive indeed, for

is

people fufpicious, not only of what

may

Though

be.

Hence

it

unknown

may be

queftion, whether
at all or not,

whether the
circulating

makes

but what

is,

the injury fhould be but partial,

or inconfiderable at prefent,

ruinous by fome

it

it

may become wholly

future law.

feen, that the refolution of the

proper to have paper

it is

money

depends entirely upon another, viz.

done by augmenting the

evil that is

medium,

or

is

not over-balanced by

is

the facility given to commerce, and the credit given

to particular perfons,

by which

exertions are added to the

upon

their induftry

common

this that the queftion

flock.

depends,

that as the circumftances of a nation

ferent,

it

may be

paper medium.

for or againft
If

tled

obtained

it is

we fhall find
may be dif-

intereft to ufe a

any nation were in fuch circum-

ftances as that credit

eafily

its

As

and

if

were

the

and the inhabitants

either not neceftary or

country were

fully fet-

employed

in agricul-

fully

ture, manufatures,
little

foreign

and internal commerce, with

trade, any addition to the true

money, would be unneceftary or pernicious. This

is probably the ft ate of China at prefent, perhaps
in fome degree alfo of France.
On the contrary,
if a

nation had an extenfive and complicated

merce, and

much

land to fettle and improve, the

commerce, and extending of credit,

beneficial.
I do not pretend to fo
knowledge of the ftate of this country, or

facilitating of

might be highly
exa(^ a

com-

ESSAY ON MONET.

52.

the different parts of

what

certainty of

am

but

it,

makes
to

necelTary or

is

inclined

fomething in the

judge with abfolutc

as to

it,

ufeful to

think that there muft be

to

ftate

would be

of things in America that

more neceflary or more expedient

have paper here than in the European ftates.

We

either

it

many

are afllired that in former times

ftates,

then colonies, thought

allowed to

a privilege to be

it

paper money;

ftrike

of the

we

and

are told

by perfons of good underftanding, that

it

ted to their growth and improvement.

If this

the cafe,

am

was emitted

confident

in

the

way

it

was

contribu-

was

chiefly becaufe

it

of a loan-office, and by

giving credit to hufbandmen, accelerated the fettle-

ment and improvement of the foil. This queftion

I do not take upon me to decide, and therefore in
what follows, defire I may be confidered as fpeaking only hypothetically, the rather, that at prefent

the inclination after paper of fome kind or another

feems

be fo ftrong, that

to

withfland

it

would be

in vain to

it.

If therefore paper

is

tion,

we may

what

are the principles

fee

to be

employed

from what has been

on which

it

in circulafaid above,

ought to be

conducted, the ends that ought to be aimed

and

at,

The ends

the evils that ought to be avoided.

to

be aimed at are, the facilitating of commercial tranfai:ions,

likely to

be

and extending of credit

make

a proper ufe of

it.

to thofe

The

fo conceived, as that the increafe

ting

medium

tently

with

fhould be as
tliefe

ends.

little

It

who

are

plan fliould

of the circula-

as poffible, coirfif-

fhould

be

perfectly

fecure, fo as to create an abfolute confidence.

And

ESSAY ON MONEY.
as

it

of the nature of an obligation, no force

is

whatever
left

be ufed, but the reception of

ftiould

entirely to the inclination

receiver.

tion

53

It

may

from thefe

and

intereft

it

of the

be fafely affirmed, that any devia-

principles,

which are deduced from

the theory above laid down, will be an eflential

defeat in the fyftem.

If

we

inquire

what

we

paper will beft anfwer this defcription,

that there is

no other

find

ufed in Europe than that

fort

of banking companies.

fort of

The government flamping

paper to pafs current for coin

is

unknown

there.

Notwithftanding the immenfe fums which have

been borrowed by the Englifh government, they always prefer paying intereft for them, to ifluing
paper without value for money.
refembling

it

The

in the Engliili hiftory

only thing

James the

is,

fecond coining bafe metal, and affixing a price to

by proclamation

a project

the

contemptible in

contrivance, and abortive in the execution.

it

This

feems to be a confiderable prefumption, that the

meafure

The

is

eligible.

It is

upon demand.

It

many

ad-

confidered as perfe^lly fafe, becaufe

can be exchanged for gold and

paper of banking companies has

vantages.
it

upon the whole not

Having

filver at

this fecurity at

seems to me, that those

who

any time

bottom,

it

cry out for emitting

paper luoney by the legislatures, should take some pains

and the European countries, and point out the reasons why it would be
or else insist that it
serviceable here, and hurtful ther^
would be a wise measure every where, and recommend the
use of it to the states of England, France, Holland, &c.

to state. clearly the difference

between

this

who

will be

much

indebted to them for the discovery.

ESSAY ON MOMEY.

54
is

perfe(9i:ly

indeed

convenient for tranfportation, which

common

is

to

with

it

In addi-

paper.

all

tion to this,

of

it is confidered as the princpal bufmefs

banks to give credit, which, though diredlly

all

only in favour of commercial,

many

different clafTes of

obferve, that
to

ultimately ufeful to

is

men.

may upon

this

the duty of banking companies fo

it is

conduft their operations

gular credit as far as

is

extend their re-

as to

If in-

fafe for themfelves.

have

llead of this, as has been fuppofed at leaft to

been done by fome banks

their notes

and

in Britain, they circulate

by agents, making purchafes

diftant places, that the

fum

ifTucd

in different

may

very far

exceed the fum necefTary to be kept for probable de*

mandsj they

are in that cafe not ferving the public

at all, but ufing the

profit.

tion

It is alfo to

to their own

be obferved, that the denomina-

of their notes fhould never be very fmall,

fliould indeed

a general

Very

money of otherpeople

be as high as

is

confiflent with fucb

ufe as will bring in a

fufiicient profit.

fmall denominations of paper do the greatefl

injury by entering into univerfal circulation,

chiefly afFeO:ing

munity.

It

fome banks

was
in

{hillings

has been

is

very great complaint againfl

Scotland, that they brought

of their notes

and fome of them even

was an

fliilling,

evil,

feen

fix

in

and

com-

the induftrious part of the

the denominations

this

it

what
this

fhall

we

country,

down
as

ten

five fliillings.

If

as

far

fay of paper, as
as

low

as

pence, or even three pence value

one
?

It

a rule that will hardly admit of any exception,

that the higher the denominations of paper bills,

the greater the benefit and the lefs the evil

and ou

ESSAY ON MONEY.

p-

the contrary, the fmaller the denominations, the

greater the evil and the lefs the benefit. High fums

paper

in

once
be

may perhaps change hands

(billing or fix-penny ticket may

obligations

week, but a

hands in one day,

in fifty

muft mention here what has been often objected againft banks in America, which, if juft, would,
I

from the reafoning

the preceding part of this

in

difcourfe, tend to their condemnation.

It is,

that

they have 'deftroyed credit inftead of extending it,

and have introduced or given occafion to exceflive
ufury.

far this

is

am

not fufficiently informed to fay

how

really the cafe, but cannot help obfer-

ving, that treating the matter theoretically, as I have

along done, and confidering the nature of the

thing, this does not appear to be a neceflary confeall

quence.
credit

One would

which

rather think that the regular

or ought to be given by banks fliould

prevent ufury, by fupplying all thofe who deferve
to

be trufted.

is

Agreeably to

this

it

was found

in

faa,

that the inftitution of banks in Scotland

lowered

the intereft of money,

which indeed feems

to

be

the natural effea of every fuch inftitution,

from the
increafed circulation.
But if any inftances

than before have happened of this kind,

by perfons in extreme necefTity applying

who

Iiave credit

with the bank, and

it

more
may be

to'

others

who have

fo

confcientious fcruple as to take advantage

of
their neighbour's poverty.
If this is the cafe, it

little

is

only a particular abufe,

quence of

or

a thing otherwife

occafional bad confe-

good and

ufeful.

It is

not a juft objeaion againft any thing, that it

may
be or has been in fome inftances abufed. Befides,

isSAY ON MONEY.

6
as

it is

company

the duty of every banking

againft this

evil as

much

fonal refentment, againft thofe vi^ho

of their confidence, fo

an

is

it

guard

to

even by per-

as pofiible,

make

this ufe

not out of the

evil

Wife
would at

reach of legal punifliment or general infamy.

and well executed laws againft ufury,

leaft fo far reftrain

it,

as to

make

an

it

evil

of

little

-confequence.

But

in

examining the nature and operation of

different kinds of paper, I

much

tion of

muft confider an objec-

upon the

greater importance,

princi-

ples of thi^ difcourfe, againft the paper of banks, or

at

le;^ft,

a defe6l in their fyftem, that feems to call

for other meafures in addition to

This

it.

banking companies give credit only fo

is,

as to

that

be fer-

viceable to merchants, and thofe immediately con-

nedted with them, but do not extend

men, or thofe who improve the

mortgages for a confiderable time
the theory above laid down, this

is

it

to huft^and-

foil,

by taking

yet according to

not only one of

the advantages, but perhaps the chief advantage to

be derived from a paper circulation of any kind.

Now,

of the

foil is

admit, that the fettlement and cultivation

the radical fource of the profperity of

this country.

It

is

indeed the fource of the pro-

fperity of every country, but comparatively

country than moft others.

more

fo

of that of

this

admit that

credit, properly extended, to induftrious

perfons in this

For

way would be exceedingly

this reafon,

and for

I alfo

beneficial.

Dr Franklin and
when they faid, the

this alone,

others perhaps judged right

country received great benefit from the loan ofhce

paper of former times.

am

alfo fenfible, that

it

ESSAY ON MONEY.

^J

not practicable nor proper for banking companies

IS

upon mortgages on

to give credit

diftant lands.

They

being bound to prompt payment, muft expe6l the

fame

therefore they are not to be

fufing

it

in this

not take upon'

form

me

For

*.

all

blamed

for re-

do

thefe reafons, I

wholly to condemn a meafure in

America, which would be unneceiTary or improper

We

in Europe.

from almoft every

to fay,

paper money.

Now when

verial complaint,

tion

hear from every quarter, that

cry for

a great

and uni-

is

feldom without fome founda-

it is

and though

there

is

a loud

flate,

have taken

much

pains in the

preceding difcourfe to (hew that they miftake their

own

wants, that they do not w^ant a circulating

medium, but
its meaning

ufe that phrafe without und?rftanding

yet they certainly do

They want

particular credit,-

want fomething.

and they look back

with defire to the former times when they had

paper money, which,
out

its

name

itfelf,

of credit.

I will

therefore proceed, keeping a

fleady eye upon the prirciples above laid

what manner

flate in

a loan olBce

may be

ed f within moderate bounds, that

*

pomted

nature and ufe, the notes being then called

its

bills

by

fliall

down,

to

eftabliili-

render a

must here observe, that the banks of Scotland never

gave credit upon mortgages, but personal security only, and

yet they were univen-ally supposed to put it in the pov/er of
landed men to improve their estates ; so that the money
tran ^.actions j^nst have been,

mot; iy in
+

tiieir

though not

am

starts. 1

directly, 3'et re-

favour.

not ignorant that there has been in one of our

iuean Pennsylvania, a violent controversy for and

Vol. IX.

ESSAY ON MONEY.

58

fervlce probably greater than the evils neceflaril)-'

confequent upon

it.

would therefore propofe,

thinks

it

necelTiiry, (liould

that any ftate that

emit a fum of fuppofe

one hundred thoufand pounds, and that the following rules

fliould

invariably

adhered

of

money

that

it

down

laid

That not

to.

i.

fliould

iflue

of

double the

the law, and

in

a Ihilling

from the loan-ofEce

but upon mortgage of

treafury,

mount

be

fum

land to the avalue.

in

2.

That

fhould not be a kgal tender for any debts con-

tracted
all

or

be

to

but

contracted,

receivable

in

taxes within the ftate, and payable for the wages

of Council and Aflembly, and the fees and perquifites

of

ceived.

public

all

3.

months, a

oflicers,

after

it

has been fo re-

That at the end of twelve calender

fum precifely equal to the intereft that

had been accrued or become due in that time,

Ihould be confumed by fire, and public intimation
The fame thing (liould be
given of its being done.
done every fubfequent year. 4. That at no time any
part of this

money

fliould

be made

ul'e

of in the

payment of the public debts, but that which had

been

firft

against

levied in taxes.

It

would not be proper

the bank, between the political factions

divide that state.

On

this account,

ged to mention banks at

all

but

it

am

which

sorry I was obH-

was impossible

for

me

do justice to the subject, without considering their

general nature and effects ; and I will not so much as name
any of the arguments on either side of this question, but

to

what

IS

necessaiiJy connected with

currency, and

its

money

in general as a

effects vipon the national interest.

fiSSAT

OK MONEY.

S9

even to borrow from the flock for

anticipation
If thefe

rules

were obferved,

given to fome perfons,

it,

purpofe by

tKIs

*.

credit

would be

who needed and

The

amount of the whole fum.

to the

deferved
bills

current would be diminifhed in quantity every year

fo as not to load the circulation,

which would have

upon the public opinion, and indeed, from the nature of the thing, would increafe
their value, or rather confirm it from year to year f
At the end of fourteen or fifteen years they would
be wholly taken out of circulation, and that not by

a fenfible effect

any tax

on for the purpofe, but by the hire or

laid

money

ufe of the

fum would be

itfelf,

ftill

which might bear

and

after all, the principal

due to the

(late in

would be
fcheme, if no bills

intereft for ever.

an important addition to

this

good money,
It

* The paj'ing of the public creditors is one of the most

popular arguments for paper emissions, but
to pay them with money not loaned, is not paying, but

common and

and only make it

must be accounted for
by the public. It is better, therefore, that by the loans
men may be enabled easily to pay their taxes and then
continuing the debt upon the

change hands.

state,

All such bills so paid

let the public creditors be paid

from the whole

by money demanded

equall}r

for that purpose.

1 1 cannot help observing here, that the titles of most

of the acts for emitting money, do unawares confess the
justice of all that has been said above; they run thus, " An
act for emitting

thousand pounds in bills of credit,

and directing the manner of sinking the same.'''' Does not
this shew what sort of a circulating medium they are ?
Does it not admit, that they will do evil if they continue
to circulate

When you coin gold and

vide for sinking

it ?

F2

silver,

do you pro-

^"

rSSAT ON MONEY.

lefs

than two dollars, or perhaps three, or

be emitted, as

this

On

circulation.

would

keep

ftill

five,

filver at

the above principles,

all

fhould

lead in

the good

can be produced by paper would be eiFeded,

that

commerce, and giving

viz. facilitating

credit

and

as little of the evil as poflible, becaufe the quantity-

would be

and moderate

fixed

and conti-

at firft,

nually decreafing, fo as at lad to vanifii altogether

and then another emilHon of the fame kind might

be made,

mend

the utility of the

if

firft

Ihould recom-

it.

Perhaps

it

be

will

faid, that this

money not being

would not anfwer the purpofe of bor-

a legal tender,

rowers by paying their debts, nor get

lation.

To

anfwer, that

this I

who want

purpofe of thofe

would not anfwer the

it

to

at all into circu-

pay their debts with

half nothing and cheat their creditors-, nor do I wifh

any thing attempted that would produce that

to fee

But

efFe61:.

circulation than

affirm, that

it

would get

better into

by a tender law, which creates ge-

neral and juft fufpicion.

already proved,

Tender laws,

may be made

as has

been

ufe of by deceitful

perfons to do particular als of injuftice, but are

not fuiTicient to procure general circulation, nor to

and reward induftry, without the opinion

excite

Such money

and approbation of the public.

have defcribed would excite no alarm,

eafily

be

be

It fliould, in

tried.

tried, for

my

would know

all

it

as I

might

opinion, certainly
that

it

would pay

every tax to government, and even borrowers of

large
at

fums might make

all,

becaufe,

they might

aftej:

if

it

trial

of

it,

without any

would not anfwer

few months, repay

it,

rifk

their end,

and take

E5SAY ON MONEY.

But

their mortgage.

that the principles of

6l

cannot help thinlcing,

are fo juft,

it

and the plan

certain, that all underftanding perfons

ceive and approve

I

who

would per-

it.

muft here take the occafion and the

faying, that

have

it

(o

liberty of

were greatly to be wifhed that thofe

in their

hands the adminiftration of

af-

of America, would take

fairs in the fev^ral States

no meafures, either on this, or any other fubjeci,

but what are founded upon juftice, fupported by
reafon, and warranted by the experience of former

The

ages, and of other countries.

uniform and

political caufes is as

And

natural caufes.

any meafure which in

has a bad tendency, though

be

will

it

infallible

ger will then only appear

This

fible.

miftaken

if

it

commercial

this, it is

tliat is

All
rally

on by

it.

impof-

is

exception,

yet I

all

am

with refpet to
excited,

is

di-

But do not

intereft.

not carried on by general univer-

muft

and

apparent,

fenfible

alfo obferve, that there

a fharp-fightednefs

upon

this fubje(5l

quite aftonifliing.

men

are not philofophers, but they are gene-

good judges of

their

mediately before them,

to

remedy

Commerce

but by immediate,

mankind

in

nor even by well informed national in-

perfonal intereft.
is

when

not eminently fo

is

dealings.

fal intereft,

tereft,

may not be
may be but

and perhaps the dan-

without

reted, and carried

miftake

itfelf

the cafe, in fome degree, with

is

meafures,

political

efFeds

its

and their progrefs

inftantly difcernible,

flow, yet

operation of

certain as that of

It is

not

own

and

uncommon

F3,

profit in

what

is

im-

will uniformly adhere

to fee a

man who

ap-

6Z

ESSAY ON MONEY.

pears to be almoft as flupid as a Hone, and yet he

fliall

be as adroit and dexterous in making a bargain,

or even more

to

attentive

lefs

man

than a

fo,

who, probably,

ftanding,

of the

firft

circumftances,

trifling

under the government of mean and

As

fometimes the

and

is

lefs

views.

felfifh

which has been our general fub-

to currency,

jecl, if coins of

rate under-

for that very reafon,

any particular fpecies happen,

as is

ever fo

little

to pafs at a rate,

cafe,

higher, in one country, or corner of a country, than

thither they will immediately direl their

another,

courfe

and

if

the matter

is

not attended

the miftake rectified, they will be

fhort time,

bear the
I

will

all

and the place which receives them muft

lofs.

now fum

up, in fingle propofitions, the

fubftance of what has been aiTerted, and

fufficiently proved, in the
1.

It

ought not

to

and the two

commerce

firft

preceding difcourfe.

and copper, formerly were,

continue to be, the

medium of

but to their inherent value, joined with

properties,

Therefore,

hope

be imputed to accident or ca-

price, that gold, fllver,

other

nor

to,

there in a very

that

fit

them

for

the fpeculations, formed

all

circulation.

upon

a con-

trary fuppofition, are inconclufive and abfurd.

2.

Gold and

filver are far

from being

in

too

fmall quantity at prefent for the purpofe of a circulatincj

medium,

lad of them,
great

in the

viz.

commercial nations.

filver,

quantity, fo as to

The

feems rather to be in too

become inconvenient

for

tranfportation.
3.

The

people of every nation will

quantity of thefe

precious metals,

get

the

that they arc

ESSAY ON MONET.
entitled to

by

their induftry,

63

and no more.

as plunder in war, or

any accident,

other nations, or even finding

it

mines,

in

time find

its level.

Laws

though they are

Hill in force

pofed to be wife,

in

they get

It will in

it.

againft exporting

Laws

the coin will not prevent this.

by

borrowing from

more, they will not be able to keep

fliort

If

of this kind,

fome nations, fup-

yet are in themfelves

ridiculous.

you impoi't more than you export, you mufb pay

the balance, or give up the trade.

If

4.

The

quantity of gold and filver at any time

in a nation,

is

no evidence of national

it

came
5.

there,

No

money.

paper of any kind

It

It ought

and the probability of

in

which

continuing.

properly fpeaking,

is,

ought never to be made a legal tender.

not to be forced upon any body, becaufe

cannot be forced

upon

Gold and

6.

its

un-

v/ealth,

way

lefs you take into confideration the

it

every body.

filver,

fairly

acquired, and likely

to continue, are real national, as well as perfonal

wealth.

If

twice as

them, though

much

paper circulates with

may

in full credit, particular perfons

be rich by poiTening

it,

but the nation in general

is

not.
7.

The

cry of the fcarcity of money,

ly putting the effel for the caufe.

No

be done, fay fome, becaufe money

may be
caufe

faid

little

like that of

with more
bufinefs

many

is

truth,

done.

money
Yet

other caufes and

is

general-

bufincfs can

is

fcarce.

is

fcarce, be-

It

their influence,
efFetSls,

is

reci-

procal.
8.

The

quantity of current money, of whatever

kind, will have an effect in raifing the price of in-

LSSAY ON MONEY.

64

and bringing goods dearer

duftry,

to market, there-

fore the increafe of the currency in any nation

among

paper, which will not pafs

makes the

coft of every thing they

firft

and of confequence the

9. It

may
as

is

other

however

fo far facilitate

by

nations,

do greater,

profit lefs.

poffible,

paper obligations

tliat

commerce, and extend

credit,

excite, to

by the additional induftry, that they

overbalance the injury which they do.in other re-

Yet even the good itfelf may be overdone.

Too much money may be emitted even upon loan,
but to emit money any other way than upon loan,
fpe^ls.

is

to

do

10.

all evil

The

and no good.

exceflive quantity of paper emitted

by

the different ftates of America, will probably be a

lofs to the

They cannot however

whole.

That

vantage of one another in that way.

which emits mofl

11.

can fee no

but one, which

is

and

will lofe moll,

way

which

in

it

can do good

from

ing us, and thereby leflen our importations

way
own

flate

vice verfa.

to deter other nations

fmcerely wifh, that in that

take ad-

trufl-

and I

may prove

it

in

evils.
fome degree a remedy for its
refufe doubtful paper, and
12. Thofe who

thereby difgrace

it,

or prevent

its

circulation, are

not enemies, but friends to their country.

To draw to a conclufion, it is probable that thofe

who perceive, which it will be eafy to do, that the
author of this

tral: is

not a merchant or trader, by

profelTion, will be ready to fay,

tleman to do with fuch a

What

fubje61:

has

Why

this

gen-

fliould

he

write upon what he has no practical knowledge of,

money and commerce

To

thefe I

anfwer, that I

ESSAY ON MONET.

6^

have written, not as a merchant, but as a fcholar.

I profefs to derive my opinions from the beft civilians of this

of

all

and the

laft

age, and from the hiflory

ages, joined with a pretty confiderable expe-

rience and attention to the effeds of political caufes

within the fphere of

even too

much

to

my own

fay, that

profeflion, unlefs his views

obfervation.

It is

not

one of the mercantile

were very enlarged

in-

not fo proper to handle a general fubjeb

His attention is ulualof this kind as fome others.
Iv confined to the bufuiefs, and to the branch of
deed,

is

that bufmefs in

which he

is

employed.

In that his

difcernment will be clear, and he will find out,

if

where he can buy cheapeft, and fell dearBut as to the theory of commerce, or the
eft.
great objects of national intereft or conneaion, he
can have no advantage at all over a perfonr given to
ftudy and reflelion, who has fome acquaintance

poflible,

with pubHc

life.

With

thefe remarks

by way of

apology, and having no intereft in the matter but

what

is

common

to every citizen, I

freely

commit

the whole to the judgment of the impartial public.

REFLECTIONS
ON THE

PRESENT STATE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS,

ANI>

ON THE DUTY AND INTEBEST OF AMERICA

IN THIS IMPORTANT CRISIS.

THAT
America,

the

fuppofe no
get

man

prefent

is

an important

doubts

and

it,

of being greatly enlarged.

rera in the hiftory

country

is

foon be

fettled,

the globe

will for-

it is

capable

extent of this

now, and probably will

it makes no inconfiderable part of
The European in general, but parit is

theie

hundred years

world

a fcene differing in

ever beheld.

to

be an important

The

of mankind.

fuch, that as

itfelf.

It will

ticularly the Britifli fettlements in

it

hope few

Yet, however auguft the idea,

it.

asra

has been fo often repeated, that

In

part,

all

America, have for

been exhibiting to the

many

refpe^ts from

the ancient emigrations, or

ritory very limited,

number was
and which was

people and the

were almoft

colonial fettlements, the

foil

and therefore both proceeded

very flow degrees.

what

But

in

fmall, the terftill

more, the

alike uncultivated

to

improvement by

America we fee

coun-

REFLECTIONS, &C.
try almoft without bounds,

new and untcuchedj

taken poiTeflion of at once by the power, the learning,

and the wealth of Europe.

Hence

it

that the cultivation

is

and the popula-

America have advanced with a rapidity next

and of which no political calculators

tion of

to miraculous,

have principles or data fufficient to make a certain

judgment. I hold every thing that has been faid

on the numbers

in

America

to be

good for nothing,

except in certain places where they have proceeded

When

on adual numeration.

writers ftate, that the

America double themfelves in twenty

or twenty-five years, they fpeak by guefs, and they
inhabitants in

fay nothing.

It

may be under

or over the truth in

certain places

but there are others in which they

;
become twenty times the number in feven years.
I do not

know,

how

to conjecSbure,

country that

both in
others

itfelf,

lefs

and therefore will not attempt

is

faft

mankind may multiplv

moll favourable

in the

in a

ftate po'ffible,

and for receiving an accelTion from

happily circumftanced.

What

more importance

certain, as well as of

is

more

to obferve,

that the Britifh colonies in North- America, have

in this refpeca exceeded every other country
upon

is,

the face of the earth.

What

has caufed this difference ? Does the climate of Britain naturally produce more Mafdom,
ftrength and adivity, than that of France,
Spain, or

Portugal?
for

the

Surely not, or

beft

of

of thefe very countries.

doubt owing to
Britifli

the

conftitution,

wo

colonies

its

It

liberty

to

America

are in
is

the

itfelf

climate

therefore without

which pervades the

and came with the

colonifts to

REFLECTIONS ON

68
part of the

this

Montefqiiieu has,

earth.

iniinitable be.iuty,

with

fhewn, that the natural caufes of

population or depopulation, are not half fo power-

moral caufes

ful as the

by which

he means

laft

the (late of fociety, the form of government, and

the

manners of the people.

peflilence are fcarcely felt,

and equal laws.

judgments
flitution-,

War, famine, and

where there

The wound made by

liberty

is

thofe fore

fpeedily clofed by the vigour of the con-

is

whereas, in a more fickly frame, a

fcratch will rankle

and produce long

We

perhaps terminate in deatn.

ther than our

own

force of liberty.

country to have

The

trifling

dife^ife,

or

need go no furfull

proof of the

fouthern colonies, blefled as

and more powerful

fun, are yet greatly inferior to Pennfylvania and
New England, in numbers, Rrength, and value of
they are with a fuperior

foil

land in proportion to

quantity.

eafily

The

folved.

colonics are

But with

its

conilitutions

more favourable
all

The

matter

of thefe

is

latter

to univerfal induftry.

the differences between one colony

and another, America

in general,

by

gradual

its

improvement, not long ago exhibited a fpe<SlacIe,

the mod delightful that can be conceived, to a
benevolent and

contemplative mind.

country

growing every year in beauty and fertility, the

people growmg in numbers and wealth, arts, and
fciences, carefully cultivated and confcantly advan-

cing, and poffeinng fecurity of property

by hberty

and equal laws, which are the true and proper

the reft.

While

things v/ere

in this

fource of

all

fituation,

Great-Britain reaped a great, unenvied,

and

ilill

increafing proiit

from the trade of the

PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

am

neither fo

colonies.

fo foolifh

as to

ning of

affirm, as

this conteft,

weak

as to believe,

fome did

How

was the

that the colony trade

whole fupport of a majority of the people

Britain.

nor

in the begin-

in

Great

could any perfon of rellelion fup-

pofe that the foreign trade of three millions of

people, could be the chief fupport of eight millions,

when

the internal

trade of thefe

eight millions

and muft be the fupport of double

number that could be fupported by the trade of

them.felves, is

the

America, befides
the world

their trade to every other part o

But our trade was

of great impor-

ftill

tance and value, and yielded to Great Britain yearly

any thing they could

reafonably hope to draw from taxes and impofitions
a profit vaflly fuperior to

although they had been fubmitted to without complaint.

This however did not

fatisfy the king, miniflry

They formed
delufive
and
hopes
of lighten^
golden, but miftaken
and

parliament

ing their

of

Great Britain.

own burdens by

They formed

levying taxes from us.

various plans, and attempted various

meafures, not the moil prudent

ing their purpofe into effect.

I confefs, for

The

carry-

ultimate pur-

was in fome degree covered at firft, and

they hoped to bring it about by flow and imperIn fome inftances the impofition
ceptible fteps.
pose

itfelf

was

in itfelf of little

confequence

liberty

was

any of them
lic

fpirited

Vol. IX.

as

appointing

pepper and vinegar to

But the laudable knd jealous fpirit of

the colonies to furnifh

the troops.

alive

fait,

and awake, and hardly fuiFered

to pafs

unobferved or unrefifled.

writers took

care that

it

Pub-

fhould not

REFLECTIONS, ^C

72
and

fleep;

in particular the celebrated

Pennfylvanla

Farmer's Letters were of fignal fervice, by furnifhthe lovers of their country with fals, and illuftrating the rights and privileges

which

it

was

their

duty

to defend.

The
way of

attempt

iaft

made by

the miniftry in the

and addrefs, was repealing the al lay-

art

ing duties on paper, glafs, and painter's colours, and

leaving a fmall duty on tea, attended with fuch

circumftances, that the tea fhould

come

to us

dearer, but perhaps cheaper, than before.

was

evidently with defign that

we might

no

This

be induced

pafs, and fo the claim having once taken

to let

it

place,

might be carried

greateft height.

in

other inftances to the

This manoeuvre, however, did not

of a

public

fpiritcd

people.

elude the

vigilance

The whole

colonies declared their refolution never

to receive

it.

THOUGHTS
O N

AMERICAN

THE

Congrefs

is,

B E

Pv

body of the

Their election

per-pl

It is

are

chofen.

from

What

will

when

the af-

Therefore thofe provinces

wrong, wlio committed

are

of North

what was or

quite dlirerent from

could be in the view of the electors,

femblies

quite difthict

the aflemblles of the feveral provinces.

is

Y.

for a partlcuhjr purpofe,

is

and a particular feafon onlyj

be before them,

properly fpeaklng, the reprefen-

tatlvc of the great

America.

it

to the aiTembly as

fuch, to fend deleg?.tes, though in fome provinces,

fuch as Bofton and Virginia, and fome others, the

unanimity of fentim.ent

fame thing
It

is

at

is

fuch, as to

make

it

the

in effet.
leaft

extremely uncertain, whether

it

could be proper or fafe for the Congrefs to fend,

either ambalT.ulors, petition

king or parliament, or both.

or addrefs, directly to

They may

as a diforderly, unconftltutional m.eeting

hold their meeting

Und

fo

many

Itfelf to

treat

them

they may

be criminal^they

may

objections in point of legal forjn, that

G2

THOUGHTS ON

74
is

it

able to do

to

it,

by ambiguous,

anfwers, perhaps

feverer

Congrefs

this

to

be

deaden the zeal of the multitude

in the colonics,

that

power of thofe who wifh

plainly in the

dilatory, frivolous

meafures.

It

is

certain

different from any regular

is

exertion, in the accuflomed forms of a

proved, fettled conilitution.

It

is

quiet, ap-

an interruptio n

or fufpenfion of the ufual forms, and an appeal to the

great law of reafon, the

firft

principles of the focial

union, and the multitude collectively, for whofe

benefit

all

cuftoms of a

the particular lav/s and

ftate, are

conftituted

fuppofed to have been origi-

nally eflabliflied.

There

is

not the lead reafon, as yet, to think that

cither the king, the parliament, or even the people

of Great Britain, have been able to enter into the

great principles of univerfal liberty, or are will-

ing to hear the difcuffion of

the point of

They have

without prejudice.

right,

not only taken no

pains to convince us that fubmiflion to their claim

is

confident with liberty

ful

among

whether they expert or

us, but

defire

it is

we

doubt-

(hould be

feems rather that they

mean

convinced of

it.

to force us to

be abfolute Haves, knowing ourfelves

to be fuch

It

by the hard law of

necefTity.

If this

is

not their meaning, and they wifh us to believe that

our properties and

lives are quite fafe in the

abfo-

lute difpofal of the Britifli Parliament, the late afts

with refpcO:
their

to Bofton, to ruin their capital, deftroy

charter,

and grant the

murder them,

are

certainly

foldlers

a licence to

arguments of a very

fmgular nature.
Therefore

it

follows, that the great object of the


AMERICAN LIBERTY.

75

apprOacKing Congrefs fhould be to unite the colonies, and make them as one body, in any meafure
of felf-defence, to aflure the people of Great Bri-

we

tain that

will not fubmit voluntarily,

vince them that

unprofitable for

it

would be

them

and con-

either impoffible or

compel us by open vio-

to

lence.

For

this

purpofe, the following refolutlons and

recommendations are fubmitted to

tion

their confidera-

1.

To

profefs as all the provincial and county

and our

rulers have done, our loyalty to the king,

backwardnefs to break our connection with Great

we

Britain, if

are not forced by their unjuft impolF-

Here it may not be improper to compare

our pad condudl: with that of Great Britain itfelf,
and perhaps explicitly to profefs our deteflation of

tions.

the virulent and infolent abufe of his majefty's per-

fon and family, which fo

many have been

guilty o

in that iiland,
2.

To

declare, not only that

of the Britifh Parliament to be

tutional, but that

eflieem the claim

illegal

and unconfti-

we are firmly determined

never

to-

and do deliberately prefer war with

horrors, and even extermination itfelf, to fla*

fubmit to
all its

we

it,

very rivetted on us and our pofterity.

3.

To

refolve that

of the whole body,

its

we

will adhere to the intereft

and that no colony

feparate peace, or

from the hope of

(hall

make

partial dif-

tinclion, leave others as the victims of minifterial

vengeance, but that

we

will continue united,

purfue the fame meafures,

fettled

on

a folid bafis,

G3

till

American

and

liberty is

and in particular,

till

the

TlIbUGIITS OK

?<'

now

fuffering colony of Mafia chufetts

Itored to

the rights of which

all

it

Bay

is

re-

has been, on this

occafion, unjuftly deprived.

4.

That

a non-importation agreement,

which has

been too long delayed, fhould be entered into immediately, and at the fame time, a general nonconfumptive agreement, as to

all

Britifli

goods

at

lead, fhould be circulated univerfally through the

country,

who
may

and take place immediately, that thofe

have retarded the non-importation agreement,

make

not

a profit to themfelves by this injury

to their country.
5.

That fome of the moft

efFel:ual

meafurcs

be taken to promote, not only induftry in

general, but manufa(tures in particular ; fuch as

fliould

premiums in different colonies fcr manufal:ures which can be produced in them

appomting public markets for all the materials of manufa(fl:ure ; inviting ov6r and encouraging able magranting

nufacturers in every branch

cieties in every great city,

and appointing

to receive fubfcriptions for diredling

fea-portr,

encouraging emigrants

who

fo-

efpecially in principal

fliall

and

come over from

Europe, whether manufacturers or labourers, and

publiftiing propofals for this purpofe, in the Britifh

newfpapers.
6.

That

it

be recommended to the legiflature of

every colony, to put their militia upon

footing

and to

all

Americans

felves with arms, in cafe of a

French or

Roman

the

to provide

befl

them-

war with the Indians,

Catholics, or in cafe they fhould

be reduced to the hard necefTity of defending themfelves

from murder and

alTaflinatLon.

AMERICAN LIBERTY.
That

77

committee fhould be appointed to

draw up an earnefl and afFetionate addrefs to the
7.

army and navy, putting them

racter as Britons, the

in

mind of

their cha-

reproach which they

will

bring upon themfelves, and the danger to whiclv

they will be expofed,

if

they allow themfelves to be

the inftruments of enllaving their country.

8.
all

That

a plan of union fliould be laid

the colonies, fo that, as formerly, they

refpond and afcertain

how

they

fliall

down for
may cor-

effel:uaily co-

operate in fuch meafures as fhall be neceflary to their

common

defence.

ON THE

CONTROVERSY
ABOUT

INDEPENDENCE
SIR,

1BEG leave

by your affiftance, to publlfh a few

thoughts upon the manner of condud^ing, what

think

in

is

which

refled.

now
this

called the independent controverfy^

country in general

fo greatly inte-

is

Every one knows that when the claims oF

the Britifh Parliament were openly made, and violently enforced, the

refolutions

moft precife and determined

were entered

and publiflied by

into,

every colony, every county, and almoft every townfhip or fmaller diftrit, that they

This was clearly exprelTed

mit to them.
greateft part

would not fub-

of them,

and ought

ftood as the implied fenfe of

them

to

in the

be under-

all,

not only

would not fooji or eaftly^ but that they

would ncvery on any events fubmit to them. For my

that they

own

part,

confefs,

thefc refolves at

firft,

never would have figned

nor taken up arms in confe-

quence of them afterwards,

if I

had not been

fully

N THE CONTROVERSY, &.

convinced, as I

am

ftill,

acquiefcence in this

that

ufurped power, would be followed by the

diftance
as has

tion

total

kingdom

ftates to a

at a great

from them. They would have been therefore,

been the cafe with

all ftates in

a fimilar fitua-

from the begining of the world, the ferv^nts of

fervants

from generation to generation.

reafon

declare

know

I
it

tliough

to

it

was the meaning of

we

my

have been

For

this

meaning, and I

thoufaiids more,

that

earneftly wiihed for reconciliation witli

fafety to our liberties,

fer,

andab-

They would have been

folute ruin of the colonies.

no better than tributry

79

yet

we

not only the horrors of a

did deliberately pre-

civil

war, not only the

new

danger of anarchy, and the uncertainty of a

fettlement, but even extermination
rivetted

on us and our

The moft

itfelf, to flavery^.

pofterity.

peaceable means were

no relaxation could be obtained

capital-^

ufed

but.

one arbitrary and

oppreflive act followed after another

the property of a Vv'hole

firft

they deftroyed

fubverted

to

its

very foundation, the conftitution and government

of a whole colony, and granted the foldiers a liberty
of murdering in

?J1

the colonies.

exprefs

it

thus,

becaufe they were not to be called to account for

Vvflierc it

was committed, which every body muft

low was

a temporary, and undoubtedly,

nine cafes of an hundred, muft

total
in

impunity. There

my

The

is

reader

have ifiued in a

one circumftance however

much more curious than all

will fay, What can this be
"

which

tended ta:

While

the

this

was

reft..

It Is

beg miay be particularly

all

al-

in ninety-

opinion,

following,

it

the
at-

doing, the king

in his fpeeches, the parliament in their a6ls,

and the

THE CONTROVERST

ON

So

people of Great Britain in their ackirefles, never

failed to extol their

own

this, that the king,

parliament and people of Great

Britain arc
is

lenity.

do not infer from

barbarians and favages

all

unnecefFary and unjuft

the people of America,

if

But

the inference

I infer

the mifery of

they muft fubmit in

all cafes

body of the fons of

from them, and who have an
oppreiTmg them. It has been my opinion

luhatfoevery to the decifions of a

Adam,

dillant

fo

interefl in

from the

begi'.ung, that

foning fully home,

Vv^e

did not carry pur rca-

when we complained

of an ar-

bitrary prince, or of the infolence, cruelty

Lord North, Lord Bute, or I^ord Mans-

flinacy of

What

field.

now

v/e

have to

to grapple with,

partiality

and ob-

and

is

injuftice of

and what we have

fear,

the ignorance, prejudice,

human

nature.

Neither

king nor miniftry, could have done, nor durft have

attempted what

we

have fecn,

the nation on their fide.

in

England are few

nor

influence

not one,

till

mud

its

proper

Petitions

they had not had

friends of

America

number, and contemptible

in

omit, that even of thefe few,

very lately, ever reafoned the Ameri-

can caufe upon

in

in

The

if

its

proper principles, or viewed

it

light.

on petitions have been prefented

king and parliament,

to

and an addrefs fent to the

people of Great Britain, which have not merely

been

fruitlefs,

of difdain.

but treated with the higheft degree

The conduct

of the Britifli

miniftry

during the whole of this conteft, as has been often

obfcrvcd, has been fuch, as to irritate the whole

people of this continent to the higheft degree, and

unite

them together by the firm bond of

neceflity

ABOUT INDEPENDENCE.
and common

intereft.

ferved

us

the

moft

firmly

perfuaded,

that

in

8I

In this refpel they have

America met together

manner.

effential

had the wifeft heads

to contrive

rican oppofition and defeat their

own

Ame-

defigns, they

could not have fallen upon a plan fo

which has been

ftance

efFe6i:ual,

Iteadily purfued.

One

cannot help mentioning, becaufe

both of more importance, and

than any other.

York AfTembly,

When

lefs

in

what meafures

the miniftry fhould follow to ftrengthen the

that

am

as
in-

was

it

to be expe8:ed

New-

a majority of the

to their eternal infamy, attempted

union of the colonies, by refufmg to

to break the

approve the proceedings of the Congrefs, and applying to Parliament by feparate petition

becaufe

they prefumed to make mention of the principal

grievance of taxation,

contempt.
thofe

who

liament,

York

defire

was

it

it

treated with ineffable

may be

obferved, that

are called the friends of

America

in Par-

pleaded ftrongly for receiving the

petition

which

all

New-

plainly fhewed, that neither

the one nor the other underftood the ftate of affairs

in America.

Had

the miniftry been prudent, or

the oppofition fuccefsful,

we had been

with what tranfport did every friend

liberty hear, that thefe traitors to the

ruined
to

but

American

common

caufe

had met with the reception which they deferved.

Nothing is more manifeft, than that the people
of Great Britain, and even the king and miniftry,
have been hitherto exceedingly ignorant of the
of things in America.

For

this reafon, their

ftate

mea-

fures have been ridiculous in the higheft degree,

and the

ilTue

dlfgraceful.

There

are

fome who

ON THE CONTROVERSY

82

will not believe that they are ignorant

liow can
this

this

country

be

who

they

tell

us,

Hare they not multitudes

in

gave them intelligence from the

Yes they have but they vi^ould

none but what they called oiBcial intelligence,

beginning

is

from obfequious, interefted

to fay,

vernment
ftate

many

of them

knew

of things themfelves,

would not
I

tell

left

it,

it

little

truft

that

tools of go-

of the true

and when they

did,

be difagreeable.

fhould

have not a very high opinion of the integrity and

Dr C

candour of

mercenary writers
lieve, that

liberty

Dr C
New- York
,

in

yet

and other

firmly be-

they thought the friends of American

much more

inconfiderable, both for weight

nnd numbers, than they were. They converfed

with few but thofe pf their own v/ay of thinking,
:and according to

minds,

the

common

deception of

little

miftook the feptiments prevailing within

the circle of their

ment of the

own

public.

acquaintance, for the judg-

OK

CONDUCTING
THE

AMERICAN CONTROVERSY

SIR,

TAKE

the liberty, by

means of your free and

uninfluenced profs, of communicating to the
public a few remarks upon the manner of conducing the American controverfy in general, and on
feme of the writers that have ?.ppeared in your paper

That you may not pafs

upon me immediately as an enemy to the
in

particular.

thority,

and

was

George the

and lawful

fettled

upon

title

all

I will

it

is

the

then go a

efleem

third to have the only

to the Britifh cro\n, which,

his family in

glorious revolution.
at

royal au-

a fon of fedition, I declare that I

his majefly king

rightful

fentence-

You

confequeiice of the

will fay, this

is

nothing

creed of the faftious Boftonians.

little

further, and fay, that I not only

him as the firll: magiftrate of the realm, but

and honour him. as a man, and am perfuaded
that he wifhes the profperity and happi-.cls of his
revere
I love

people in every part cf his dominions.

VcL. IX.

Nay,

ON CONDUCTING

4
have

more

dill

to fay,

names

that have

The

do not

tliuik the

have deferved

niiniftry thcmfelves

foul

all

Britifla

the abufe and

been bellowed on then\ by

poli-

which they have taken with

American affairs, and which I efteem to

tical writers.

ref]^e6l to

ft eps

be unjuft, impolitic, and barbarous

to the highefl

degree, have been chiefly owing to the two follow-

ing caufes.

I.

Ignorance or mifcake, occafioned by

the mifinformation of interefted and treacherous

perfons employed in their fervice.
judices

common

in the ifland of

Of

the

firft

to

them, with perfons of

all

pre-

ranks

Great Britain.
of thefe,

becaufe perhaps

fent,

The

2.

it

may occur with

But

propriety afterwards.

nothing

I fhall fay

as to

at pre-

as great

the feccnd, there

be found in the newfpaperi enough to convince

every man of reflection, that it was not the king

is to

and the

was
^uft

but the

niiniftry only,

enraged againft America.

beginning to turn

whether

it

principles

has

and

vidiole

The tide is but

am in fome doubt

turned yet, upon any larger

fairly

than a regard to their

which may be

nation that

afl-ecled

own

by our proceedings.

intereft,
It

can

hardly be expeCled, that the eyes of a whole nation

ihould be at once opened upon the generous principles

of univerfal liberty.

multitude in Britain,

who

It

is

natural for the

have been from their in-

fancy taught to look upon an act of parliament as

fupreme and

irreriftible,

of their country

and to confider the liberty

itfelf as conflfting in

the dominion

of the houfe of commons, to be furprifed and

aftonilhcd at any focicty cr body of men, calling in
qucftioii tlae authority of parliament,

and denying

THE AMERICAN CONTROVERSY.

85

power over them. It certainly required time to

make them fenfible that things are in fuch a fitiiaits

commons

tion in America, that for the houfe of

in

Great Britain to afTume the uncontrouled power of

impofing taxes upon American property, would be
as inconfifient
tion, as

with the

appears at

it

It argiics great,

of the Britifh conftitu-

fpirit

fight agreeable to its

firfl

human

ignorance of

we

pofe, that becaufe

nature to fup-

fee a thing clearly,

contemplate every day, and

v.'hich

form.

our

is

it

which we
intereffc

and maintain, therefore they are deftitute

to believe

of honour and truth

who do

not acknowledge

it

im-

mediately, though all their former ideas and habits

have led them to a contrary fuppofition. A m.an
"ivill

become an American by rcuding

in the

country

three rnonths, v/ith a picfpel: of continuing,

more

eafdy and certainly than by reading or hearing of

it

for three years, aniidfc the fophiflry of daily dif-

putation.

For thefe reafons,

{ce

have often been grieved to

the pleaders for

that

mixed

fo

much

niiniftry in

American

liberty,

of abufe and inventive a^ainfl the

general, as well as particular perfons,

with their reafonings in fupport of their

rlgliteous claim.

have often

America, on that fubjecl,

miniitry,

fo

have

much

as

it

faid

is

with which you have to contend.

them

of

not the king and

prejudices

the

own moft

to friends

of Britons,

Spare no pains

informed. 'Add to the im

moveable firmnefs with which you juflly fupport
your own rights, a continual folicitude to convince
to have

fully

the people of Britain, that

reafon that infpires you."'

it

is

not paiTion but

Tell them
2

it

cannot

be-

ON CONDUCTING

86
ambition,

but neceiTity,

makes you run an

that

evident ri(k of the heavieft fufferings, rather than

forfeit for yourfelves

of

all

and your

pofterity, the grcateft

earthly bleflings.

Another circumftance gave me

nefs, viz. that

many American

more unenfi-

flill

feemed to

patriots

countenance, and to think themfelves interefted in

the profperity of that moft defpicable of
that ever

all

fa6lions

exifled in. the Britiih empire, headed

That

the celebrated John Wilkes, Efq.

gang carried on

by

fliamelefs

their attacks with fuch grofs,

and

indecent, and groundless abufe of the king and his

family, that they

became odious

to the nation,

and

indeed fo contemptible, that the miniftry fent at

one time the lord mayor of London

to the tower,

without exciting the lead refentment in the pcrfons

of property in that great city, fo as to bo

felt in

the

operations of the treafury.

am

that

and

mention

it

no American ever proceeded

with
to

pleafure,,

fuch offen-

extravagance on thcfe fubjedls, as the peoplo

live

in

fenfible,

Britain.

the

Far greater

fovereign,

witliin

within the verge

infults

the

city

of the court,

were offered te
of London, and
than ever were

would have been permitted, by the

mob in any part of America. Even the writings containing illiberal abufe from England, were fcarccly
fought after here, and many of them never publifhed, althou'.^h it could have been done without the
thought

leaft

of,

or

danger of a profecution.

Yet, though the

people of America are as dutiful and refpee^ful

fubjecls to the king as any in his dominions, there

were fome things done, and feme things

publiflied.

THE AMERICAN CONTROVERSY.

fLat

feemed

we had one and

to intimate that

fame caufe with the author of the North

45.

The

evil

87

confequence of

No.
had

Britain,

was, that

this

the-

it

a tendency to lead the king and miniftry to think

American claim was no

Wilkite clamour, and fo to oppofe

better than the

that the

and

fxrmnefs,

to

treat

it

it

with the fame

with the fame difdain.

Nothing could be more injudicious than this couduft in the Americans ; and it arofe from the moft

The

abfolute ignorance of political hiftory.

(lamp--

aft, that firft-born of American oppreffions, wasframed by the chief men of that very fadlion ; and
it

is

from

plain

their language to this hour, that

they make no other ufe of American dlfturbances^

but as engines of oppoiition, and to ferve the meaiipurpofes of party or of family interefl.
I

do not mean by

againft

any part with

this to take

the prefent miniftry.

have feen

or'

many

changes of the miniftry, without any fenfible change

of the (late of public

common
againft

affairs.

with them than to

meafure,

when

Nothing

raife a

is

more-

hideous outcry

they are .out, and

yet,,

without fliame or confcience, do the vefy fame*

thing as foon as they get

in.

look

upon

the~

caufe of America at prefent to be a matter of truly

inexpreiTible

m.cment.

The

(late

of the human;

race through a great part of the globe, for ares to-

come, depends upon

who

is

in

junfture,

it.

Any

minifter or miniftry,.

or out of court-favour, at a particular

is

fo

named with

it.

little a m.itter,

113

that

it

fnould not

be-*

D E

S.

SIR,

HAVE

communicate,

if

complaints of fome reltraints,

the freedoin of the prefs.

formed, becaufe
for

am

the

now

the ncwi-

in

felt

or feared,

upon
upon

be glad to be in-

I fhall

yet ignorant,

thefe complaints.

was publifhed fometime

to

almoft without exception,

is

is

are to be found in the tracts

fide of this quellion,

there

firft

pJeafe, to

independent controverfy,

There

papers.

tion

you

upon the manner of condu6ling what

called the

one

to

and after thnt,

yoLirfelf,

public,

few thoughts

what founda-

pamphlet

ago, calling itfelf

Connnon

Senfe, which nobody was obliged to read, but thole

who

willing to pay for

v/ere

it,

and that pretty

It was however read very generally,

dearly too.
which I fuppofe mufl have arifen either from the

beauty and elegance of the compofition, or from

the
iiv

tvutli
it.

and importance of the matter contained

That

caufes, I

it

is

in the

added

(irvl

take for granted, until

fliall

fomebody who
this

did not arife from the

is

of a different ophiion

of thefe

meet with
and when

to the circumftance of its being fold

manner ^iiove mentioned,

fubiel matter of

Common

it is

plain that the

Senfe was propofed to

the world under every difadvantage, hut that of

its

o\vn manifeft importance and npparent truth

or

probability.

ARISTIDES.

Things being

time fufh-

fituation, after

this

matured any pamphlet of mi ordinary

clent to have

out comes an anfwer to Common Stnfe^ under

fize,

the

in

89

This, in one refpeiSl, was

of Plain Truth.

title

was pamphlet againil pamphlet ;

Plain Truth alfo was fold, as well as

perfeclly fair, for

and the

faid

Common

it

For

Senfe, at a very high price.

this

lad

circumftance, there was no need for affigning a rea-

becaufe

fr)n,

apprehend

the undoubted right

it is

of every author, to fet what price he pleafes

upon

the produ6i:ions of his genius, and of every printer

upon the produ6lions of

his prefs, leaving

to the public to determine

chafe thefe productions

whether

always?

pur-

tliey will

price, or

at tliat

it

any other.

reafon however was affigned, which was as An-

gular as

Vv-as

it

We

uaneceirary.

number of

only a fmall

were

more

editions than

fale

The

edition.

firll

i[\e

the only inftance that

is

can be produced, of calling a bock in

the

that

copies was printed of

Jirjl edition, I believe this

tion,

told

publica-

its

only reafon of m.aking

one of any bock,

is

the fpeedy

cf that number of copies, which the modefty of

the author,

or

prudence

the

of the bookfeller,

thought might be fufhcient for the public demand.

In this cafe, there
a

call for

what

is

ftated

is

But there are multi-

another edition.

tudes of publications, as to

which

this call is

heard, and therefore none of

them

priety of fpeech be (iyled the

firft

would

it

found

alone into

my

that entered

well;

is

my

houfe, was the

firft

my

wife,

wife,

when

c?.n,

firft

it is

How

who came

of the

who

never

with pro-

edition.

that a m.an

if I fl^iould fay,

or that

by the printers

is llill

company
alive

and

very polTible that

ARtSTlDEg.

90

may

ihe
till

{he

live

is

am

till

unfit for

at liberty to take a

any rher wife, cr

fecond hufband

But further, fuppofing that the author and bookfeller had been right in that expectation, which the
ufe of the phrafe plainly fhews the vanity of the one

and the miftake of the other had

defire to

few

know how

was

that

copies, and thus rendering

You

b]y dear.

printers

them,

raifed in

a reafon for printing

know

them unccnfcionabut

beft,

take

for

it

granted from the nature of the thing, that you print

feweft copies of a book,
general

fale.

If I

when you do not

were certain that

of mine would caufe an unufual

per that contains

it,

this diflertation

demand for

tain at

the pa-

would modeftly fuggeft

you, to print three or four hundred of that

more than common.

expet a

In like m.anner,

if it

to

number
was cer-

the appearance of this pamphlet, that it

would be the

of

firft

many

editions, following

another in rapid fucceflion,

it

one'

feems the moft ob-

vious thing in the world that the edition fliould have

been

as large

as

pofTible.

was an unlucky {tumble

Upon

the whole, this

at the threfhold in the

au-

thor of Plain Truth, as well as an unexpected lap-

fus of the great, illuftrious, and exalted R. B. Providore, as he calls himfelf, to the fentimentalifts,

no way of accounting, but that

they were inadvertently led by the fubjecl they had
in hand to a6t, as well as write, in direct oppofition.

for

to

which

find

Common Senfe.
Well, the book comes out, of which

fent of

two

copies,

from

{tanding the fmallnefs of

what

{hall

I fiiy,

had a pre-

different perfons, notwithtlie

number

printed.

But

either of the {lyle or reafoning o

ARISTIDES.
the performance.

The

me

it,

the opinion of

wards concurred
read

it

reading of three pages gave

which

eafily acquiefced

a fubje^, as to

who

all

and which

in,

fo contemptible, that

on

91

read

who have

all

In execution

in.

after-

it

not
v/as

it

could not procure a reading

it

which, the curiofity of the pub-

was raifed to the

wanted good qualities
lic

greateil height

it

in point of tafte

not only

and proprle-

but wa^ eminently poiTefTed of every bad one.

ty,

Common

Senfe foiriCtimes failed in grammar, but

Plain Truth was fo

never in perfpicuity.
loally

ornamented with vapid,

ridicu-

and

fenfeiefs phrafes,

meaning could hardly be

comprehended. He often put me in mini of the
painted v. indows of fome old gothic buildings, which
keep out the light. If Common Senfe in fome places

feeble epithets, that his

wanted
head

Truth was covered

pollfh. Plain

to foot, v/ith a deteftable

As

to the

argument

be more clearly ftated than

on

in the

leaft

degree.

and ftinking varnifh.

although nothing could

itfelf,

Senfe, yet in Plain Truth

it

was

The author

Senfe did not write his book to

vTo:e

it

to

all

fhcw

(new that we ought not

which

of

Common

that

we ought

Great Britain,

a fixed regular

he

to feek or wait

in his opinion, is

become both impracticable and

for ourfelves.

Common

determined to do long before

for a reconciliation,

eftablifii

in

was never touched up-

it

to refill the unconflitutional claims of

which we had

from

over,

now

unprofitable, but ta

government, and provide

Plain Truth, on the contrary,

attempts to fnew that there

is

never

the lead probability

cf cbtainiro; reconciiiaticn on fuch terms as will prefers'e

and fecure our

liberties,

but has exerted aU

iRISTIDES.

92

his little force, to prove, that fuch

of Great Britain, that

refifl at all.

ment

of

all

I will

refer

who have

the flrength

be in vain for us to

will

it

is

judg-

to the impartial

it

read this treatife, whether the

jufl

and proper inference from his reafoning

that

we ought

is

not,

immediately to fend an embafly with

ropes about their necks, to

make

furrender of ourfelves and

all

difpofal of the parent flate.

humble

a full and

OLfr

property to the

This

tliey

have for-

mally and explicitly demanded of us, and

we will never
we make refif-

have

v.'ith

equal clearnefs determined

do.

The

queflion then

ie

Shall

this v/e

tance v/ith the gieateft force, as rebel fubje^ls of a

government v/hich we acknowledge, or z> independent flates

deted and abhor

w^

an ufurped pov/er which

againil:
?

After this reprobated author was ofFthe ftage, a

new

fet

Senfe

but inftead of publifhing the

*,

Common

of antagonifts appeared againft

firit

edition of

pamphlets, they chofe to appear in the newfpapers.

The

propriety

of this I

beg leave

to

examine.

Much

has been faid about the liberty of the prefs

fufFer

me
is

publiilied

few words

fay a

V7hen

readers.

nobody

to

pamphlet

wronged.

and

fold,

When

is

for the liberty of

publifhed and fold,

the anfwer to

the thing

is

quite

fair.

it

is

The

writers and their caufe will undergo an impartial

trial

but

*,

when

the anfwering one pamphlet by

another, has fo fhamefuUy failed, to undertake the

fame thing by various detached pieces

papcrs,

authors
^ot.

is

cramming the

down our

in the

newf-

fenfe or nonfenfe of thefe

throats,

whether

w^e

will

or

pay for your newfpaper, and for two more^

ARISTIDES.

pj

and frequently read others befides.

pay for news, mufl my paper be
diflertations,

and muft

times over

am

pay,

to

three

But

with

times

have paid, and

moil part of

the

for

if

will be faid, the

it

cuftom

old and

is

univerfal, to write diflertations in newfpapers.

anfwer,

it is

but

it

may be

when

both old, univerfal, and ufeful,

under proper dire6lion

is

they were to be publiflied in

would not give a rufh for them alto-

a pamphlet, I

gether.

if

read them four or five

do declare, that

Cato's letters, and

Now,
flutfed

abufed.

It

the right of every publiflier of a newfpaper to

ir4fert

in

it

upon

his

own judgment and

when news are fcarce, whatever he

commend his paper to his readers.
an able writer

choice,

thinks will re-

In this view,

a treafure to a publifher of

is

any

periodical paper, ?.nd ought certainly to be paid

berally,

either

in

money

or thanks, or both

you have paid

therefore. Sir, if

li-

and

even folicited

for, or

from the author, the papers you have publifned,

you are wholly acquitted of blame, further than

fometim.es a miilaken choice
trary,

which

but

flrongly fufpeft,

you and others are

paid for inferting political pieces,

money to
As the

fcribed,

I affirm,

you take

deceive your readers.

fubje6l

at this time,

objetlions

on the con-

if,

is

of feme importance, efpecially

fhall take the liberty

of ftating the

have again It the pra6lice, as above de-

leaving you to fliape your future courfe as

you think proper, and determiining to ufe

rogative of taking or giving

feems to deferve.

In the

my

up your paper

firjl place,

if

preas

it

you admit

pieces into your paper for pay, I prefume from the

ARISTIDES.

94
nature of

all

mankhul, that thofe who pay

Then

have the preference.

flanclard of literary merit

beil, will

we have
man who

fhall

and a

new

is

able

willing to refute pernicious principles,

anci

the falfehood of impudent

detel:

or to

may

aflertions,

yet be too poor to obtain a place,

where only

be done to ^ny good purpofes.

The moment

power of perfons unknown,

in the

can

it

it is

to condu<Sl: or

bias the public channels of intelligence, both the

deceived and abufed in the grofieft manner.

It is

much

greater

fc.irce

worth while, when things of

moment

are

be added, yet

to

fo

will juil mention,

you force nonfenfe upon us which could not

that

make
,

may be

and particular perfons,

people in general,

tion.

its

appearance

Pi ay, Sir,

in

any other mode of pubiica-

how much copy money would you

have given for a pamphlet

that ridiculous

be feen

in

in

which you had found

pan upon Mount

one of Cato's

ral, is

one of

tlie

found a name

Parody

lowed kind of writing

that has yet

and that poor fpeech has been re-

excite difguft in every perfon

tance with newfpapers and

again.

could

eafily

v^Ayr,)

in

which

who

not to drink, that

this then a

is

muft

fee

to

it

twenty different

have feen that fpeech parodied.

is

the quollion

fight, or not to fight, that is the quefiion

that

it

has any acquain-

pamphlets

mention

fpeak, or not to fpeak, that

or not to wed,

to

gene-

in

peated, imitated, and mangled fo often, that

To

is

and the wretched

letters,

parody upon Hamlet's folilcquy

which

Seir,

is

the quefl:ion

the queRion,

time for

fucli egregious trifling

filling
?

^To

To

To wed,
drink,

or

^c:

Is

is*c, isfc.

the newfpapers

with

ari$ti6e.

95

But this is not all ; I could mention a cafe that

happened a few years ago in New York. A gentleman had publiftied a fmall piece by itfelf, and
put his own name and defcription on the title page;
he was immediately attacked

and unmannerly

tice,

is

his

itfelf,

are

we

could get a

friends

This prac-

reply.

liable to the higheft

Whether

writers" in the

the utmoft difficulty^

by way of

inferted

indeed,

ruption.

was with

it

that even for pay

few words

by anonymous

flyle,

newfpapers, and

the moft virulent

in

degree of cor-

to fuppofe

it

v/as

pay or

profanenefs, that introduced into the paper printed

by the infamous
groil*eft

pieces containing the

obfcenity, and

which ought

to

have been

punifhed by the magiftrates of the place, as a pub-,

lie

nuifance?

printer, that

It

is

alfo generally believed of that

he encouraged or hired worthlefs per-

fons to publifh afperfions againft a gentleman in th^

neighbourhood,

of good eftate,

but of no great

judgment, that he might fqueeze money out of

him

for the liberty of contradicting them.

not fay that things are

come

but the pratice leads to

it,

this length

do

with you

and therefore fhould be

early and vigoroufly oppofed.

For the above reafons, caution

admitting eflays into

he newfpapers

fufFering a controverfy in
interefted, to

is

to
at

which people

be agitated there

at

all.

be ufed in

any

rate, or

are greatly

The

wri-

become perfonal and abulive,

the fubjel: by refuting or expofing

ters are very apt to

-and

to forget

every thing that has been thrown out by their antagonifls.

Certainly, however,

they ought to con-

fine themfelves to the pieces that

Vol. IX.

have been origi-

ARISTIDES.

96

nally publlflied in <he newfpnpers, and are fuppofcd

by the fame perfons who read

anfwer a whole book by a feries

to have been read

To

the anfvvers.

of letters in the newfpapers,

like attacking a

is

man

behind his back, and fpeaking to his prejudice before perfons

who

never faw nor heard of him, nor

Common

are ever likely fo to do.

read by many,

many more

yet the newfpapers are read

and therefore

Senfe has been

by

affirm, that permit-

him

ting his adverfaries to attack

there,

is

giving

them an undue advantage over him, and laying the

public at the mercy of thofe who will not Hick to
any thing whatever

aflert

Let no body

dom

of the prefs.

fectly free

from every

bad caufe.

writing againfl the free-

defire that

tings of confequence

in fupport of a

am

fay I

bias; but I

upon fuch

it

fhould be per-

would have

a caufe as this,

by themfelves, that they may (land or

liflied

their

own

How

do you think.

merit, and the

all

judgment of the

wri-

pub-

fall

by

public.

the letter of the common

Sir,

man publifhed in your paper, fome time ago,

would do if lengthened out a little, and printed in a
pamphlet ? Under a thin and filly pretence of impartiality, he takes upon him to tell us what a number of things muft be

we

proceed

ment

we

at

this

call this

ings to be infulted

be previoufly
tion

previoufly fettled, before

a regular plan of govern-

we mud

expel for our

and the other nation and port.

reafoning
?

fettled,

may enumerate

which

all

upon

fuch as, what price

produce
Shall

to fix

If all or

any
fifty

Are our undcrftand-

any fuch things muft

man

of com.mon invcR-

thoufand perfedlly fimilar,

will never be fettled

by previous computation

ARISTIDES.

97

the end of the world, but will fpeedily fettle

till

common

themfelves by

intereft,

open, and the common man

fliall

when

never

know any

trade

is

thing of the matter.

But what

complain

chiefly

of,

the tedious,

is

indecent altercation, occafioned by hand-

trifling,

ling this fubjeft

the newfpapers.

in

It

certainly

requires a fpeedy decifion, as well as mature deliberation

yet

mud we

wait

Cato and other wri-

till

have exhaufled their invention

ters

week

papers, from
ther's

perfons,

week,

to

the newf-

in

guefl^ed at

and triumphantly

exprefl^ed

difdain at each other's fentiments or ftyle.

letters

had been a pamphlet,

itfelf,

for

it

is,

would be indecent
that in

If Cato's
all

the reafoning;

time; yet

muft we wait fome weeks more,

this

proceed to alion before

to

But

he has done fpeaking.

it

all

in the fourth part of the

after eight letters,

their

could have read

that he has faid in an hour, and

part by

one ano-

way

after all, the worft of

we

of letter and anfwer,

never come to the argument

at all.

not, the points to be 'difcufled

are very plain

-If I miftake

and

not numerous, and yet wholly untouched, at lead

by Cato,

though he has been repeatedly called

upon by his adverfaries. For example Is there a

probable profpel: of reconciliation on conftitutional

principles
ples

be

What

thefe conftitutional princi-

Will any body fhew that Great Britain can

fufliciently fure

fure of our liberties

je6l

are

of our dependence, and yet

?

treatife

would be highly acceptable

executed, ufeful to
tion more.

all.

fnall

upon

to

this laft fub-

me, and

if

well

add but one quef-

Will the country be

I

we

as

orderly and

ARISTIDES.

)8

happy, and our

efforts for refiftance as effectual,

the prefent rules and temporary proceedings, as

by

when

the whole are united by a firm confederacy, and

their exertions concentrated like the ftrength of a

fmgle

ftate ?

am

greatly miftaken

if

thefe points

ought not to be the hinge of the controverfy, and

yet if they have been examined fully, or the greatell
part of theni even touched upon by Cato or his coadjutors, I have read their

works with very

little at-

tention.

Now,

Sir, this

paper goes to you, that

you may infert

promife of good deed

pleafe

In

fate i

but neither

it,

to

make way

if

you

money nor

for

it,

fo thzt

wholly uncertain.
I remain. Sir,

Yours, ^c

ARISTIDES.

PART
OF A

SPEECH

IN

CON

G R E

S S,

ON THE

CONFERENCE
PROPOSED BY

LORD HOWE.

Mr

President,

THE

fubjea we are now upon, is felt and confefTed by us all to be of the utmoft confe-

quence, and perhaps

difficulty.

cafes

to

may

alfo fay,

have not been

make folemn

and fhall not do

it

of delicacy and

accuftomed

in

fuch

profeflions of impartiality,

now, becaufe

I will not

fuppofe

that there are any fufpicions to the contrary in the

minds of thofe who hear me. Befides the variety

of opinions that have been formed and delivered

upon it, feem to prove that we are giving our own
proper judgment, without prejudice or influence;

which

mod

hope

will lead to the difcovery of

what

is

wife and expedient upon the whole.

As
to us

the deliberation arifes from a meliage fent

by Lord Howe,

at

lead by his permifnon^

Is

SPEECH ON THE CONFERENCE

I0
think

it is

to

acSlnefs

of importance to attend with greater exall

the circumftances of that meffage,

who

than has been done by any gentleman

fpoken on the fubje6b.

who

and one

Britain,

a6l:s

is

faid to carry a

commiflion

home, from
proHowe's
of parliament, and from Lord
the condufl of the miniftry at

clamation in conformity to both,

it

abfolufce unconditional fubmiffion is

quire us to agree to, or

mean

from the moft authentic

is

plain, that

what they

ther increafing every day.

Howe

re-

And

to force us to.

private intelligence, the

king has not laid afidehis perfonal rancour;

Lord

Great

peace to America.

From
the

comes from the com-

It

in chief of the forces of the king of

mander
to give

has yet

it is

ra-

In thefe circumftances,

has evidently a great defire to engage

us in a treaty

and yet he has conftantly avoided

He

giving up the leaft punftilio on his fide.

could

never be induced to give General Waftiington his

He plainly tells us he cannot treat with
title.

Congrefs as fuch

war

to

come and

but he has allowed a prifoner of

tell

us he would be glad to fee us

as private gentlemen.
It

has been faid that this

to the Congrefs

to be got over, in

is

no

infult or difgrace

honour

that the point of

making the

firft

Sir, is miftaking the

matter wholly.

this point of honour

advances.

He

he has made the

is

hard
This,

has got over

firft

overtures*,

he has told General Wafliington, by Colonel Putnam, that he wiflied that mefliige to be confidcred as
making the firft ftep. His renewed attempts by Lord

Prummond, and pow by

Generjil Sullivan^ point

PROPOSED BY LORD HOWE.

out to
It

the world that he has

all

made

lOl
the

firft ftep.

home, and I am of
already written and boafted of to the

will doubtlefs be related at

opinion

it

is

miniftry at home, that he has taken fuch a part.

Therefore, any evil or condefcenfion that can atfirft, has been fubmitted to by
Yet has he uniformly avoided any circum-

tend feeking peace

him.

ftance that can imply that

we

are any thing elfe but-

fubjets of the king of Great Britain, in rebellion.

Such

a meflage as this, if in any degree intended

as refpeclful to us,

has

ought to have been fecret ; yet

In ihort, fuch a mef-

been open as the day.

it

fage was unneceflary; for

municate his mind

he meant only to com-

if

the Congrefs by private gen-

to

tlemen, he might have done that many ways, and

it

needed not to have been known either to the public

or the Congrefs,

till

thefe private gentlemen

here on purpofe to reveal

it

Thefe, then, are the

circumftances which attend this meflage as

now

before us

ply with

it

in

and the queftion

any degree, or not

benefit will be derived

fhewn

be

to

from

poflible.

It

it ?

is,

we

we

the greateft part,

dence

Yet

leaft

we

have fo
if

is

we com-

There

is

none yet

has been admitted by

who

has fpoken,

are not to admit a thought of giving

independence

not the

fhall

it

Let us afk what

every perfon without exception

that

came

lately declared

up the
and by

not the whole, that there

is

reafon to expel: that any correfpon-

can have with him will tend to peace.

I think, in

the beginning of the debate, fuch rea-

fonings were ufed as feemed to

that

we

We

were told that

fhould grafp at
it

it

was

as

me

only to conclude

means of peace.

eafy for us to boaft or

SPEECH ON THE CONFERENCE

102

be valiant here

away before

but that our armies were running

their enemies.

neither here nor any where

never loved boafting,

elfe.

look upon

almoft a certain forerunner of difgrace.

my

hope of fuccefs

it

as

found

in this caufe, not in the valour

of Americans, or the cowardice of Britons, but

upon the

juftice of the caufe,

the nature of things.

and

Britain has

flill

firft

more upon
injured and

inflamed America to the higheft degree

and

now

attempts, at the diftance of three thoufand miles,

to carry on
it

war with

to abfolute

wonder

whole country, and force

fubmiffion.

war fmce

events of the
ther

this

it

If

we

whole

take the

commenced, we

fhall ra-

at the uniformity of our fuccefs, than

be furprifed

at

fome

We

crofs events.

have feen

bravery as well as cowardice in this country

and

there are no confequences of either that are probable, that

can be worth mentioning as afcertaining

the event of the conteft.

Lord

Howe

yet ftruck; as

blow not being

caufe depended upon one battle,

fpeaks of a decifive

if this

which could not be avoided.

gious miftake.

long time, or

We

of

the fame.
lofs

a prodi-

at all for a

as

was the

themfelves in the Scotch re-

1745, and the caufe notwithftanding be

I wifh it were confidered, that neither

nor difgrace worth mentioning, has befallen us

what

the late engagement, nor comparable to

in

the Britilh troops have often fuffered.

tle

is

may fight no battle

we may lofe fome battles,

cafe with the Britilh

bellion

Sir, this

At

the bat-

of Prefton, Sir, they broke to pieces, and ran

away
felf

like

fheep, before a

few highlanders.

faw them do the fame thing

my-

at Falkirk, witir

?ROPOSED BY LOUD HOWE.

ery

little

difference, a fmall part only of the army-

making a

(land,

and

in a

few hours the whole

before

treating with precipitation

Did

make any

that

the leaft

lOJ

fo long as the

enemies.

their

difference in the caufe

Not

it

in

body of the nation were

Nor

determined, on principle, againfb the rebels.

would

re-

have made any other difference, but in

time, though they had got poffeffion of London,

which they might have

derftood their bufinefs

eafily

done

if

they had un-

for the militia

in

England

there gathered together, behaved fifty times worfe

than that of America has done

rally

lately.

They gene-

difbanded and ran off wholly as foon as the

rebels

came within ten

In fhort,

Sir,

or twenty miles of them.

from any thing that has happened,

fee not the leaft reafon for our attending to this delufive

meffage.

On

the contrary, I think

it is

very worft time that could be chofen for us

will be looked

fufe the

fame

upon
fpirit,

as the effet of fear,

in

as

and

fome degree, through

the
it

dif-

diffe-

rent ranks of men.

The

improbability of any thing arifing from this

conference, leading to a

jufl:

and honourable peace,

might be fhewn by arguments too numerous to be

even fo much as named. But what I fhall only
mention is, that we are abfolutely certain, from
every circumftance,

from

all

home, and Lord Howe's own

in his

letter

to

Dr

the proceedings at
explicit declaration

Franklin, that he never will

acknowledge the independence of the American

States.
I obferved that

jedion

one or two members

to the report of the

faid, in

ob-

board of war, that

it

SPEECH ON THE CONFERENCE

104

was

like a ben^ging

of the queflion, and making a

preliminary of the whole fubje<Sl in debate.

Sir, this

a prodigious niiftake.

is

not the whole, but

debate at

all,

till

were contending

it

It

Alas,

was not only

was properly no

fubjeO: of

We

within thefe three months.

for the reftoration of certain pri-

and

vileges under the governroent of Great Britain,

we were

But

praying for re-union with her.

in the

beginning of July, with the univerfal approbation

of

the dates

all

now

united,

we renounced

conne61:ion, and declared ourfelves free

pendent.
Is it

Shall

we

and inde-

bring this into queflion again

not a preliminary

preliminary by

this

has

it

not been declared a

many gentlemen, who have

yet gi-

ven their opinion for a conference, while they have

were determined on no account, and oncondition, to give up our independence ? It is

faid they
110

then a necefTary preliminary

ferent thing

from any

and

it is

punl:ilios of

France and England were

at

quite a dif-

ceremony.

war, and they were

both defirous of peace, there might be fome

difficulty as to

but

if

who

one of them

fhould

If

make

the

firfl:

little

propofals;

fliould claim the other, as

they

did long ago, as a vaflal or dependent fubjecSl, and

fhould fignify a defire to converfe with the other,

or fome deputed by him, and propofe
privileges, fo

as

to

make him even

him many

better than be-

know how fuch a propofal would

be received ? If we had been for ages an independent republic, we fhould feel this argument with
all its force.
That we do not feel it, fliews that

fore, I

we

defire

to

have not yet acquired the whole ideas and habits

PROPOSED BY LORD HOWE.

independence

.f

from which

10^

only infer, that

now

every ftep taken in a correfpondence as

pofed, will be

or partial renunciation of

virtual

pro-

that dignity fo lately acquired.

beg you would obferve,

Sir, that

Lord

Howe

himfelf was fully fenfible that the declaration of in-

dependence precluded any treaty, in the character

in which he appeared ; as he is faid to have lamented that he had not arrived ten days fooner, before
that

declaration

was made.

Hence

appears,

it

that entering into any correfpondence with

the

manner now propofed,

at leaft

fubjeding to

is

new

it

confideration, the in-

without offence,

If I

feems to

it

fome members have unawares admitted

they are not fenfible of
it

is

it ;

in

actually giving up, or

dependence which we have declared.

allowed to fay

him

for

when

refufing to treat, unlefs the

this,

may be

me

that

though

they fay that

whole be granted

muft mean that fome part of that whole

muft be left to be difcufled and obtained, or yielded,
by the treaty.
us, they

But, Sir,
yielded,

or

many members
at

leafl

of this houfe have either

fuppofed, that no defirable

peace, or no real good, could be finally

from

this

on foot

correfpondence, which

is

but they have confidered

it

in the eye of the public, to fatisfy

are always ready to hear

peace to the country.

In this view

between Lord

the political

many members

(kill

art.

As

of this

as

it is

fet

neceffary

them

any thing that

as a fort of trial of
in

expeded

wilhed to be

that

we

will reftore

confidered

Howe and

us

do truly believe, that

houfe are determined by
I

SPEECH ON THE CONFERENCE

t06

this circumftance, I fhall confider

With

tention.

this

view

The

I.

tories,

into three great

America

diftinguifli the public in

claffes.

be neceflary to

will

it

with fome at-

it

our fecret enemies.

The

2.

fmcere
whigs, the friends of independence, our
muft
and hearty fupporters. 3. The army, who
fight for us.

of them, I readily admit that they

They are exulting in
are earneft for our treating.
innumerable
the profpea of it ; they are fpreading
They are treating the whigs
to forward it.

As

to the

firft

lies

It has
already with infult and infolence upon it.
tabrought them from their lurking holes they have
:

ken

liberty to fay things in

confequence of

But, Sir,
us at

all their

{hall their devices

all ?

if

they have at

w^hich

In one word,

they durft not have faid before.

we fet this negociation on foot,
force and vigour to

it,

it

will give

if

new

feditious machinations.

have any influence upon

all,

it

fhould be to

make

us fufpeft that fide of the queftion which they

embrace. In cafes where the expediency of a

meafure

is

doubtful,

if

had an opportunity of

knowing what my enemies wiflied me to do, I

would not be eafiiy induced to follow their advice.

As

am

to the

whigs and friends of independence,

well perfuaded that multitudes of them are al-

ready clear in their minds, that the conference

fhould be utterly rejected

doubt about
quifite,

to thofe

nature, nothing

than a clear and

ftate of the

them.

its

and

cafe,

which

full
I

more

who

are in

will be re-

information of the

hope

will be granted

PROPOSED BY LORD HOW.

As

to the iMrmy, I cannot help being of opinion,

that nothing will

more

tions of war, than

efFelualIy

what

is

deaden the opera-

propofed.

ourfelves expe6l any benefit from

And

I07

it,

"We do not
but they will.

they will poflibly impute our conduct to fear

and jealoufy

as

to

the ifTue of the caufe

will add to their prefent

little

which

difcouragement, and

produce a timorous and defpondent

Vol. IX.

fpirit.

SPEECH
IK

CONGRESS,
ON THE

CONVENTION
WITH

GENERAL BURGOYNE.

Mr

President,

AM fenfible,

as every other

gentleman in

this

houfe feems to be, of the great importance of

the prefent queflion.

It is

of

much moment,

as to

private perfonsy fo to every incorporated fociety, to

preferve

and

it

its

is

faith

and honour

efpecially

fo

to

in

us,

folemn contracts
as reprefenting the

United States of America, affbciated fo lately, and

I
juft beginning to appear upon the public flage.
hope, therefore,

we

fliall

deteft

embracing any meafure which

the thoughts of

fliall

but appear to

be mean, captious, or infidious, whatever advanOn the other

tage may feem to arife from it.
hand, as the interefl of this continent is committed
to our care,

of us, that

it is

we

our duty, and

it

will

be expeded

give the utmofl attention that the


ON THE CONVENTION,

10^

SiC,

and

public fufFer no injury by deception, or abufe

on the part of our enemies.

infuit,

On

the

firft

of thefe principles,

we

opinion, that

it

my^

clearly

is

ought, agreeably to the

fpirit

of the

firft

refolution reported, to find, that the conven-

tion

is

not fo broken, on the part of General Bur-

goyne, as to entitle us to refufe compliance with

on ours, and detain him and

war.

admit that there

his

army as

in the

makes mention of the

ing upon the fort.

prifoners of

fomething very fufpi-

is

cious in the circumftance of the colours,

pared with his letter

London

when com-

Gazette, which

colours being feen fly-

Britifli

at the

I agree,

fame time, that

menThey

the pretence of the cartouch boxes not being

tioned in the convention

ought, in

fair

is

it

plainly an evafion.

conftrulion, to be

comprehended un-

der more expreffions of that capitulation than one

armsj ammunition^ warlike

denlood

many

of

them were

certainly ought to have

And

or none.

all

once more,

delivered up>

been the cafe with

I

admit that the de-

lention-of the bayonets in the inftances in

was done,

As

In this

the capitulation of St John's.

at

prefent inftance

which

They were foun-

ftores.

which

it

v/as undeniably unjaft.

to the

firft

of thefe particulars,

am

unwill-

ing to diftruft the honour of a gentleman folemnly

given; and therefore'as General Burgoyne has given

his
left

honour
in

to General Gates, that the colours

Canada,

fuppofe

It

is

fubftantially

whatever fmall exception there might be to

it.

were
true,

The

colours fecn flying at Tyconderoga, were perhaps old

colours occafionally found there, or perhaps taken

from fome of the

vefiels lying at the place,.

K2

^msHoi^

ON THE CONVENTION

10

ihere

when

try.

This

ments

the
is

army proceeded

farther

up the coun-

the rather probable, that if the regi

in general

had had colours, they muft have

been feen very frequently by our army in the battles,

or upon the march.

As
and

mean

to the other circumftances, they are fo

little

in their

nature, that

fuppofe them ta

have arifen from the indifcretion of individuals,

unknown

<]uite

to the

commander

in chief, or

even

to the officers in general.

We

ought

alfo to confider that

it

was

unex-

fo

pected, and mufl have been fo humiliating a thing,

for a

whole

army

Britiili

to furrender their arms,

and deliver themfelves up prifoners-to thofe of whom

they had been accuftomed to fpeak^vi^th fuch con-

tempt and difdain

if

the

and

common

ill

that

it is

fome things out of

foldiers did

humour, not

confiderations,

be

to

I will

not to be wondered

juftified.

To

all

at,,

fpite

thefe

only add, that though the

want of the colours deprives us of fome enfigns of

triumph which it would have been very grateful to
the different dates to have diftributed

and

to

among them,

have preferved as monuments of our vitStory,

the other things are fo trifling and unefTential, that

it

would probably be coafidered

advantage,

if

we

as taking an

fliould retain the

would

undue

whole army here

therefore, Sir, have

it

clearly aflerted, that though

of

thofe

irregularities,

we are not infenfible

and they may contribute

to

make

us attentive to what

on

that account.

the embarkation,

we do

(liall

hereafter pafs before

not confider them as fuch

breaches of the convention, as will authorize us in

juflice to declare

it

void.

WITH

On

nv

Gnes:al' b^rgoyke.

the other hand. Sir,

It

our indifpenfable

is

duty to ufe the greateft vigilance, and to

a6l with

the greateft firmnefs, in feeing that juftice be done

American

to the

what

may

call

Not only

States.

caution, but

jealoufy and fufpicion,

is

neither

unreafonable nor indecent in fuch a cafe. This will

be juflified by the knowledge of mankind.

tory affords us

condu6l

fome of the

in

when

greateft

when hard

table nations,

or

many examples

of evafive and artful

men and moft refpec-

prefled

by

their neceffities,

was

great advantage

Hif-

in

The

view.

Romans when their army was

Caudine Forks may be produced as

behaviour of the
taken

at the

The condu6l

one.

wife
the

but that of the

laft

fend

Romans was

though there are

degree,

it.

of the Samnites was not over-

Their conful,

after his

through the yoke^ a fymbol

difhonourable to
civilians

who

army had

at that

de-

paffed

time of the ut=

moft infamy, made a peace with the Samnites^

The

fenate refufed to ratify

of regard

Gonful to the Samnites,

proper.
g.efted

it

to the faith plighted,

to

but kept up a fhew

by delivering up the'

be ufed as they thought

That people anfwered,

by plain

common
them

paration at

all to

to death

but that

if

as

fenfe, that
to

was eafily fugit was no re-

torment or put- one man;

they difavowed' the treaty,*

they ouglit^ to fend back the army- to the fame fpotof ground in v^hich they had been furrounded.

fuch thing.-however, was done.

notwithftanding,

immedl-.tely

No

But the Romans,

broke

the

league

fame army which had been let go, or

a great part of it, brought the unhappy Samnites toSuch inftances may be braught from
deftru6tion.
and with the

<

K3

N THE CONVENTION

112

modern

as well as ancient times.

many

opinion of

perfons

of the

that the convention entered into

Cumberland,

vv^as

It is

by no means

even the

judgment,

befl

duke of

by the

late

flridtly

obferved by

the court of London.

When

I confefs I

confider this, Sir,

look upon'

the expreffion in General Burgoyne's letter to

November

Gates, of

ral

mod alarming

For no other or better reafon, even

iiature.

much

14, as of the

Gene-

as pretended,

than that his

fo^

were

quarters

not fo commodious as he expedled, he declares the

public faith

In

is

broken

and we are

he exprefsly declares and fubfcribes his opi-

this

nion, that the convention

and

the imnrediate Jiifferers.

in the

laft

is

broken on our part

we

exprefFion,

are

the immediate^

fufferers, every perfon muft perceive a

intimation of
iliall

have

Being

which I

me

in his

it

ihall

menacing

be the fufferers when he

power.

fufliciently fettled as to the principle

fliall

to give

found

heap up

writers on that

may have

my

opinion,

citations

fubj.e(5t.

unnecellary for

beg

it

I fliall fay"

may be

law of nature and nations

that the
ii?ut

from the numerous

But that what

the greater force,

thing elfe

it is

the

ob-

no-

is

law of general reafon, or thofe

obligations of duty from reafon and confcience,

one individual
ticular

to another,

law derived from the

vilual confent.

of nature

on

an account of the law of nature and na-

tions, or to

ferved,

who

On

this

antecedent to any par-

even

focial compal;, or

actount,

it is

called the

and becaufe there are very rarely

found any parties in fuch a free

to each othcrj

on

ftate

law

to

be

with regard

except independent nations, there-

WITH GENERAL BURGOYNE.

fore

It Is

alfo called the

to another

Keeping

ture.

to

by confulting

perfon of integrity

The

chief ufe of books-

to apply the principle to particular-

is,

and fuppofitions differently

cafes

in a flate of na-

judgment on fubjeds of this

his own heart, as by turning

over books and fyftems.

and fyftems

man

this in view,

will pafs as found a

kind,

law of nations. One nation

man

juft as

is

if^

and to

claffed,

point out the practice of nations in feveral minute

and

which unlefs afcertained by

would be very uncertain and ambiguous.

fpecial particulars,

pralice,

But, Sir,

mu{l beg your attention,

and.^

that of

the houfe, to the nature of the cafe before us

leaft as I

that

think

it

ought to be

flated.

General Burgoyne as an irregu-

of the fame fpecies,

larity

if I

may

fpeak

the other indifcretions or even frauds, if

to call

them

fo,

a breach of the convention.

part given

up

you

The

not, whetlier this or the other thing

is

fo,

with,

pleafe

of withholding the cartouch boxes,

or hiding or flealing the bayonets.

army

afraid,

fome members may be mifled, by confidering

this declaration of

is.

am

at

thefe particulars,

all

and

queftion

done by the

my
declared my

have for

willingnefs to ratify the convention, after I have

heard them and*believe them to be true.

But we

have here the declared opinion of one of the parties

that the public faith is broken by the other.
Now,
the fimplefl

man

onerous contradt
tlie

condition

world knows, that a mutual

always conditional ; and that if

in the
is

fails

on one

ty or fraud, the other

is

reafon to conclude, that

nion that the convention

fide,

whether from

free.

Therefore

if
is

Mr

Burgoyne

necefli-

we have

is

of opi-

broken on our part, he

^^

114

will not hold to

of a fool

if

his opinion
ly

is

"^^^^

He would

oil his.

it

he did.
is

CONVENnON

of no confequence to fay

It is

ill-founded or unjuft, as

in the prefent cafe; for

unjuft,

wrong

if

it

act the part

is

doubt

manifeftis

juil or

we

fhould

it

opinion (and

real/y his

hisj fincerity to

whether

it

the confequences

it)

Men

are the fame v/ith refpecSt to us.

do often^

perhaps generally, adhere with greater obftinacy to

opinions that are

ill,

than thofe that are well found-

ed, and avenge imaginary or trifling injuries with;

greater violence than thofe that are real and great.

Nay, we may draw an argument for our danger

from the very injuftice of his complaint. If he hasconceived the convention to be broken on fo frivolous a pretence as that his lodging

is

not quite com-

modious, after the juft caution inferted by General

Gates

in the preliminary articles,

what have we

to

recover his

li-

expel;

from him

berty,

and the power of doing mifchief

as foon as

he

fliall

It

fliews^

a difpofition to find fault, and an impatience under

liis

prefent confinement, the future

efFe61;s

of whick

we
The more I confider this matter, Sir, the more it
ftrikes me with its force.
General Gates fays upon
have the greateft reafon to dread.

the fubjedl: of accommodation, granted as for as cir-

Was

cumjlatices imll admit.

ceflary? It

was very natural

not this proper and ne-to fuppofe that

General

Burgoyne, accuftomed to the fplendor of the Britifh court,

and poirelfed with ideas of his own im-

portance, would be but

commodations
his

of

numerous

New

ill

pleafed with the beft ac-

that could be obtained for him,

and

followers, in one of the frugal Hates

England.

It

was

alfo in the

neighbourhood

\V1TH GENERAL BURGOYNE.

of a place not in the

leaft

II5

expelling the honour of

fuch guefts, v/hich had been long the feat of war

which had been exhaufted by our army, and plundered by their's. One would have thought that the
recolIe6lion of the ruin of Charleflown, the burning
t)f

which,

miftake not, in a letter of his from

if I

Bofton to England, he

might

calls a glorious light,

have prevented his complaints, even though he had

lefs

elbow room than he wiihed

cumftances ftand, by what condul:

to fatisfy

him

When

But

for.

fhall

as cir-

we be

able

want-

will pretences ever be

ing to one feeking to prove the convention broken,

when
It

it is

his inclination or his interefl to

has been

faid.

we ought

Sir, that

was written

fo

not to take

manner

this declaration of his in fo ferious a

it

do

that

and in the heat of paflion

rafhly,

and that he did not mean that we fhould dread fuch

confequences from
ly true.

It

All this

it.

probably

But

rafhly betrayed his

own

believe to be fbritt-

from him

fell

very unadvifedly.

is

he the

in

firft

pafBon

and

perfon that has

mifchievous defigns

Or

is

this a reafon for our not availing ourfelves of the hap-

py difcovery? His folly in this inftance is our good

fortune. He is a man, Sir, whom I never faw, though
1 have been more than once in England but if I fhould
j

fay I did not

know him,

after

having read his lofty

and fonorous proclamation, and fome other producHe is evitions, I fhould fay what was not true.
It
dently a man fhowy, vain, impetuous, and rafh.
is

reported of General Gates, from

whom

never

heard that any other words of boafling or oflentation

fell,

that he faid he

he could build

a wall for

knew Burgoyne, and

him

to

that

run his head againfl

do not by any means approve of

ral.

done,
I

QH THE CONVENTION, ^C,

16

think a

much

man

lefs

boafting

fhould not boaft of what

gene*

he has

of what he only means to do

c:mnot help faying, that

this

was

mod

yet

accurate

predibioa, which, with the event that followed

it,,

plainly points out to us the character of General

Burgoyne.

Do

you think

that fuch a

man would

not take the advantage of this pretended breach of

the convention on our part

and endeavour to wiper

off the reproach of hrs late ignominious farrender

by fome

fignal or defperate

undertaking

SPEECH
IN

CONGRESS,
ON

MOTION

FOR

PAYING

THE INTEREST OF

LOJN-OFFICE CERTIFICATES.

Mr

President,

1MU8T entreat the attention of the houfe, while I

endeavour to

ftate

this fubjeft

brevity and perfpicuity as

am

mafter

not eafy to forbear mentioning, yet

mention, the

many

diilreiTed

with as
of.

I (hall

and unhappy

much
It

is

but barely

fituation

of

of the perfons concerned in the public loans.

I fliall aifo

pafs

by their characters,

as

whigs and

friends to the
fervices

American caufe. I {hall pafs by the

which many of them have rendered, in

their perfons,

by

Thefe are affeding confiderations,

their prayers

which ought
not

of

by their friends, by their purfes, and

fail,

not,

and which I

am

confident will

to have their weight with every

this houfe.

member

Let us then, leave thefe topics

alto-

gether, and let us confine ourfelves to the duty and

SPEECH ON THE INTEREST OF

Xl8

of the United States in their prefent fitua-

interefl:

when
who are

tion,

the care of their affairs

us

here aflcmbled.

Public credit

which experts
it is all

is

to

committed

is

of the utmoft

moment

fupport

at

itfelf,

to a ftate

any time

but

The want

in all in a time of war.

to

of

it

defeats the wifeft meafures, and renders every de-

partment torpid and motionlefs.

nied, that

by many unhappy,

fures, public

the lowed ebb,

firft

emiflion of paper

ruptcy, reducing

by

among

credit

cannot be de-

not unwife mea-

if

us has been reduced to

by a monftrous and unheard of

money

it

It

next by an at of bank-

to fix pence in the

pound; then

There remained but

a table of depreciation.

one thing which preferved us fome degree of refpe6bability, that

made

to lenders of

before a certain period, had been kept for

money

years

three

the promifes

but

ftroke, this alfo is

now

the

as

laft

and finifhing

broken to pieces, and given to

the winds.

Let not gentlemen cry out

as before,

why

diftin-

guiih thefe people from other public creditors

do not
alone

diftinguifli

but

them by

diftinguifli

afking

payment

for

them

them, becaufe their

cir-

new and

dif-

cumftances and difappointment give a

graceful ftroke to the credit of the United States.

I diftinguifli

ings and complaints

ftep towards the

the

laft

hope

that their fuffer-

may induce

us lo take fome

them, becaufe

payment of

all.

Strange

it is

to

degree, that this comparifon fliould feem

to fet gentlemen's

minds

at

jury has been done to one

may and ought

to

eafe-^becaufe great in-

clafs,

therefore the fame

be done to another.

In this

way

LOA!^-OFFICE CERTirrCATES.

would be very eafy

it

to fay,

why

cates

have not

bills

luitered

to rid ourfelves of both,

as

and

noife about loan-ofEce certifi-

this

all

II9

the

all

much

or

of continental

receivers

more than

they, and

had

the immenfe funi of two hundred millions funk in

their

one

hands
cafe,

it

would be a good anfwer in

would in the other. Now is

If this

certainly

proper or fafe in our prefent fituation, to refufe

it

kind of payment to the public creditors in this

all

numerous and

country,

fo

ftanced

Let us examine

fo

variously

circum-

a little.

it

We are now endeavouring to borrow, and have the

hope of borrowing money

way to fucceed?

Is

Europe.

in

not pofTiblc,

it

is it

Is this the

not highly pro-

bable, that our treatment of our creditors here, will

known

foon be

there

creditors interefted

there

Muft not

Nay, are not fome of our

in

this

this

very meafure, refiding

repeated infolvency, neglect

and even contempt of public

creditors, prevent peo-

ple from lending us in Europe

it,

but in truth

am

do believe that

forry to fay

it is

their igno-

rance of our fituatlon and paft conduct, that alone

make them truft us. I confefs, that if I were

at Amfterdam juft now and had plenty of" money,
I would give v.-hat I thought proper to the United
States, but would lend them none.
will

It

will

is

fo

to be hoped, that in time truth

far

prevail, that

necelTity of doing

feem but

payment

little

to the

their

difpofcd

and juftice

our pof^erity will fee the

duty
to

it.

but

By

at

prefent

we

making fome

public creditors immediately, and

profecuting the meafures already begun for further

fecur'.ty,

we

Vol. IX.

(liould obtain a dignity

and weight

a-

SPEECH ON THE INTEREST OF

120

money wherever

broad, that would procure

It

could

be found.

Let us next confider the

at

home.

fecurity

It

has ever been

ney

at

my

were good, and our

obligations by the public

any time,

effect

upon our

opinion, that

credit
if

our

credit entire, fo that

would be turned

at par or at little lefs,

into

we

mo-

fliould

no inconfiderable number of lenders. Every

thing of this kind proceeds upon fuch certain prinfind

ciples as never to fail in any inilance of having their

From the general difpofition, that prevails

in this new country, real ellate is lefs efteemed,
und money at intereft more, that is to fay comparaNow, whatever
tively fpeaking, than in the old.
eiTel.

fuccefs

we may have

ihould

flill

in

Europe,

need, or at lead be

am perfuaded we
much the better of

home, which are in their nature preferable

to thofe abroad ; and therefore whatever leads utterly to deftroy our credit at home, does an eflential
loans at

Nay, though there were

injury to the public caufe.

not any proper loans to be expected or attempted

home, fome trufling to public credit would be

neceffary, to make thofe to whom we are already
indebted patient, or at leaft filent for fome time.
nt

that annihilating public cre-

may be added

To

this

dit,

or rather rendering

it

contemptible, has an un-

happy influence upon every

porary operation.
vice, but fly

fometimes
lies
till

for

from

ilorcs

the

particular internal tem-

People will not feek your

it.

Hence

it is

well known, that

and ammunition or other necefla-

army, have flood

they were half

fer-

loll for

flill

upon the road

want of ready money, or

LOAN-OFFICE CERTlFICATEg.

trud you, to carry them for-

who would

people

121

ward.

We mull now go a little further, and fay, that if this

propofition
to the

inforced,

is

payment of

which muft be

it

will

taxes,

and

be a great hindrance
raifing

from the

called for

the

ftates.

fupplies
I

do not

upon what has been already mentioned, that

the payment propofed would enable many to pay their
taxes
becaufe, though that is certainly true with
refpel to thofe who fliall receive it, and though it
infill,

opinion,

but a

it is

the other effects of

trifle to

both in the pofitive and negative way.

give dignity to the public

people in general.

tiie

muring

at

need not
free

men

at a

in

houfe

this

It

public

of

it,

in

truit

management cf

but in general

when

well

is

it

as ready

do not fpeak by guefs,

I tell

you that they

fay,

we

paying prodigious taxes, but what becomes

the

money

The army,

creditors fay they get

none of

it,

for their

money.

collector

of Somerfet county,
a

This was told

The

to

fay to

L2

public

not even intereit

me

by the county

New

Jerfey, v/ho

contentious man, but wifhed to

what he ought

none

fay they, get

being almoft two years in arrear.

was not

depends

are abundantly jealous, and

but from facts,

now

mur-

but a very general view that

is

to believe evil as good.

all

how much

diftance can take of the

known, they

are

the people

upon having the efleem and attachment

of the people.

people

would give

public perfons and public meafurcs.

tell

flate,

and animation to

fpirit,

It

it,

would

It

of their rulers, and prevent

better thoughts

of

my

admitted they are pretty numerous, yet in

is

the people.

know

Now

this

SPEECH ON THE INTEREST OF

122

fmall payment, as

much

be

would be very general, would

it

talked of; and

am

perfuaded, for

general good influence, would be worth

more than
heard

times throw a

fum we

the

all

fome

faid in

it

little

a total refufal

creditors,

that

what

will be the confe-

You hive

told the public

you have no money

They

in

Europe to

will very fpeedily hear

loan in Holland.

They

already

add to their indignation.

this will

have

it.

the other hand,

for.

you muft fomc-

llmilar cafes,

quence of

draw

beftow.

fhali

and

water Into a pump, in order to

bring a great deal out of

Now, on

all,

its

really are already fore

are fulHciencly exafperated

their

of this

minds

They

will be rankled

more than ever. They are looking with an evil

eye upon fome new men coming into play, and
thinking themfelves unjuftly^and ungratefully ufed^
I

believe they are not fo

to turn their backs

fpirit vf fa(il:ion

unhappy
fpread

own

upon the public caufe

may do

it

eiTential injury.

to refufe their taxes

and

be formed,

ailbciation (hould

if

intereft,

but a

would pretend

to

They

any fuch
it

and many from a blind attachment

footing,

would
to their

be upon the fame

though th^y have no concern in the matif this

difpofition

(hould become general^

would put an

entire flop

to

ter
it

without principle, as

and general difcontent, upon fu.h

plaufible grounds,

may combine

much

and

This difcouraging

on conjecture.

profpe<!i^ is
I

all

our proceedings.

not merely founded

have been told that there have

already been meetings for entering into concert for

refufing to pay taxes.

circumftances,

more

Is it poITible

profitably

we

can, in our

employ the fum

LOAN-OFFICE CERTIFICATES.
mentioned in the motion, than
of

in giving fatisfaclion

body of men, and

to a deferving

I23

preventing evils

in

alarming a nature.

fo

fome are comforting themown fincerity and good intentions

It is poffible. Sir, that

felves

with their

that they ultimately refolve to pay

it.

honourabfy

money

of

fuiti

is

impoil

fame purpofe.

But, Sir,

time before the

bring

money

time the

mod

appropriated

is
it

to

the

will take a confiderable

fpeedy of thefe meafures can

into the treafuvy

-y

and

in the

late ftep of refufing to draw

given fuch

on
and

called for

purpofe to pay the interefl of the public debts

the five per cent,

and are taking meafures to

that they have taken,

prepare for

all

meart

bills,

has

flroke to loan-office certificates, that

their value is fallen to a

very

the people are broken^

trifle

the

of

fpirits

gentleman told

me

the

other day, I fee the loan-office certificates are gone,

as well as

all

the reft of the money.

ble confequence will

and

neceffity, or incredulity

them

part with

that hard

be,

ill

The
and

inevita-

irrefiflible

humour,

will

make

them for a mere nothing and then

them by far will really be in the
;

the greatelt part of

hands of fpeculatora.
cafe, I (hall not

body

be at

will propofe a

fay to the holders,

When
all

furprifed to find that

new
you

this is notorioufly the

have tliem for

fhall

they were worth and generally

time.

P.ift

fome-

fcale of depreciation,

fold

at,,

at

and
what

fuch

a.

experience juftifies this expecSlation,

and no declaration we can make

will be ftronger than that of

to

the contrary,,

Congrefs in the year

1779, that they would redeem the money, and that

it was a
vile and flanderous afleition, that they

^3

SPEECH ON

124

would

fufFer

it

THE INTEREST,

&C.

to fink in people's hands.

kno\7

who by believing this declaNow, if this fliall be the cafe

particular perfons alfo,

ration, loft their

all.

again, public faith will be once

foot

-,

more trodden under

and the few remaining original holders of

certificates will loofe

them

entirely,

being taken in

connexion with thofe who purchafed them

under value.

at

an

PART
O

SPEECH

CONGRESS,

IN

ON THE

FINANCES,

Mr President,
HAVE little to fay

againft the refolutions,

as

they ftand reported by the fuperintendant of

finance.

Perhaps they are unavoidable

we

cumftances to which

are

it

fo

much

Yet the

reduced.

ftep feems to be fo very important,

quences of

in the cir-

and the confe-

muft

to be dreaded, that I

intreat the patience of the houfe,

till

I ftate

the dan-

ger in a few words, and examine whether any thing

can poflibly be added

to

it,

which may

gree prevent the evils which

leaft

that

feme de-

apprehend, or at

exculpate Congrefs, and convince the public

it is

Sir, if
it

we

in

will

the effect of abfolute neceflity.

we

enter into thefe refolves as they

ft

and,

be a deliberate deviation from an exprefs and

abfolute ftipulation, and therefore

it

will, as

it

was

exprefled by an honourable gentleman the other daY>

SPEECH IN CONGRESS

126

give the lad ftab to public credit.

It will

be in va?n>

in future, to afk the public to believe any promife

we

fhall

make, even when the moil clear and expli-

grounds of confidence are produced.

cit

will be faid that public credit

it

hath been faid that there

pay the

in negledling to

certificates of later date

is

already gone

no more

is

Perhaps
;

it

and

in this, than

interefl of the loan-olHce

but though there were no

other differences between them, this being another

and

freflier inftance

of the fame, will have an ad-

ditional evil in-fluence

ibmething more in

fat, there is

The folemn
manner

in

upon public
it

But

credit.

in

than in the other.

ftipulation of Congrefs, fpecifying the

which the

was

interefl

to

be paid, was-

Gonfidered as an additional fecurity,. and gave a va-

which the others never

lue to thefe certificates,

I

beg that no gentleman may think that

light matter to withhold the intereft

lenders

they will be convinced,

trary before I have

done

parifon merely to fhew

but

what

hold

had..
it

from the other

hope, of the con-

have made the

com-

will be the influence

of this meafure upon the public mind, and therefore

upon the
it is

and eflimation of Congrefs.

credit

plain, that the particular promife of giving bills

had an

and was intend-

upon Europe,

as

ed to have

in procuring credit,

it

it

broken or withdrawn,
ful

ple

Now

manner

to

efFedt,

it

operate in the

our prejudice.

muft, when,

moft power-

I will give an

exam-

our melancholy paft experience.

of this, in

money was difgraced and funk,,

March i8th, 1780, (which the

ITie old continental

firft

by the

Duke

ad

of

de Vergennes juftly called an a6t of bankrupt-

cy,) telling you

would pay no more of your debt

N THE FINANCES.
pound.

the

than fixpence in

was

This

27

after-

wards further improved by new eftimates of depreciation, of feventy-five and one hundred and

new

for

fifty,

which

ftate paper,

itfelf

was funk

to

or three for one; and yet bad as thefe men's

two

were,

cafes

the

difgrace

more than doubled, by

ariling

from them was

people's referring to,

and

repeating a public declaration of Congrefs, in which

we

complained of the injurious flanders of thofe

we would

that faid

fufFer the

money

fmk

to

in the

hands of the holders, and making the moft folemn

proteftations, that ultimately the money fliould be

redeemed

fome

dollar for dollar

and

my

to

knowledge,

trufting to that very declaration, fold their

eftates

what they thought

at

high price, and

brought themfelves to utter ruin.

I

cannot help requefting Congrefs to attend to the

ftate of thofe perfons

tificates
all,

which drew

who

held the loan-ofhce cer-

intereft

on France ; they are

without exception, the firmed and

America

to the caufe of
mofl: firm,

and

a(ftive,

fafeft friends

they were in general the

and generous friends.

Many

cf them advanced large fums of hard money, to

you

in

carrying on the

war

Canada.

in

affift

None

of

them at all put away even the loan-oiiice certificates

on fpeculation, but either from a generous intention
of ferving the public, or from an entire confidence
in the public credit.

which ought

to

There

be attended

to,

is

one circumftance

viz. the

promife of

on Europe were not made till the

I oth of September,
It was faid a day or two
1777.

hiterefl:

bills

ago, that thofe

IMarch

ift,

who

fent

in

caih

a little

before

1778, had by the depreciated date of

SPEECH IN CONGRESS

128

the money, received

almoil

principal

their

but

this makes but a fmall part of the money, for there

were but

money,

months

fix

after the

for the people to put in the

promife was made

only the mofl

apparent juftice obliged Congrefs to extend the privilege to thofe

who had

money

put in their

before.

nothing can be more unequal and inju-

Befides,

rious than reckoning the

money by

either before or after the

i(l

a great part of the tnoney in

fuch as had been paid up in

the depreciation

of March,
all

the

its

Loan

1778, for
offices

was

nominal value, in

confequence of the Tender laws.

This points you,

Sir, to

whom money was

from

orphans, corporations

many

another clafs of people,

widows and

taken, vi*.

and public

How

bodies.

guardians were a6tually led, or indeed were

obliged, to put their depreciated and depreciating

money

into the funds

The

ledge.

fpeak from good

know-

New

Jerfey,

truftees of the college of

1777, dired^ed a committee of theirs to

the money that fhould be paid up to them,

in June,

put

all

in the loan-office, fo that they

vefled

all.

Some

have

now

put in before March, 1778, and

a greater part fubfequent to that date.

mufl be known

ment of
loans,

to every body, that

Now

it

fmce the pay-

the intereft bills gave a value to thefe early

many have continued

and refted

Had

nearly in-

in a

their intereft in

manner wholly on them

they entertained the flightefl

they would be cut

for fomething,

means of

ofl',

for fupport.

fufpicion

that

they could have fold them

and applied themfelves

fubfiftence

them,

but as the cafe

to

now

other
ftands,

you are reducing not an inconfiderable number of


ON THE FINANCES.

I29

your very bed friends to abfolute beggary.

Dur-

ing the whole period, and through the whole fyftem

of continental money, your friends have

alone

lukewarm have always

the dlfaffecSted and

evaded the burden

have

many

in

inftances turn-

ed the fufFerlngs of the country to their

count

have triumphed over

whole

the whlgs

be crowned with

fhall

and

derlfion.

own

and

ac-

the

if

this laft ftroke,

feems but reafonable that they fhould

infult

fulFered

And what

faith

it

with

treat us

do you expect

the public creditors fliould place in your promife of

ever paying them at

is

all ?

What

reafon, after

what

pad, have they to dread that you will divert the

fund which

payment

now mentioned

is

as a diftant fource of

future Congrefs fhould do this,

If a

it

would not be one whit worfe than what has been

already done.
I

wi(h. Sir, this houfe

would w^eigh

a little,

the

public confequences that will immediately follow

The

this refolution.

grief,

dlfappointment and fuf-

ferings of your beft friends, has been already

tioned

then

men-

prepare yourfelves to hear from your

enemies the moft infulting abufe.

Tou

will be ac-

cufed of the moft oppreflive tyranny, and the grofs-

be poflible

eft fraud.

If

the public,

by making

it

this

to polfon the minds of

body ridiculous or con-

temptible, they will have the falreft opportunity of

doing

fo,

that ever

muft return

was put

in their hands.

But

to our plundered, long ruined friends

I
;

we casnot fay to what their rage and dlfappointment

may bring them we know that nothing on earth is
;

fo

deeply refentful, as defpifed or rejeded love

whether they may proceed

to

any violent or difor-

TJO

SPEECH IN C0MGJIIIS3

derly meafures,

it Is

We

impofRble to know.

have

an old proverb, That the eyes will break through

flone walls, and for

my own

part, I fliould very

much dread the furious and violent efforts of defpair.

Would to God, that the independence of America
by

"was once eftabliflied

for

we know

tention, the

great

that in

efFe6t:

and that

great and fierce political conis

very

the tide has run long with great

if

if it

its

pur-

to a ftand,

it is

does not fully reach

by any means brought

is

Europe

of power and circumftances

violence one way,

pofe, and

all

a treaty of peace in

apt to take a direftion, and return with the fame

or greater violence than
riiked

a crifis

at

advanced.

it

when

Muft

this

be

the people begin to be fa-

tigued with the war, to feel the heavy expence of

by paying taxes

it,

ced of their

*,

and when the enemy, convinformer

folly in their

do-

feverities, are

ing every thing they can to ingratiate themfelves

with

tlie

But though our friends

public at large.

fhould not be induced to take violent and feditious

meafures

all

once,

at

am

almoft certain

it

will

produce a particular hatred and contempt of Congrefs, the reprefentative

body of the union, and

a greater hatred of the individuals

body

at

happen
is

*,

this

that

time.
it

One

their authority

the

thing will undoubtedly

will greatly abate the refpel

due from the public

weaken

who compofe

{till

to this body,
in

all

and

which

therefore?

other parts of their

proceetlings.
I

beg leave to

fay, Sir, that in all probability,

will lay the foundation for other greater

fcandalous fleps of the fame kind.

\^hat greater can there be

and more

You

Look back

it

will fay
little

to

ON THE FINANCES.

The

your hiftory.
of public

firft

was the

!,'> I

and great deliberate breach

March i8th, 1780,

reducing the money to forty for one, which was defaith,

act of

you would pay your debt at fixpence

pound But did it not turn ? No, by and by

claring

in the

iet in this ftate

ly fet

and others

one hundred and

in ftate paper,

Now,

one.

certificates

fixed price

which

Before

will be the cafe

is

was about half

fairly fixed,

final-

paper,

with thefe

was known,

this propofal

crown

the eftimated depreciated value

lution

new

for one, in

was

months, rofe to four for

in fix

what

Sir,'

and

at feventy-five,

fifty

it

their

for a dollar of

when

this

they will immediately

refo-

in
value, perhaps to a fhilling the dollar, probably
lefs.
fall

Multitudes of people in defpair, and abfolute

neceffity, will fell them for next to
nothing, and when
the holders

come

at laft to

apply for their money, I

think

it highly probable,
you will give them a fcale
of depreciation, and tell them, they
coft fo little

that

would be an injury

it

full value.

And

pay the

iy to

to the public to

in truth. Sir,

pay the
fuppofing you final-

value of the certificates to the

holders, the original and moft
meritorious proprie,
tors will in

full

many, perhaps

in

moft

cafirs,

lofe the

whole.

be very proper to confider

^vhateffea this
have upon foreign nations ;
certainly it will fet
us in a moft contemptible light.
are
It will

will

We

mng

to

appear

may

be

fidd

among the powers of

juft begin-

the earth, and

it

of national, as of private
charaders,
they foon begin to form, and
when difadvantageous
ideas are formed, they are
not eafily altered or deftroyed.
In the very inftance before
us, many of
Vol. IX.

SPEECH IN CONGRESS,

132

thefe certificates are pofTcfTed by the fubje6ls of fo-

We

reign princes, and indeed are in foreign parts.

muft not think that other fovereigns will fuffer their

fubjeds to be plundered in fo wanton and extravagant a manner. You have on your files, letters from

Count de Vergennes, on the fubje6i:^ of your

former depreciation ; in which he tells you, that
the

whatever

you take with your own

liberty

fubjel:s,

you muft not think of treating the fubje^ls of France

in the fame way ; and it is not impoflible that you

may hear upon this fubje^l, what you little expert,

when the terms of peace are to be fettled. I do not
in the leaft doubt that it may be demanded that you
Ihould pay to the

money

full of its

nominal value,

as well as loan-office certificates,

be found

which

the
fiiall

the hands of the fubjels of France, Spain

in

or Holland, and

it

would be perfedlyjuft.

mentioned France, &c. but

it is

ble, but highly probable, that

or both,

all

many

not

they will

have

not only not impofli-

by accident or danger,

of thefe loan-office certificates

in the hands of Engliffi

fubjeds.

demand payment

may be

Do you
Do you

think

think

make any difference between their being

before or after March ift, 1778? And will you
prefent them with a fcale of depreciation ? Remem-

they

v/ili

ber the

affair

of the Canada

bills,

in the laft peace

between England and France I wifh we could take

example from cur enemies. How many fine diflertations have we upon the merit of national truth and

honour

Great-Britain.

in

blufliing,

Can we

upon our contrary condudl

of finance

engagements

By

think without
in the matter

their pundluality in fulfilling their

as to intereft, they

have bceu able to

ON THE FINANCES.

33

Be

fupport a load of debt altogether enormous.

pleafed to obferve, Sir, that they are not wholly

without experience of depreciation

tures and
at

an

value

fiiilors'

have been frequently fold

tickets

and fometimes even

half,

at a third

by that means they feem

clafs of

men

called

navy deben-

to

of their

be held by that

Did

by us fpeculators.

that go-

vernment ever think of prefenting the holders of them,

when
ation

they came to be paid, with a fcale of depreci-

The

very idea of

would knock the whole

it

fyftem of public credit to pieces.

But the importance of this matter will be felt

before the end of the war.
We are at this time

With what

earneftly foliciting foreign loans.

can

we

expecSl: to

face

have credit in foreign parts, and

we have fo notorioufly broken

engagement which we have hitherto made ?

in future loans, after

every

difpofition to pay,

and

vifible

probable means of

payment, are abfolutely neceffary to credit

where

t|iat is

borrow.
tion

If

once eftabliihed,

it

may be

it

not difficult to

is

mean of turning

of Congrefs to this fubjel,

and

the atten-

beg of them to

down a foundaobferve, that if

tion of credit, they would get money enough to
borrow in this country, where we are. There is
they could but lay

property enough here

ing, there

is

a great

and, comparatively fpeak-

number of

would prefer money

at interell

holding real eftates.

The

perfons here
to

ideas of

who

purchafmg and
all

people are high in favour of real eftate.

old country

Though

the

money, even upon the very bed fecurity

from four to four and a half, four and

intereft of

there,

is

three quarters, and five per

centum

yet

when any

>

SPEECH IN CONGRESS,

.134
real eftate

is

to be fold, there will be ten purchafers

M-here one only can obtain

much

as

It is
it

it,

and

it

will coft fo

not to bring more than two, two and a

and

half,

^i.'.

moft three per centum.

at

quite otherwife in this country, and indeed

To

ought to be otherwife.

purchafe an eftate in

the cultivated parts of the country, except what a

man

poiiefles himfelf, will not

money

28 the interell of
it

rented out,

is

it

and

fo

is

be near fo profitable
in

many

cafes

where

wafted and worn by the

would be a greater profit at the end

cf feven years, that the land had been left to itfelf,
to bear woods and buihes that ihould rot upon the
Any body alfo
ground, without any rent at all.

tenant, that

it

may fee, that it is almoft univerfal in this

when a man dies leaving infant children,
executors
aiid

put

AU
certain

fell all

his property to turn

in fecurities for eafy

it

thefe

things,

and indubitable

of their

efFec^:.

your payments

you want

divifion.

proceed upon

which never

as foon, as regular,

fail

and you

and as profitable

will get all the

money

and by a fmall advantage over others,

be poured in upon you, fo that you

need to go
you.

principles,

the

money

into

and equal

Prefident,

that

Therefore, you have only to make

as other borrowers,

will

Mr

it

country,

to

tlie

lenders, for they will

fliall

it

not

come

to

PART
OF A

SPEECH

CONGRESS,

IN

UPON THE

CONFEDERATION.
THE

abfolute neceflity of union to the vigour

we

and fuccefs of thofe meafures on which

are ah'eady entered,

one of
thofe

us,

is

felt

and confefled by every

without exception

who have

fo far, indeed, that

exprelled their fears or fufpicions

of the exifting confederacy proving abortive, have

yet agreed in faying that there muft and

confederacy for the purpofes

of,

and

till

fliall

be a

the finifh-

So far it is well j and fo far it ishear them exprefs their fentiments.

But

ing of this war.

pleaiing to
I

intreat

gentlemen calmly to confider

giving up

all

how

far the

hopes of a ailing confederacy among,

1

thefe dates, for their future fecurity and improve-

ment, will have an

efficacy of

when

upon the

ftability

and

even the temporary confederacy, which

acknowledge
that

effect

it

to be neceiTary? I

am

ceafes to be generally

alt

fully perfuaded,

known,

that the-

delegates of the provinces confider a lading union,

as

impradlcable,

it

will greatly
INI

derange the mhid'=

SPEECH IN CONGRESS

12^

of the people, and weaken their hands in defence

of their country, which they have

with

much

fo

would

me

to

and

alacrity

now undertaken
I

fpirit,

greatly diminilh the glory

confefs

it

and impor-

tance of the fhruggle, whether confidered as for the

mankind

rights of

and happinefs of

in general, or for the profperity

this continent in future times.

would quite depreciate the object of hope, as

it at a greater diftance.
For what
would it fignify to ri& our poiTefTions and ilied our
It

well as place

blood to

fet

ourfelves free from the encroachments

and oppreiTion of Great Britain

with

a certainty, as

foon as peace was fettled with them of a more lading war, a

more unnatural, more bloody, and much

more hopelefs

Some

v/ar,

fee

ail

having

little

more uncertain

the

table footing

upon

treachery

internal con-

lading and equi-

of the greateft dangers

tlie

But how much

effel.

hope of feeing the

tefts of the colonies fettled

dered

expectation of living

things fully fettled, and the good con fo-

quencGS of liberty taking

One

the colonies themfelvcs?

of us confider ourfelves as aling for pof-

terity at prefent,

to

among

colonies as

among

have always confi-

expofed

to

at

prefent,

themfelves, augmented by bribery

and corruption from our enemies. But what force

would be added to the arguments of feducers, if
they could fay with truth, that

it

was of no confe-

quence whether we fucceed'id againfl

or not

for

greateft: part

we mud,

in the end,

Britain

be fubjeQed, the

of us, to the power of one or more of

the ftrongcft or largeft of the

kere

Gr('at

American

ftates?

And

would apply the argument which we have

UPON THE CONFtDERATlON.

Great Britain

fo often ufed againfl:

we

tory

that In

grievoully opprefled.

hif-

all

and the fub-

fee that the (laves of freemen,

je6l dates of republics, have been of

mod

I37

others the

all

do not think the

re-

cords of time can produce an inftance of Haves

treated with fo

much

champions

barbarity as the Helotes by

who were

the Lacedemonians,

the moft illullrious

Greece; or of provinces

for liberty in all

more plundered and fpoiled than the ftates conquered by the Romans, for one hundred years be-

The

Cxfar's diclatorfliip.

fore

reafon

is

plain

many great men in free ftates. There

were many confular gentlemen in that great republic, who all confidered themfelves as greater than

there are

kings, and muft have

kingly fortunes, M'hich they

had no other way of acquiring but by governments

of provinces, which lailed generally but one vear,
and feldom more than two.
In what
cafes I

me

may

have already
ftate,

faid,

or

may

fay, or

hope every gentleman

will

view

mean only

to

particular perfons or focieties,

to reafon

can

we

and

from the ufual courfe of things,

and the prejudices infeparable from

And

do

mod

the jufllce to believe, that I have not the

diftant

any

men

as fuch.

help faying, that there will be a

much

greater degree, not only of the corruption of particular perfons, but the defe6lion of particular pro-

vinces from the prefent confederacy,

our fuccefs

itfelf as

if

they confider

only a prelude to a conteft of a

more dreadful nature, and indeed much more properly a civil war than that which now often obtains
the name ? Mufl not frnall colonies In particular
be

in

danger of faying,

we muft

fecure ourfelves

SPEECH IN CONGRESS

138

If the colonies are independent dates, feparate

we may

dilunited, after this war,

off

We

by the worfe.

are in

be fure of coming

no condition to con-

Our

tend with feveral of them.

mud

and our trade with them,

trade in general,

be upon fuch terms

as they fhall be pleafed to prefcribe.

the confequence of this

and

What

will

be

Will they not be ready

under the protection

to prefer putting themfelves

of Great Britain, France or Holland, rather than

fubmit to the tyranny of their neighbours,

lately their equals

Nor would

ble, that they fhould enter into

ments

as

would prove

their

be

it

who were

at all impoffi-

fuch rafh engage-

own

deftru61:Ion,

from

a mixture of apprehended neceffity and real refent-

ment.

Perhaps

it

may be thought

confederacy,

and leaving

have entered upon

that breaking off this

unfinifhed

it

Alas, nothing can

exceed the abfurdity of that fuppofition.

hiftory cry out, that a

great and only effectual

ties,

common

means of

and compofmg differences.

perienced

its

we

will be only poflponinrr the

it,

duty to fome future period

all

after

efficacy in

Does not

danger

is

the

fettling difficul-

Have we not

ex-

producing fuch a degree

of union through thefe colonies, as nobody would

^lave prophefied, and hardly any

pelled

If therefore, at prefent,

imminent, when
it

is

it

but coming to

poffible to agree

what madnefs
be

would have ex-

is

when

fo far

its

the danger

yet

from being over, that

height,

we

upon the terms of

is it

is

fhall find

it

im-

this confederacy,

to fuppofe that there ever will

a time, or that circumflances will fo change, as

UPON THE COKFEDERATION.

to

make

it

even probable, that

after feafon

come

done

Will not the very fame

way, be

that are in our

{hail

will be

it

li^

after us

Is

way

in the

it

at

an

difficulties

of thofe

who

pofiible that they (hould

be ignorant of them, or inattentive

to

them

Will

they not have the fame jealoufies of each other, the

fame attachment
intereft

So

to local prejudices,

certain

is

on the repentance of
thousrh

this, that I

a finner

and particular
look upon

Every

as

it

day's delay,

adds to the neceffitv, vet aucrnients the

it

and takes from the inclination.

There is one thing that has been thrown
which fome feem to perfuade themfelves
difficulty,

others to be

more

confederacy

that

who

either

nature,

am none

we

Spirit

to

will

be

of thofe

of the living Gcd.

no force

is

we

live

period

fliall

out

life ?

we

die,

we know

Beeaufe

we know

without govern-

ment, beeaufe every conftitution has

its

Yet

in that reafoning at all.

nothing good, beeaufe

eflabliih

cannot be eternal? Shall

and

it is

deny or conceal the depravity of human

is purified by the light of truth, and

apprehend there

it

in pieces.

till it

renewed by the
Shall

and

indifferent about the fuccefs of

and broken

diffolved

of,

from the nature of men,

a time mull come when it

be expedted, that

by

out,

its

that

old age,

we

fhall

take no pains to preferve or lengthen

Far from

more watchful

it.

Sir

it

attention, to fettle

only requires the

government upon

the beft principles, and in the wifeft manner, that

it

may

laft

as

long as the nature of things will

admit.

But

beg leave

with fome

rifk that

to fay
it

fomcthing more, though

will be thought vifionary

and

SPEECH IN CONGRESS

14*^

romantic.

do expe<^,

Mr

Prefident, a progrefs,

human art, fo in the order and

human fociety, greater than we have
and why fliould we be wanting to our-

as in every other

perfection of
yet feen

felves in urging

that

human

forward

it

I think,

It is certain,

company

fcience and rehgion have kept

together, and greatly alBfted each other's progrefs

in the world.

moral

do not fay that

fame proportion

qualities are in the

cular perfons
influence

intelle6lual

and

in parti-

but they have a great and friendly

upon one another,

in focieties

and larger

bodies.

There have been great improvements, not only

in

human knowledge,

human

but in

nature

the

*,

progrefs of which can be eafily traced in hiilory.

Every body

is

able to look back to the time in

Europe, when the

vail

upon the

rights of confcience,

looked upon as abfurd.

hundred years

It is

is

it

is

little

and

above two

maintain, that

d'ifunited

ftates,

would be from

fent condition to a flate of

It

but

kingdoms and

fjtuation of

prefent condition, than

unio?i.

would have been

from the former

a greater ftep

hoftile

pre-

fince that enlarged fyftem called the

balance of power, took place

it

now

liberal fentiments that

and

to their

their pre-

more perfel and lading

not impoflible, that in future times

may

all

the dates on one quarter of the globe,

it

proper by fome plan of union, to perpetuate

fecurity and peace

confederacy

down
many

among

and fure

am,

a well

the dates of America,

fee

planned

may hand

the blcdlngs of peace and public order to'

generations.

vinces of the

Low

The union

of the feven pro-

Countries, has never yet been

UPON THE CONFEDERATION.

broken

and they are of very different degrees of

(Irength and wealth.

Neither have the Cantons of

Switzerland ever broken

there are

them

I4I

among

fome of them

themfelves, though

proteftants,

and fome of

Not only

by public eftablifhment.

papifts,

but thefe confederacies are feldom engaged in a

fo,

war with other nations. Wars are generally between monarchs, or fingle ftates that are large. A
confederation of

itfelf

the bodies of which

For

all

that every

keeps war at a diftance from

it is

compofed.

thefe reafons, Sir, I

argument from honour,

and

neceflity, confpire in

racy

and

humbly apprehend,

if

it

the bleffmg of

intereft, fafety

preffmg us to

be ferioufly attempted,

God upon our

happily aecompli{hed.

a
I

endeavours,

confede-

hope, by
it

will

be

SPEECH
IN

CONGRESS,
ON THE APPOINTMENT OF

PLENIPOTENTIARIES.

Mr

fAM

President,
that after going through

(orry to obferve,

the in{lru6tions to be given to our plenipotentiary or plenipotentiaries,

a debate,

we

and indeed feem

to

fhould have fo

warm

be fo equally divided

upon the queftion, v/hether there fhould be one or

more to whom we will entrufl the negociation ?

As
it is

to the practice of

European nations,

fo various as not to afford

fide or the otlier

we may

believe

any argument on one

appoint one or more

there will be nothing fmgular or remarkable in

fo as to

make our conduct look

fuch matters.

am

inclined

to

like

it,

ignorance in

think, however,

that negociations are generally conducted near to

their conclufion,

by one confidential perfon, though

more important preliminaries are

more may be fometimes appointed, to give
after the

folemnity to the conclufion.

We

fettled,

greater

are therefore at


OF PLENIPOTENTIARIES.

I43

determine ourfelves wholly by the general

libefty to

reafon and nature of the thing, and our

own

par-

ticular circumftances.

As to the firil of thefe, on the fide of one perfon,

may be faid, there will be more precifion, more

it

more uniformity, and more

expedition,

certainty of

agreement with others, and confiflency with him-

And

felf.

man

whom we

the perfon

have employed,

is

of found and clear underllanding, and has

had the advantage of being a long time

and no doubt has been turning

Europe,

in

his thoughts,

and

making enquiries upon the fubjecl ever fince he

went there ; fo that we may fuppofe him pretty
ripely advifed.

On

the other fide,

he might be

at

it

may be

faid,

and that

a lofs,

it

that,

if

alone,

would be of ad-

vantage to him to have the advice of others.

even

that there

faid,

It is

a necefiity of others better

is

acquainted with pares of the country different from

thofe with which he has been chiefly connected.

As

to council, that does not ftrike

haps there
caufe he
council

one

is

is

is lefs

fully refponfible

whereas
is

no danger

divifion

if a

it,

in the

all

of

to the caufe itfelf,

Vol. IX.

it is

it ?

opinion of thole

them might

to the necefhty

of the country,

in the

of fentiments in thofe

and might perhaps give

what each or

be-

common

conduct

are entrufted with the conduct of

us,

divided, and every

difhculted to juftify his

would expofe

As

taken, the blame

from an obflinate

ferved

per-

greater fafety in one than three

is

ifTue. Befides, is there

who

me much

lefs

This

who

ob-

refpecSt to

fay or do.

of peifons from different parts

not -.fy to conceive what cir-

ON THE APPOINTMENT

144
cumftances,

in

negociation of this kind, can be

peculiar to one part of the country

If

ther.

it

were

to

government, taxation,
there

when

more than ano-

make rules for the internal

or commerce of the dates,

would be fome force in the remark ; but

is only to make peace for the liberty and

it

prote(^ion of

all,

there feems to be

little

weight in

it.

But now

us confider our particular circum-

let

Mention has been made of the difference

between Mr Adams and the count de Vergennes. I
have given particular attention to all that was faid in
flances.

his letter

upon

that fubjet,

and

all

that has been faid

by theminifter of France here; and there was not one

hint given that could lead us to think it was their
defire or expectation that

he fhould be difmiffed or

fuperfeded, or even bridled by the addition of others in

the commiffion.
defire
is

upon

We hav^ fully complied with their

There

this fubjel:, in the inftruClions.

the greateft reafon to think that they are well Sa-

tisfied

and

upon

it.

But

if

we

either difcharge him, or

iliould

go further,

flill

do what

is

in fubftance

the fame, or might be fuppofed or conceived by

him

to be the fame, this would rather be an a6t of too

great obfequioufnefs, and but an

future conduft of our

will be often

mentioned

like practice prevail,

from

fidelity,

affairs.

and

it

ill

example

What we

in after times

for the

do now,

and

if

the

will difcourage public fervants

leffen their dignity

and firmnefs.

fome reafon to fear that there may

them;
jiot be the mod perfed agreement among
and if a jealoufy in point of affedion between them
Chould arife, it might flill be more fatal than a dif-

There

is

alfo

OF PLENiroTENTIARlEf.
ference In opinion.

You may

obferve, that

Franklin particularly mentions the

having more minifters than one

14^

at

Di*

impropriety of

one court and in

the fame place.

"We have felt the bad confequence^

already in more inftances- than one. Congref^

of that

were

led into fuch

Mr

with

fteps

as

ended

in

our parting

Lee, chiefly by the argument of his being

difagreeable to the French court

and though he

my opinion one of the moil able, faithful,

and active fervants we ever had, and certainly one^
was

in

of the

go

mod

dilTnterefted

he was but barely

able to

with a cold ceremonial adieu, that had very

little in it of a grateful fenfe of his fervices, or cordial approbation.
It is not pleafant to reflect,
off

Mr

Prefident, that fo early in the hiftory of this

ftate,

new

perfons in public employment fhould be fo

prone to enter into ambitious contention, and pufh

one another into dilgrace.
I

cannot help putting you in mind, upon this

fubjecS^,

of what has

are informed

jufl:

now come

by the French court,

thentic manner, and indeed

is

by implication

you had been

at

ill

if I

am

to light.

in the

You

mofh au-

not miftaken,

it

the king's letter, that

leaft in

ferved by the people

you em-

ployed there, and cheated both in point of quality

and price

-,

and that on

this

account they mtend to

give dire61:ions on that fubjel themfelves.

Sir,

perhaps

it

may be news

to

many members

Now,
of this

body, that thefe were the very contracts made by Mr

Dean, without the knowledge or confent of Mr Lee,
of wliich

Mr Lee

loudly complained. Thefe were the

very fervants whofe accounts

Mr

Lee objected

to,

and whofe conduc): he cenfured. But what did he get

N2

ON THE APPOINTMENT

140

by

it ?

Mr Dean

was fupported by

him

friend, as he caljed

Mr

his venerable old

Lee was complained

of as jealous and troublefome, and difagreeable to

the court of France
flighted

and not only oppofed and

by many members of

this houfe,

but

may

fay attacked ;rid perfccuted in fuch a manner, that

if

He had not been fupported with a generous frank-

nefs by others, might have ended in public infamy.

have jufl further upon

you very

that

Trench court,

lately

Mr

proved by many

be

fent

Laurens

and

it

it

Dr

home,

foretold,

and

am

as

would

it

Probably

Franklin.

in that light

defire at all to return

that this

new miniRer to the

a meafure much difap-

was then

a difgraceful thing to

he has conceived

this fubje61: to obferve,

he has no

well convinced

the true caufe of the defire exprefled in

is

his laft letter to refign his commifTion.

Some have mentioned

ter,

and that the chance

tion,
is

the importance of the mat-

where

very true, that

fiiid,

there

greater againft corrup-

is

three are to be taken

is

ceieties paribusy

a greater

whom

And befidcs,

is

It

commonly

but there are fingle

would confide

the thing

as

than one.

chahce for one incorruptible

perfon in three than in one

perfons in

off,

as

may be taken

much

as in ten.

way

the other

for there is a greater chance of finding one corruptible perfon in three than in one j and in a commillion

of that nature, one traitor

chief,

is

able to do

much

though the others are perfectly upright.

being admitted into the fecret,

may

meafures, but perplex them,

let

colleagues be what they will.

Congrefs,

who upon

mif-

He,

not only difclofj

the abilities of his

have feen a

man

in

the fuppofition of his being a

OF PLENIPOTENTIARIES.
fraltor, I

am

enough

fure had addrefs

into his meafures

many

I47

draw many

to

not contemptible in un-

derftanding, and fincerely attached to their country's caufe.

Before

conclude,

would

fay a

The

circumftances in another refpedl.

ances

we make upon

quence.
dit

It is to

little

upon our

firft

appear-

the public ftage, are of confe-

be wifhed therefore, that the cre-

of the United States were confulted.

were fure

that our commilTioners

diately admitted

to

we

If

would be imme-

public and co-ordinate

feffioii-

with the other plenipotentiaries, perhaps a commiffion of three

if,

would be augufl and honourable

as I ftrongly fufpedl; will

not at

firft

but

be the cafe, they are

publicly admitted at

all,

but obliged to

negociate through the plenipotentiaries of France

if,

as

it is

the treaty,

not impoffible, even in the fettlement of

we

are not confidered as the formal con-

trailing parties at
in articles as
is

done

but our

intereft'

attended to

were occafionally introducedif

this

honour of England, and to

us advantages fubftantial and durable,

as a falvo to the

JDUrchafe for

it

all,

pompous commiffion

will rather leflen

wifdom and

to a

number of

delegates

our dignity, and detract from our

caution.

U|3on the whole,

would be much

Sir, I

am

of opinion, that

better to aflign to

it^

one the commif-

with the inftru^lions which have

been cordially agreed upon, and feem to be in every
fion already given,

re fpecl agreeable to the defires of the court of France,

and the opinion of the king's minifter in

N3.

this

country,

THE

PROPOSED MARKET

IN

GENERAL WASHINGTON'S CAMP.

To

General Washington, and the- offiArmy.

HIS Excellency

cers OF THE American

SIR,

ABOUT

ten days ago, I

was informed

you were confulting with the farmers

and laying a phm

neighbourhood,

market

at

pleaGng news
time.

This was

the camp.

fuppofcd that you had

true and proper

way

freihments to your

to

me

eyes.

now

the

mod

for a long

difcovered the

of providing comforts and re-

fcldiers,

which, pardon me,

God's moil holy

think has hitherto, in

hid from your

in the

for holding

had heard from camp

that

will,

been

Laft week's news-paper brough.t

us the plan, in which I have been fo much dllappointed, that I have taken pen in hand, to make a

few remarks upon

view.

Red

friend to

aflTured

American

of General

it,

and fubmit them

that they come from

liberty,

Howe, and

caufe in detellation.

who

has

felt

therefore holds

You

are not to

a plain ^ountry farmer, high

to

your

Hrm

the tyranny

him and his

exped from

founding language,

ON THE PROPOSED MARKET, ^r.

and well turned phrafes

is poiTible I may be
by fome of your learned
told you have fome who can

held in derifion for

generals

for

-,

It

this,

am

14Q

write full as well as they can fight, perhaps better

be that however as

what
the

it

may,

mean

think I underftand, and

plalneft

words

to v/rite only of

fliall

pofiible, that

make

ufe of

may be under-

if

you are under

ftood.

mud

any

begin by faying, that

difficulty in

fupplying your army, either with

the neceflaries or conveniencies of

life,

it is

owing

to miftaken principles, or unfaithful

in the

manner of procuring them.

midft of a plentiful country

your fword, except a fmall fpot

and

confined

wholly

condu6t

You are In the

You command it by
in

which the enemy

moll heartily wifh you would

;
pen them in clofer than you do
You have alfo
is

the hearts of the country

for

let

people talk as

they pleafe of the number of tories, they are altogether inconfiderable to the friends of liberty, in

When

every itate in this continent.

army
to

them,,

we do

leaves any place,

conquer
flee

it

the Engliili

not need your army

All that were friends to

for us.

with them, or ikulk into corners trem-

bling for their lives.

the matter (lands

Let us confider then

Your army

pofe at prefent of 20,000

men

for

though

confiderably larger lately, I reckon from the

gone home on recruiting

fons, that
it

may be about

however 25,000

every houfe,

if

parties,

it

was

number

and for other rea-

or near the truth.

thefe

how

confills, I fhall fup-

Suppofe

were diflributed one in

for the twenty-five thoufand houfes

that are neurell to the

camp, they would not reach

ON THE PROPOSED MARKET

150

fo far eaft as the

Delaware, nor

and though no provifions were brought into

cafter j

that fpace

on

be well fed,

their account, they could

and the burden never

whole

well as Lan-

fo far

difficulty arifes

felt.

This fhews that the

from the

neceffity of procur-

number of

ing and tranfporting provifions to fuch a

men

colleled together in one place,

which one would think might be

It is

my

not

a difficulty

eafily furmounted..

intention at prefent, to

make remarks

on the commiiTary's department for fupplying the

capital neeeflaries, though I want not inclination.
Suffice

it

to fay, that for refrefhments

neeeflaries,

and fmaller

you are now making an attempt towards

the only efl^eclual way, viz. a market, or in other

words,

people to bring them to vou of

inviting

own accord.
Now, Sir, I have

their

read and confidered your plan^

the chief part of which

variety of articles,

pofed to

is

which

fettling the prices of a

expelled will be

it is

Fixing the price of

fale.

ex-^

commodities^

has been attempted by law in feveral ftates

among

was meant to remedy, as the fame pralice ever has done fince the
beginning of the world. Such laws, when they
us,

and

it

has increafed the

men

only fay

fhall

higher prices than

evil it

be punifhed

not fell at thefe prices,

they

if

and that

the legal,

their goods

fell

if

fhall

at

any

any will
be taken

by force, have fome meaning in them, though little

wifdom but to publifh a liil of fixed prices, as an
encouragement to a weekly market, is a new drain
*,

of policy indeed.

If people

market, and are willing to

lower prices,

is

bring their goods to

fell

not that enough

them
^

and

at
if

thefe, or

they are

GENERAL WASHINGTON'S CAMP.

IN

not willing to

come

to

fonable

you

fell,

how

they be

fhall

I5I

made

willing

Probably you were told thefe were rea-

prices

now

I fliall

know what

be glad to

reafonable price.

call a

If

it

be that which

is

proportioned to the demand on the one fid'e, and the

plenty or fcarcity of goods on the other, I agree to
it

but

I affirm that this

will

confent of the buyer and

fix

of

itfelf,

than

feller, better

by the
it

can

be done by any politician upon earth. If you mean

any thing elfe, it fignifies nothing at all, whether
it

be reafonable or not

for if it is not agreeahle^ as

;
well as reafonable, you might have one market day,
but not a fecond.
There are fome things which

objed of human laws, and fuch are all

thofe that eflentially depend for their fuccefs upon
inward inclination. Laws, force, or any kind of
limitation, are fo far from having any tendency of
are not the

themfelves, to perfuade or incline, that they have

generally the contrary effel.
It would be much

many

to the advantage of

fons in

authority, if they

lawgivers and other per-

would

carefully diftln-

guifli between what is to be effected by force, and

what by perfuafion, and never prepofteroufly mix

thefe

oppofite principles, and defeat the operation

of both.

Laws and

authority compel

but

it

is

reafon and intereil that muft perfuade.

The

fixing

of prices by authority,

impolitic, as I have

is

not only

fhewn above, but it is in itfelf

There are fo many dif-

unreafonable and abfurd.

ferent circumftances to be taken in to

conflitute

equality or juftice in fuch matters, that they cannot

be

all

attended

to,

or

even

afcertained.

The

plenty of one kind bf provifion, and fcarcity of

ano-


ON THE PROPOSED MARKET

152
ther

The

plenty in one corner of

the country,

The
of oneplace,
and nearnefs of anotherThe changes of circumthe courfe of
few weeks or days
Good or bad
or good or bad weather The
comparative
of the goods Thefe, and an

and

fcarcity in another

cliftance

ftances in

roads,

quality

hundred other circumflances which can never be

alually govern the prices of

forefeen,

market, and ought to govern them.

one who brings

juft to

much

If

veal at prefent, I

is

goods fifteen miles,

am

certain

it is

If

one

and weight

which

being

be much more plen-

and four pence per pound

{hilling

for a fatter,

muft be too much a

it

veal will

ought not

reafonable for a fat turkey,

more

price

If a

for

month hence, when

tiful.

at

one who brings thenronly

ten pence per pound is a juft price for

certainly too

one.

his

goods

is

better both in

lighter to

its

to

its

not fo heavy as either lean fiefh or bones.

is

reafonable K) pay
in a

out in a ftorm

bad day, and

pamper the

me

good day,
;

fo

one

fhilling per

I (hall

you muft

quality

If

pound

expert more

not, I will ftay at

if

have

bulk, becaufe fat

is

any meat

is-

for

if I gar

home

one week,

ftarve

it

011

and

n.ext.

All thefe circumftances you muft allow to reftrain

and

limit

one another.

He who

is

neareft,

and

has goods in plenty, will by felling cheap, moderate the

demands of him who comes

pay very dear for any

article

you
one day, the news of
far.

If

that fpreading abroad, brings in prodigious quantities,

and the price

other cafe.

power

to tell

Thus
what

falls,
it

is

and

fo

it

appears that

happens
it is

in every

out of your

a reafonable price, and by at*

IN

GENERA^ WASHINGTON'S CAMP.

tempting to do

ir^

you not only refufe the expeaation of the people, but you treat them
with injufit,

tice.

have one more remark to make upon

this fubthat
to fix the prices of goods, efpeclally pro;
vifions in a market, is as imprafticable as it
is

jet

un-

reafonable.

and

fellers,

The whole

perfons concerned, buyers

will ufe every art to defeat

certainly fucceed.

it,

and will
,

ADDRESS
TO

GENERAL WASHINGTON.

THENew

Prefident and Faculty of the College of

Jerfey,

beg leave to embrace

this

op-

portunity of congriUulating your Excellency on the

prefent happy and promifing Hate of public affairs

and of fincerely wifhing you profperity and fuccefs

in the enfuing

campaign, and

main of the important

in

confiil in

what may

yet re-

which the United

States are engaged.

As
ligion

this

College, devoted to the interefts of re-

and learning, was among the

firft

places of

America, that fufFered from the ravages of the

enemy
was the

fo, happily, this place

fcene of one of the mofl important and

feafonable checks
grefs.

and neighbourhood

The

which they received

in their pro-

furprife of the Heflians at Trenton,

and the fubfequent victory at Princeton, redounded

much to the honour of the commander who planned, and the handful of troops which executed the

meafures

yet

were they even of greater moment

to the caufe of America, than they

were

brilliant as

>articular military exploits.

We contemplate and

adore the wifdom and good-

ADDRESS TO GENERAL WASHINGTON.

153

nefs of divine Providence, as difplayed in favour of

the United States, in

courfe of the

vi^ar

many

during the

inftances

but in none more than in the

unanimous appointment of your Excellency

command

of the army.

continuance of your

When we

to the

confider the

and health the difcernment, prudence, fortitude, and patience of your conduOiy by which you have not only facrificed as
life

others have done, perfonal eafe and property, but

frequently even reputation itfelf, in the public caufe,

chufing rather to rifque your

own name

pofe the nakednefs of your country

than ex-

when we con-

and growing attachment of the army,

and the cordial efteem of all ranks of men, and of
fider the great

every ftate in the Union, which you have fo long

enjoyed we cannot help being of opinion, that

God

himfelf has raifed you up as a fit and proper

inftrument for eftablifhing and fecuring the liberty

and happinefs of thefe

We

States.

pray that the Almighty

protea and

blefs

youthat

may

continue to

the late fignal fuccefs

of the American arms,

may pave the way to a

fpeedy and lafting peace; and that, having furvived
fo

much

enjoy

fatigue,

many

and

fo

many

dangers, you

years of honourable repofe in the

may

bofom

of your grateful country.

JOHN WITHERSPOON.

Vol. IX.

Memorial and Manifesto

OP THE

UNITED STATES
OF

NORTH-AMERICA,
TO THE MEDIATING POWERS IN THE CONFERENCES FOR PEACE,
TO THE OTHER POWERS IN EUROPE, AND IN GENERAL TO
ALL WHO SHALL SEE THE SAME.."

THE

United States of North-America, having

been made acquainted, by their

lly the

king of France, that there

is

illuftrious

a propofal for

holding a Congrefs under the mediation of the emprefs of Ruflia, and the emperor of Germany, to
treat.of terms of

accommodation with Great

Britain,

have thought proper to pubUfh, for the information

of all concerned, the following memorial, which
fhall contain

a brief detail of the fteps

by which

they have been brought into their prefent intereiting and critical fituation.
The United States (formerly

were

firfl

planted awd fettled

that country.

Thefe

was

fpirit

colonies)

came out at different

views. Some were actua-

fettlers

times, and with different

ted by the

Britifli

by emigrants from

of curiofity and entcrprife, which

fo prevalent in

Europe

in the

fixteenth and

MEMORIAL AND MANIFESTO, ^C,

feventeenth centuries

by the hope of riches

They

and fome were driven from

and

folicited their charters,

fettled

governments on different principles, fuch as

their

bed

induced

chiefly

by the iron rod of facerdotal

their native country

tyranny.

fome were

I55

who were

pleafed thofe

concerned in

chiefly

In one thing, however, they

each undertaking.

all

agreed, that they confidered themfelves as bringing

their liberty with

rights

them, and as entitled to

and privileges of freemen under the

all

the

Britifli

conftitution.

Purfuant to thefe fentiments, they looked upon

it

foundation flone of

as the

Britifli liberty, that

freeholders or proprietors of the

plan.

fhould have

money

the exclufive right of- granting

ufes,

foil,

for public

and therefore invariably proceeded upon

With

refpe61:, indeed, to the

the

whole of

this

their

internal government, they confidered themfelves as

not diretly fubjedt to the Britifh parliament, but

dominions under the fame

as feparate indepetident-

fovereign, and with fimilar co-ordinate jurifdilion.

It

appears from feveral events, that happened in the

courfe of their hiftory, and from public als of

fome of
opinion

their

many

and oppreflive
conflicSl:

From

governments,

was

this

their

years before the late unjuft claims

acts,

which gave

birth to the bloody

not yet finifned.

the

firft

fettlement of

willingly fubmitted

to

clufive right to their

the acts of the

they always

Some

that

Britifli

looked

tiie

Britain's

commerce

colonies, they

enjoying

though

an ex-

feveral of

parliament upon this fubje^l,

upon

of thefe appear, at

O2

as

partial

firfl

and unjuft.

view, to be fuch

MEMORIAL AND MANIFESTO

156

badges of fervitude, that

it is

furprifing that a free

people (liould ever have been patient under them.

The

truth

fubmitted

they would not probably have been

is,

to,

but that the rigid execution of them

at this diftance

was

in

its

nature impoflible.

was always the opinion of the inhabitants of

thcfe dates, that the benefits which arofe to Britain
from the exclufive commerce of America, and the
taxes which it enabled her to raife, on her own fubjec^s, was more than their proportion of the comIt

mon

em-

treafure neceflary to the defence of the

At

pire.

the fame time, great as

it

was, the

lofs to

them, by being confined in their trade, was greater

than the benefit to her

-,

as

it

obliged

them

to pur-

chafe any thing they had occafion for from her,

and
their

her

itanding,

ed

own

which necefi^arily retarded

growth and improvement. All this notwith-

at

to

when any

render

regularly

price,

it

made

extraordinary emergency feem-

neceflary, and
to

when

application

was

the afi'emblies of the colonies,

they complied in every inftance with the requifitions,

two

and made advances of fums which,

in

one or

inftances, Britain herfelf confidered as above

their ability,

and therefore made

reftitution or

com-

penfation for them.

The

true reafon of this long and patient acquief-

cence, was the natural and

warm

attachment which

the inhabitants of America had to Great Britain, as

their parent country.

tion to her
intereft

They

gloried in their rela-

they were zealous for her honour and

imbibed her principles and prejudices with

refpel to other nations

and were profufe of

entered into her quarrels^

their blood for the purpofe

of

THE UNITED

OF

Almoft every

fecuring or extending her dominion.

city

I57

STATES.

and county in Great Britain had

counter

its

which bore its name in the new world ; and

thoie whofe progenitors for three generations had

part,

been born in America,

Britain, called

it

Such was the

when

they fpoke of going to

going home.
ftate of things,

when fome unwife

counfellors to the Britifli king, thought of railing a

"

revenue without the content of the American legifbe carried directly to the Englifli treafu-

latures, to
ry.

The

ftamp

lirlt

effay

of which

a61:,

on

we

this fubject

was the famous

(hall at prefent fay

nothing,

but that the univerfal ferment raifed on occalion of

It

was

a clear proof of the juftnefs

and truth of the

So odious was

it

over

the whole country, and fo dangerous to thofe

who

preceding reprefentation.

attempted to carry

time

it

into execution, that in a fhort

was repealed by themfelves.

it

however, by their declaratory

acl,

Parliament,

which pafled

fame feihon, Ihewed that they intended to

in the

maintain the right, though they defifted in

ftance from the exercife of

joyed

at

the immediate

their affel:ion

it.

this in-

The Americans

over-

deliverance, returned to

and attachment, hoping that the claim

would again become dormant, and that no occafioix

would be given for the future difcuffion of it.
But it was not long before the Englifli miniflry
propofed and carried an act of parliament, impofing

which by the fmallnefs of

the duties themfelves, and feveral other circumduties on tea, glafs, &c.

ftances,

was

dually, and

plainly defigned to (leal

if

upon us gra-

poffible imperceptibly, the exercife of

their pretended right. It

was

93

not, however, in their

MEMORIAL AND MANIFESTO

l^S

power

who

to blind the colonies,

rofe

up

againfl

the execution of this al, with a zeal proportioned

importance of the fubjeft, and with an unanimity not to be expelled but where a great and
to the

common

danger keeps every caufe of jealoufy and

out of view.

dlilention'
its

Not only every

colony, by

reprefentative body, but every county, and al-

mofl; every corporation or other fubordinate divifion,

publicly declared that they

ty at the rilk of their eftates

would defend their liberand lives. In the mean-

while the Englifti government profefled a determination equally firm to enforce the execution of this
at by military power, and bring us to unconditional

fubmiffion.

Thus
*

did the rupture take place

juftice of

we muft

our caufe,

and

as to the

fay, that if

any im-

partial perfons will read the declaratory a6t, that

the lords and

ment, have a

commons of Great Britain in parliaright to make laws binding upon the

colonies in all cafes ivhatfoevefy and

producing
that
in

its

proper

fruit,

had we fubmitted

no refpe6l

butary

ftates,

different

to

which was now

he muft be convinced,
it,

we

from a

fhould'have been

fet of

conquered

fubjedl to a foreign country

tri-

and the

would have become both ufelefs

and contemptible. The writings in England upon
this fubject, proving that we were reprefented in
colonial affemblies

Middlefexy and ufing

many

other equally forcible ar-

guments, are and will remain a difgrace to reafon,

as well as

At

this

an infult on American underftanding.

period of time not only the people of

E'.igland in general,

fpecchcs,

and

his

but the king of England in his

parliament

\i\

their

addrelles.

THE UNITED

OF

afxe(led to reprefent the

STATES.

commotions

In

59

America as

by a ,few feditious perfons, and the confequence of a pre-concerted fcheme to throw ofF the

yaifed

dominion of Great Britain, and

fet

up an indepen-

This unjuft and indeed abfurd accufation may be refuted by a thoufand arguments.
dent empire.

The

ftrong predeli6lion of the people of America

the fafhions and the

for the people,

Britain, proves

its

who had

There was no perfon,

falfehood.

nor any number of perfons

government of

any

in

ftate

of America,

fuch influence as to be able to effeO:

or even view

But what

a probable obje61: of ambition.

as

it

mud

this,

demonftrate the abfurdity of this

the ftate in which

America was found

when flie began to grapple with the power of Britain.
No ftep had been taken to open the way for obtainfuppofition,

is

No

had been made of

arms, ammunition, or warlike ftores of any kind j
ing foreign aid%

fo that

provifion

the country feemed to be expofed, naked

and helplefs, to the dominion of her enemy.

Agreeably to

means

to

this, addreffes

which we had recourfe.

to Britain, with the fecurity

rights,

was the

plicit profeflions

mod

wifli

and prefervation of our

of every foul.

The moft

ex-

of loyalty to the prince, and the

if

we were

called

on

in a conftitution-

way, made the fubftance of our declarations.

Every fucceeding
with

new and

a ftain

petition,

however, was treated

greater infult, and

was anfwered by

which

for their cruelty will be

upon the annals of

the kingdom, and bring

a6l3 of parliament,

tlie

Reconciliation

exprefs aflurances of effectual fupport in his

government,
al

and petitions were the

charjK^er of the nation

itfelf into difgrace.

MEMORIAL AND MANIFESTO

l6o

Single als of inhumanity

may be accounted

for

from the depravity of an individual but what (hall

we {\iy of grave and numerous afTemblles, enacting
,

fuch laws as the Bofton port-bill, which reduced at

once

many

fo

people to beggary, and their property

itielf to nothirtg

the

a6b permitting thofe charged

with murdering Americans, to be fent to England

to be tried, that
all,

to fay, either not to

Is

or certainly abfolved

the

be tried at

appointing

a6i:

Ame-

ricans taken at fea, to be turned before the maft in

Englifli fliips,
relations, or

and obliged either

be killed by them

to kill their

and

own

the a6t ap-

pointing American prifoners to be fent to the Eafl:

But what

Indies as flaves.

ing

is,

nity,

is

of

all

mod

that they never failed to extol their

when

pafling fuch

al:s

as filled

laft

petition fent

the king, which befeeched

him

own

this

le-

whole

To crown

continent with refentment and horror.

the whole, the

aflonifli-

by Congrefs to

to zppointfome tnode

by which our complaints might be remedied, and a

way be paved for reconciliation, was treated with
abfolute contempt, and no anfwer given to it of

Thus was

any kind.

We

were declared

all

rebels

intercourfe broken up.

;

and they themfelves

muft confefs, that no alternative was

either to

left

us, but

go with ropes about our necks, and fubmit

ourfelves, not to the king, but to the

England, to be trampled under foot, or

kingdom of
rifk all

the

confequences of open and vigorous refifhance.

The

laft

hefitation

part of the alternative

and

as

it

we

was impolhble

chofe without

to preferve civil

order any longer under the name and form of a

government which we had taken arms

to oppofe,

we

OF THE UNITED STATES.

found

it

l6l

abfolutely necefiary to declare ourfelves Inde-

who had thrown

pendent of that prince

us out of his

This great itep was taken with the

protetlion.

full

approbation, and indeed at the ardent defire of the

The

public at large.
lonies

fuch

feerned,

ir.

a reparation

extent and growth of the co-

the nature of things, to call for

long before

yet

many

bably have happened for

would not pro-

it

years, if

it

had not

been forced upon us by the condur of our unkind

parent herfelf.

The

thing indeed feems to have

God Almighty

been the purpofe of

had the mo(c

fure of the court of Great Britain

and render

rect tendency to haften,

mea-

for every

it

di-

unavoidable.

We

muft take notice, that before the declaration

of independence, there was fomething like an attempt to reconcile us, commonly called Lord North's
conciliatory motion
ture,

but

and infidious

in

contrived

Who does not

it.

na-

it,

who

even by thole

perceive in

it

an artful

and that while every thing

the greateft uncertainty, the main point

attempt to divide us
elfe is left in

fo trifling in its

form, that probably no

its

was expelled from

fuccefs

for

was

it

which we contended

is

clearly decided againft us?

After the declaration of independence. Lord and

General

Howe

pence

America.

much

to

brought out a commiflion for giving

But

as they

had not

liberty fo

acknowledge us by an open treaty, fo

the fubftance of what they offered was pardon upon
fubmiihon; that the parliament would revife the
as to

ads they had

paiTed,

and

improper, they would

word, amounted to

what they

if

any of them were found

amend them

this,

that they

them/elves thought good.

which,

would do
Thefe

in

one

for us
offers.

MEMORIAL AND MANIFESTO

52

however, poor
portant

as they were,

could not be recalled

ment
it

came

and the formidable arma-

fent out againft us in the year

more

We

So im-

too late.

ilep as the declaration of independence,

1776, rendered

neceflary than ever.

are forry to be obliged to take notice of the

manner of conducting th^ war. It would be for the

honour of humanity, that it could be buried in obli-

Many were

vion.

the inftances of perfons, after

they had fubmitted

and bejzged mercy on

their

The

treat-

knees, being murdered in cold blood.

ment of

was from the beginning, and

prifoners

'

has continued through the war, with fome exceptions, favage

and barbarous to the

ill

Mul-

any exchange took place, died by

titudes, before

mine and

degree.

lafl

Many

ftench.

fa-

were, by threatening and

ufage, con drained to enlift in their enemy's fer-

vice

and many were forced on board

their fliips of

war, or fent to Britain to rot in prifon,

from

without hope of

their friends,

at a diftance
relief.

It

is

not eafy to enumerate the houfes and even towns

which have been M^antonly burnt, or

to defcribe the

devaftation of the country, and robbery of the inhabitants,

To

wherever the army pafled.

added, hiring the favages to

tlements.

There

is

come upon

this

may be

the back fet-

the greater fliame in this expe-

dient, that they are not formidable either for

number
in

manner
and murder

or their valour, but for the fliocking

which they torture

women

their

and infants

their prifoners,

who

fall

into their hands. Civili-

zed nations will perhaps find

reprcfentation

it

hard to believe this

but every part of

cd by the mofl unqueftionable

it

can be fupport-

faCIs,

and

it

is

ren-

dered credible not only by the circumftance that

ci-

THE UNITED STATES.

OF

63

wars are carried on commonly with a rancour

and animofity greater than thofe between indepen-

vil

dent nations, but by the expreflions of hatred and

contempt which have been ufed with refpel to the

Americans, by ahuoft every fpeaker and writer in

What

England.

effect could

on the minds of the

againft
find

all

was

fuch language have

foldiery, but to

fteel

them

impreffions of pity and tendernefs, as

really the cafe,

fome degree, by the

till

we

they were reftrained in

fear of retaliation

upon

their

people in our hands.

At

lail

after four years

years of profelTed and

pleafed

God

France to give

to

declared

two

independence,

it

inchne the heart of the king of

relief to the opprefled,

into a treaty with the

liberal

of real, and near

United

States,

and difinterefted principles.

privileges are there ftipulated for the

by entering
on the moft

No

exclufive

French nation,

but the fecure, open, and equal intercourfe to which

all

other nations

are

This acknowledg-

invited.

ment and fupport from one of the moft powerful

monarchs in Europe, it may eafily be fuppofed, gave
a

new

caufe.

turn to our

affairs,

and

new

dignity to our

The terms

of this treaty fo favourable to

us, as well as honourable to our ally, cannot
fail to

add the bond of gratitude to that of

make our adherence to it inviolable.

Not long

after this treaty

was

juftice,

and

figned, the court

and parliament of Great Britain fent out

com.miffioners to make an offer of terms, vvhxh we
readily
confefs were not only

as

good, but better, than

what three years before would have been chearfuliy

accepted.
But the ground was now wholly chan-

MEMORIAL AND MANIFESTO

164

We

ged.

were offered freedom from

even a fpecies of independence

enfy

taxes,

and

upon the

itfelf,

terms of breaking our faith fo lately pledged,

and uniting our force with that of Great Britain ;

and both would doubtlefs have been immediately
employed

in taking

affiftance {he

had

vengeance on France for the

lent to us in

our

diflrefs.

Yet

even here, the whole was to be fubjecl to the revifion of parliament

that

is

fay,

to

any part of the

agreement might be approved or rejected

wifdom of
Thefe

that aflembly fliould

laft

firft

that the

feem meet.

propofals from Great Britain, deferve

very particular notice.

of the

as to the

They

are a clear dereliction

caufe of quarrel, and an ample confeflion

demands of America were

juft

while the

time and circumftances of tlieir being made, (hew

that they could not be accepted with any regard
either to juftice, gratitude, or policy.

Could

we

be guilty of a dired breach of faith, when the ink

was hardly dry by which our ratification of the

Could we inftantly forget

was marked ?
thofe favours which had been fo earneftly folicited,
as well as generoufly bellowed? Could we, who had

treaty

not entered into a league ofFenlive and defenfive

with France, except for the prefent ftruggle in our

own

behalf, becaufe

in the

we

did not wifh to be involved

wars of Europe, throw ourielves into the

arms of an hoftile nation, and promife to make

peace or war with her, againft our benefactors ?
Upon the whole, fmce the American colonies
were, from their extent and fituation, ripe for a
feparation from

things feemed to

Great Britain, and the nature of

demand

it

fincc their

growing

OP

THE UNITED

STATES.

l6^

power, added to that of Great Britain, would give

her fuch a dominion of the

fea, as mufl be dangerous to the liberty and commerce of other nations ;

fmce,

by

her

own

a6ts of oppreffion, (he has

alienated the minds of the Americans, and compelled them to eftablifh independent governments,

which have now taken place ; and fmce thefe

governments, which are diftin^: though confederated, wholly fettled upon republican principles, and
only for agriculture and commerce, cannot be an
objei: of jealoufy to other powers, but by free and
fit

open intercourfe with them a general benefit to

all ; it is to be hoped that the revolution^ which they
have efFeled, will meet with univerfal approbation*

"^OL. IX.

ON THE

CONTEST
BETWEEN

GREAT BRITAIN

AMERICA.

and

Philadelphia,

Dear

Sept,

1778.

3,

Sir,

YOUR
March,

very acceptable letter of the 21ft of

I

received about the middle of June,

and would have anfwered

been any encouraging

As

fafely.

long ago,

it

you

there had

of conveying

profpe61:

to writing

if

a fliort letter that

have gone open through the enemy's pofls,

not think

come

woVth while.

it

it

you

to a refolution of writing

and trving to convey

if

have, however,

fhould

fall

*,

mufh
I did

now

pretty fully,

by France or Holland; and

it

into their hands, and never get to

no other

your's, there will be

writing

it

for as to

lofs

than

my

time in

any other confequences, either

to the public or to myfelf, I have not the leaft ap-

prehenfion.

Your

letter

came

to

me

fealed,

and apparently

never opened, in a packet from the

miflioners,

which

Congrefs was

arrived at

fiitUi^^

BrJlifli

com-

Yoik-town while the

and confcquently

it,

as well

ON THE CONTEST, ^r.

Mr F

167

was delivered to me in
As the fame
prefence of the whole members.
one from

as

packet,

fome

letters

contained

meflage,

public

the

befides

private

mem-

addrefled to particular

fome of them from Governor Johnftone, one

of the commiffioners, a propofal was made by a
member, who read publicly one received by himbers,

received private

from any perfon with the enemy,

letters

them

liver

who had

gentleman

that every

felf,

might be read.

to Congrefs, that they

This would have been attended with no

to

me

letter

except fome family

Congrefs.

However,

and afterwards,

was

in a

upon

in

Mr F

am

offenfive fpeaking of

little

was not done

diet

to read

at-

that time

many days

at

from them what related

and have been greatly concerned,

to be, for the conteft betv/een

and America

fuppofe,

few
2.

it

and certainly, from

obfervations.

mmy different

i.

Upon

my own

interefl,

and as

make

the public caufe

conduft, which

you

as

Great Britain

will be agreeable to you, fhall

On my own

diftance,

received any fuch letters,

have by far the greateft rcafon of the two

I

's

which was done.

to public affairs,

feem

it

member who had

called

affairs

difficulty as

very improper to be publicly read, and fome

expreffions in his letter a

every

fliould de-

and,

underfcand from

quarters, to be highly blamed in

my

native country.

As

to the public caufe, I Icok

tion of

tention

America from

Britain to be the vifible in-

of Providence

iffue it will

upon the fepara-

aifd

believe,

be to the benefit of

out any injury to the other

that

this country,

in

the

with-

perhaps to the advan-

ON THE CONTEST BETWEEN

l68

tage of both.

It

feems to

many

vidence for

enumerate, tmt

me

the intention of Pro-

which

reafons,

in a particular

now

cannot

manner

for the fol-

lowing-r-that I cannot recollect any inftance in hiftory, in

which

a perfon or people have fo totally

and uniformly miftaken the means

their

own

for attaining

ends, as the king and parliament of Bri-

tain have in this contefl.

my

tively affirm to you,

nion, that Congrefs

do

dear Sir, that

itfelf, if

and

ferioufly

it is

pofi-

my

opi-

they had been to direct

the meafures of the Britifh miniftry, could not, or

would

not, have directed

to meafures fo ef-

them

fedlual to forward and eftablifh the independence

of America, as thofe which they chofe of their

They have had

accord.

upon

a miftaken opinion of the

America, from the beginning to

ftate of things in

this hour,

and have founded

their

whole condut

their

They fuppofed fometimes,

miftakes.

that the people of America, in general,

lious

and

fa61:ious

own

were

defirous of a feparation

fedi-

from

Great Britain, and that their conduct on occafion

of the ftamp-a^l was the effect of this difpofition.

Nothing could be more untrue.

am

a witnefs

that the people of this country had an efteem of,

and attachment

ceedingly ftrong.

of their
Britifh

own

Great Britain, ex-

to the people of

They were proud

defcent from them.

of them, and

Britifh fafhions,

goods, and even Britifh perfpns, were in

the higheft efteem.

perfon educated in the old

counties had a degree of rank and credit from that

circumftance. Independent of every other.

they were even partial in this

had

refpecSl:.

I
I

think

believe,

myfclf been born and educated in America, I

GREAT BRITAIN AND AMERICA.

(liould

169

have met with a degree of acceptance and

my

fuccefs in

what actually

ftation, far inferior to

"When an American fpoke of going to

England, he always called it going home; and

happened.

wherever you are

in

country, you meet v/ith

this

almoft nothing but counties, townfhips, and houfes,

by Englifh names. I live at Princeton in'

Middlefex county ; and on the oppofite fide of the
ftreet is Somerfet county, and indeed, I believe all
called

the counties in

New

Jerfey,

are

called

by Englilh

names.

From

this

oppofition

you may

defire that

made

infer, that the

to the claims of parliament,

arofe

from a deep and univerfal convi6^ion in the people,

that they were inconfiftent with their own fecurity
and peace.

In this

am

they judged
up been acquiefced in,
the provincial aflemblies would have become contemptible and ufelefs, and the v*^hola colonics no
right

for

had the claim

fatisfied that

fet

better

than a parcel

placed

at fo great a diftance,

error,

ignorance, and

of tributary

which,

flates,

would have been, from

felf-interefl,

loaded in the

moft infupportable manner.

Another miftake,

parHament of England
deep-laid fcheme of a

who

ftirred

which the miniftry and

into

fell,

few

was, that this was a

artful

up the multitude

and defigning men,

for their

own

that the fentiments in favour of America,

no means general
pofed upon them.

were by

but that the artful leaders im-

This

have feen aflerted from

the beginning to the end

of the

complete

the

the

ends

abfurdity,

P3

quarrel

very

and to

commillioners

ON THE CONTEST,

lyo

now

here from Britain, continue to reafon in the

impeach

fame manner

appeal to the people.

of the matter.

it

the Congrefs with ambi-

and defigning views, and feem difpofed to

tious

body

Isfc

members

Alas

they

The Congrefs
are going

from

is
it,

every month, nay, every week.

know nothing
a

changeable

and coming to

ON THE

AFFAIRS
OF THE

UNITED STATES,

CTuscuLUM, NEAR Princeton,

*
March 20. 1780.
^

Dear

Sir,

HAVE

II,

1778, a few days after

you a long

The

received a letter from you, dated June

letter

defign of

of the date, Sept. 21. that year.

was

it

had written to

to defire

me

to enquire after,

and endeavour

to procure the enlargement of one

Alexander Muirhead, fuppofed to be carried into
Bofton.
I immediately wrote to Bofton myfelf,

and caufed one of the delegates of

write

but

we

that ftate alfo to

could hear nothing of him, fo that

probably he was not carried into that place.

Your

favour of

March

the receipt of mine of the 2

ceding, I received in the
I

am

to

blame

had no inclination
the

Englifli

of fending

it

to

pofts,

goes by a gentleman

ft

of September pre-

month of Auguft
it

laft year.

fooner; but I

fend an open letter through

and

another

anfwering

in not

acknowledging

19, 1779,

any

proper opportunity

way feldom

who means

occurs.

to get to

This

Europe

ON THE AFFAIRS OF

172

upon

and has promifed to take particular

bufinefs,

care of

it

mean

embrace the opportuyou and fome other of my friends.

fo that I

-,

nity of writing to

to

am obhged to you for your particular

home news about Glafgow, and would be
I

private

glad of

the continuance of fuch intelligence, and the

fo,

if

you would take

have been, fince

health than

ed upon them,

came

my

at prefent in better

had the

fnice I

laft

fit.

and that weaknefs has been

certainty
public.

It

fits

in general

health has been good ever fince

fwimming in
when I went

chiefly a

am

laft,

and the weaknefs that follow-

fits,

America

to

wrote you

have been

Excepting thefe

and indeed

in good, health,

more

in Paifley alfo.

my
to

head, and fear and un-

make

a long difcourfe in

was the opinion of Dr. Rufh,

that thefe

were fomething of the appoplelic kind.

remarkable, that for thefe twelve months paft,

It is
I

have

had almoft conftantly a fucceflioh of pimples, or

rather fmall biles or blotches, about the temples,

on the forehead

within the hair and fometimes

have been fenfibly better and

fince

which time

freer

from the other complaint.

have

now

left

Congrefs, not being able to fup-

port the expenfe of attending

with the frequent

it,

journies to Princeton, and being determined to give

particular attention to the revival of the college.

Profeflbr Houfton, however, our profeflbr of mathe-

matics,

is

a delegate this year

will certainly leave

this

it

but he

next Novem.ber.

circumftance to confirm what

you formerly,
neral, not

that the

tells
I

me he

mention

believe I wrote

members of Congrefs

only receive no profit from thut

in geofiice,

THE UNITED STATES.

but

out of

I believe five

of them,

fix

if

are great lofers in their private affairs.

not be otherwife

allowed to have any lucrative

own

in their

not more,

This can-

none of the delegates are

for as

73

ftate or for the

whatever, either

office

United

though

States,

their expenfes fhould be fully borne, their time

own

taken up, and their

At

ted.

private eftates are neglec-

the end of the year 1778,

me

at all, or leave

when

ever,

and

made

gave notice

only

at full liberty to attend

They

could conveniently.
I

muft either not chufe

to our legiflature that they

me

is

me how-

chofe

good deal of ufe of

that liberty

1779, and this year all the delegates

were changed but one, who had only been in one
in the year

and

year,

who

has not a houfe to go

neighbourhood of

eftate being in the

My

family are well fo far as

tees of the

college have laft

fon-in-law,

Mr. Smith,

He came to
cember. To him

phy.

home

New

know.

to,

The

truf-

September chofe

my

profefTor of moral philofo-

Princeton with his family in

I

his

York.

gave up

my

De-

houfe at college,

and devolved upon him the whole bufinefs of boarding young gentlemen, and retired to my houfe in
the country, at the diftance of one mile, and in full
fight of Princeton.

feme

my

years,

life,

know

if

This

and intend
poflible,

in

to

have had in view for

fpend the remainder of

otto

cum

was always fond of being a

You

diguitate.
fcientific

farmer.

That

difpofition has not loft but gathered ftrength

fince

my

being in America.

In this refpet I got

a dreadful ftroke indeed from

the

Englifh

when

they were here, they having feized and moftly deftroyed

my

whole

ftock,

and committed fuch rava-

ON THE AFFAIRS OF

174

we

ges that

are not

from

yet fully recovered

it.

My (now) eldeft fon failed in October laft for France,

Mr

with

Girard and Mr. Jay,

He

Congrefs.

is

late

prefident of

few medicines and

to purchafe a

inftruments in Europe, and return to profecute his

My

bufinefs as a phyfician.

ing law; but for the

mean

other fon was ftudy-

while,

private fecretary

is

my

to the prefent prefident of Congrefs, and

eft

daughter

As

is

at

home.

to public affairs,

whether we

feems to be yet uncertain

it

Greatly do

have peace foon.

fhall

and many others

young-

in

America

defire

it

and

were our condition ten times worfe than

yet,

it is,

no-

thing fhort of the clear independence of this country

would be accepted.

March

the 19th of

I
laft

obferve, by your letter of

year, that

you had

high

opinion of your fucceffes at St. Lucia, in Georgi?,

and againft the French

trade.

end of the campaign, there was

little

of your fuccefs upon the whole.

you

in

my

continued

and now

laft hovv' obftinately

in

believe before the

reafon to boaft

mentioned

to

the court of England

erroneous opinions refpefting America;

become incuIt is plain that they ftill harp upon the fame
rable.
ftring, that a few leading men in Congrefs ftir up
the people, and perfuade them to continue the conteft.

think that obftinacy has

Allow me

to affure you, that this

is

one of the

moft abfurd and groundlefs opinions that ever was

The Congrefs is changing every day.
formed.

There

is

no inftance

in the

whole

conteft, in

which

the public opinion did not go before their refblutions.

To

go back to the very beginning

claration of independence

the de-

was forced upon the ma-

THE UNITED

by the people

jority of the then Congrefs,

ral

STATES.

gene-

in

and, in confequence of fubfequent elelions,

every

fix

months

been

that I have

Congrefs has

in

weakened the party

that

upon

and now, perhaps,

is

75

that fubjeft

was

fufpecSted of coldnefs
I

may

fay

it

annihilated.

have read h^tely your parliamentary enquiry in-

to the caufes of

The

your want of fuccefs in America.

examination of Galloway

riofity.

know

that

particular

is

a cu-

he and fuch as he are blinded

and ftupified to an almoft incredible degree, by their

prejudices

and yet

thought as he

faid

is

it

in

when he endeavours

hard to fuppofe that he

all

to

For example,

points.

make

It

be believed, that

the difficulty of fuppiying general Wafhington's

arofe

from the

army

difaiFedtion of the country to his caufe.

admit that he was in the winter 1777, in a part

of the country where there are more people either

cool or difaffe6ted to the caufe of America, than in

any other on the continent

arofe

and yet

from the

ftate

of our money.

commifTaries had had as

the country laid

I

am

down

If

he and his

much hard money

Howe, he would have had

ral

want of

his

not arife from that in the leafl degree.

fupplles did
It

all

as

gene-

the provifions in

at his tent door.

not only fully fenfible, by a general know-

ledge of the country In this and other Hates, that

the public

mind

is

entirely

on the

fide of libertv,

and tor the independence of America

mention a great many

1

evidences of
gined,

it,

hds

and

but

could

circun:. fiances as

ftronger than could well be ima-

and indeed which have turned out ftronger

than even

my

expectations.

One

circumftance

is

ON THE AFFAIRS OF

17^

alone decifive upon

known

this

which

fubje<3:,

is

well

moment your army

to yourfelves, that the

leaves any part of the country,

it is

not only

to

loft

you, but returns (o ftrongly to the intereft of Congrefs,

that

all

the perfons

known

tached to you are obliged to

But there

confufion.

is

fly

to have

been

at-

with terror and

another ftrong circum-

flance, the univerfal attachment of the people to

the French alliance.

In vain have your partifans

endeavoured to alarm the people with the fears of

popery and arbitrary power. It makes not the leafl

im predion even upon the common people.

Pleafe to attend to the circumftance I
to

mention

obferved

it.

becaufe

There

it

am

furprifed myfelf

are always,

going

when

you know, little feuds

and contentions, jealoufy and emulation, in every

fociety

and

and

in every alTociation

in the country,

fet or fadiion wants to

both in Congrefs

have obferved that when one

make the other

odious, they

charge them with being cold to the French alliance,

and ungrateful to them for

my

their fervices.

This, to

knowledge, has been the fubjel of mutual re-

proaches,

when

truth in

on either

it

do not believe there was any

fide.

Would you

think

it

fome have ferioufly attempted to perfuade me, that

the New-England delegates were cold to the French,
and inclined to the Englifli ; to which I anfwered, that
I well knew the contrary, but that they were of aa
independent

fpirit,

and would not

eafily

fubmit to

unwarrantable influence, either from the French or

I mention all this fingly with this
the Englifli.
view, to ftiew you the bent and inclination of the
public mind.

THE UNITED

OF
.

have been

lately reading over

fpeech

fton's

8TATE8.

after

his

return,

77

governor John-

in

which

to

my

amazement, he pofitively and pubHcly denies his

having fent any meflage by a lady to Mr. Reed.

The

He

thing

is

now

known and

publicly

had been
naming the lady out of tendernefs
has

confefled.

would have named the lady if there

any fuch thing.
Mr. Reed forbore

fays they

now come

of the
of R.

late

out.

but

it

was Mrs .F
daughter
,
married to Mr. F
, fon

It

Dr.

to her

of

What

fliould

people

character fo boldlv and

think of perfons of his

folemnly to deny a certain fact.

I

The

mention another

will

diftrefs of this

circumflance to you.

country by the depreciation of

the money, has been very great.

fered great lofTes

Yet

ruined.

Many have

fuf-

not a few have been utterly

never could perceive that this altered

the inclination of the people as to the public caufc

in the leaft.

complaints

Nay, norwidillanding the dreadful

made

fuch as foreftailers and engrofiers,

quartermafters, yet

who

men,
commifTaries and

againft particular clafles of

am

perfuaded that any body

fhould but propofe to return to fubmiifion to

England
be tbrn

for relief

in pieces.

Vol. IX.

from

their depredations,

Would

OBSERVATIONS
ON THE

IMPROVEMENT OF AMERICA.

NORTH AMERICA

is

at prefent

tural courfe of things, in a

will therefore of
ly

improve.

which

that

tarded

growing

ftate.

It

for a feries of years gradual-

There are however many things by

improvement may be facilitated or re-

and

itfelf,

from the na-

it is

the laudable purpofe of this focie- ^

ty, to attend to thefe

circumftances with care, and

ufe their utmoft endeavours to encourage the one

and to remove the other. Having had the honour

of being admitted a

having

it

much

in

member

of this fociety, and not

my power

any otherwife

to pro-

mote American improvements, I could not refill

the inclination I felt to digeft and put in writing, a

few

reflections

upon the

police of countries in ge-

neral, the great principles

on which the Philadel-

phia Society ought to proceed, and perhaps

may

propofe fome particular regulations.

I.

The moral

caufes of the prosperity of a coun-

almoft infinitely more powerful than thofe

This obfervation is taken
that are only occafional.
from Montefquieu, by whom it is admirably illuf-

try, are

mted, and

it

ought never to be out of view, with

OBSERVATIONS,
tliofe

who

tifc.

I-y^

wifh to promote the general good.

moral caufes

arife

The

from the nature of the govern-

ment, including the adminiflration of juftice,

ty of confcience, the partition of property.
rife

liber-

The

of a particular town, the cultivation and beauty

of a particular quarter of a country, may fometimes

be juftly afcribed to the furprifmg effels of a fmgle
perfon who fet the example
yet he was only the
;

occafion properly fpeaking, of the vigorous exertion.

The confequences
if

there

was not

could never be general or lafting,

a difpofition to

it

in the conftitution

of the country.

Therefore, a facred regard fhould

be had by every lover of mankind, to the
principles
of equity and liberty, that they may never
be violated by any public proceedings.
Pennfylvania is
fo

happy

in this particular, that its conftitution

need

Bot be improved, but preferved and defended.

2. It is extremely difficult, after you depart from
general principles, to difcover what particular
regulations will be for the intereft of a country.

It re-

quires a very comprehenfive mind, and a

thorough
knowledge of the courfe of trade and police in
general.

Befides,

ble to

forefee

occur.

Many

it is

not only

difficult,

but impoffi-

what circumftances may afterwards

things are ufeful and expedient at

one
time, which in a few years become
unnecefTary

or
laws have operated from
the beginning, in a manner dlredly contrary
to

Nay, many

felfiffi

what was expeded.

The

hurtful.

in the cit;es

Britain,

is

and almoft every law m.ade

land, is an example of the

incorporation

of trades
an inflance of the firft
to the prejudice of Irelaft.

Q2

SUPPLICATION
OF
J

TO

T>*#**^###^

EXCELLENCY HENRY LAURENS, ESQUIRE, PRESIDENT,

THE
AWD OTHER, THE MEMBERS OF THE HONOURABLE,
AMERICAN CONGRESS, ^C ^f. i^C
HIS

SUPPLICATION 0
THE HUMBLE REPRESENTATION AND EARNEST
YORK,
NEWIN
BOOKSELLER
PRINTER AND
y. Jl
.

RESPECTFULL-y SHEWETH,

T^

HAT a

algreat part of the Britifli forces has

fpeedily

and from many fymptoms

will
reafon to fufped, that the remainder
Where they are gone or
follow them.

going,

is

there

not

ready
is

left this city,

perhaps

known

certainly however,

it

to
is

themfelves, perhaps

unknown

to us, the

and other friends of

and who
government who have taken refuge in it,
and terror on the
are therefore filled with diilrefs

loyal inhabitants of the place,

unhappy occafion.
That as foon as the evacuation

is

completed,

It is

be taken pofleffiou
high mightinclTes, followed
of by the forces of your
pevfons whigs by nature
by vaft crowds of other
to
to the liberties, and foes
-and profeffion^friends
Above all, it will unthe enemies of America.
of Yankies, that is
doubtedly be filled with ihoals

more than probable, the

city will

SUPPLICATION OF
to fay, the natives

J.

X8l

and inhabitants

("or

as a great

lady in this metropolis generally exprefles

New

nuretches ) of

That from

may

England.

feveral circumftances, there

to fear that the

it is

iliall

What

flay behind.

the go-

New York may

do

Nay, who knows

impoflible to foretel.

we may

we

have

Nev/

Jer-

foon fee, / propria perfona, as

often heard of HortentiuSy the governor of

gentleman remarkable for feverely handling

fey, a

thofe

reafon

not be altogether gentle to fuch of the friends

verning powers of the Hate of

but

is

behaviour of the v^rretches aforefaid,

of government as

alfo,

the

it,

whom

he

exalted fome of

calls traitors,

and indeed

who

has

them (quanquam animus meminifle

horret lecluque refugit) to a high, though depend-

ant ftation, and brought America under their

a fenfe very diiTerent

when he

ufed that celebrated expreffion.

firft

That your
eft

lofs

courfe.

petitioner in particular,

what

He

feety in

from what Lord North meant

to refolve

upon, or

has no defire at

all,

is at

how

the great-

to fhape his

either to be roaft-

cd in Florida, or frozen to death in Canada or

va Scotia.

Being a great lover of freih

had thoughts of trying a fettlement

land, but recollefting that the

have almoil

all

the fame appetite, he

relinquifn that projel entirely.

Great Britain, dangers no

themfelves.
is

New

lefs

If

in

cocjj

No-

he has

Newfound-

England

men

was obliged to
he

fliould

go to

formidably prefent

Having been a bankrupt in Londoa,

it

not impoflible that he might be accommodated

with a lodging in Newgate, and that the ordinary

SUPPLICATION OF

8a

there, might oblige

him

J.

'

to fay his prayers, a prac-

averfion
from which he hath had an infuperable

tice

all his life long.

at laft deIn this dreadful dilemma, he hath

and
termined to apply to your high mightinefTes,
'

by
he

this

to lay himfelf at your feet,

memorial

affures you,

is

the true modifh

which

phrafe for re-

prefent etifpeaful fubmiffion, accordingr to the

Being informed however,
quette of the court.
Religionifls,
fome of you are Prefbyterians and
that

he has been

alfo at

to find out a fcripture

fome pains

prefent conduft, and

warrant or example for his
advice given by the ferhas happily found it, in the

of Syria, to their mafter,

vants of Benhadad, king
And his fervants faid unto him, he31.
I Kings XX.
that the kings of Ifrael are
hold now we have heard
we pray thee, put facMoth up^
^nercful kings : let us
out to
ropes upon our heads, and go
on-Gur loins,

and

peradventure he may fave thy life.

the ling of Ifrael,
their loins, and put ropes
So they girded fackcloth upon
the king of Ifrael, and
their heads, and came to
lipon

/aid,
live.

thee let me
Thy fervant Benhadad faith, I pray
and venerable
In like manner, O moft mighty

Congrefs-men, your fervant

pray you

let

me

my

lay before

fundry reafons, which

lend a favourable ear to

it,

ufe
I.

all

poflible plainnefs

In the

firft

faith, I

live.

Having thus preferred

intre-it leave to

J.

petition, I

muft

now

your high mightincfles,

hope will incline you to
in

doing which,

I fhall,

and candour.

place, there cannot polTibly be

any

fuffering me to live,
danger to the United States, in
and fay that a Tory heart
I know many of you think

SUPPLICATION OF

J.

183

acquires fuch a degree of fournefs and malevolence,

in addition to

native ftock, and fuch a habit of

its

treachery, by breaking through the moll, endearing

of nature, that no good can be expected from

ties

nor any dependance placed upon

it,

appearances be what they will.

let

it,

pretences or

remember

alfo,

about feven year^ ago a certain perfon hearing accidently one or two paragraphs read from the writings
of an eminent controverfial divine in this country,

That fellow muft be

faid,

a turn-coat

it is

impoffi-

ble that he could have been educated in the profef-

What

Con which he now defends.

for that opinion

prefent

of

fpirit

who
tion

he difcovers a rancour

clafs of

men. But

contend that thefe re-

only to the natives of this country,

took up arms for her deftruc-

to apoftates in rehgion

certain,

neither of which,

can be applied to me.

well known, in old England

cufation of apoitacy,

man

who was

and rottennefs of heart, unattainable by

relate

and

your reafon

another gentleman

fays he,

like parricides

Fam
is

faid

Becaufe,

any other

marks

is

fet

it

at

and

was born,

as

as for the ac-

defiance, unlefs a

from what he was never

on, or to depart from a place M'hich he never faw.
But what I beg of you particularly to obferve is,
can be faid to

fall

off

that let the difpofitlon to mifchief be as great as

pleafe,

where the

ability is

you

wanting there can be no

have often feen the lions in the tower of

London without fear, becaufe there was an iron
danger.

grate between

me and

them.

Now

it

is

certain

would do any thing foonMany of them became Tories for no

that the Tories in general,

er than fight.

other reafon, than that they might avoid fighting.

SUPPLICATION OF

1^4

J.

poor chicken-hearted creatures cried out to the

potent King of England, to take them under his
wings for protection, which he endeavoured to do,

The

Even the
promifed to go
late petition for arms in which they
without the Hnes, and fweep you all away with the
befom of defl:rulion, was but an idle rhodomon-

but they were too

tade

to cover them.

fliort

was fomething

It

and finging

like a

in the dark, to

poor boy ihouting

keep himfelf from being

At that very time, to my certain knowfor a place

ledge they would have given the world
and Gates.
to fly to, out of the reach of Wafhington
afraid.

But
I

return to myfelf, egomet

fum proximus mihu

can aiTure your high mightinefles, that no danger

can

from me, for

arife

am

as great a

coward as

King James the Vlth of Scotland, who could never ^

naked fword without trembling

fee a

as

it

isfaid, frightened in his

fierce barrons of that

David Rizzio

*,

having been,

mother's belly,

country came

in his prefence.

in,

when the

and

killed

was once feverely

caned by a Scots officer.now (if employed) in your

fervice. Though the gentlemen of that choleric na-

much our

tion have been very

find

fent controverfy, I

Buchanan

them.

vidum

their

is

own

dangerous to offend

hiftorian

fuppofe you are

regards his

at

prefent

would advife
own peace, however

French phrafes,

beft pleafed with

man who

fays, perfer*

Therefore by the

Scotorum in gen'ium.

eji

by, or en pajfant, for

every

it

friends in the pre-

appear, not to
fmooth and gentle a Scotchman may
the hah'y as the

take

him

own

country, but to

aga'wjl

rounds the

thiftle,

faying

is

in their

remember the motto that

I
Nemg me impwie lacejfat.

furalfa

SUPPLICATION OF

"R

J.

New

very narrowly efcaped a found beating from a

who was

England parfon,

mummy.

ftrong enough, without

or cudgel, to have pounded

either cane

and much more

All this,

85

me

to a

of the fame

kind, I bore with the moft exemplary patience and

Perhaps

fubmiflion.

danger

to be

is

it

will be faid, that

apprehended from any deeds, yet

may do harm enough by words and

this I

my

anfwer, that

have expended

whole faculty of that kind

Englifh.

have

though no

To

writing.
arid

exhaufted

in the fervice of the

tried falfehood

and mifreprefenta-

tion in every fhape that could be thought of, fo that

it is

turned that will not hold a

like a coat thrice

My friend,

fingle ditch.

me fome

time ago in

Re

Gen.

my own

n, told

(hop, that I had car-

ried things fo far that people could not believe

word

pel.

From

even though

faid

all this

it

were

hope

it

as true as the gof-

plainly appears, that

there could be no danger from

as

one

me

and therefore

you cannot furely think of being cruel for cruel-

ty's fake, that

II.

Any

you

vv'ill

fuffer

me

further puniOimiCnt

other of the lyihappy refugees

New

York,

do

fuffer

as

much

upon

wijl

and

upon me, or any

who

fliall

.emain in

be altogether unneceflary, for they

will fufFer

as a merciful

his

to live.

greateft

from the nature of the thing,

man

enemy.

could wifh to impofe

By

this

mean

the

dreadful mortification (after our pall puiiing and

vaunting") of being under the dominion of the
grefs, feeing

Con-

and hearing the conduct and difcourfe

of the friends of America, and perhaps being put in

mind of our own,

bably feen

many

in

former times.

You

have pro-

of the Englifli newfpapers, and

SUPPLICATION OF

l86
alfo

J.

R-

feme of mine, and you have among you the

who by

feix) prifoners

By

hands.

what

our

means you may learn with

contempt, with what provoking infult,
thefe

all

infinite

a miracle efcaped death in

and with what unexampled barbarity, your people

have, from the beginning to the end, been treated

by the

numwho

Britifh officers, excepting a very fmall

ber, but above

all

by the Tories and Refugees,

not having the faculty of fighting, were obliged to lay

out their whole wrath and malice in the article of
fpeaking.

remember, when one of the prifoners

the gallant defence of Fort Wafhington
I

taken after

had received
he

feveral kicks for not being in his rank,

faid, is this a

way

of treating a gentleman

anfwer was, gentleman

who made you

us

all

tified

your

G d

a gentleman

your blood,

which was heard by

prefent with unfpeakable fatisfadlion, and ra-

by general applaufe.
officers, after

clothes, food

have alfo feen one of

long imprifonment, for want of

and lodging, as meagre as a fkeleton

and as dirty and fhabby as a London beggar,

one of our friends would fay with

look you there
cals.

The

You

is

infinite

when

humour,

one of King Congs's ragged raf-

mult remember the many fweet names

given you in print, in England and America, Rebels,

Rafcals,

Ragamuffins, Tatterdemallions,

drels, Blackguards,

cannot be ignorant
vil:ories

we

Cowards, and Poltroons.

Scoun-

You

how many and how complete

gained over you, and what a fine figure

We never once made

you made In our narratives.
you to retreat^ feldom even ^ojly as a routed army,
but to run off into the ivoodsy to Scamper away
through the fields^ and to take

to

your heels as ufiiaL

SUPPLICATION OF

You

igy

will probably foon fee the gazette account of

the defeat of
it

J.

Mr. Wafliington

how you

will appear

Monmouth. There

fcampered

EngUfli followed you and

their

at

off,

and

how

mowed you down,

with that humanity which

officers,

is

the
till

the

characterijUc of the nation^ put a ftop to this carnage,

and then by a mafterly ftroke of generalship, Hole

a march in the night, left you fhould have fcampered back again and obliged them to make a
ilaughter in the morning.

Now,
affair it

new

dear gentlemen, confider what a miferable

muft be for a man to be obliged to apply

with humility and feif-abafement to thofe whom

he
hath fo treated, nay, even to beg life of
them,
while his own heart upbraids hira with his paft
condud, and perhaps his memory is refreflied with the
repetition of

fome of

his rhetorical flowers.

generally faid that our friend Burgoyne

with abundance of

was

It is

treated

by general Gates, and

yet I think it could not be very pleafmg
to him to
fee and hear the boys when he entered
Albany,
going before and crying, Elhoiu Room for
General
Burgoyne there. Fear and trembling have already
taken hold of many of the refugees and friends
of

government

in

this

civility

place.

It

would break your

hearts to hear poor Sam. S

, of Philadelphia,
weeping and wailing, and yet he was a peaceable

Quaker who

did nothing in the

guides to the Englilh parties

world but hire

who were

going out

My brother of trade,
affeded, that fome fay he has loft,

to furprize and butcher you.

is

fo

much

or will foon

do not think

lofe, his reafou.

run any

For

my own

riik in that refpe<^.

part I

All

SUPPLICATION OF

88

J.

of
the wifdom that I was ever poffeffed
ftill,

praifed be

God, and

likely to

be

fo.

is

me
man

in

duns and
that has run the gauntlet of creditors,
has been cudgellbailiffs, for years in England, and
d upon in America, is in no
and

ed, kicked,

circumftance
danger of lofmg his reafon by any
profpeft of
whatever, fo long as there is the leaft
that
I have heard fome people fay
faving his life.
with the great
diftionour was worfe than death, but

Sancho Pancha,

was always of a

different opinion.

will confider my
I hope, therefore, your honours
my offences, and
fufferings as fufficient to atone for

me

allow

to continue in peace

and quiet, and ac-

whole
cording to the North Britifh proverb, j/?^^/ in a
Jk'in.

beg leave to fuggeft, that upon being rein my powe^

ceived into favour, I think it would be
important reto fexve the United States in feveral
politefpeds. I believe many of your officers want
They are like old Cincinnatus, taken from

IIL

nefs.

and therefore muft ftill have a

roughnefs in their manners and deportment.

the plow;

I myfelf

am

little

Now

the pink of courtefy, a genteel, portly,

fummer's
well-looking fellow, as you will fee in a
the
I underftand and poffefs the hienfiance^
day.

Lord
mannery the grace, fo largely infifted on by
and may without vanity fay, I could
Chefterfield
,

teach

it

better than his Lordfhip,

has remarkably

failed.

who

in that article

hear with pieafure- that

and have
your people are pretty good faholars,
of
made particularly very happy : vances in the art
gentleman.
fo effentially neceffary to a
fwearing,

Yet

that;
dare fay they will themfelyes confefs,

SUPPLICATION CF
they are
lifh

refped

in this

ftill

army. There

J, F

by

,8o

far inferior to the

Eng-

accounts, a coarfenefs and

famenefs in their expreffionj whereas there is
variety,
fprightlinefs

and

is,

all

figure, in the oaths of

Dean Swift

well educated.

gentlemen

fays very juflly,

<

a foot-

man may fwear, but he cannot fwear like a lord.'

Now we have many lords in the Englifharmy, all of
whom, when here, were pleafed to honour me with
their friendfliip

and intimacy;

fo that I

can hardly be difputed.

lifications

my

hope

qua-

have imported

many

of the moll neceflary articles for appearance

in
genteel life.
I can give them Lavornitti's foap-balls,

wafh

to

brown hands clean, perfumed

powder, and pomatum. I can alfo

paint,

their

New

the

England men with

notions^ to

carry

who will
alfo to know

that I import a great

medicines, which
faid that

diforder called
is

may
by

parent

phyficians

It

liable to

raucomaniay

tlie

frequently followed by the two twin dif-

will but fubmit to a ftricl regimen,

tinfture drops and pills

fident the cure in

mod

which
cafes

\i they

and take the

prepare,

would be

have been informed, that

known

other

be of ufe to your army.

plumbophobia and fiderophobia.

eafes of

many

fome of them are exceedingly

is

which

many

to their wives

and mifbe ;w//^-giad to fee them.

You

trefles,

are

home

furnifli

rings, feals, fwords,

canes, fnufF-boxes, tweezer-cafes, and

fuch

gloves,

am

con-

infallible.

a certain perion,

weli

your augull body, has clearly demonitrated that virtue and feverity of maniiers are necefiary
to

to thofe

which

who would pull an old government down^

is now happily accon;piiihed
but that

fete

luxury, diffipatioD^ and

VoL.iX.

a taite for pieaiures, are

SUPPLICATION OF

igO

equally neceflary to keep up a government already-

As

fettled.

fuppofe you are fully convinced of

moft falutary truth, I take it for granted, now

that you have fettled governments in all the Hates,
you are looking out for proper perfons to foften the

this

Americans, and lay them alleep

Now, I am proud to
in the lap of felf-indulgence.
fay, that there is not a man on this continent more

rigid virtue of the

I
able to ferve you in this refpedt, than myfelf.
have ferved many of the Britifh officers in a mofl

honourable ftation and

of which the

charaaer,

Troy was the moft ancient examIf I am happy enough to make my own conple.
verfation and manners the ftandard of the mode, I
great Pandarus of

believe you will fee very powerful effects of

ihort time.

But

Ihip myfelf,

cile to this

if,

am

after

it

in a

recovering your friend-

able alfo to bring back and recon-

country the Rev.

Dr

-,

believe

That gentleman, by
the fyftem will be perfeft.
ecclefiaftical
his robuft form, is well fitted to be an
and,
needed
if fuch an officer fliould be
,

bruifer,

w\\h

all

due deference

can army,

to the officers of the

fhould think that a better

way

Ameri-

of termi-

among them in the laft refort

piflol, for many obvious reafons.

nating differences

than

fword or

has alfo diftinguiflied himfelf by the publication

of fome poems, on fubjeas extremely well fuited
and very
to the charaaer of a Chriftian clergyman,
proper for initiating the tender mind in the fofteft

He

and moft delicious of all arts, vh. the art of love.

Finally, I hope I may be of fervice to the Unitand
ed ftates, as a writer, publlfiier, coUe^or,

maker of news.
ilgjice

mention

this

with fome

becaufe perhaps you will think

diffi-

have fore-

SUPPLICATION OF

my

But

is

it

one place, by

fhifting his

departure, to

ftourifli

gone

which

place

is

wholly gone in

away, and make

How

long that fplen-

might therefore, though m*y

New

in

York,

honoured

which you wifh

you the moft

new

as great or

"with

fet

up again

to

in the

Be-

your refidence.

might write thofe things only or

fides, I

for a

another matter, and belongs to an

laft is

after confideration.
is

broken by

ground, and taking a

greater figure than before.

credit

is

common enough

in bufinefs, v/hen his credit is

dour will

I^S

credit as a news-writer

over-flretching.

man

from fuch a claim, by confeffing (as

clofed myfelf

above) that

J.

chiefly,

be difbelieved, and thus render

effential fervice.

This would be aim-

ing and arriving at the fame point, by manoeuvring^

Once more,

retrogade.

as I

have been the oilenfi-

ble printer of other people's lies

what

to hinder

is

me from

venting or polilhing

lies,

to

keeping

of thefe ways,

ail

tion.

vices

hope

New

incog,

York,,

and in-

be ilTued from the

of another printer in Philadelphia

or

in

prefsr

In one, or more,

to merit

your approba-

would be endlefs to mention all my deand therefore I will only fay further, that I

It
;

can take a truth, and fo puff and fweil and adorn

it,

ftili

keeping the proportion of

its

parts, but en-

larging their dimenfions, that you could hardly dif-

cover where the falfehood lay, in cafe pf a

ftrit;:

inveftigation.

may not weary you, I conclude with recommending myfelf to your kind countenance and
That

proteftion

favourable

bound,

and

in the m.ean time, waiting for a-

anfwer, your petitioner,

fnall ever pray,

&c.

R2

as

in

dut^"

RECANTATION
BENJAMIN
X:3E

TOJVNE.

FOLLOWING WAS PRINTED IN LOUDON's NEW YORK PACKET PUBLISHED AT FISHKILL, OCTOBER

T^HE

I.

l)/^'

That
I Benjamin Towne ufed to print the Pennfylvania Evening Pofl, under the protection of Congrefs,

following

facSls

are well

known,

and did frequently, and earneftly

ift.

folicit

fun-

dry members of the faid Congrefs for differtations

and

articles

of intelligence, profe fling myfelf to be

a very firm and zealous friend to

2d.

That on the

American

liberty.

Englifti taking pofleflion of Phila-

and printed ray

Evening Poll under the protedion of General Howe
and his army, calling the Congrefs and all their
adherents, rebels, rafcals, and raggamufiins, and

delphia^,

turned fairly round,

feveral other unf^woury

mane and

polite Englifli

names, with which the huare pleafed to honour them.

ever refufe to infert any diflertation

however fcurrilous, or any article of inteUigence

Neither did

fcnt to
be,

fa^s

as

me, although many of them I well knew

a certain gentleman elegantly exprefles

that never happened,

3d. That.

am now

to
it,

will-

RECANTATION,

mg

and deHrous

ip3

Scc.

once more, to unfay

to turn

that I have lad faid, and to print

and publifh for

United States of America, which are

tlie

be uppermoft, againft the Britifh tyrant

I

all

likely to

nor will

be backward in calling him, after the example of

the great and eminent author of

The Royal Brute y or giving him

tion

(till

The

more opprobrious,

if

Senfe,

fuch can be found.

being thus ftated,

fa6i:3

Common

?.ny other appella-

prefume

(I will

to

fay altogether fairly and fully) I proceed to obferve,

am

that I

not only profcribed by the Prefident and

Supreme executive council of Pennfylvania, but

that feverai other perfons are for reprobating

my

paper, and alledge that inftead of being fulfered tO'

print,

ought

On

try.

to be

this

hanged

account

publilb the following

as a tnitor to

my

me

humble

firll

will ailuage

it

and indulgence of the public.

pLice then, I defire

.that I never

vviis,

may

it

In-

be obferved,-

nor ever pretended to be a

L was

of charadlier, repute or dignity.

man

originally

an underftrapper to the fjinous Galhivay \x\ his /-

famous

fquabble with Goddard,

fervice contrail: fuch a habit of

ing,
as

and

fcurrility in

brother

would

fay,

changing

Bell

and did

meannefs

to

fideSj

is

not any

way

have read in the

Roman

that'

in think--p^t-^//^^,,

the fentimentaliftss

could ever be expefted from me.

Now^

furprifing in a per--

fon anfwering the above defcription.

to

in

writing, that nothing

provedore

hiftory, that

remember
when Cato

of Utica had put himfelf to death, being unable tf

R3

confeffion, declaration,,

enemies, and in fome degree reitore

to the favour

the

coun--

have thought proper to

recantation and apology, hoping that

the wrath of

my

RECANTATION OF

t94

exfurvive the dliTolutlon of the republic, and the

another fenator of inferior note,
tan\:ion of liberty
,

whofe name I cannot recollect, did the fame thing*

But what thanks did he receive for this ? The men
of reflection only laughed at his abfurd imitation of
To great a perfonage,

and

faid

he might have

lived

though the republic had come to its period. Had

grant
a Hancock or an Adams changed fides, I
you they u^ould have deferved no quarter, and I

would have received none ; but to pafs the

fame judgment on the conduct of an obfcure printer

believe

is

After

miferable reafoning indeed.

much

noife about a

What

trifle ?

tor the public to pour out

Towne

on every

iiril

are turn coats fo rare

and

occafion

fo

there

is

wrath upon poor

Do they not walk

feen Dr.

then friends to govern-

difcovcr a laudable inclination to

ranks as quiet and orderly fubjeas of

commonwealth of Pennfylvania.

moraliils of the laft age ufed to

was an

why

and many others who were

for liberty

now

fall into their

the

Have we not

fide?

champions

ment,

all its

all,

eiTeiuial diiTerence

becaufe there was an

The

tell us,

rational

that there

between virtue and

elTential diiFerence to

vice,

be ob-

Now,
ferved in the n:Uure and reafon of things.
tlunk
I
with all due deference to thefe great men,
I

am

as

much

of a phllofopher as to

know

that there:

important than
are no circumftances of aaion, more
Therefore if a man pay
thofe of time and place.

no regard

to the

changes that

may happen

circumilances, there will be very

(till lefs prudence in his behaviour.

got rather too deep foe

common

little

^
,j

a
:

in thefe

virtue,

Perhaps

and
have

readers, and there-

'

BENJAMIN TOWNE.
any plain Quaker

fore fhall afk

would

man who

fay to a

Ip5

what he

in this city

fhould wear the fame coat

winter in this climate ? He wouKi

" Friend, thy wifdom is not great.'*
Now whether I have not had as good reafon to
change my condu6l as my coat, fmce lail; January^
in

fummer

as in

certainly fay,

every impartial perfon to determine.

I leave to

do hereby

declare and confefs, that

and on the

for Congrefs,

when

fide of liberty,

it

2. I

printed

was not

by any means from principle, or

a dedre that the

caufe

but

of liberty

fliould

prevail,

fimply from the love of gain.

purely and

could have

nothing but tar and feathers by printing

them as things then flood.

knowledgment not only as
don,
in

to

but:

my

fliew that

condu6l than

make

this

made

againfl:

candid ac-

a penitent to. obtain

there

par-

was more confiilency

my

allow.

enemies are willing to

They are pleafed to charge me with hypo-

crify in

pretending to be a whig

This clrarge
but

is

printer.

when

was none*
falfe
I was neither whig nor tory,
I deteft and abhor hypocrify.
I
I

-,

had no more regard

for General

Howe

or General

Clinton, or even Mrs. Lowring, or any other of

the

nymphs that attended the Fete Champetre,

Mifchianza, when I printed in their behalf,

c/:a/}e

alias

than for the Congrefs on the day of their retreat.

It is pretended that I certainly did in my heart
incline to the Englifh, becaufe I printed
lies

and

in greater

Congrefs.
tion.

It

This

was

themfelves,

is

number
a

moft

who

thought

tentate in the earth) to be

bigger

for them, than for the

falfe

entirely the

much

and unjuft infinua-

fault

of the Congrefs

new pomuch more mode ft, aad

fit

(being but a

'

RECANTATION OF

ip6

Had.'

keep nearer the truth than their adverfarles.

any of them brought

tain

in

-a

lie as

fhould have iilued from

it

gives

me

big as a

my

who

well as malignity of thofa

party fpirit

many

are

folly

printed monftrons and

iticredible

lies

as

a6luated by

them have affirmed

of

This

prefs.

an opportunity of fhewing the

me

moun-

that I

General

for

Howe. Now pray what harm could incredible lies

do ? The only hurt, I conceive, that any lie can do
is

by obtaining

belief, as a truth

can obtain no

lie

belief,

think,

if I

but an incredible

and therefore

What

be perfeaiy harmlefs.

mud-

lead

at

will thofe

cavillers

(hould turn this argument againft them,

and fay that the moil efFe6lual way to difgrace any

caufe, is to publifh monftrous and incredible lies in
In this view,

favour.

its

but fome degree of

it

which way you

liflied in

have not only innocence,,

m.erit to plead.

there never

will,

However, take
was

Philadelphia that could bear the lead com-

parifon with thofe publiflied by J

in

New

ed

pub-

a lie

York.

This

in

my

opinion

is

to

to the fuperiority, not of the printer,

be imputbut of the

to
prompter or prompters. I reckon Mr. T
have excelled in that branch ; and probably he had

many

coadjutors.

Ruffians,

were
the

f\iid

you think of 40,000^

and 20,000 Moors, which Moors tooto be dreadful amongby Mr. R

women

forks of

What do

As aUb

Monongahela

New

the

Ohio

As

to myfelf

to

of the boats building at the

to

Orleans

and friend

carry the Congrefs

?

down

Thefe were fwingers.

we

con-

tented ourfelves with publiffiing affidaats to prove

that the king of France

was determined

to preferve

BENJAMIN TOWNE,

I97

the frlendfliip that fubfifted between

him and

his

good brother the king of England, of which he has

given a neiu proofy by entering into and communicat-

ing his treaty with the United States of America.

Upon

pubHc

the whole, I hope the

will attribute

my

condul, not to difafFelion, but to attachment to

my own intereft

and

a principle,

if

my

defire of gain in

profeffion;

miftake not, pretty general and

pretty powerful in the prefent day.

^dly,

hope the public

been a timorous man,

from
is

my

will confider that I

or, if

you

will, a

youth, fo that I cannot fight,

fo big that I

cannot run,

and

coward,

my

am

have

belly

fo great a

lover of eating and drinking that I cannot ftarve.

When

thofe three things are confidered, I hope they

will fully account for

me

my

paft condu(^,

and procure

the liberty of going on in the fame

No

judgment can be
man's charadter and condul, unlefs

tenor for the future.

formed of a

every circumftance
to

in

my

thofa

uniform

is

jufl

taken in and fairly attended

therefore hope that this juftice will be done

cafe.

who

am

alfo

verily perfuaded that if all

are cowards as well

as

myfelf, but

who

are better off in other refpefts, and therefore can

and do rim whenever danger

befriend me,

on

my

fide.

is

near them, would

fhould have no inconfiderable body

Peace be with the Congrefs and the

army ; I mean no reflecSlions j but the world is a

wide field, and I wifh every body would do as they
would be done by. Finally, I do hereby recant,

draw back,

eat in,

and fv/allow down, every word

that I have ever fpoken, written

or printed to the

prejudice of the United States cf America, hop-

RECANTATION, &C.

ip8
ing

it

will not only fatisfy the

good people

fellows,
neral, but alfo all thofe fcatterbrained
call

one another out to (hoot

while they tremble fo

the mark.

In the

with afliduity in

mean time

my

public*^

in

fliall

who

the air,

that they cannot hit

I will

return to labour

lawful calling, and

intelligence as before

by the

much

piftols

ge-

in

efl^iys

and

be gratefully accepted

moft obedient humble fervant,

BENJAMIN TOWNS..

DESCRIPTION

STATE

OF the

OF

NEW

JERSET,

ANSWERS IN PART TO MR MARBOIS^S QUESTIONS RESPECTING

KEW
I-

M^W JERSEY
line

JERShY,

bounded on the north by a

drawn from the North or Hud Ion's
is

boundary of Pennfylvania, fixed ab iit

ten years ago by commiffioners appointed from New
river to the

York and
maps.

New

This

line

is

from the

in all the iate

runs nearly weft, and pafTes about

thirty miles north of

It

and marked

Jerfey,

Morris-town

bounded on the
line juft

eafl

in

New

Jerfey.

by Hudfon*s

now mentioned

rivor,

to the fea.

bounded on the fouth by the Atlantic Ocean,

from the mouth of Hudfon's riv.r to Cape May, at
the mouth of Delaware Bay.
And on the weft bv
It is

the Delaware, to
tioned line ftrikes

tlie
it,

dred miles from the

II.

place where the

men-

between two and three hun-

fea.

Smith's hiftory of

blication that can

firft

New

Jerfey

is

anfwer the defign of

the only puthis query.

A DES'CRIPTION OF

200

New

III.

conGlls

Jerfey

of thirteen

counties,

Cape May on the Delaware

Bay, lie in the following order Cape May, Salem,
Cumberland, Gloucefter, Burlington, Hunterdon,
which, beginning

at

Suflex, Morris, Bergen, Effex, Somerfet, Middlefex,

Monmouth.

Thefe counties are fubdivided

into townftiips or precinfts.

There

are

no

ton and Perth

capitals of Eaft

cities in

New

Jerfey, but Burling-

Amboy, which were feverally the

and Weft Jerfey, as will be feen by

the patents and hiilory of the fettlement.

The

chief villages, or confiderable places in

Jerfey, are Haddonfield, Mountholly,

New

Burdentown,

Trenton, Princeton, Brunfwick, Morrifton, Springfield,

Woodbridge, Elizabeth-town, Newark, Hack-

enfack, Pittflown, Cranberry, Shrewfbury, Allentown, Pennington, and fome others of lefs note.

only river of confiderable extent in Newwhich

Jerfey, is the Raritan , the two branches of
pafling through the north-eaftern parts of the ft.ate,

The

unite near twenty miles above Brunfwick, and receiving the Milftone and fome other fmaller dreams,

becomes navigable about two miles above Brunfwick, and from thence to Amboy bay, about twenIhallops and
ty miles by water, is navigated by
it

fmail vefleis of one hundred or one hundred and

fifty tons.

South

river pafies

through Cranberry,

in

Middle-

fex county, and empties itielf into the Raritan before

it

reaches

Black river

Amboy.
is

a confiderable ftream, paffing thro*

Morris county caftwavd, and empties

Hudfon's

river.

itfclf

into

THE STATE

OF

NEW JERSEY,

through Bergen county, and

Paffaic river palTes

Newark.

enters into the bay oppofite to

falls

pretty remarkable

on

and particularly

laware, none of

in the

head of

to fee as a curiofity*
rivulets,

not confi-

upon the fea

inlets

bay and river of De-

them navigable

As to mountains, there is
but commonly called Rocky

far into the country*

a ridge not very high,

which crofles the

New York, about

Hill,

great road from Philadelphia to

five miles

There are

this river, at the

many people go
There are many other fmall
derable, and many creeks and

the bay, which

coaft,

20t

eaftward of Princeton, and runs from ihe

fouth-eall to the north-weft, continuing about ten

miles in length, paffing about one mile and a half to

Though

the north of Princeton.

properly fpeaking, there

is

there are no hills

continued and gradual

afcent from the Delaware to Princeton, and a gra-

dual defcent from thence to the eaftward.

4s a great ridge of

dary between
chiefly

The

from

There

mountains near and on the boun-

New

Jerfey

and

New

York, running

eaft to weft.

trees are very various.

there are oaks of various kinds,

As

to foreft tree%

maple, bfrch,

afti,

The middle and upcountry run much into the Several

chefnut, walnut,- pine, locuft.

per parts of the

kinds of oak, and in the lower parts are to be found

great quantities of pine and cedar.
tree thrives in

moft parts of the

remarkably favourable to
apf'es, pears, cherries

there

is

many

Hot unpleafant to
Vol. IX.

parts,

trees,

?.nd

The

it

feemi

particularly

and peaches, of

great abundance.

neoufly in

fruit

ftate

The mulberry

all

which

vine grov/s fponta-

and bears a large blue grape,

eat.

A DESCRIPTION OF

202

The produce
barley,

rye,

hemp.

of the improved farms,

corn, buckwheat,

Indian

It is ufual for

of land in tobacco

is

farmers to have

but

it is

or that of their fervants;

it

wheat,

and

flax,

a fmall piece

only for their

own

ufe,

is not raifed in New Jer-

All the garden herbs raifed in France

fey for fale.

and England,

thrive w-ell in

bly would vines,

if

New

cultivated

Jerfey

fo proba-

who

by perfons

un-

derflood the bufinefs.

Black
vantage

cattle are raifed in

There

alfo horfes.

the inhabitants

for

is

Jerfey to great ada particular turn in

fine

horfes,

England,

There

ralfing

imported from

breed

New

from the
is

alfo a

large breed of heavy draught horfes, in thofe parts

of the

ftate chiefly inhabited

by the

IV. The number of inhabitants

Low
in

at prefent, is certainly not lefs than

There

thoufand.

w^as anexa6V.

lift

Dutch.

New

Jerfey

two hundred

of them taken

about ten years ago, which will be procured in a

fhort time.
tainly
t'le

There

are negroes, but they are cer-

not above one fevcnth or one tenth part of

whole.

The

negroes are exceedingly well ufed,

being fed ancL clothed as well as any free perfons

who

live

by daily labour.

V. There

ic

no profeflion of

an cxclufive legal

eflabliflm-ient.

religion

which has

Some

particular

churches have charters of incorporation

and pro-

bably they would not be refufed to a body of any

tlenomination.
all

proteftants

elected,

All profefhons are tolerated,

are

capable of

ele(^l:ing

and

and being

and indeed have every privilege belonging

THE STATE
to

citizens.

There

OF

are

NEW

JERSEY.

New

in

203

Jerfey,

Englilh

Preltyterians,LowDutchPrefbyterians,Epifcoplians,
Baptifts,

Quakers.

The twoiirit,

except the difference

of the national connexion of the one with the church

of Scotland, and the other with the church of Holland,

and the language, are of the fame principles as to doctrine. They have the fame worfhip and government,
and they are by far the moft numerous.

There

is

great majority of the prefent legillature of thefe

two denominations.

Formerly the Quakers, though

not the majority, had confiderable influence; but
fince the late conteft

fewer

The

with Great Britain, they are

number, and altogether without poWer.

in

The

Epifcopalians are few.

byterians in

all

other refpefts, only differing in the

point of Infant-baptifm

way

the fame

Baptifts are Pref-

their political

as the Prefbyterians

weight goes

their

number

is

fmall.

VI. There
originally

Is at

Princeton a college, which had

begun

royal charter,

now confirmed

in its privileges,

in 1748.
It- is
with fome alterations

and Improvements, by a6t of affembly.

name of

it Is,

New

the college of

of the building, Naffau Hall.

It

The

Jerfey

was

charter

the

name

in a flourifh-

ing (late before the war, having about one hundred

and

fifty

was

entirely defolated,

under graduates and other fcholars ; but

and the houfe made a wreck,

by the confufion of the times firft by the Englifli

army, which entirely fcattered fiie fcholars, and
took poffeffion of the houfe

American army making

It

now

It

and afterwards, by the

a barrack and hofpltal.

begins to recover, having of under graduates

S2

A DESCRIPTION OF

204

and fcholars about

fixty.

A printed account of the

Mr

college has been given to

There

is

alfo in

name

charter

Dutch,

fet

up by the

Low

view to preferve their

particular

whofe

Jerfey a college,

Queen's College,

is

with

New

Marbois before.

the peculiar cufloms of the church

language, and

all

of Holland.

They have no

building as yet, but

have carried on their inftruftion fometimes

at

Brunf-

fometimes elfewhere.

"wick,

The

college of

in the (late.

New

Jerfey

is

the beft building

Neither churches nor court-houfes are

There

any where fumptuous.

is

no public

hofpital

in the ftate.

There

are

few men of

Jerfey, except thofe

theology; and

who

many

of

letters in the ftate

belong to law, phyfic, or

of thefe profeflions are often

The

taken up without a liberal education.

confifts almoft wholly of fubftantial farmers.

has been formerly known,

Quakers had fome power,

ing

are

efpecially

ftate

There

when

the

a prejudice againft learn-

^That prejudice begins to

There

New

wear

no turnpike roads.

off.

There are

ftatutes

for the widenefs of the public roads ; alfo for repair-

ing, though

it

is

generally poorly done

yet

from

the climate and the level pofition of the country,

the roads are excellent in fummer.

The accom-

modations in taverns are in general as good as in

any ftate in America. The great road from Philadelphia to

New

New

York,

lies

through the middle of

by Trenton, Princeton, Brunfwick,

Woodbridge, Elizabeth-town, and Newark.
Jerfey,

VII. I cannot at prefect recoUedt any cuftoms

THE STATE OF NEW

peculiar to the

Low

the

New

Dutch,

Their language
wearing out.

and

frugal.

at

is

205

or that from their fingularity

ftate,

deferve notice.

JERSEY.

Jerfey

was

firft

peopled by

lead the eaftern

part

of

it.

continued there as yet, though

They are a remarkably cleanly people,

They ufe their flaves and other fervants

with great humanity, often not fcrupling white and

black to eat together.
ftates are continually

fo that there

ftate,

VIII. The

and

People from

moving

is little

prefetit Jlate

all

the other

into and out of this

peculiarity of manners.

of manufaclures, commerce^

exterior trade.

New
with

Jerfey being in

a great equality

general fettled by farmers,

of rank and even pofTeflions,

no confiderable manufadures are eftablifhed in it.

There are, however, tradefmen difperfed through

The

of almoft every kind.

it,

and plain

in their

farmers being frugal

manners, always made both linen

and woolen cloth for their own families and their

fervants.
They have given greater attention to this
matter within thefe

five or fix years that

the differ-

ences with Great Britain have fubfifted.

I believe

it

may be depended upon,

ten of the

who

is

members of

that there

thelegiflature of

not one in

New

Jerfey,

not clothed in the manufafture of his

family for the greateft part, and

no

is

many

own

of them have

At this time a great

is made in the familie^^^
Some tradefmen in different places make for fale,
but not much. There are fome very confiderable
other clothing of any kind.

quantity of very good cloth

dealers in leather,

and

ftill

a greater

S3

number

in hats,

2o6

A DESCRIPTION OF

All iron tools are well

made

here, but not for ex-

portation out of the ftate.

From

the fituation of

New

Jerfey, there

hardly

is

any foreign trade carried on directly from it. The

merchants in Trenton, Brunfwick, Burdentown,

and

feveral other places, have boats, ihallops,

and

other fmall veflels, with which they trade to Phila-

New

delphia or

be entered both

York.

Burlington and

at

part of the world

of our merchants

In former times (hips might

IX.

cities

Jiotice

hoiv big are the

for

but few are fent abroad

as are

concerned

being almoft always joined

of the large

Amboy,

any

fuch

in foreign trade,

company with fome

in

above mentioned.

of the

hcjl

vejjfds they

fea-ports in the Jiate^

and

can receive.

The beft fea-port in the ftate of New- Jerfey is

Amboy, Which can receive veflels of as great burden
as

New

York.

There has never been

great foreign trade

New

at

York has probably been

There are harbours

at

The

Amboy.

as

yet any

vicinity

a hindrance

to

of
it^

Egg-harbour and great

little

Egg-harbour, on the coaft of the Atlantic, which

privateers

and traders have made

iince the war.

burden

They cannot

a confiderable ufe of

receive veflels of great

but the greateft part of the trading veflels

can go in there.

The fame

is

the cafe with the

reeks on the Jerfey ihore, in the river Delaware.

X.
lo

A notice of the

that Jiatey

sre obliged

9f the

to

commercial produBions peculiar

and of thofe objeSis luhich the inhabitants

draw from Europe and from other parts

ivorld.

The

produ6lions of

New

Jerfey,

and the fource^


THE STATE
of

OF

NEW

JERSEY.

207

wealth, are grain of every kind, as mention-

its

ed under queftion third

horfes,

cattle, falted

beef

In times of peace, great

and pork, and poultry.

Weft Indies,
and flax-feed to Europe, ihipped however more comquantities of

monly
in

thefe are fent to the

all

in Philadelphia or

New

The

Jerfey.

a great proportion of
bles of every kind,

New

that part of

delphia,
derives

is

New

York, than any port

city of Philadelphia receives

its

provifions, including vegeta-

from

Jerfey

New

The

Jerfey.

which

is

foil

of

oppofite to Phila-

exceedingly proper for gardening, and

much

of

its

value from

its

proximity to that

city.

The

New

ftate of

Jerfey

lis

obliged to draw from

wine, fpirits.
Europe and
Before the war they purchafed considerable quantities of Englifh cloth, both linen and woolen, beother parts, tea, fugar,

caufe cheaper than they could manufacture

many

inftances,

them

of finery they muft purchafe

lawns,

in

and becaufe many tradelmen and

others had not the materials of manufacture.

articles

it

gauzes,

filks

and

if

All

they ufe

velvet.

XI. The weights, meafures, and tht currency cf hard

Some details relating to the exchange with Eu*
money

rope.

weights and meafures now ufed in New Jerfey, are the fame as in England, of every kind
meafures of length, folidlty, fuperfices, dry and li-

The

quid.

The moft common

for grain

is

the bulhel,

which contains eight Winchefter gallons, and each

gallon two hundred and feventy-two and a quarter
folid inches.

2o8

A DESCRIPTION OF

The exchange between New

New

Jerfey and Europe,

on almoft wholly through Philadelphia and

is carried

York.

The

fame proportion

in the

vania, that
dollar

{hillings

New

light

dollar

was eight

feems

now

which

to

Jerfey

is

Spanifh milled

money, feven

There was twenty years ago>

money, according

comwhich a

Jerfey,
to

and eight pence, but this

be wholly difufed, or confined
(hillings

north-eaftern part of the

the

way

three.

way of reckoning in New

called

only to

New

Jerfey proclamation

and fixpence.

a currency or

monly

in

to flerling as irhat of Pennfyl-

as five to

is

of

is,

other

money

ftatute currency of

of reckoning

is

The

ftate.

called prodamattofi moneys

prevails.

The public incorm and

XII.

expences*

The public income of New Jerfey confifts, fo

as is known fo me, of taxes annually laid by the
femblies

and

is

great or fmall, as

the exigences of the (late require.

far
af-

they (hall think

There

is

in

ge-

money
make
many inftances to
inadequate
The falary of the governor was by the

neral a great difpofition to fave the public

indeed fuch as in
provifion.

of fupply, Odlober

96I

from

a colony to a free ftate, twelve

money

proclamation

court, three in

dred and
clerks,
cil

before the change

1775,

fifty

the judges of the fupreme

number, had each of them one hun-

the fame year

&c. were fmall

other expences for

all

and the members of coun-

and aflembly had each eight

day's attendance.
firfl

twenty

hundred pounds,

The

(liillings

(liillings

delegates in

per day

-,

for every

Congrefs had at

and during the de-


THE STATE
preciation of the

ance

money,

NEW

they

if

20^

JERSEY.

made any allow-

beginning of the year becaufe of

at the

they never

ftate then,

OF

made any amends

its

for the in-

creafed depreciation before the year expired.

to this and all fuch matters, they may be feen
fully

from the printed laws, which

bad

I believe

purchafed of Ifaac Collins, printer to the

As
more

may be

(late, in

Trenton.

The meafurei

XIII.

taken nvith regard

to

the ejiaies

end pojjejftons of the rebels^ commonly called Tories,

They haVe been all fold off in perpettiumy and are

now

in polTeffion of the

upon them

to faithful

new

proprietors ;, the debts

fubjeas, having been

firft

difcharged.

The marine and navigation.

There are no veflels whatever belonging to the
There are privateers who have
ftate of New Jerfey.

XIV.

from the ports on the coaft,

There is an Admiralty
or on the enemy's lines.
Court eftablifhed for the condemnation of prizes
As to merchant fhips, fee the anfwer to queilion

commifTions, which

fail

eighth.

XV.

A notice of the minesy

and

other fuhterranean

riches.

There

are

fome very valuable iron mines

Jerfey, in Morris

and Suflex counties.

in

Some com-

panies in England were concerned in working

of thefe mines before the war.

It

New
fome

was fufpefted

fome years ago, that there were copper mines in

New Jerfey but no trial hitherto made has fully
,

210

A.DESCRIPTION OF

fucceeded- fome gentlemen

their fortunes in

loft

the attempt.

known whether

not

It is

there are any coal mines

or not, as people every where burn wood.

XVI.

Some famples of

traonilnary Jlones

creafe the progrefs of

Iron ore

fo

is

the mines,

in fjort, a notice

human

very

of

and of

the ex-

all that

can in-

hiowledge.

common,

fuppofed to be an obje6l of

that

it

cannot be

curiofity..

have heard

of and feen fome pieces of black matter, that was

faid,

when

good

ink.

diflblved

If this or

water, to be exceedingly

in

any other curiofity can be ob-

tained by enquiry, they ihall be forwarded.

very good marl in fome parts of

is

There

New

Jerfey, to

in

parts

There no limeftone the

o^
New Jerfey where have been, but probably
fome
There
of New
the eaftward.

is

there

in Suflex.

Jerfey, fugar-maple

ple

draw fugar

parts of

New

XVII.

trees,

for their

whence the country peo-

own

ufe, as in the

back

Hampfhire and Vermont.

defcription

the fates, before the

who

is

are in feveral places

of the India?js ejlahli/hed in

European fettlements, and of

are fill remaining.

An

indication

thofi

of the Indian

msnument/ difcovered in that fate.

The

Indians and their

manner of

life,

are defcrib-

much better than I can do it,

among them. And indeed by com-

ed in feveral books,

who was

never

paring together

all

that I have ever heard or

read,

it

appears, that the charafteriftic features of the Indians

of North America, are the fame which have diftin-

guifhed favages in allparts of the world, and wherever

THE STATE

OF

NEW

JERSEY.

211

dilcovered gravity and fullennefs of deportment,

love of hunting and war that is to fay, depredation

ferocity to their captives, lazinefs

and

aver-

fion to habitual labour, tyranny over

the female fex
paffive courage, and, if it may be called
fo,

aftive

cowardice, and ftrong paffions both of lading

gratitude and unextinguifhable refentment.

The chief

thing that a philofopher can learn from

the Indians in New Jerfey is, that perhaps the mod

experiment has been made here how they

would agree with cultivated life. At the time when
coii^plete

the Indians fold and confirmed the lands to

the fet.

own requeft, a trad of land was purchafed for them to live in the heart of the
colony, in
Burlington county, of three thoufand acres
tiers, at their

and more
which was fecured to them by law. They had
a vill
lage built, and a houfe of worfliip and a
minifter, and
every poflible encouragement to them to
cultivate
the land, and carry on trades
yet, after all, they
were fo far from increafing in numbers or improvino;

In induftry, that at different

times feveral of
went back into the woods, and the remainder

led away, fo that there are

On

the whole

people going

among

it

civilized life.

it

is

or by their being brought

polFible to give

There have been

at this college, as well as

in

dom

dwindfew of them now left.

does not appear, that either by

our

among them,

us, that

them

them

a relii'h''of

them educated
England ; but fel-

fo_me of

New

or never did they prove either

good or ufeful.

A F E

REFLECTIONS
HUMBLY SUBMITTED TO THE CONSIDERATION OF THE PUBUO
IN GENL^RAL, AND IN PARTICULAR TO THE CONGRESS 01
THE UNITED STATES.

X*HOUGH the following refleaions come from an

individual citizen,
lic

bufinefs, I

and

hope they

attention.

certain

no way conne6led with pubwill be read with candour

All good, condu61: proceeds from

radical principles;

perfons certainly

and retired theoretical

as well, perhaps they

may judge

often judge better, of thofe, than fuch as are enor

in the buftle and hurry of an ative hfe,

gaged

occupied in the management of particular affairsi^

Another circumftance which encourages me in this

hope

is,

that I intend to

oiFer

nothing but what

be even beyond the imputation of proceeding,

either from party attachment or mercenary views.

(hall

When
was the

the Federal conftitution was agreed on,

fervent defire, and

prayer of many, that

it

may

it

fay the earned

might take place, and get

into operation with quieiaefs, and under the acqui-

efcence and approbation of the

public.

This I

ON THE FEDERAL CITY,

think

we may

we have

as
fill

21^

fay has happily been the cafe fo

The

yet proceeded.

far

perfons chofen to

the houfes of Congrefs, have been generally

approved.

Perhaps fome

ftates, in a

might have made a better choice

whole, there

member

to

is

few

inftances,

but upon

reafon to complain.

little

the
I re-

have heard a gentleman well acquainted

with the fubjedt, fay of the former Congrefs which

conduled the war, that he had never known a

time in which

men

it

did not contain a great plurality of

of integrity, and of thofe a very refpe<Slable

number of

diftinguifhed abilities.

hope and be-

lieve that this is the cafe at prefent

always continue to be

The
(ion,

and may

it

fo.

m.eafures taken

by Congrefs

have in general given

in their laft {e{

I

fatisfacStion.

am

not

ignorant that there have been fome fevere, and in

my opinion petulant and infolent remarks made

the falaries fixed for public officers,

upon
and the com-

members of
am of opinion, how-

penfation allowed for the attendance of

Congref&r, efpecially the
ever,

tnat they are both reafonable,

leaft as

laft.

reafonable,

hope few perfons

if

and the

laft at

not more fo, than the

firft.

will ever be in Congrefs,

devoting their time to the public fervice,

who

may not

well deferve the compenfation fixed for them, from

their character

and

talents.

And

if

they have

lucrative profeffions, or valuable private fortunes,

thefe
lofs

muft be deferted for

incurred greater than

a time,

and probably a

the whole wages.

(hould alfo be forry to hear of any

member

of Con-

who became rich by the favings above his expence.

I know very well, that there have been
grefs

Vol. IX.

.T

214

FEDERAL CITY.

'^^^^

men and Affembly men too, who have carbut

home confiderable fums from lefs wages

Congrefs

ried

generally, as

they were fuch

come now

what

to

Much

efTay.

fhort

to

wifdom.

their polilical

by

more good

their penury, than to their country

by

their families

did

chiefly intended

time of the

laft

by

feffion

this

was

for the permafpent in debates upon fixing a place

building a federal
nent refidence of Congrefs, and
That matter was under the confideration of

city.

unfixed I
the former Congrefs, and was fixed and
It always occafioned
more than once.
believe

great altercation

nor was

it

when

poffible to tell

it

whenever Congrefs changed its

the members changed their opinions,
In
undone.
every thing that had been done was

was fettled,
members, or
the

laft

for

meeting of the federal Congrefs,

have been

decided

finally

it

feems to

but, either by accident

who were oppofed to the deand is now left as

cifion, it was thrown open again,
body who
unfettled as ever. 1 have not met with any
was forry, but with many who were happy at this
and I fincerely wifii that it may be
circumftance
cr the addrefs of fome

fuffered to fleep in

its

prefent fituation at leaft for a

confiderable time," and

greater

till

fome other bufmefs of

and more confeffed importance

I

completely finlfhed.

am now

fiiall

my

to give

be

reafons

for this opinion.

1.

cejan.

we

determination upon that {ubje61:

When

are not

fay

urged

it is

to

it

not neceflary,

is

not ncr

mean

that

by any prelfing inconve-

which we have fullered, or are

Every body muft own,
fuffering for want of it.
indeed I ami
that it would be very expenfive, and
jiiencies or injuries

ON THE FEDERAL CITY.

21^

one myfelf, who, if it were to be done at all, and

there were buildings to be ere6led which fliould
not belong to any (late, but to the union, would
wifh that they fhould not be barely elegant, but
magnificent, that they might not derogate from the

This

dignity of the empire.

mod

obferved, that fome of the

mod

Therefore,

if

for

it

has been

frugal nations have

in their public edifices, of

fumptuous

which the Stadthoufe

not even contrary to

economy

the general principle of

been

is

Amfterdam

at

is

the neceflity were great,

an example.
if

the public

bufinefs could not be carried on, nor the public authority maintained without

mitting to every inconvenience

terred even

by the expence

the cafe

Does

it

No.

would not be deBut

itfelf.

appear to be

nature of the thing

fhould be for fub-

it,

is

this really

I'.ecefiary

from the

The weight and

in-

fluence of any deliberative or legiflative body, de-

pend much more on the wifdom of their meafures,

than the fplendid apartments in which they are af-

Does

fembled.

it

appear to be necelTary from ex-

perience or the example of other nations

not.

central

and

of them have no

this

lafl:

in

which the

as to confederated republics,

common

Cantons have no federal

which

think

can hardly recollect above one or two of the

kingdoms or dates of Europe,

is

confifls,

occafion to meet for

capital at

city.

The

all.

capital

fome

The Swifs

different ftates of

have for ages, when they had

common

confultation, held their

But we need go no furown experience. Did not the former

Congrefs carry on the. war with Great Britain, depend and fecure the liberties of the United States^
Diets in different places.
ther than our

ON THE FEDERAL CITY.

2r6

without a federal

city

Was

the

want of

ly or deeply felt as an inconvenience

collect a fingle complaint

upon
2.

made

it

great-

do not re-

in fpeech or writing

the fubjedl:.
It

can be but

little

The

profitable.

truth

is,

attempt to recolleft and enumerate the advantages to be derived from a federal city, in a cen*

when

them very
few and very fmall. If the American empire come
to be one confolidated government, I grant it would
tral place,

yet thinly inhabited, I find

be of fome confequence that the

of that go-

feat

vernment and fource of authority (hould not be too

I
diftant from the extremities, for reafons which
need not here mention. But if the particular ftates
conftituare to be preferved and fupported in their
tlonal government,

feems of very

it

little

confe-

quence where the Congrefs, confifting of reprefentatives

There

from thefe
is

not only

ftates,

little

fhall

hold their

profit in their

|feflipns.

being fixed and

fome advantages might arife from

iaft feems
their being unfixed and ambulatory. This
of rights of the
to be more fuitable to the equality
It is far from being an impoflible
feveral ftates.
central, but perhaps

fuppofition, that the ftate in

be

fixed,

would think

which Congrefs

itfelf entitled to

fliould

a leading,

if

not a domineering influence over the other ftates.

As to eafinefs of accefs, fuch is the ftate of this country, lying along the fea-coaft,

and having

fo

many

na-

the coaft or

vigable rivers, that any city whatever on

difference of
great rivers is eafily acceflible, and the
diftance,

efpecially

when

the payment

is

to be in

mentioning.
proportion to the diftance, is not worth
that though buildings
It is farther to be obferved,

may be immediately

raifed for the

accommodation

ON THE FEDERAL CITY.

217

6f Congrefs, yet a great city, or a city of opulence

and commerce, could not be raifed for a long trat

It is even uncertain whether the bare reof time.
of Congrefs

fidence

(which
fhort)

to

it is

during

their

annual feflions

be hoped in a few years will be but

independent of other circumftances,

will

great commercial city at

The

ever raife a

all.

Hague, though the refidence of the Stadtholder,

far

from being the

wealthy

city in

moft populous, or

largefl,

Now

Holland.

that if not refidence in, yet

is

mod

humbly conceive,
nearnefs to fome imporI

tant commercial city or cities, will be found to be abfolutely neceflary for tranfaclions relating to

or finance

advantages and difadvan-

fo that, if the

money

tages of a federal city on the propofed plan are fairly

weighed, the

latter

would preponderate.

There is reafon to fear that it may be very

Nothing is of fo much confequence to us
hurtful..
at prefent as union ; and nothing is fo much the
3.

defire of all unprejudiced, public-fpirited

ous men.
is,

we

The

federal conftitution

hope, taking place

to have taken root.

thing's, take

but new.

It

but cannot yet be faid

will

It

is

and virtu-

fome time before

from the nature of

it

can acquire the re-

fpe6l and veneration neceflary in every government

from the body of the people, who are always guided by feeling and habit, more than by a train of
Now, is there no
reafoning, however conclufive.
reafon to fear that the difputes upon this fubje<St

may produce warmth and

violence, and perhaps an.

mind in fome flates againft

very prejudicial to pubhc order ? The molt

alienation of

fubjeQs of difpute have fometimes created

T3

others^
trifling

divifions^

ON THE FEDERAL CITY.

218
both

have ended

common

in

political bodies,

and fmaller

in larger

If I

ruin.

am

which

rightly in-

formed, the difputes which have already taken place

in

Congrefs upon

have been carried on

this fubje^l,

with greater virulence of temper and acrimony of expreflion, than

delibevition.
it is

upon any other that hasbeen under their

This is not to be wondered at ; for

indeed of fuch a nature, that

lation to ftate attachments

and

it is

has a nearer re-

local prejudices

any other that can be named.

queftion

it

than

Perhaps in fuch a

lawful, decent, and even neceflary, to

plead the local intereft of particular flates; and therefore

it is

to be

expected that every delegate will con-

tend with earneflnefs for that cf his own. At any rate,

v/hatever oftenfible public reafons
fertile invention,

that

it is

local

all

me

to

be devifed by a

unprejudiced hearers will believe,

attachment that guides their judgment,

and inflames their

farv for

rni.y

The

zeal.

make of fuch

only ufe thnt

a remark,

is

it is

necef-

(hew

to

that

the contention and animofity raifed by this difpute

will probably extend itfelf to every other,
it

will not

be confined to the contending members

in Congrefs, but
ilates,

and that

will fpread itfelf through

whofe caufe they plead, and whofe

This

they feem to efpoufe.

is

the

all

in?ereft

one of thofe quef-

had much better be decided wrong by general confent, than decided right by a fmall majority, without convincing or fatisfy ng the opponents.
tions that

4.
mble.

In the

Though

the objedions
there

is

place,

lail

it

it is

were

certainly at leaft ufifenfon-

poffible juftiy to

have dated above,

anfwer

muft

ftill

a time for every thing under the fun.

meafure may be good in

itfelf,

all

fay,

and even neceflary

ON THE FEDERAL CITY.

21^

in a qualified fenfe, yet if there be another duty in-

cumbent upon the fame body,

that

is

more

better and

neceflary, this furely ought to have the precedence

Now,

in point of time.

think

it

cannot be deni-

ed, and

all

feem

be of opinion, that bringing order into our

to

intelligent perfons in the

United States

finances, reftoring and eftablifhing public credit,

is

the moft important bufinefs which the Congrefs has

to do.

It

alfo the

is

moft urgent

becaufe in the interval,

many

in point of

public creditors are in

a fituation truly deplorable, whereas

nobody

that

is

fuffering

The two

city.

and

thefe ought to

mantic project will

to

form plans

much

for

it

want of

need not

tell

fix

on

a ro-

and

a fituation,

number of palaces, bebuild them with, or even

This

citizens of

any body

What

go foremoft.

be to

we provide money to
before we pay thofe debts which we have
?

a federal

for building a

fore

trailed

can think of

defigns are alfo connected together

as caufe and effect

which of

time

is

already con-

matter in which not only

America, thofe who

are,

all

and thofe

the

who

are not, public creditors, are deeply concerned, but

on which

will

depend our future

fecurity,

our intereft

and influence among foreign nations, and even the

opinion that (hall be formed of us by pofterity itfelf.

Thele few reflections, not enlarged upon as they

might eafily have been, nor fwelled or exaggerated by

pompous declamation, but fimply and nakedly propofed,

blic

and remain,

I leave to

the

judgment of the impartial pu-

Their moft obedient,

Humble

fervant,

X. Y.

ON THE

GEORGIA
CONSTITUTION.

SIR,

TN

you have given

us the new Conftitution of Georgia, in which I
find the following refolution, No clergyman of
your paper of Saturday

any denomination
ral

Aflembly."

(hall

be a

laft,

member

of the Gene-

would be very well

fatisfied that

fome of the gentlemen who have made

fential article of this conftitution, or

ferted and approve

be

it

that an ef-

who have

in other conftitutions,

in-

would

pleafed to explain a little the principles, as well

as to afcertain the

Perhaps

we

meaning of

it.

underftand pretty generally, what

meant by a clergyman,

is

viz. a perfon regularly cal-

led and fet apart to the miniftry of the gofpel,

and

authorifed to preach and adminifter the facraments

of the Chriftian religion.

this queftion

Before any

Now

fufFer

man among

dained a minifter, was he not a citizen

ted States, and

if

me

to

alk

was orof the Unius

being in Georgia, a citizen o

ON THE GEORGIA CONSTITUTION.

the ftate of Georgia

be elected

member

in point of property

why

become
is

How

this right

Does

if

then has he
?

Is

Is it a fin againft

a minifter?

guilty of

not then a right to

of the aflembly,

he deprived of

is

or difqualification

who

Had he

221

qualified
loft,

or

by offence

it

the public to

merit that the perfon

it

fhould be immediately deprived

it

of one of his moft important rights as a citizen

Is

not this inflicting a penalty which always fup-

pofes an oiFence

minifter then difqualified

Is

for the office of a fenator or reprefentative

this

and profeffion render him ftupid or

calling

ignorant

Does

am

inclined to form a very high opi-

nion of the natural underftanding of the freemen

and freeholders of the

ftate of

Georgia, as well as

of their improvement and culture by education, and

am

yet I

not able to conceive, but that fome of

may

thofe equally qualified,

order

and then

it

enter into the clerical

muft not be unfitnefs, but fome

Perhaps

other reafon that produces the exclufion.

it

may be thought

civil

that they

authority, that they

conftantly employed
If this

had been the ground of

properly would
ecclefiaftical

bers.

may be more
their

in

it

body with refpet

In that cafe

by

lofs

it

now

I ftiould

ftands,

is

it

it,

gentlemen of
I

and

fun6lions.

how- much more

to their

Georgia

own mem-

not only have forgiven

but in the

way

in

evidently a punifhment

of privilege, inflicted on thofe

the office of the miniftryj

though

fpiritual

fully

from

have appeared, as an order of an

but approved and juftifiedit;

which

are excluded

who go

into

for which, perhaps, the

may have good

reafons,

have not been able to difcover them.


ON THE GEORGU COKSTITUTION.

222

But befides the uncertainty of the principle ou

which this refolution is founded, there feems to me

much uncertainty as to the meaning of it. How

are we to determine who is or is not a clergyman ?
Is he only a clergyman who has received ordination from thofe who have derived the right by an
uninterrupted fucceflion from the apoftles ? Or is
he iilfo a clergyman, who is fet apart by the impoof hands of a body of other clergymen, by

fition

joint authority
fet a

ciety,
is

he

Or

is

he

alfo a

by the church members of his

irr

without any impofition of hands

clergyman who

alfo a

who is
own foall ?
Or

clergyman

at

has exhorted in a me-

thodill fociety, or fpoken in a quaker meeting, or

any other religious aflembly met for public worfhip

There

are

ftill

greater difficulties behind

Is the clerical chara^ler indelible?

who

have been ordained

fome

clerical funtions, but

who

There

are

fome

occafionally perform

have no paftoral charge

There are fome who finding public fpeaking injurious to health, or from other reafons eafiat

all.

ly conceived,

have refigned their paftoral charge,

and wholly difcontinued

that kind

England,

who

lents than they

it,

it

lefs

office

fuitable to their ta-

fome other profeflion, as

or merchandize
Do thefe all contito

nue clergymen, or do they ceafe

and by that

New

apprehended, have voluntarily relin-

and taken

law, phyfic,

in

having exercifed the clerical

fome time, and finding

quifhed

atts and exercifes of

all

and there are fome, particularly

ceffiition

to be

clergymen,

return to, or recover the ho-

nourable privileges of laymen

.''

J cannot help thinking that thefe difficulties are

ON THE GEORGIA CONSTITUTION.

very confiderable,

223

and may occafion much

litiga-

tion, if the article of the conftitution flands in the

loofe,

ambiguous form

which

now

; and
would recommend the following alterawhich I think will make every thing definite

therefore
tions,

in

it

appears

and unexceptionable.
*'

No

clergyman, of any denomination,

capable of being elected a

member

fliall

of the Senate or

Houfe of Reprefentatives, becaufe [here

infert the

grounds of ofFenfive difqualification, which

have

not been able to difcover] Provided always, and

the true intent

and meaning of

ftitution, that if at

any time he

this part

fliall

be

it is

of the con-

be completely de-

prived of the clerical character by thofe by

whom he

by depofition for curfing

and fwearing, drunkennefs or uncleannefs, he fliall

was invefted with

it,

as

then be fully reilored to

citizen

againft

his offence

him

Senate or

the privileges of a free

no more be remembered

but he m.ay be chofen either to the

Houfe of Reprefentatives, and

treated with

other

fliall

all

all

fliall

be

the refpel due to his brethren^ the

members of Aflembly."

THE

DRUID,
ORIGINALLT PUBLISHED IN NUMBERS
PERIODICALLY,

NUMBER

I.

SIR,
by your permlflion
ITtancemyto intention,
attempt the inftru6lion and entertainand

is

ment of the public once

This

fubje6ls.

afGf-

a month, on mifcellaneous

letter fliall ferve as the firft paper,

be an introdution to thofe that are to

follow, by pointing out the fpirit and defign of the
undertaking, and the plan upon which it is to be

and

fhall

conduced.

The

title

which

have aflumed, was not intend-

ed to carry any wit in it, and indeed not much

meaning, further than what is common to all names,
the diftinclion of one thing or perfon from another.
It

proved a matter of no

title,

after fo

little difficulty

to fix

great a variety as the world has

feen, fince the pradice of periodical ellays

introduced.

upon

was

firft

After a good deal of deliberation on a

matter of very

little

moment, the above was fuggeft-

THE DRUID.
ed,

by the place which

my

refidence, while

is

225

now, and

is

likely to be,

continue on earth.

It

is

fmall but neat houfe, in a pleafant, retired fitua-

furrounded with woods,

tion,

majefty of their uncultivated

my

unfuitable to

time of

tion or bufinefs have generally

fo that they
to

mix again
I

had

fimple
it

fifty,

and enables them

well enough what

pafling in

is

it

have neither neceffity nor inclination

in its alive fcenes.

was born and educated

all

the

Neither was

when men of educafeen as much of the

as fatisfies their curiofity,

to underftand

all

the age of

life,

cool and contemplative feafon,

world

in

ftate.

Great Britain, and

in

the advantage I could receive from a long

refidence in one of the moft celebrated feats of

learning in that happy kingdom.

vigour of

and had

life I

fpent in the midft of public bufinefs

thorough knowledge of the greateft

and perfonal intimacy with not

ftances, or with
it is

what views,

politics, or litera-

From

ture, for the laft thirty years.

I

part,

a few, of the per-

fons mofl diitinguifhed in rank,

try,

The prime and

came

wliat circum-

into this coun-

of no confequence for the reader to

knowj

was not tranfported

by Sir John Fielding, but came of my own proper
motion and free choice
and indeed have never
met with any thing in pafling through life, that
fuffice

it

therefore tp fay, that

could be fuppofed either to four the temper, or

break the vigour of the miiid.
There are not a

few who, towards the

tled hatred or

life,

acquire, a fet-

contempt of mankind, and feem difpo-

fed to avenge their

on the world

Vol. IX.

clofe of

own

real or

in general,

fuppoied calamities

by the acrimony of their

THE DRUID.

226

converfatlon, and the virulent fatire of their writings.

Produ6lIons ditated by fuch a

ofteni

it

have

fpirit,

be owned, fuch a poignant feverity,

inufl:

as deeply M^ounds the objedl of their refentment,

yet, I think

and
for

whom

It

feldom adds to the

the entertainment

provided.

has been generally fuppofed, that fatire and in-

ventive

is

way

the

of writing, of

agreeable to the public

it is

is

relifh of thofe

very

and the reafon given

human

to the credit of

little

others, moft

all

for

nature, viz.

prevalence of envy and malignity in the bulk

The

of mankind.

Had

been of

this opinion, I

would

have cautioully avoided introducing the fentiment,

been but a poor
at leaft fo foon, as it would have

compliment

mean

to folicit,

prom'ote.

whofe attention

to that very public,

and whofe improvement

wifh to

confefs that a thorough knowledge of

the world, and extenfive reading in hiftory, have

often produced

We

mean thoughts

fee fometiraes

old

human

of

hackneyed

nature.

politicians

dif-

cover a jealoufy of the characters, and an indifference to the fufFerings of others, which furprifes

and offends men of

fore often laughed
inftances

fome

is

lefs

at for their

fclf-colleled carriage,

time,
tion.

is

are there-

weaknefs.

This, in

the miftake of the obferver, while

the coolnefs and compofure of

and

who

experience,

which

falfcly called a callous or

But where the remark

is

the deliberate

fpirit,

the

is

effe(l

of

unfeeling difpofi-

juft,

and

a real

and

"eneral hatred of others has obtained full dominion,

it

would not be

fo decent to infer

from

it

that

man-

kind are univerGUly worthlefs or incorrigible, as to

THE DRUID.
impute

which

it
it

meannefs of that heart

to the felfiili

in

had taken place.

very

It is

227

common

for authors

to

go

an ex-

to

treme on the one hand or on the other, in fpeaking

human nature. Thofe

of it in ^ch exalted terms

of

philoibphers

who

fpeak

as to contradict the truths

of religion, have prefent experience and the hiftory

of pift ages directly againft them.

trious perfons in the records

The molt

illuf-

of time, have derived

the greateft part of their luflre

itfelf,

fingularity of their character, or,

either

which

is

from the

nearly the

fame thing, from the depravity of others, who needed their aJiitance for inilru6tion or correction.
fmartly, at leaft,

many

if

It

was

not juftly faid, by an author not

years ago, that the

the admirable policy of

wifdom of

ft ites,

legiilators,

and

and even the purity of

moral precepts, are ju(t fuch arguments for the dignity of

human

nature as gibbets are.

There

is,

doubtlefs, no fmall degree of error, ignorance pre-

among men but

viewed, ferve rather to demon-

judice and corruption to be found

thefe,

when

ftrate the

properly

importance and neceflity of information

There

and in{trution.

are not only particular in-

which the human mind has dlfcovered

the moft exalted virtue as well as amazing powers,

ftances in

but the
is

human

certainly the

race in general, with

nobleft

defects,

all its

and molt valuable

in

this

lower world, and therefore the moft worthy of cultivation.

To

this

may be

added, that there

cumftance in which there

tIn6tion

is

between man and the

more

is

no

more manifeft

cir-

dif-

inferior creatures, than

helplefs as

well as the

that the individual

is

kind more noble

and therefore the intercourfe of

THE DRUID.

228

fociety and mutal afliftance

his

abfolutely neceflary to

is

improvement and perfelion.

But

this is

perhaps treating the fubjel in too

manner, which

abftrat and philofophical a

well

know is not much to the tafte of the prefent age.

The importance of knowledge, and the power of
intellel:ual light,will be readily confefled. The queftions to be ferioully debated with himfelf

thor, at his

by an au-

what, encourage-

fetting out, are,

firft

ment he has to devote himfelf to the public fervice ?

and, what reafon to think he hath any thing to communicate that

Now,

as to thejirji of thefe,

though

and

error, prejudice,

verfal, that

in

worthy of the public attention

is

many

is

to fay, they

it is

my

opinion, that

partiality, are

very uni-

have place in fome degree

perfons of every rank, age, and country

yet their influence in each, has properly fpeaking, but

a

narrow fphere.

them

They

all.

Truth

is

much

ftronger

than

fliew themfelves chiefly in the fmall-

er interefls of particulars

but there

is

candor and

which may be in
great meafure depended upon, and which will both

impartiality in a difFufive public

a

hear truth and obey

man

bounds,

like the fphere

fphere, they are not

There
which

felt,

of attraction of particu-

when you go beyond

that

or they are felt very weakly.

I

have fometimes made,

do not remember

to

have read in any author,

but which,

if jufl,

fhould teach every

the public judgment.

fcarcely recoiled:

known

prejudices and

an obfervation

is

not, perhaps,

but thefe are confined within cer-

round himfelf

lar bodies,

is

many

has

in that public, but

prepofleflions
tain

There

it.

to

The remark

any perfon

man
is,

well and

me, whofe performances,

to revere

that I can

intimately

cither in fpeak-

THE

229

DRITID.

ing or writing, had been exhibited to the world for

any time, of whofe talents and erudition the great

judge exactly in the fame manner

plurality did not

why

perfon,

fhould

juftice to every other

do

If they

that I did myfelf.

doubt their doing

Ignorance, prejudice, malice, or accident,

fome influence

at firft

gent enquirer, and a juft judge.

the fame thing of a man's

local politics,

and

ferences, every

am

deferves. I

If

may have

Time

a dili-

is

could almoft fay

moral charaler, under

you go beyond the bounds of

abftra61: entirely

man

from

religious dif-

fpoken of pretty nearly as he

is

aware that there are par-

fufficiently

have

ticular exceptions to this general theory, but I

not

now

leave

time to enter upon them

them

till

they

fuch fubjei:s as

but their effects are merelv

temporary, and are fpeedily effaced.

two exceptions

me

to

it

(hall

my way

fall in

and therefore

(hall

in the dlfcufiion

be undertaken in

my

of

future

papers.

As
to

communicate

tion

whether

to the fecond point,

that

It is plain:

is

have any thing

worthy of the pubUc atten-

from the appearance of

this paper,

that I have already

judged of

the attempt

therefore too late for

-,

is

it

the plan
fubjecl:

human

which

fhall,
I

of thefe papers

follow.

to

fliall

be

me, and

fliall

human

The

general

be the philofophy of

life;

would

join fcienee and reflection to experience

vation.

make

however, mention briefly

mean

nature and of

far as to

fo

take that matter into

too early for the reader, to

confideration.

it

willingly

and obfer-

Literature and morals, arts and induftry,

my

chief themes

of thefe, every thing

and under one or other

may be

U3

introduced, that caa

THE DRUID-

230

in the lead contribute to the happinefs of focial or]

private

life.

muft beg the reader

cvilar

view to the

country.

As

loveliell

form

fubjeas,

thefe

in handlino- all

and

(late

to obferve, thatf

have a parti-

fhall

of this nlmgf

interefl:

youth the human frame wears its!

as the fpring is the moft charmingj

in
,

foafon of the revolving year

fo,

newly

a country

ftateJ
planted, and every day advancing to a maturer
philo-|
affords the higheft delight to a contemplative
and is, at the fame time, the (Irongeft in-j

fopher,

vitation to aftivity
I

and ufefulnefs.

anj
fenGble that fome will think the prefent

am

a plan.
improper feafon for beginning on fo extenfive
butj
They will fay the time calls not for fpeculation

Our

aaion.

induftry

is

now

all

turned hito onr

channel, the vigorous exertion of the

When

fence.

liberty, property

and

life

fpirit

of de^

are at ftake,j

not thi^k of being fcholars," but foldiers.

happy peace returns we (hall be able to apply

we muft

When

improvewith proper attention and vigour to the

ment of our minds,

the

foil

till

then

oi
as well as to the cultivation

we have

other

work upon

oui

muft inform the render, that thefe an

conneaioi
miftaken refleaions. There is fuch a
hum;
among all the arts that improve or embellifli

hands.

nature, that they

are belt

promoted

in conju6lionj

without
and generally go in a body. As I look
confidence of fucfolicitude, or rather with unfhaken
Cefs,

on the prefent glorious and important

for the liberties of

mankind

fo I

confider

ftruggl<
it

as

to
proper feafon for the moft ardent application
improvement of this country in all refpeas.

limes of public commotion the

fed,

and (hakes

off the

human mind

incumbrances of

(loth

is

and

th<
Ir

rou^
felfj

THE DRUID.

Thofe who put on the harnefs and go

indulgence.
into the

23

muft be encouraged,

field,

and

affifted,

even fupported, by the activity and induftry of thofe

who remain
taken

if

home.

at

the time

am much

Befides, I

not juft at hand,

is

mif-

when

there

be greater need than ever in America, for the

fliall

moil accurate difcullion of the principles of

fociety,

the rights of nations, and the policy of dates

which

all

have a place in the fubfequent numbers

fliall

But above

of this paper.

all,

can

ever be un-

it

feafonable to lay before the public

what tends

to

improve the temper and morals of the reader, which

fliall

be the ultimate obje6t of

He who makes

my

all

difquifitions

people virtuousy makes them z-

vincihle.

The

reader will now, in fome degree, underftand

As

the defign and extent of this undertaking.

wit and humour,

on that head,

choofe to make no promifes up-

left

Moft

break them.

fliould

people, perhaps, differ from

me

would

rather read a tedious

argument than

joke.

Yet the favours of the ingenious,

ing

is

(poft paid)

may perhaps

to gratify a reader of tafte

fleep

with me,

Some, perhaps,

will

or

confefs I

a dull

as the fay-

me fometimes

muft take the

firft,

otherwife they

return

wonder

but

enable

only

liberty of being pleafed myfelf

(hail

to

to

the

authors.

that I have faid no-

thing of the delightful themes of love and gallantry,

efpecially as

it

is

fo

eafy to eftablifh a

between the tender pafTion and military

younger

clafs of

my

readers

may

connexion

reft fatisfied,

they fhall not want good advice enough,

may
but

The

glory.

that

which

be applied to that and to every other fubjel:

I

do not take myfelf to be qualified to paint the

THE DURID.

232

ardors of a glowing flame.

have not feen

killing eyes thefe feveral years.

It

your

magazine,

laft

Beauty and

forth,

fetting

Wifdom had

any-

yeftera

poem

that

both

on reading

day, that I fmiled involuntarily

in

was but

taken up their refidence

with a certain nymph, the one in her cheek, the

other in her tongue, and that they were refolved

never to depart
fortunate for

which

all

thought was a

the reft of the fex.

little

un-

wifh every

Strephon and Daphne heartily well, and that the exalted

and rapturous phrafes of Arcadia may be foon

brought

man and

down

to the

compofed difcourfe of

wife in Philadelphia

may fometimes

perhaps they

in

quiet

which character,

hear from me,

hope,

to their great benefit.

I

am.

Sir,

Your moft

obedient fevant.

The DRUID.

NUMBER

II.

SIR,

WHEN

came into this country, nothing

was farther from my expectation than the
I firft

contell that has

now

taken place between Great

The reader, I fuppofe,

will alfo readily believe me when I affirm, that
what relates to this important ftruggle, made but a
Britain and the

Colonies.

fmall part of the matter

had meditated and digef-

ted for the fubjcCt of thefe diflertations.

But, from

have received, and

much cou-

feme

letters

which

THE DRUID.
verfation that I have heard,

fomething of
that if

kind

this

it

appears plain, that

from me, and

expecSled

is

long withheld,

it is

233

it

will be difficult to avoid

warmer fons of liberty. It is

not eafy to determine what branches of this great
-argument it would be bed to take up, as moft fuitfufpicion from the

able to a fpeculative philofopher,

and

the fame

at

time moft neceffary or ufeful to the bulk of

The

readers.

my

natural rights of mankind, and the

caufe of liberty in general, have been explained and

defended

in

The

dern*

innumerable

treatifes,

ancient and

mo-

application of thefe principles to the

American controverfy, has been made by many

among us, with the greateft clearnefs and

precifion.
The nature of government, and method
writers

of balancing a

been handled either with

priety as the

other topics

fo
;

much

to be

both

cannot fay has

much

fulnefs or pro-

many

yet on this alfo

excellent obfervations have

not been

conditution,

civil

been made.

reafoned on,

it

If

it

has

feems neverthelefs

and underftood, in almoft every cor-

felt

ner of this continent.

Leaving, therefore, thefe fubjedls for the prefent, as

we

fmgular in

are
its

engaged

yet

important

nature,

quences, and uncertain in

leave to

its

make fome remarks

By

this is

difcipline, or

war fomewhat
in

duration,

its

as a fcholar,

confe-

fhall

beg

and as a

manner of carrying on
not meant, to lay down a plan o

citizen of the world,

ijuar.

in a

on

tatties for

and manoeuvres for

the

an army, or of (Iratagems

general or inferior leader

but to confider by what means wars of different

kinds

may

be carried on, confiftently with reafon,

THE DRUID.

234
confcience, or

have obferved

been

filled

common utility. Every body muft

how frequently the nevi^fpapers have

with compLdnts of our enemies, as add-

ing favagely and barbaroufly

unnatur.:! cruelty

as

as

being guilty of

carrying on a felonious and

contrary to the laws of

piratical

war

war.

have, however, taken notice, that

as

a(Sling

among

nothing has been faid

all

thefe diflertations

to

fhew why they have ated barbaroufly, further

little or'

than that they have a6Led unjullly in being our ene-

mies

No

at all.

of war,

one has told us what are the laws

endeavoured to make us underftand

or

when enemies may be faid to a6l a fair and honourable, and when a daftardly and cruel part.
This fubje^l I fliall now therefore enter upon 5
and will endeavour to handle it with as much fimplicity as poflible, that it may be ufeful to perfons
of the lowed rank, and mod common underflanding.
Wherever foLet me trace it to its fource.
ciety

founded upon clear eftablifhed laws,

exifts

this obliges us to

form an idea of

a ftate previous to

the formation of fociety, or before

made

laws, were

This

is

land

acknowledged

called a ftate of nature.

to the innumerable queftions

how

long

it

upon

could continue,

fuch, or any
to

be in force.

do not enter

in-

this fubje6t

as,

when men

increafed

number Whether it is a ftate of war or peace ?

Whether inclination prompted, or neceflity compelin

led,

.'*

men

to enter into fociety

It is fufficient for

my

purpofe, to obferve, that independent nations are in a

ftate of natural liberty

or as

When

man

to

man

with refpet to one another,

previous to the focial compaft-

they difagrec, they have no

common umpire

THE DRUID.

235

or judge to refort to, but muft decide their quarrels

The

by the fword.
are three

Are there any laws

i.

they are bound

is

that

is it

when

makes the

If there

it is

broken

by

ly denominated,
nations.

Of

the law

is

and,

To whom

fhall

diftin6lion

3.

what

we com-

any fuch law,

is

what

If not,

2.

the fanclion of the law

plain

by which

at all

or, are all kinds of force or vio-

lence equally jufl

what

queftlons then to be refolved

it is

certainly very juft-

civilians, the laiv of nature

nature, becaufe

its

and

principles are to be

derived from the ftate of natural or univerfal liberty,

and perfonal independence

caufe there

no perfon

is

and of nations, be-

in fuch a ftate at prefent,

bodies,

excepting nations or large

who

confider

themfelves as independent of each other.

that there

from the

fuch a law,

is

think

is

Now,

evident, not only

acknowledgment of men, and the

practice of nations from the earlieft ages, but from
univerfal

If there are

the nature of the thing.

binding upon
liberty, the

men

to

each other,

any duties

in a ftate of natural

fame are due from nation

to nation.

Bodies politic do not in this circumftance, differ

from individuals.

The fame anfwer -muft be made

to the fecond queftion.

It is

any right that an individual

as to perfon or property,

from

a fociety has the like claim

Their perfons mull not be

perty invaded.

deed,

is

The

impoITible to mention

may

juftly claim, either

his fellow

men, but

upon any other

fociety.

affaulted, nor their pro-

fmgle purpofe of fociety, in-

to protedl the individual,

and to ^ive him

the

ftrength of the public arm, in defence of his

juft

and natural

right.

THE DRUID.

236
But

What

will be aflced, in the third place,

it

and

To

this

law of nature

is

fender to account
fani:ion of the

who

the fan6lion of this law

?

anfwer, That

nothing

is

the of-

is to call

the

but a

elfe

fenfe of duty, and accountablenefs to the fupreme

which may be added, fuch a fenfe of

general utility, as makes men fear, that if they notorioufly trample upon it, reproach and infamy
Judge

to

among

all

nations will be the eFet, and probably

common

refentment and indignation by

Agreeably to

this,

confent.

having recourfe to force

called an appeal to heaven, and

often

is

fame
time, generally accompanied with an attempt, by

fome public

at the

is,

it

declaration, to convince other nations

of the juftice of the caufe.

Omitting many things that are not conne^ed

with the point

have in view, particularly without

enumerating the legitimate caufes of war, but fuppofmg nations engaged in a war which they believe

on both

be

fides to

means by which

What

juft, let us afk.

this

war

is

to be carried

the

are

on

The

and moft obvious anfwer is. By all manner of

force or open violence ; and the moft able warrior
firft

js

prefum.ed to be the one that can invent weapons

the moft deadly and deftrudive.

fo,

on

all

It is

may be

hands, that force

admitted

al-

ufed, not only

againft the perlbns and goods of rulers, but of every

member

innocent

that
for

This m.ay feem hard,

of the hoftile ftate.

fubjecSls

of

ftate

fhculd

fufFer

the folly and ihdifcretion of the rulers, or of

other

members

unavoidable.

of the fame ftate.

The whole

But

it

indiviciual?^ that

a ftate are confidcred but as one body.

is

often

crmpofe
It

would

THE

DRUIEI.

237

be impoflible for an enemy to diftinguifh the guilty

When men

from the 'innocent.

vernment, they

their

rifle

own

fubmit to a go-

perfons and pcflef-

fame bottom with the whole,

fions in the

in return,

for the benefits of fociety.

Upon
to have

this principle, open violence may be faid

no bounds, and every method that can be

invented to fend deftru^^ion and mifery to any part

of the hoftile ftate^ may be thought to be permitted.

But upon the principles of general equity, and the

confent and pradice of modern times, acSts of cruelty

and inhumanity, are to be blamed, and to be

confidered

a violation of the law of nations.

as

Many

of them might be eafily enumerated, fuch

as refufmg quarter to thofe who fubmit, killing
prifoners

when

they might be kept without any

women and

danger, killing

thods of torture,

children, inventing

burning and deftroying every-

thing that might be of ufe in

poifoned

demned,

me-

weapons

has

alfo

life.

The

ufe of

been generally con-

as well as poifoning of fprings

and pro-

vifions.

The

celebrated Dr. Robertfon of Edinburgh, in

a fermon before the fociety for propagating Chriftian ki

owledge, has made an obfervation to this

purpofe,

" that

to the honour of m.odern times,

and (as he thinks) particularly to the honour of

Chriftianity

itfelf,

and humanity

than formerly."
(hall

fee

there

in the
If

is

much more

gentlenefs

manner of carrying on war

we

look into ancient hiltory

we

fuch inftances of ferocity and crueky in

many

cafes,

There

is

no

VoL. IX.

as

fa6t,

are

too {hocking to

be related.

however, in the records of anti-

THE DRUID.

238

quity on this fubje6l, that ever ftruck

me

as the account given of Sefoftris, becaufe

much

fo
it

fhews,

not the barbarity of a particular monfler, but the

fpirit

He

of the times.

is

extolled by

many

ancient

authors for his clemency, becaufe he did not put to

death the princes

whom

he unjuftly attacked and

Yet he ordered them to wait upon

him with a yearly tribute, and on thefe occafions
ufed to yoke them in his chariot, and make them
conquered.

draw him,

much worfe

than death would this appear at pre-

fent to a captive prince

above

is

may be due to modern

comparative humanity, what we have faid

But however
times for

How

in place of horfes, to the temple.

juilly praife

only general and undefined.

Let us feek

for the true principle that ought to govern the con-

duel of refined and enlightened nations.

I

miftake not,

no tendency
to reafon

end

to

and

nations.

That

is,

all

iveahen the
religion ^

aBs of

of war

cruelty 'which

if

have

force^ are contrary

refijl'ing

and therefore

The end

This,

to the laiv

is

of nature

to obtain juftice,

and reftore peace, therefore whatever tends to

lef-

fen or deftroy the force of the enemy, muft be per-

mitted.

It is in this

private property

is

view alone that the capture of

allowed and

julliiied.

But to

take lives without neceflity, and even to treat pri-

foners with opprefTion.or infult, above

all

to diflrefs

or torture the weaker fex, or the helplefs infant,

ouf'ht to be detefted

by every nation profefling the

gofpel.

The

principle

which

have

laid

down, may be

applied univerfally, and will ferve to point out

gny meafure

is

to be jufliiied

when

or condemned, be-

THE DRUID.
tween perfons profefling open
other.

239

hoftility againft

take the liberty to apply

I will

to

it

each

fome

things that have been done or attempted in the pre-

now

It is

rica.

been ufed

undeniable, that endeavours have

to bring the Indian

This

fettlements.

is

becaufe their manner of making

They

well known.

for their

inroads

are

neither formidable

number nor their ftrength, but for making

upon the dwellings of their enemies, and

putting to death

women

of horrid

ftances

upon the back

tribes

an aft of extreme and un-

I call

juftifiable barbarity,

war

and children, with circumThis

cruelty.

far

fo

is

weakening the force of the people againft

is

pratifed, that

have

produced fuch

The

to be refifted.

faid.

a fpirit

The

fore,

ring

them
is

well

known

the back fettlers,

in

either to defend

when we blame
up the -Indians

in

manner

retaliated their injuries, in a

upon me

it

cruelty of the Indians

not only repelled their attacks, but

take

whom

war, will both explain and fup*

hiftory of the late

what

from

tends to infpire them with a re-

it

venge and fury not

port

Ame-

on by Great Britain againft

fent war, carried

which
fome inftances
that

or excufe.

will not

There-

the Britifh miniftry for

againft

us,

we do

ftir-

not blame

from other nations, which

wars, when any party apprehends

for afking affiftance

common

in all

weak, but for a method of attack, the cruelty

o which bears no proportion to any advantage that
can be derived from it.
itfelf

The fame
ilaves,

and

mafters.

thing

ftirring

There

fay of proclaiming liberty

them up

is,

to rebel

however, fome

in the application of the principle

againft

little

to

to

their

difference

this

and the

MO

THE DRUID.

preceding inftance.

It

probable that the people

is

in Great Britain reckoned

upon

a degree of advan-

tage from this meafure, vaftly fuperior not only to

what

produced

it

in efFei^,

but to what they them-

expeded from the incurfions of the Indians.

I gather this from an expreflion in a treatife pubfelves

liQied in

England on the American controverfy, to

England declare freedom to

they (the Americans) have not fix vi^eeks

this purpofe, that

the flaves,
to

be a people/

thought to juftify

Lave taken

it

if

<

Thefe apprehenfions may be

them in the attempt, as they muft

be fo fpeedy and

to

efFe6i:ual a

of producing abfolute fubmiflion.

what

ferve, in addition to

But

means

muft ob-

have faid above, that

there are fome things fo bafe and treacherous in

their nature,

human

and

fociety in general, that

might be fuppofed

men

pernicious in the example to

fo

whatever

have in a particular cafe,

to

all

of liberal minds have concurred in reje6i:ing

For example, though

them.

it is

that aiming particularly at the

more confequence than

his fervants to

is

univerf^Uly

hiftory occurs to
likely to

enemy,

fifty

life

privately,

of

though

it

upon the military operacondemned. An inftance In

which

in

have a great influence

a meafure,
in

though

weakening the

extreme cruelty, deferves to be

It

was that of king James

fiege

of Londonderry, 1689,

i'poken of with horror.

VIFs

general at the

wlio,

when

the garrifon

want of

it is

efFet

me,

yet, for its

of a leader in

others, yet to fuborn

him

aflafllnate

might have the fame

tions,

generally agreed,

lawful, but prudent, as

battle, is not only

for

efFe6l they

provifions,

was reduced
drove

all

to extremity

the protcfftants

THE DRUID.
witliin

under the walls of the

Had

the eyes of their friends.

be either

meafure been

this

would have been, notwithftanding,

fuccefsful,

it

condemned

as unjuft;

to obferve, that

feldom

to

city,

with hunger under

or fufFered to perifli

in,

When

men, women, and

thirty miles, chiefly old

infants,

taken

241

happy

ajn

in

being able

of extreme cruelty do very

ats

produce

but

the

2 certain point

by them.

intended

efFe6ts
is

exceeded, fear

itfelf is

con-

verted into rage, and produces the unexpefted and

mcredible efforts of defpair.

The

principle I have above laid

enable us to judge what opinion

we

als of violence and depredation.

can avail

itfelf

members of

down,

will alfo

fhould form of

When

an army

of the goods and property of the

reduce them
making peace, not only the fei-

a hoftile flate, or probably

to the neceflity of

zure, but the reduftion of both

may

be juftified"

upon the principles of reafon.

But when men
can only deftroy and not poflefs, and that deftruction can only fall upon an inconfiderable number
of
helplefs people,

it is

once inconfiftent with great-

at

nefs of mind, and for the

tei-eft

of the

deftroyer.

flammatory principle, and

mod
It

calls

part againft the in-

operates

as

an

in-

up every man, fron*

the ftrongefl to the feebleft, to

afli ft

in repelling,

or punifhing the favage invader.

give

it

as

my

For this reafon I

opinion, that burning and deftroyincr

houfes, where there

no fortrefs,'as has been in

fome inftances done, deferves all the epithets of
barbarous, favage, and inhuman, that have been
beftowed upon it, either by thofe who have
fuffer^
ed, or thofe

is

who have

felt in their behalf.

X3

THE

242

few more

upon wars
ly

upon

DRUID.

reflections

have been added,

fliould

differently circumftanced,

civil

wars

and particular-

but they muft be referred to the

next, or fome future paper.

NUMBER

III.

SIR,

XV JL

paper was employed in examining

laft

what

the radical principle, according to

is

the law of nature and nations, for determining the

jiifl

Having

and lawful means of carrying on war.

left the

fubjeCl

now add wliat

The chief and

will

unfiniftied, I

feems further neceflary upon

it.

mofl: remarkable diftin6lion of wars, to

in civilians,

By

wars.

the

tween nations confefTed on both

By

arife

fides to

be feparate

the fecond, wars between

fame

different parts of the

pofed to

ftate.

The

firft

are fup-

from fome occafional injury or

encroachment, and

civil

are to be underftood, wars be-

firft

^nd independent.

be found

what they caW foreign and

into

is

to

partial

have for their end the repara-

tion of the wrong, and the refloration of fecurity

and peace.

The

fecond, in which one part of the

fubjefts of a flate rifes againfl

more

various, both

though the rulers of every

confider

them

all

ftate

as of the

longing to the fame

another, are

in their caufes

ciafs.

they wifh them to be viewed

much

and ends,

al-

generally affeft to

fame nature, and be-

The
is,

as

light

in

which

an infurreC^ion

of diforderly citizens againft law and order in

ge^-

THE
ind therefore

fiet^ij

^43

DtlUIft.

as Including the greatefl

that can be committed

crime

againft fociety, and deferv-

This

ing the fevered punifliment.

is

the true and

proper import of the laws againft treafon in any

country, and
IS really

with

if

the object on which they take hold

fuch as they defcribe, no fault can be found

their feverity.

and attempts

which he

the public peace

to fubvert the order of the fociety *of

a

is

He who breaks

number,

guilty

is

of the greateft

crime againft every other member, by robbing him

of a bleffing of the greateft value in
as

eflentially

neceflary

to

itfelf,

as well

the pofleiTion of every

other.

For
takes

this reafon

upon

it is,

itfelf to

that in civil

be on the

fide

wars one party

of order and good

government, and confiders every perfon of the oppofmg band, not as a citizen contending for the
fuppofed rights of his own ftate, but as a felon and
a criminal, breaking the law of
if

fubdued and taken, deftined

Qus, legal punifhment.

But

God and man, and

to public ignominl-

let

the caufes and circumftances of

us confider a
civil

little

wars, as they

have appeared in hiftory.

Some have doubtlefs
been of the kind above defcribed, and which the
law in general prefumes ; but if they have been numerous, they have hardly ever been formidable.
Infurrel:ions of profligate or even miftaken citizens

have generally been

local,

and occafioned by fome

circumftances that do not affect the whole body of

an empire, and therefore have been eafily fuppreffed.

Many

diftracSled

bition

wars which have torn and

great empires, have arifen from the amof the

civil

and turbulence of particular men, contending

DRUm.

"THE

244

power and Influence in the adminiftratron of government. Such were the wars of Sylla and Mafor

rius, Ciefar

in which,

and Poinpey,

Roman

the

in

though the partifans on both

certainly criminal, yet at the

We

equally fo.

may

republic;-

were

fides

fame time, they were

place in the fame rank, the

wars in England and France, which were fo

civil

long in the one country, and fo bloody in both,

about the fucceffion to the crown.

In thefe wars

the principle on which they were waged, was funda-

mentally wrong, viz. that there was a claim of right

in

one family or perfon, which

common

authority diftint from

But

general good.

both parties
truth

many

confent,

principle

this

was

embraced the oppofite

in point of merit or

the fame to

fides of the queflion

at

If

for the

nephew,

demerit towards the fo-

to be king, or the pofterity of

decide the queflion,

to a confiderate

little

each

war mull

generations diftant, and a bloody

human

between

all

one contends for the uncle, and the other

ciety.

many

or the

perfons of equal honour and

and we can perceive no difference

them,

them to

entitled

other reflection can occur

man, than

to

pity the weaknefs of

nature.

There remains another

which

a part or the great

public

refill

clafs

body of

of
a

civil

wars, in

monarchy

or re-

the authority of their rulers, on pretence

that they are fuffering under

view

They do

oppreffion.

this

fometimes with

ces,

and fometimes to fubvert their government

to redrefs their grievan-

together as infupportable, and re-fettle

new

foundation.

they begin with

It

alfo frequently

-the firfl

it

al-

upon a

happens, that

of thefe, and in the courfe


THE DRUID.
of the quarrel find or think

245

neceflary to end with

it

There are many wars of this kind upon

record, fome of which have been fuccefsful, and

the

laft.

have been fuccefsful, hiftory

If they

others not.

them with the name of Revolution

dignifies

otherwife, they muft bear that of Rebellion.

however,

fuccefs,

The

juflice.

no certain

is

war

civil

criterion

in England of the

which bears the name of the grand

tury,

and the

and

if

Their

of their
laft

cen-

rebellion,

vigorous conteft of the Corficans a-

late

gainft the republic of

were

into flavery,

Genoa, though they were fold

honourable in the principles, as

as

the fuccefsful refiftance of the Seven United Provin-

En-

ces to the king of Spain, or the efforts of the

glifh nation at that period,

greed to

call

which we have now

a-

the glorious revolution.

Let us apply thefe remarks to the fubjet of our

prefent enquiry, the

means and manner of carrying

on war.

has always been found that

In fa^t,

it

civil

wars have been carried on with a rage and animofity

much

greater than thofe of independent nations.

Afts of cruelty have been much more frequent while

and after peace has taken place, the
they lafted
;

mind and inward refentment has

been much more great and of longer continuance.
alienation

The

of

barbarity of the Syllan and Marian fa6i:ions to

each other in Rome,

as well

as the

profcription

of

the two fubfequent triumvirates of that ftate, were

fo horrible,

man

that

it is

difficult to

conceive hov/ hu-

nature could be brought to fuch an unfeeling

and hardened temper,

bloody orders.

As

as

to

give or execute the

foon as a war between indepen-

dent nations ceafes, the

wound

is

perfectly healed,

THE DRUID.

24^

and particular perfons of thefe nations do not retain

the lead refentment againft each other.

otherwife in

civil

and chara^er to the

obliterated for

are

They

wars.

It is

often give a

quite

name

which is not
Whig and Torry

different faftions,

many

generations.

names by which perfons and

families are

ftili

dilUnguifhed in England, although they are both of

great antiquity, and the

hundred years

old.

Whenever any
muft be fome
fes for

effeft

fuitable

may

It

it.

general and conflant, there

and permanent caufe or cau-

moral view, to examine the

phenomenon

caufes of this

caufe

is

not therefore be amifs, either in

a philofophical or

may be

them more than a

of

firft

affigned for

political lifci

in

it

which

but which will perfectly apply to

every other kind' of
that

is

The

flrife.

One

is

very general,

this,

as well as to

greater the injury

done, and the ftronger the obligations to friend-

(hip that are broken through, the deeper the refent-

ment

tliat is felt

by

a fenfible

mind.

tain, that to difturb the internal

civil

war,

is

much more

peace of a

dreadful

the people more univerfally, than

kingdom.

Now,
evil,

it is

cer-

ftate

by a

and touches

war with

a foreign

Befides, injuries done, or fuppofed to be

whom we are nearly connected,

whom we expelled every al of friendfhip,

done, by thofe with

and from

wound more

deeply than thofe done by ftrangers or

perfons unknown.
differences

This

between near

is

fo

relations, if they

certain height, and are publicly

known,

come

to a

are fcarcely

They may be apparently

away, the fore may be fkinned

ever thoroughly reconciled.

or imperfectly taken

generally true, that

THE DRUIB.
over, but

it

fllU rankles

touch

flighteil

at

247

bottom, and upon the

ready to break out anew.

is

Another caufe which may be ailigned

for the bar-

the hateful or con-

barity exercifed in civil wars,

is

temptible idea which the one

fide, at leaft,

tertains of the other.

moral writer of the

It is

age,

laft

<*

often en-

obfervation of a

fine

you want

If

be

to

wholly free from the guilt of injury, oppreflion, or

flander,

you muft take care what you

for

certain that your treatment of

it is

think of others,

them

will be

according to the opinion you have formed of their

character and merit." This remark
for if once a

is

perfectly juft,

allow himfelf to hate another

no anfwering for what he will do to

the natural humanity of his difpofition

heartily, th<re

him, nor

man

is

is

the leaft fecurity againft his going to excefs.

fons of the gentle ft nature and the fofteft fex,

Per-

when

completely enraged, have been guilty of the moft

This

horrid cruelty.

commonly accounted

is

But

if

another in-

to the compofition,

it

will be yet

the mixture of fear and hatred.

gredient

is

added

more powerful

mean contempt.

Some may

think that fear and contempt are inconfiftent,

this

is

a miftake.

You

an enemy and defpife

may eafily fear his

character.

will not be
is

at the

it

wars.

ment

fame time

but you

ftrength and malice, and defpife his

you join

thefe together,

all

and cont-mpt, towards an enemy,

wonderful

if

unmerciful er unjuft.

civil

but

cannot fear the ftren^th of

If therefore

hatred,

fear,

by

for

Thofe who

are apt to

it

the treatment he receives

This
are

is

often the cafe in

on the

fide

form the moft unjuft,

picable ideas of their opponentSi

of govern-

as well as def-

and never

to fpeak

THE DRUID.

248

of them but in the moft opprobrious terms.

By

this

they are naturally led to behave towards them with

inhumanity, and fometimes in their correfpondence

they will fcarce confider themfelves as upon an equaor be bound, by the laws of fincerity and truth.

lity,

could illuftrate the influence of charafter, and

the opinion

we

on our conduct

entertain of others,

toward them, by many inftances in hiftory.

the true and genuine fource of the
lics

Roman

not keeping faith with heretics.

enemies charge them with

which they deny.

ably to

it is fa<St.

But

It is

Catho-

This their

an avowed principle

as

that they have a6ted agree-

The example

Bohemia,

and feveral others,

quellion.

It is alfo

of John Hufs of

put

beyond

it

all

the true caufe of the cruelty of

commonly called the bloody TriNothing is more common than to confider

the inquifition,
bunal.

the minifters of this court as monflers diverted of

and

every feeling of humanity,

fo

to

three

lay

upon the perfonal charafter,

ought to be wholly imputed to

fourths of the blame

whereas in truth,

it

When

the power of bigotry and falfe zeal.

SI

perfon

is

believed to

be an

meriting his utmoft vengeance,

that

men

fliould

that

little

part of

not

fo

enemy
it

is

to

once

God, and

not wonderful

co-operate with him, and inflit

it

that

is

properly fufFering in

in

their

itfelf,

power.

as the

It is

innocence

of the iufferer, or the difproportion of the fufl'ering

to the crime, that excites our compaflion.

crimes are very atrocious,

we fometimes

When

feel,

and

feme degree regret, the weaknefs of human

vengeance, which cmnot poflihly give them their
in

due.

can recoiled feveral inftances of criminals,

THE DRUIB.

2i|9

on whofe condemnation, not one but many would

fay, " he deferves, if it were poffible, a thoufand
deaths."

But now

let

me draw

would

clufion, or as divines
It is eafy to

fay, to the application.

from the above

fee,

are the didiates of truth

ner of carrying on

as to the

There

wars.

what

principles,

and juitice

civil

con-

diflertation to a

this

man-

but one

is

them in which the behaviour fhould be different from the practice that prevails in wars with
independent ftates j I mean when tumultuous and
clafs of

diforderly citizens attempt to fubvert law and order

But when the grounds of the quarrel

are plaufible on both fides, and when it is demonftrable that perfons of the fiiridleit honour and inaltogether.

tegrity
parties,

may

found adhering to the oppofite

they are bound by every tie to candour in
be

judgment, and

to

humanity and mercy

in

tiieir

Happily

we

of.en

condu(3: towards each other.

wars compelled to humanity

and reltrained Dy fear or one

fee the parties in fuch

through

feif-intereft,

of the jufteit.of

laws,

ail

tiiat

of retaliation.

could wifh, however, that a fenfe of duty ihouid

be added to

this

obligation

nor even inclination,

is

for

fo

neither iieceiHty,

itable

principle of adlion, as reaion and

on the conlcience.

and powerful a
trutn impreiied

Necelfity does not always leem

equally ftroug, and the impulfe of natural aitecbons

is

tranfient

and changeable

conficier as eflential

to

oui

but that uhich

duty,

we

lha<l

adhere

to without tne aifiitance ot either, and ought to

it

even in oppoiuion to both.

Vol.

U.

we
do

THE DRUID.

25
I

do truly think myfelf,

my

in

prcfent retirement

(begging the reader's pardon) not

ill

qualified, in

point of impartiality, for handling this fubjedt, and

applying
tain

it

to the prefent conteft

and America.

and whatever

am

between Great Bri-

paft the age of bearing arms,

have done before,

{hall

probably ne-

ver again wield any other weapons, than thofe improperly fo called, the tongue and the pen,
clearly fee the perfect juftice

do

and great importance

of the claim on the one hand, and eafily conceive

the

power of prejudice on the

other.

On

the part

of America, there was not the moft diftant thought

of fubverting the government, or hurting the intereft of the

people of Great Britain, but of de-

fending their

own

ment

there

was not the

their allegiance

became

own

privileges

from unjufl encroach-

leafl defire

of withdrawing

from the common fovereign,

absolutely neceiTary, and indeed

choice

On

till it

was

his

the other hand, I can eafily con-

ceive that thofe

who

have been long accuftomed to

fubje^tion, and

from

whom

it is

really due, fhould

not fuddenly enter into the reafons of exempting a

people, otherwife fituated from the fame burden.

They

are

therefore of courfe eafily deceived by

falfe or imperfe61:

and

accounts of a diftant country,

infenfibly bialTed by the phrafeology conftantly

ufed, particularly the terms rebels and rebellion.

Upon
jeft;

the whole, as

am now

and profecute the plan

number,
manity

is

I fha

conclude

to difmifs this fub-

laid

down

in

my

firft

with faying, That hu-

the nobleft attendant on true valour

that he will probably fight moft

bravely,

who

and
nc-

THE DRUID.
ver fights

till it is

necelTary,

foon as the neceffity

251

and ceafes

to fight as

over.

is

NUMBER

IV.

SIR,

ONE

that

occurs to

writers of mifcellaneous efTays, and

which has

of the greateft

been often complained

We

fubjets.

difficulties

of, is the fixing

upon proper

are confined, as a certain writer ob-

human

nature and

ferves, to

have been

fo completely ranfacked,

life,'

and yet thefe

and almofl every

character and occurrence has been placed in fuch a

variety of lights, that

corner that

is

time, as to the
rally

it is

hardly poffible to find a

At

wholly untouched.

manner of

the fame

writing, the reader gene-

expefts two things that feem to be incompati-

The one

ble and mutually deftru6i:ive of each other.

is,

that

that

it

be ftriking and original

it

and the other,

be fimple, natural, and obvious.

what any body might

fay,

then

it is

common-place, hackneyed topic

what would not

If

we

a trite beaten,

and

if

we

readily occur to others, then

forced, unnatural, out of the ivay

fay

fay

it is

manner of thinking

and writing, than which there cannot be

greater

difparagement of either writer or fpeaker, nor any

that will
fuccefs.

more fpeedily or efFeclually prevent his

But notwithftanding this apparent hard-

fhip, there

is

reiil

juftice in the expectation of the

public in both refpels,

when
2

rightly underftood.

THE

2Jf2

T5RUID.

fentiments fhould be properly his own,

writer's

and yet theyihould not be too much repugnant to

And

other people's.

one man's face

as

general features are the fame in

all,

he may preferve

his genuine character without going

ivay^ or

aiming

this purpofe.

but for
jel:

eafily

is

from that of every other, though the

diftinguilhed

my own

out of the

any thing odd or paticular for

at

know

i?ix

how

not

is

it

with others,

would rather write on

part, I

a fub-

that has been often handled, or a charal:er that

has been often defcribed, than one of a contrary

kind

becaufe, in fuch cafes,

my own

can form

fentiments with greater precifion, and exprefs

them

with greater perfpicuity and force.

The

may

reader

confider the above as an intro-

duction, preface, or

lowing

diflertation,

a certain
plain

human

he pleafes, apology for the fol-

if

which

Ihall

have for

its

fubje(3;

character or quality, generally called

common fenfe.

mull, in the

the meaning of the expreflion.

firft

There

place, fettle

are in every

language, certain fine or nice diftindlions in the ufe

both of phrafes and fingle terms, which, though introduced and

by general practice, are

finally fettled

not always attended to or fully underftood.

cafe before us, I think, the term
ferently in the negative,

When we

tive form.

eonwionfenfe,

we mean

^nd fometimes
ling or ideot.

that he

him

is

But when,

of a man, that he
give

fay of a
that

is

he

ufed very dif-

is

from what

it

man,
is

In the

is in

the pofi-

that he

ivants

a very great fool,

the next thing to a change-

we

fay

common fenfe,

we

in the pofitive form,

man

of

plai?i

good character, and are underftood by

as affirming, that

there

are

not

many

it

fuperior or

THE DRUID.

common

men, or

to all

the fecond,

fomething

which

not poffeffed by the plurality, but perhaps

common, becaufc

it

may be found

in

in

totally dif-

fenfe

a degree of that

ferent, or at leaft

really

is

lead nearly univerfal

at

fignifies either

it

fenfe that

that

fignifies,

it

is

In the

fenfe (lands for different things.

of them

It

two ways of fpeaking, the term

plain, that in thefe

firft

value.

of no inconfiderable

felTes a quality

he pof-

alfo that

equal to him in that particular, as

common

253

is

is

called

fome perfons of

every rank.

me now enquire a little into the chara6lers

common fenfe. It is the gift of nature^ and may

Let
of

be clearly diftinguiflied from what

fubjeds, by Swift and Pope,

common

fenfe,

fine

out the other,

that

we

that to attempt to

tude with fine fenfe,

With

a razor.'

muft

lively in the

are

more

all

the multi-

hew

a block

is

men,

fomething fmart

above recited fentiments, yet they

is

they feem to fuppofe,

a thing of the

and only higher

fenfe,

move

refpet to thefe great

brilliant than juft

that refinement

often at a

thefe thoughts

like attempting to

though there

fay, that

and

mon

is

one with-

the

want of change.* In another of

are informed,

with

has

who muft be

bout him but gold coin,

lofs for

to this

one that carries nothing a-

like

is

we have one

not half fo ufeful as

is

for he

fenfe,

by

In the thoughts on various

ftudy or application.

purpofe, that

acquired

is

fame kind with com-

in degree,

and yet

at the

fame time that a man may pofiefs genuine refinement and be without common fenfe, neither of
which, in
as to

my

make

opinion,

is

true, at leaft in fuch a fenfe

their fimilitudes juft, or

their reafoning

THE DRUID.

254

Refinement

conclufive.

mon

fenfe as the culture

mate from either

from com-

as different

is

from the

is

or the cli-

foil,

but as their joint influence

is

neceflary to the production of the crop, fo fine fenfe,

without

common

dation, very

fenfe as

ground work and foun-

its

deferves the name.

ill

^ittempting to

hew

him fpeaking

in metaphyfical,

faw

If I

man

block with a razor, or heard

abftraCt, unintelligi-

common people, I fhould

he wanted common fenfe but

ble terms, to a multitude of

lieartily

agree that

that he poiTeiTed fine fenfe, I

be

fhould not

eafily

brought to confefs.

The

ufe

of

brought from what

is

and

terms

fcientific

known

fentiments,

only to fcholars and

improperly introduced, has been long treated with

the contempt

it

deferves

but

confidered as

is

it

was

years ago,

who

belonging only to the learned profefTions.

well acquainted with a divine

began

a prayer in his

Lord, thou

congregation with thefe words,

that they accufed

him

whereas the poor

man

or, as

it

is

difcerptibility

all

him

beings,'

to fuch a degree,

only meant to fay, that

from the

of matter.

with a phyfician, who,

artichokes good

was

?'

they are the leafl flatulent of

with a lady
*

in

her

Doctor, are

anfwered,
all

called, the

acquainted

alfo

by her,

aflced

al-

grolhiefs, divifibility,

fitting

for children

God

uncompounded,

fometimes more learnedly

houfe, and beir^g

which

of having fpoken blafphemy

philofophically fimple and

together different

own

of

art the fimpleft

ineenfed his hearers againft

was

many

<

Madam,,

the efculent tribe,*

indeed, doClor, fays the lady, I do not underftand

a

word

of

what you have

faid.

would have much admired

Now,

few
com-

I think,

either the fine or

THE DRUID.

mon

255

fenfe of thefe gentlemen, though certainly the

divine

would have beenconfidered

of the two

-y

as the greater fool

have aflerted

for phyficians, as a body,

and maintained

their right to the ufe of hard phrafes

beyond any other

clafs

of fcholars.

But there

is

certain fpecies of this fault, which, I think, has not

been much taken notice

either

and that

of*,

is,

when men,

of high ftation or real fenfe and literature,

and cannot think of

are filled with felf-fuihciency,

defcending to the level of thofe with

whom

they

converfe, either in fentiments or phrafeology.

few grains of

fufpe6l there were a

this failing in

the illuftrious perfons not long ago mentioned

and

that their fentiments, above related, are an evidence

of

it.

fenfe

In this inftance, their fine

common

over-match for their

fenfe,

and

was an

was

this

an evident proof of the imperfeftion of both.

If then fine fenfe does not differ eflentially

common
certain

and the

fenfe,

or

brightnefs

would feem

polifh

common

by

as if

firft is

from

nothing more than a

given to the

fenfe

we ought

laft,

to

it

un-

derftand the rational powers in general, and the capacity of

But here we meet with a

improvement.

difficulty

which feems

common

fenfe

nothing

is

need a refolution.

to

elfe

If

but the ftrength of

the intellectual powers taken complexly, then muft

it

be in every perfon

and fcience
diminilh

if it

it.

whatever but

in

proportion to thofe pov/ers

does not improve, certainly cannot

Yet

we

there

find

is

no branch of fcienCe

fome perfons capable of learn-

and frequently even of fiiining in it, who are

notwithftanding very defedive in common fenfe, and
ing

it,

either
after their learned acquifitions, the defetl is

THE DRUID.

25<5

greater in

more

or at leaft

Itfelf,

We find many who learn the

who

perfe6lion,

vifible

than before.

dead languages to great

learn arithmetic, geometry, natural

philofophy, rhetoric, politics,

who even become eminent in fome of them, and tolerably (killed in all,

whom

we

yet

reckon greatly inferior to more igno-

common

rant perfons, in clear, found,

Perhaps

it

may

fenfe.

be thought that ihefe ignorant

perfons only wanted the opportunity of improve-

ment, and would have excelled the others

had they applied

literature

find

to be the cafe,

trial

has been made.

to

This

it.

from the inftances

in

alfo

in

do not

which

Doubtlefs there are fome ex-

amples of perfons eminently pofleiTed of judgment

or

common

the fciences

in

fkill

means

fenfe, as well as capable of acquiring

but thefe talents are by no

the fame, or in diret proportion to one ano-

who feemed capable

of learning any thing, and who did know a great
deal upon many ful>je<Si:s, who yet had fuch a comither.

cal

have

cad

known

perfons

in their general behaviour,

not eafy to avoid fmiling

duft.

whom

their carriage

and perfect
of folly,

you could

at all times,

find

and yet

life,

of

my

fault,

but that

fufpe(ted

them

remember an

being in company, for

time, with a certain young lady, and after

(lie

alked

me

upon the charadter and

Citfar,

no

we

irregularities of others.

few minutes,

tion

fpeech and con-

merely becaufe they were free from the

and

firft;

was

and converfation were too complete

inftance, in early

the

it

have even known perfons, male and fe-

male, with

follies

at their

that

which made

me

a very judicious quef-

hiftory of

Auguflus

immediately fufpedt, that

THE DRUID.
was not quite found

file

faid

it

was a

whereas,

day after the

fine

257

fuch wife and pertinent

rain, or uttered

many

any

fhould have

refle(9:ion,

On

the other

inflances of perfons

who have

concluded nothing to her prejudice.

hand, there are

(he had only

if

made

trial

Cefs,

and who, giving them up, have applied to ac-

of ftudy and fcience with very

mon

com-

the diftini:ion between literature and

feems to be well known and generally

fenfe,

There

acknowledged.

way

The

men.

ter of clear headed, fenfible, judicious

is,

fuc-

and have defervedly acquired the charac-

tive life,

truth

little

to,

or even afFet

fome who evidently give

an abfence of mind, from

are

forgetfulnefs and inattention to

what they are about,

and expert we fhould confider

it

as

an indication of

This

profound ftudy and deep learning.

is

one

of the moft ridiculous pieces of affectation imaginable.

Such gentlemen,

be told that a
fequentia.
-iars

if

part'iculari

they be logicians, fhould

ad

univerfale non valet con-

We know very well that fome

great fcho-

are fools, but this will never prove that

are great feholars.

Upon

fcience, or a capacity for

Since then

common

the whole,
it,

fenfe

not

is
is

it

fools

all

feems that

common

fenfe.

a gift of nature, dif-

ferent from a capacity for fcience in general, Ihall

we

fay that

it is

genius, including particularly thofe

exalted and admired talents which have been, by

fome of the
gination.

lateft writers, called

Here we

are further

ever, for great wit and a lively

ther confidered

as

the powers of ima-

from the point than

imagination are ra-

oppofed to judgment and pru-

dence, and other happy fruits of

common

fenfe.

THE

258

So much

is

that the poet has

this the cafe,

who

ten cited with approbation,

^*

Great wit to madness sure

And
It is

DRUID.

is

been of-

fays,

near allied,

thin partitions do their bounds divide."

common

to fay, that fuch a

than ballad, meaningthat

has more

his imagination, fire

overmatch for

fprightlinefs are an

man

his prudence,

fall

and
and

clearly carrying the fuppofition, that this laft quali-

ty

is

as oppofite to the others, as fail

or even motion to
that

fome who

to be thought,

claimed

mon

it

To

men

to ballaft,

may be added,
were, and many who defired

reft.

really

is

all this

of great genius, have aflually

as their right, not to

be confined to com-

forms, and indeed have generally a(^ed accord-

ingly.

We

have feen then

genius, are not

further
is

Is

common

that

refinement,

fenfe, {hall

fcience,

we now go any

there not a charater in which there

knowledge of the moft

liberal

kind, clearnefs of

underftanding, penetration of mind upon every fubJt,

in

and yet a weaknefs or want of

condut and behaviour

who feem to have,

common fenfe too,

common

fenfe,

Are there not fome

other fenfes, but

not only

all

for every

body but themfelves

They can immediately and

readily difcover the mif-

takes of others, they can give the beft and

founded

advice upon every fubject, and yet never could a6i

Some who

a wife part themfelves on any fubjeft.

are even connoifTeurs in ceconomy, never can keep

their

own

affairs in tolerable

a gentleman
foolifh

who

order.

have

known

reduced himfelf to beggary by

projects, yet, after having

fold

his

pater-

THE DRUID.
nal inheritance, he

259

employed himfelf

in

thinking

and writing on that fubjet on which he had adled

wrong, and pubhfhed ellays on agriculture, modeftly pointing out to

gentlemen and farmers by

fmall a portion of land, well improved, they

how

might

fpeedily acquire a plentiful eftate.

Upon comparing
I

thefe obfervations together,

all

beg leave to lay down a few propofitions which

way

appear to be neareft the truth in the

of theory

or fyitem, and on them to ground a few pra6tical

There feem

advices.

of the

human mind

to be three feparate qualities

very well exprefTed in the old

known terms

philofophy, by the three

imagination and judgment.

one from another

only

exift,

memory,

truly diftinct

any one of them may not

for

but be in high perfe6lion, in the abfence

of both the

doubted

Thefe are

of

This

others.

as to tae

two

firit,

will

not

and even

think,

be

as to the laft,

have known fome perfons not only without ima-

gination as

a talent,

but with very

little tafte

for

works of imagination, and whofe memory was no

ways remarkable, who have pafled through life with
great dignity and credit, who, with or without learning, have

conducted their

own

affairs

with prudence

anddifcretion,and discovered the higheft fenfe of propriety

and decorum

others, under the

in

all

their intercourfe

with

happy guidance of plain common

fenfe.

In the next place, though thefe qualities are diftin6t, they are

by no means incompatible.

have been inftances of perfons

three in high perfedlion

who

There

pofTefTed all the

and there muft be a con-

THE DRUID.

26o

proportion of each to form a chara6ter

fiderable

Some,

truly illuftrious.

been very ftrong, have

judgment

clearnefs of

and prudence

fame thing

in

fay of

alfo

in

their

whom

in

imagination has

been remarkable for

good fenfe

their vi'orks,

The

whole deportment.

Some

memory.

prodigies of

memory have been defective in judgment; but

many great men have alfo excelled in this refpedl,
and no fmall meafure of

it is

of genius and the. functions of public

Of

mod
and

thefe three

Of

valuable and important.

by

is

itfelf it is

far the

amiable

while the others, without

refpecStable,

contemptible ufelefs, or hurtful.

mory, without judgment,

is

a fool

imagination, without judgment,

this great quality takes the

accomplifliment,

is

man

it,

are

of me-

and a man of

mad

but

when

government of both, they

command

acquire luftre, and

human

Again,

life.

judgment

qualities,

works

neceflary both in

No

univerfal efteem.

unlefs

it

has this as

its

foundation and ground work, can reach perfe61:ion,

even in

its

own

imagination

kind.

Memory

make

will

will

poet,

make

a linguilt,

penetration

will

make a philofopher, public life will make a politician, and court breeding will make a man of
yet all of them are eflentialiy defective, if
falhion
common fenfe is weak or wantnig. There is lome.
;

thing in the application and direction of

all

thefe

accomplilliments which judgment muft iupply, and

which neither

inllru^tion,

example, nor even ex-

perience will beftow.

It is

many would readily

aik, bemg hardly of

probable that

(what yet

do not

opinion) that of

all

the characters juft

grant

me

the fame

now men-

261

THE DRUID.
man

tioned, that of a

of fafhion or politenefs

is

the

and what may be moft eafily at.

Yet even here, notained by imitation and habit.
thing is more eafy than to fee the dominion of judgmoft

fuperficial,

ment and good fenfe, or the prevalence of foily and

That want of prefence of mind or
indifcretion.
embarraflment, which is often the effeCt of modefty
or baftifulnefs, nay, even the errors and bkmders
proceed from ignorance and miilake
of the reigning mode, are not half fo abfurd and
ridiculous, as the affeded airs and mifplaced cere-

which

vifibly

monies of a fop, of which the

and to give them their due,

obfervers,

attentive

always moft

ladies are

generally not incompetent judges.

Once more, judgment

quality, that

is

of

all

an original and radical

is

others leaft capable of being

agumented by

Memory and

culture.

are alfo gifts of nature

You may

common

fenfe.

It is

imagination

be greatly in-

and the other by in-

teach a

world but prudence, which

of

may

but they

creafed, the one by exercife,

dulgence.

approved or

or even

communicated by inftrudion,

is

man any

thing 4n the

the genuine offspring

generally faid that experi-

ence teaches fools, but the mear'n? of the proverb

is

often miftaken, for

it

ence makes them wife

wife
incT

but

at all,

If a

folly.

till

ftrips

firil:

his

ftages

man

Vol.

is

fellows in a

IX.

of inftruftion, warn-

bora with

grammar

fchcl-^r in

fund of good

will appear in the

it

of his education.

always be the greateft

they never are

they fe-1 the effects of their

fenfe and natural difcernment,

very

nify that experi-

(i

fignifies that

it

perfift in fpite

and example,

own

does not

He

w^^- out-

fchool,

will

not

advanced

life,

but

THE

26Z

DRUID.

he who does not dlfcover difcernment and

when

a boy, will

long as he

fagacltjr

never be diftinguiflied for

lives.

It

is

often faid,

in

fo

it

a certain

country, that a fool of forty will never be wife

which

is

fometimes underftood

man made

as if a

as

regular a progrefs to the fummit of his wifdom,

till

the age of forty, as he does to that of his ftature

till

twenty

which

is

very great miftake.

to be in this cafe, as in

man

the other, that a

forty has fufhciently proved to

is

take

all

it

of

the world that he

and therefore that he never was, and never

not,

will be wife.

Shall

human

we

moft valuable of

fay then that this

quahties receives no benefit at

all

from

all

a well

conducted education, from (ludy, or from an acquaintance with the world.

think

capable of any change in

it is

addition to
talents of

to

anfwer, that

its

vigour, but

more or

purpofes more

and thence

it

lefs value,

or

lefs

acquire a luftre

may
and

v/ould otherwife be deditute.

nature, or

be joined
it

to.

may be

ufeful

and

its

do not

other

applied

and important,

polifh, of

which

The fame good

it

fenfe

and prudence, which alone would make a fenfible

judicious farmer, would, if united to memory and
imagination, and enriched with
arts,

make an eminent

fcholar,

contribulions to the treafury of

fklll

in

and bring

human

frugality,

point out the

.jnake

The

country

(et

an ex-

be an enemy to diforder, and

pofleflbr

happy detentions

large

in

fcience.

fame foundnefs of judgment, which, in

would
life or contracted neighbourhood,
ample of

the liberal

umpire

as a proper

in

ur.-

would in a more enlarged fphere,

an accomplifhed fenator or

politician, to

THE
manage the

DRFID.

2<$3

of a large community, or

affairs

fettle

the differences of contending nations.

I

come now

practice to

my readers

fome advices, a
am by nature and habit exceeds

to offer

which

A difficulty,

ingly prone.

it

to occur in this matter.

there feems to be httle

muft be confeffed, feems

If the

room

above theory be juft,

left for

great talent, fo largely defcribed,

original

and

fuppofed to be

is

This

unalterable.

advice, as the

grafted

upon

it,

howmay be

difficulty,

ever, notwithftanding, important inftrudion

who

not only to parents and others

have the charge of the education of youth, but to

every man, for the future diredion of his

own

coi>

dua.

As
to

to the

firft

of thefe,

would entreat parents

guard againft that fond partiahty which inclines

them

form a wrong judgment of the capacity of

their children 5 particularly it were to be wiihed,
that they would not take a few failles of pertnefs
and vivacity for an evidence of diftinguifhed parts.
It Is

to

well known, and has been frequently obferved,

how apt

parents are to entertain their vifitors with an

account of the bright fayings or (hrewd fchemes of

their children, as moft promifing fymptoms of their
future talents

and yet

fo

far

as

my

obfervation

reaches, the things related might for the moft part

juftify a contrary

fuppofitlon.

(hould run

rifk in affirming, that three-fourths at leaft

anecdotes, which parents relate with fo

umph

little

of thofe

much

tri-

of their children, are to be accounted for

from memory, or petulance, or even

ftupidity.

child will repeat, at an improper time, a phrafe or

remark that he has heard, and

it

will

make

fo sb-

THE DRUID.

264

furd a contraft with

what

is

impoffible to forbear laughing.

is

going on, that

it is

whether

this

I aflc

an evidence of the greatnefs or the want of un-

derflanding in the child

folent

Another

will give an in-

and faucy anfwer, and acquire great reputa-

what deferved the moft fevere and exemplary correction.

To crown all, I will tell a true
tion for

itory

An

whom

old gentleman,

commendation of

often fay, in

knew, would

his

fon's

wifdom,

then a boy about ten or twelve years of age, That

when

other boys are breaking their legs by

from limbs of

trees, or

going a fifhing in rivers, at

would

the riik of being drowned, his fon

whole afternoon with

foul water in

crooked pin,

the kitchen.

will agree, that the

falls

in a

fifli

tub of

fuppofe any reader

hS. and the remark taken

gether, conflitute a full proof that the mother

to-

was

honeft, and the fon lawfully begotten.

would be a great advantage, that parents

Ihould make a moderate eftimation of the talents of
It

would prethe children themfelves from being puffed up

their children in

ferve

with unmerited

own

two

praife,

and thus miftaking

character and capacity.

force and vigour of

common

augmented nor deftroyed, yet

lieve frequently

grown by

is

(i.) It

refpecSls*

Though
fenfe
it

their

the native

can neither be

may

be, and

be-

negleCled and defpifed, or over-

the rank weeds of oftentation and felf-

futhcicncy.

When

young perfons

are vain of the

which they do not pcfTefs, or ambitious of a

character which they cannot attain, they become ri-

talents

diculous in their conduCl, and are generally unfucccfsful in their purfuits.

(2.) It

would

incline

and

THE
make
the

proper manner, by giving particular at-

tention

to

though

lefs

branches of in{lru6lion, which

thofe

to detail to give

It

more generally

are

fplendid,

than fome others.

many examples

fenfe,

and

quality,

which

a diligent

only fay, that

modefl

is

unafTuming

application to the

when

fame fubjel

it

really

ufeful

weaken

refides in the

but giving loofe reins to a

in-

for the illuftration

fhall

parts of fcience, will neither diftrefs nor

fervent imagination,

ufeful

would lead me too much

of this remark, and therefore

common

255

parents to coridu6l their education in

their

mod

DRUID.

warm

imagination, will often overfet a moderate degree

of judgment, fo that

fhew

its

head.

never more dare to

will

have known fome youths of

bright genius in their

down with

it

own

cftecm,

great contempt

who

have looked

upon quiet and orderly

boys as dull plodding fellows, and yet thefe bfl

have, in the
as

city,

iiTue,

well as

become men of

fpirit

and capa-

while the others have

literature,

evaporated into rakes and bullies, and indeed block-

heads

become
I

or taking the road to

Mount

Helicon, have

poets, fools, and beggars.

muft advife every reader, efpecially thofe In

early years, to

form

his opinion of

others, and his

upon the principles above laid

more efrecStually millead young

friendly attachments,

down, nothing
perfons,

than

talents in thofe

will

an exceffive admiration

with

whom

they converfe, whether

known many
who apparently owed their

they be real or fuppofed.

inftances of perfons

of fliowy

have

ruin, to their imbibing early in

life,

a notion

that

decency, order, and a prudent management of their

Z3

THE DRUID.

266
affairs,

were marks of dulnefs

frolics,

exceifes,

Many

and capacity.

and irregularity,

forwardnefs,

ry, that petulance,

and even vicious

and on the contra-

were the

effects of fpirit

follow the leading perfon in

not from any inward approbation of fuch

in fuch focieties

beftowed,

fo unjullly

is

which

the reproach

practices, but merely to avoid

beg

all

fuch to believe me, as a perfon of fome experience

in places of public education,

when

them,

I affure

inftances out of ten, your ramblers,

that in nine

and mifchief-workers,

night-v/.ilkers,

Does

heads and thick-fculls.

block-

are

require any ge-

it

way

in

a dark paffage, and after he has ftumbled over

it,

nius, think you, to

throw

a log in r.nother's

who was

fuch

conclude with obferving, that whatever

may

to raife a

triumphant laugh

him,

at

a fool as not to fee without light.

I

be the capacity of any perfon in

glected or mifimproved,
ioft or be of

little

it

will

confequence

itfelf,

ne-

if it is

either be

wholly

Our

in future life.

very bodily frame prefents us with a lellbn of inllru6tion

upon

this

Though formed by

fubjeCt.

nature complete and regular,

if it is

accuftomed to

any improper torture or ungraceful motion, the habit will foon become unconquerable ; and any particular limb or

ufed,

v*rill

member

become

that for a long time

ufelefs.

is

not

This holds yet more

ilrongly as to the pov/ers of the mind: they are loll

by negligence

but by proper application they are

preferved, improved, and in

I^et all, therefore,

remember, that
raife a

who

as

many

cafes increafed.

wi(h or hope to be eminent,

the height to which you can

tower depends upon the

fize

and

foiidity

of

THE DRUID.

267

bafe, fo they ouglit to lay the foundation of their

Its

future fame deep and ftrong, in fobriety, prudence,

and patient induilry, which are the genuine dictates

oi plain common fenje.

NUMBER

V.

SIR,

MAN

is

not, even at this time, called or con-

fidered as a fcholar, unlefs he

is

acquainted

fome degree with the ancient languages, particu-

in

fifty

About one hundred and

Greek and Latin.

larly the

years ago, however, thofe langyages were bet-

underftood than they are

ter

at preient

becaufe at

that time, authors of reputation publiflied almoft

works

their

tioned, the
led,

all

Since the period above men-

In. Latin.

modern, or

as they are

fometimes cal-

the northern languages, have been gradually

polidied, and each nation has manifefted a zeal for,

and an attention
Its

own

larly

is

the purity and perfection of

This has been the

tongue.

cafe, particu-

with refpeft to the French and Englifh.

French language
fifty

to,

is,

as nearly as I

years before the Englifh, in this refpeiS:

to fay,

it

is

letters applied

recting,

much

fo

longer fince their

that

men

of

themfelves to the afcertaining, cor-

and pglifhing of

ever, has received great

lad hundred years,

do*fo.

The

can guefs, about

He mu ft

it.

The

Englifli,

how-

improvements within the

and probably will continue to

have

little

judgment, or great ob-

THE DRUID.

25S

who

flinacy,

does not confefs that fome late authors

L'ive written the

EngHfh language with greater pu-

than thofe of the

rity,

From

times.

mud

education

where no care

we may

this

Is

taken to form the fcholars to tafle,

they muft fpeak and write

To

thefe refle6i:Ions

fituatlon in

America

will continue to

upon

tention

is

it

language which

in

that

all

their life afterwards.

may be

now, and

added, that our

in all probability

be fuch, as to require peculiar

this fubje61:.

fpokn through

certainly infer, that the

be very imperfel in any femlnary

and accuracy

propriety,

charaler in former

firft

all

the

The

United

at-

Engllfh language

We are

States.

is

at a

great dlftance from the ifland of Great Britain, in

which the ftandard of the language

Every

ftate is

every other

and,

pofed to be found.

dependent

of,

of them will agree,

at

is

as yet fup-

equal

to,

and in-

believe,

none

lead Immediately, to receive

laws from another, in difcourfe, any more than in

Time and

action.

accident muft determine

turn affairs will take in this refpe6t in future,

ther

we

fhall

Great Britain

form ours

what

whe-

continue to confider the language of

as the pattern

upon which we are

or whether, in this

new

to

empire, fome

centre of learning and polltenefs will not be found,

which

fliall

obtain influence, and prefcrlbe the rules

of fpeech and writing to every other part.

V/hile this point

me

yet unfettled,

is

make fome

it

has occurred

obfervatlons

upon the prefent

ftate of the Englifti language in

America, and to

to

to

attempt a coUedlion of fome of the chief improprieties

which

cd.

will premife

prevail,

and might be

eafily corre6t-

one or two general remarks.

THE
The

DRUID.

much

vulgar in America fpeak

vui^ar

269

irf

much more

viz. that being

frequently from place

to

There

feology.

is

they are not fo

place,

is

fhall

between one
alfo

admit,

ftate

accent or phra-

difference in dialet

a greater

between one county and another

there

moving

unfettled, and

ible to local peculiarities, either in

li

better than the

Great Britain, for a very obvious reafon,

in Britain,

and another

America.

in

though with fome

than

hefitation,

that gentlemen and fcholars in Great Britain fpeak

as

much with

the vulgar in

common

chit chat, as

perfons of the fame clafs do in America

is

a remarkable difference

lemn

difcourfes.

in

their

have heard in

but there

public

and fo-

this country, in

the fenate, at the bar, and from the pulpit, and fee
daily in diifertations

mar,

from the

prefs, errors in

gram-

which hardly
point of rank and

improprieties and vulgarifms,

ahy perfon of the fame

clafs,

in

would have fallen into in Great Britain.

Curiofity led me to make a collection of thefe,
which, as foon as it became large, convinced me
literature,

that they

fore

muft be reduced

clafTes,

juflice.

different kinds,

and there-

to a confiderable

number of

were of very

in order to their being treated with

Thefe

now

critical

prefent to the public under

the following heads, to each of which

join a (hort explication, and a

number

will fub-

of examples,

with remarks where they feem necelTary.

1.

Americanifms, or ways of fpeaking peculiar

to this country.

England and America.

2.

Vulgarifms

3.

Vulgarifms in America only.

in

TKE DRUl.

^1<^

4.

Local phrafes or terms.

5.

Common

6.

Cant phrafes.

blunders arifing from ignorance.

7. Perfonal blunders.
8.

Technical terms introduced into the language.

be proper to put the reader in mind, that

he ought not to exped that the enumeration under
It will

each of thefe heads can be complete. This would

have required a very long courfe of obfervation;

and indeed

is

by fpecimens

not neceflary to

my

purpofe, which

to enable every attentive

is

and judicious

perfon to make obfervations for himfelf.

I.

The

firft clafs I call

Americanifms, by which

underftand an ufe of phrafes or terms, or a con-

ftrudion of fentences, even

among

perfdns of rank

and education, different from the ufe of the flime

terms or phrafes, or the conftrudion of fimilar (en^
tences, in Great Britain.

It

does not follow, from

a man's ufing thefe, that he

is ignorant, or his difcourfe upon the whole inelegant ; nay, it does not
follow in every cafe, that the terms or phrafes ufed

are worfe in themfelves, but merely that they are

of American and not of Englifh growth.

word Americanifm, which

purpofe,

is

nification

exadly

Scotticifm

is

have coined for the

fimilar in its formation

word

to the

The

Scotticifm.

By

and

fig-

word

the

underftood any term or phrafe,

and

indeed any thing either in conftru(Sl:ion, pronunciation,

or accentuation,

Britain,

There

Scotch way
perfon

who

is

are
as

that

many

is

peculiar to

inftances in

North

which th2

good, and fome in which every

has the lead tafle as to the propriety or

THE DRUID.

271

purity of language In general, muft confefs that

is

better than

that of England,

it

yet.fpeakers and

writers mufl conform to cuftom.

Scotland, or the northern part of Great Britain,

was once

a feparate independent

except in the Highlands,

fame language

people

the

England

In

as

kingdom, though,
fpoke

the

the Inhabitants of

the Lowlands, In both countries, having been originally the fame.

It Is juflly

obferved by Dr.

in his hlftory of Scotland,

bertfon,

that

Ro-

had they

continued feparate kingdoms, fo that there (hould

have been

a court

and parliament

at

Edinburgh, to

ferve as a ftandard, the fmall differences In dialect,

and even

would not have been

and there would have been

in pronunciation,

coniidered as defedls

-,

no more opprobrium attending the ufe of them in

fpeech or writing, than there was in the ufe of the
different dlale6ls of the ancient

Grecian republics.

But by the removal of the court

efpeclally

Scottifh

are

London, and

by the union of the two kingdoms, the

manner of fpeaking came

as provincial barbarlfmj
lars

to

now

at the

to be con/Idered

which, therefore,

utmofl pains to avoid.

very probable, that the reverfe of

this,

feparated from Britain,

we

fchoIt Is

or rather

counter part, will happen In America.

tirely

all

fhall

Its

Being enfind

fome

own, and not be fubiecl

centre or ftandard of our

to the inhabitants of that illand, either in recelvin

'

new ways of fpeaking, or rejecting the old.

The examples follow.
" The United States, or either of them."
I.
This

is

it

ufed by

Is

fo far

from being

many

mark of Ignorance,

that

of the moil able and accurate

THE DRUlD.

272

fpeakers and writers, yet

United States are thirteen

The

not Englifh.

is

it

number,

in

but

in

Englifh either does not fignify one of many, but

one or the other of two.

an

imagine

pronoun, by being a

adjetSlive

where

tion of a fentence,

either the one or the other.

with iKxn^og
This

2.

not been

in

Greek, and

has become
abbrevia-

fort of

it

is

ufed adverbially,

It

is

exatly the fame

alter tit ur in Latin.

to notify the public, or the people had

is

By

notijied.

In Englifli

formed.

either

meant inform and

this is

we do

z-

not notify the perfon of

In

the thing, but notify the thing to the perfon.

this inftance there
is

notify y
to

juft faying

this

by

Now

make known.

make

certainly an impropriety, y^^r

is

the public

if

word of Latin
you cannot fay

This

Fellow Coimtrymen,

and may be

daily feen in

is

word of very

has been heard in

of the

charaler,

firft

newfpaper publications.

the meaning of both.

If

you open

fully

one born

will find the

in the

fellow citizens,

word countryman

fame country.

fellow foldiers,

fellow Ci)riftians,

hut.

uot fellow

You may
fellow

The words

certain whether this

be are omiLteci.

to

a local expveflion or

is

fub-

coiintr -men.

Thefe things were ordered delivered

army.

in

to fay

word ex-

figiiifies

4.

to

laft

any dictionary, you

fay,

is

an evident tautology, for the

prefles

je(!i!ls;

It

men

public orations from

is

this

known, neither ought you

frequent ufe in America.

It

derivation,

to notify the public.

is

3.

to

to the

am

not

general

America.
5.

wilh

The words

we

to

could contrive

carry ^

to

have

it

it

to Phil.idelphia,

carried^ ox

SomQ

iuch.

THE DRUID.
are wanting.

It

which there

is

275

a defecflive

conflrulion,

many

are but too

that have already

obtained in practice, in fpite of

llrances of

We

6.

word for

men
may

or

active verb,

term

tive

that in

all

remon-

the

of letters.
hope the

to receive is

hope, which

of

of God.

afllftance

In this inftance,

wanting.'

a neuter verb,

The

is

turned into the

and not very properly

as to the objec-

is

affiftance.

It

muft be admitted, however,

fome old Englifh poets, hope

as an ative verb, but

it is

is

fometimes ufed

contrary to

modern prac-

tice.

do not confider myfelf equal to

this taflc.

The word as is wanting. I am not certain

this may not be an Englifli vulgarifm, for

whether'

7.

quently ufed by the renowned author of

who

Senfe,

happy a

is

an Engliftiman born

for

Common

talent of adopting the blunders of others,

It is,

from

his prac-

however, undoubtedly an Americanifm,

ufed by authors greatly fuperior to

it is

fre-

but he has fa

that nothing decifive can be inferred

tice.

it is

him

in

every refpet.
8

Neither to day or to morrow.

con{lrulion

is,

The proper

one or the other, neither

either the

the one nor the ether.

9.

certain

tain, as ufed

fixes

it

The word ceran indefinite, the name

Thomas Benfon.
Englifh,

is

precifely, lo that there

is

kind of contra-

In England they would

diction in the expreflion.

fay, a certain perfon called or fuppofed to

mas Benfon.
10. Such bodies
Vol. IX.

be Tho-

are incident to thefe evils.

Ths

THE DRUIB.

276
evil is incident or

ready to

upon the perfon, the

fall

perfon liable or fubjed): to the

He

II.
ilever

woman.

Hovr

when heard

certainly be miftaken

Americans generally mean by

of difpofition,

worthinefs,

lead regard to capacity

quite a

clever,

only goodnefs

integrity,

without the

am

not miftaken,

nay,

for the

In thefe cafes,

if I

frequently applied, where there

is

is

Their meaning, however,

time by one born in Britain.

firft

it

She

often are thefe phrafes to be

heard in converfation ?

would

evil.

man.

a very clever

is

is

an acknow-

ledged fimplicity, or mediocrity of capacity.

means

in Britain, clever always

man, he

a clever trades-

mart, a clever fellow, without any reflediion

fame time

his moral charater, yet at the

no approbation of
and very
I

am

common

forry to

"When
and not

i,

example

e.

fly,

12.

mad.

he

Such

plan

was quite mad

is

alfo

great rogue.

generally carries in

it

not

at

was very

is

the

clever,

but not very

him, he made

mad

it

very honourable

confefs

artful, well contrived,

This

a clever fellow, but

is

is

chicanery,

In this inftance

angry.
it is

or

carries

it

applied primarily to conduct:,

is

to the perfon,

idea of art
for

it,

upon

exceeding good Englifh,

He

to fay.

fay

clevernefs

It is

it.

"We

difpofition.

man,

a clever

is

may

capacity, and

be joined either to a good or bad

fay of a

But

me

fair.

quite

only a metaphor for

perhaps an Englifh vulgarifm, but

not found in any accurate writer, nor ufed by

any good fpeaker, unlefs when poets or orators ufe

it

as a ftrong figure,

fay,

and to heighten the exprellion,

he was mad with rage.

Thefe

fliall

fuffice for the firft clafs.

THE DRUID.

2/7

NUMBER

VI.

SIR,

T PROCEED now
la ft paper,

upon the plan

to the

fecond general

proprieties, viz, vulgarifms in

Of

rica.

laid

thefe there

is

down
clafs

in

of im-

England and Ame-

great plenty to be found

They

every where, in writing and in converfation.

need very

explication,

little

my

and indeed would

fcarcely deferve to be mentioned in a difcourfe of

were

this nature,

it

not for the circumftance hinted

at in the introduction, that fcholars

fons are at lefs pains to avoid

and public per-

them here, than

in

Britain.
1.

I will

mention the vulgar abbreviations

in ge-

neral, as an't, can't, han't, don't, fhouldn't, would'nt

couldn't,

Great pains were taken by the

&c.

(hew the barbarity and inelegance of

that manner of fpeaking and writing.
The endeaSpecSbator to

vours of that author, and others of later date, have

been fuccefsful

and have banifhed

in Britain,

fuch harfh and mutilated phrafes from public

ing, fo that they

not even in that

I

all

fpeakr-

remain only in converfation, and

among

need hardly fay

perfons of judgment and tafte.

how

far

tliis

is

from

beino- the

cafe in America.
2.

hjow\l him perfectly well,

3. I fee

him

yefterday, or

I fee

a 2

for, I hne-w

him

laft

him.

week, for

THE DRUID.

278
Ifaiv him.

In Scotland the vulgar fay,

I feed

him

week.

laft

4. This here report of that there committee.

whom

merchants

Some

could name, in the Englifh Par-

liament, whofe wealth and not merit raifed them

and

to that dignity, ufe this vulgarifm very freely,

expofe themfelves to abundance of ridicule by fo

doing.

He was

5.

fo

common,

ing

it

dronvnded in the Delaware.

that I have

book

in a

to a

known

former are vulgarifms

gonvtid.

"Ivducation.

'

was

it

In London you

print-

This and the

in converfation only;

improper and unbecoming

(there very

is

gentleman read-

company, though

ed droivnedf read drownded.

6. She has got a new

This

but even

for perfons of

are fometimes

afke^iir

if

you will take a glafs of ivindy for wine. Of the

fame nature are an impertinent feller y for felloiir;
luallevy

7.

for ivalloiv

Some

many on'em.

on'em, one on'em,

though frequent

and fome

luinder, for 'windoiv.

in the

parts of America, perhaps

than general.
feveral others

This

northern parts of England

is

rather local,

This indeed may be the cafe with

which have

fallen

under

my

obferva-

tion.
8. It lays in
is

Buck's county, for

it lies,

&c.

This

not only a prevailing vulgarifm in converfation,

but has obtained in public fpeaking, and

often feen in print.

am

even of opinion that

fome chance of overcoming

and

to

it,

is

the final arbiter in

all

the oppofition

fully eftablifliing itfelf

grammar, has been

all

at

may be
has

made

by cuttom, which

fuch cafes.

much

it

Lowth

in his

pains to correal

it

:,

THE DRUID.

279

though that moft excellent

yet,

the hands of the public for

feems

many

word

years, this

The

ground.

of lofing

gain inftead

to

has been in

treatlfe

from confounding the neuter verb

error arifes

with the a^lire verb to lay,

which

to ly

are very differ-

The

ent in the prefent, preterite and participle.

of them

firft

formed thus,

is

lay, lien or lain

ly,

the fecond, lay, laid, laid.

This

London

is

To

groffeft kind.

number,

confufion or difagreement of

this

the difagreement of the

giving a verb

which

plural,

vulgarifm, and yet one of the

may be added

the perfon

he come.

will not be long before

9. I thinks it

to a nominative

fingular

more frequent than the

is

been

after all the Jlories that has

other, as,

told, all the reafons

that has been given.

and equally as good.

10. Equally as well,

is

This

frequent in converfation and public fpeaking.

is alfo

to be

found

needlefs to

it is

good Englifh

fome publications, of which

in

name

It

the authors

to fay, the

but

highejl

7nofl

it is

juft as

mountain in

America.
11.

One

common

of the moft

ders in the Englifli language,

rite for

the

notice of by

Lowth,

for

rofey

broke,

r'tfen ;

and

Some

Had
teft

they give

little

Thefe are

a 3

he

fame manner,

ivrotCy for written

others

not a gentleman threw out

were drew up.

,-

as after

of thefe appear, as he ob-

ferves, barbarous to fcholars

to, that

taken particular

in the

/poke, for fpoken

for broken.

cuftomed

is

grammar,

in his

hady>// down, iox fallen

putting the prete-

is

This

participle.

vulgarifms or blun-

we

are fo ac-

offence to the ear.

the

reafong^ of pro-

offenfive, but

you

may

THE DRUID.

28
meet with
as I

had

good authors, fuch

fimilar errors even in

lurotcy I h^idfpokey

the bone

was

The

broke.

bed way to judge of this impropriety, is to try it

upon a word that has been feldom fo mifufed, as
for example. If

you go

battle perhaps

to the

you

will hejleiu.
12. Juft as

corn

you

the hill

rife

groiun in this country.

is

corruptions arifing from

They

or paflive verbs.

or

little

no bread-

Thefe are

fimilar

turning neuter into active

am

are alfo, if I

not mif-

among the neweft corruptions of the language, and much more common in England than
America. The above two examples are taken from
taken,

Cook's

firfi:

voyage by Hav/kefworth, where fome

others of the fame kind are to be found.

13. I fat out yefterday

The

verb

fet

and participle being the fame.

I fet out immediately

than he

I fet out.

has no change of termination, the

preterite

prefent,

morning, for

after I

had

I fet

*,

fet

out three day5 fooner

The

out.

error

lies

in

taking the preterite of the verb fit, and making ufe

of

it

for the pafl

terminations,
*

14.

He

fit,

time of the
fat,

faid as hoiv

furd pleonafm

is

otlier

fit

has three

fitten.
it

was

his opinion.

more common

This ab-

in Britain than in

America.

The
only.

third clafs confifts of vulgarifms in

This mull be underflood,

fo

far

America
as I

have

been able to obferve, and perhaps fome of them

It will not be necefTary either to make
are local.
the examples on this head numerous, or to fay

much upon them,

bccaufe the introdudlion of vul-

THE DRUID.
ganfms

28i

into writing or public difcourfes

the fame,

is

whether they are of one country or another.

have not done

1. I

This

an imperfedl

is

words

do

but

yet,

it

am

conflrudlion

juft
it

going

to.

wants the

Imperfel conftru6tions are the ble-

it,

mifh of the Englifh language in general, and rather

more frequent

in this country than in England.

2. It is fartly all

gone,

mo/lly all

it is

an abfurdity or barbarifm,

is

as

gone.

This

well as a vul-

garifm.

This

3.

is

weapon with which he defends

the

when he

himfelf

is

for attacked

attacied^

or ac-

cording to the abbreviation, attack'd.

As

4.

told

hope Mr.
's

who

is

by way of

What

No

refpecl.

is

Mr.

This way of

prefent in the third perfon,

he were abfent,

as if

tain,

for as I told you.

well this morning.

opinion upon this fubjedl

fpeaking to one

and

Mr.
is

is

ufed in this country

fuch thing

done

is

in Bri-

except that to perfons of very high rank, they

fay your majelly, your grace, your lordfhip

yet

even there the continuance of the difcourfe in the

third perfon
5. I

7.

not cuftoaiary.

have been

ladelphia
6.

is

-,

Philadelphia, for at or in Phi-

to

have been

dinner, for

to

Walk 171 the houfe,

You have no right

have dined,

for into the houfe.

to

pay

it,

where

right

is

ufed for what logicians would call the correlative

term obligation.
8.

Perhaps
p.

US

bad fpelL

fpell of ficknefs, a long fpell, a

this

word

is

Every of thefe
for every one,

borrowed from the

flates

I believe

every of

the

fea dialed^.

them

word every

every of
is

ufed

THE DRUID.

282

manner

in this
alfo in

The

fome old Englifh writers, nnd

fome old laws, but not

thing

fame

alio

is

make

every one to
to the

in

in

modern

improper, becaufe
it

it

ftriftly a partitive

conftru6l:ion, as

praftice.

fhould be

and fubjel

fome of them, part of

them, many of them, &c. yet it muft be acknowledged, that there is no great impropriety, if fo
great, in the vulgar conftru6lion of every^ than in

another expreffion very

viz.

all

common

in

both countries,

of them.

Having finifhed thefe two clafles, I fhall make

Proa remark or two upon vulgarifms in general.
bably many will think and fay, that it would be a
piece of ftifFnefs or aiFetation to avoid them wholly
As to fome
in converfation or common difcourfe.
of thofe which have been defcribed above, perhaps
this

may be admitted

it is

certainly

fhould

fall

beft

into

but as to the greateft part,

to avoid

them wholly,

left

we

them inadvertently where they

would be highly improper.

If a

gentleman will

not imitate a peafant male or female, in faying iffo

he, and forfooth, and many other fuch phrafes, be-

knows they are vulgarifms, why fhould

he imitate them in faying equally as good, or I fee
caufe he

him

yejlerclay,

he

but becaufe

does not know, or

does not attend to the impropriety.

The

we are
in
danger
of
the
much
charge
of afFedanot by far fo
faying,
omit
as
for
what
we
what
we
for
do fay.
tion
When a man is fond of introducing hard words, or
reader

is

ftudies a nice or

alfo defired to obferve, that

pompous

dilion, he brings himfelf

immediately into contempt

but he

may

eafiiy attain

a cautious habit of avoiding low phrafes or vulgar

THE DRUID.
terms without being

283

at all liable to

the imputation

either of vanity or conftraint.

I

conclude with obferving, that as bombaft and

empty fweliing

is

who aim

expofed

which thofe are

fublimity, (o low fentiments

the danger to
at

and vulgar terms are what thofe are

ger of,

who aim

Now,

at fimplicity.

moft dan-

in

as, it

is

my

intention, in the courfe of thefe papers, to fet a

--inark of reprobation

mode

taftic

pure, and, as
is

of expreflion, and to
it

may be

more neceflary

the

that

upon every affected and fan-

recommend

called, claflic fimplicity,

a
it

guard the reader againft

to

low and grovelling manner which

is

fome-

times miftaken forit.

NI|MBR

VII.

SIR,

THE

of improprieties confifl of

fourth clafs

local phrafes

or terms.

By

thefe I

mean fuch

vulgarifms as prevail in one part of a country and

not in another.

There

is

much

greater variety of

From

complete populations of the country, multitudes of common people never remove to any diftance from
where they were born and bred. Hence there are
thefe in Britain than

many

in

America.

the

charaderftic diftinclions, not only in phra-

feology, but in accent, drefs, manners,

^c. not only

between one county and another, but between difThere is a county

ferent cities of the fame county.
in the

North of England, very few of the

natives of

THE DRUI.

284

which can pronounce the letter r, as it is generally

pronounced in the other parts of the kingdom.
But if there is a much greater number of local
vulgarifms In Britain than America, there
for this very reafon,

much

lefs

is

alfo

danger of their being

ufed by gentlemen or fcholars.

It

is

indeed im-

nature of the thing, that a local

plied in the very

phrafe will not be ufed by any but the inhabitants

or natives of that part of the country where

However,

vails.

am

it

pre-

of opinion, that even local

vulgarifms find admiflion into the difcourfe of peo-

more

ple of better rank

He

1.

here than in Europe.

eafily

improved the horfe for ten days.

ufed in fome parts of

New

This

is

England for riding the

horfe.
2.

Raw fain d

N. B. There
3.

This
4.
it

is

Is

ufed in the South for falad,

no

ChuftkSi that
is

is,

half burnt

brands,

wood.

cuftomary in the middle colonies.

He

may

falad boiled.

is

conjiderahle

of a furveyor, conJideraUe of

be found in that country.

This manner of

fpeaking prevails in the northern parts.

5.

He

will once in a nvhile^

The middle

have occafwny

over the ferry.

Tot

is

e.fometimes get drunk.

ftates.

6. Shall I

7.

i.

New

i.

opportunity to go

e.

England.

ufed for carry^ in fome of the fouthern

ftates.

The

fifth clafs

of improprieties

mon blunders through

from the former

ignorance.

claffes, that

may be

calledV^w-

In this they differ

the fimilarity of one

word to another, in pronunciation or derivation,

makes ignorant people confound them and ufe them

THE DRUID.
promlfcuoufly,

285

fometimes even convert them

or

and ufe them each

The

the other's room.

in

fol-

lowing are examples.

Eminent for

1.

man was

that a

in

is

How common

an ingenious young

man

he

is

is it

to

young

of a very ingenious difpofition, they are both

Englifh words.
city

hear

eminent danger.

Ingenious for ingenuous.

2.

fay he

man

How often do we

imminejit.

Ingenious

ingenuous

ingenuity,

fignifies fimple,

however,

derived from ingenuous,

fometimes for

upright,

word

the

ufed

is

fincere

feems to be

that
in

both fenfes,

candor

opennefs,

fairnefs,

of good capa-

fignifies

fome-

times for capacity or acutenefs of invention.

ihould think this
to be

laft,

contrary to the analogy

efpecially as

we

je6lives, ingenioufnefs

This

Three or four
is

among
4.

a blunder

language,

from the correfpondent adand ingenuoufnefs.

l\m.QS fuccefsfully^ iox fuccejjlvely

through ignorai

ce,

very

common

the lower fort of people in England.

hiteiligible^

telligible
5.

of the

have two words for thefe oppofite

ideas regularly derived

3.

though done by good authors,

for intelligent^

who

perfon

Confijlicate^

told

was

It

a very in-

me.

The moft

for confifcate.

ignorant

of the vulgar only ufe this phrafe.

6. Ficlious {ox fiBitlous

jiBious (lory.

This

fuperior to thofe
7.

is

That

no more than a

is

ufed by people fomewhat

who would

Veracity for credibility.

ufe the former.

This

is

not a blunder

in converfation only, but in fpeaking and writing.

I

have fome doubt of the veracity of

?.

certain author.

Veracity

is

this fai:, fays

the character of the


THE DRUID.

286
perfon

fame

is

Thefe

the cafe with

formation,

fimilar

The

truth or credibility, of the (lory told.

mod

or

all,

capacity,

of the words, of

rapacity,

tenacity.

are applied to the perfon or the difpofition,

all

not to a particular action of the one, or efFe^ of

We

the other.
is

man

fay, a

of capacity

this

work

a proof of capacity, but not the capacity of this

performance

and

fo of the reft.

8. Sufceptivey iox fufceptihle,

reader, that after I

found

fome

in

it

men

muft acquaint the

this

word

into

from ignorance,

Johnfon's

Dictionary.

who

writers,

As

cannot
in

to the laft of thefe, I

have occafion to make a remark or two upon

and there-

that lexicographer under the next clafs,

fore

an ex-

as

contemptible, and alfo

altogether

(hall

fall

Englifti

called

be

had marked

ample, of the miftakes

I

(liall

fay nothing of

particular,

As

now.

it

though the word

I obferve, that

other

to the
is

ufed by

not only contrary to general prac-

fome

writers,

tice,

but contrary to the analogy of the tongue.

it is

All the adjectives ending in ive are of an adlivc,

and thofe ending

as

active,

in able or ihh of a pafTive

decilive,

communicative,

nature,

fignificative,

demonftrative, and on the contrary, able, capable,

communicable, demonftrable, contemptible.

9.

They

will refcind

two

are fo very duplicit that I

am

afraid they

Here

from what they have done.

errors in

one fentence.

nAade by guefs from

Duplicit

duplicity,

and

is

are

an adjective

refcind is

mif-

taken, by the likenefs of found, for recede.

10 IDeteB for
at

diJfeEl,

lady, in a certain place

dinner, aiked a gentleman

as deteEl that piece of

add a long

lift

meat

if

he would be

for her.

To

thefe

fo
I

good
might

of errors, in which ignorance or or-


THE DRUIR.

287

thography makes a vitious pronunciation, and that

pronunciation continued by

makes

the fame ignorance,

word in place of the true one, of

which take one example- A gentleman writes to
his friend, that on fuch a day they had a fmart
a vulgar

fcrtmitchy for Jkirmljh.

The

fixth clafs confiftsof ^ra^/ phrafes, introduced

into public fpeaking or compofition.

cant phrafes,

pretty well

is

known, having been

explained as long ago as the days of

They

rife occafionally,

happy or

is

Mr

bity

whim

temporary and fometimes

often faid, a
that

was

man

is

taken in,

a hit indeed, that

quite the thing.

every reader.

Addifon

metaphor or

allu-

or caprice of

They

particular perfons in coining a term.

it is

fully

therefore repeated and geti into ge-

neral ufe, fometimes from the

their nature

of

fometimes, perhaps, from the

fingular application of a

which

fion,

The meaning

is

he

are in

Thus,

local.

is bilked^

not the things

he
it

is

was

Innumerable others will occur to

Sometimes the cant

confifts in the

frequent and unneceflary repetition, or improper ap-

word that is otherwife unexceptionable^

Thus, when vaji was in repute, a thing was vaftly

plication of a

good, and vaftly bad, vaftly pretty, and vaftly ugly,

vaftly great,
It is

and vaftly

worth while,

language, to reflet a

in

little.

remarking on the

little

ftate

of

on the attack made by

Addifon, Steel, Swift, Pope, and Arbuthnot, on

many

of thefe cant phrafes in their day, fuch as bite,

bamboozle, pof. rep. mob. &c.

Some

of them they

fucceeded in baniftiing from, or rather prevented

from being ever admitted into public difcourfes and

Bb
Vol. IX.

THE

a38

DRUID.

elegant writing, fuch as bite, bamboozle, &c. fome

they baniflied from

all

fuch as

polite converfation,

and fome have kept their ground,

pof. rep. plenipo.

have been admitted into the language, and are freely

and gravely ufed by authors of the firft rank, fuch as

This was

mob.
vulgusy

and

as

at firft a

cant abbreviation of mobUe

above mentioned

now ftamped

but time has

with authority, the memory of

and when

men

fuch condemned by the great

derivation

its

it

is loft,

an unruly mob was affem-

a hiftorian fays

bled in the ftreets, or he was torn in pieces by the

moby no idea of any thing low and ludicrous

is

con-

veyed to the mind of the reader.

I

make

promifed, under this head, to

upon Johnfon's Dilionary. It

great value on feveral accounts,
norant perfons into

many

yet

any Engllfli writer

and though he has,

not fuflicient to diftinguifti them.

which

judgment.

this

If

He

may be

lead ig-

has collec-

was ever ufed by

Dictionary, given his authoriries in

ces in

may

it

miftakes.

ted every word, good or bad, that

book of very

is

a remark

in the larger

full,

There

yet that

is

are inftan-

the very caufe of

wrong

an author of reputation has com-

mitted a fingle error, his authority fhould not be

made any

ufe of to fandlify that error

alfo, the author's defign is

ment of

miftaken.

that Diftionary, at the

word

fometimes,

In the abridgebamboozle^

find added, a loiv luord ; but the authority

not

now would not any man

otherwife
writer

informed,

that

whcrea?;, in fat,

difgrace and put

it

imagine,

is

Arbuth^

who was

Arbuthnot was

you

not

low

he ufed that word only

out of pradice.

The

to

lexico-

THE DRUID.

289

grapher would have aded more wifely not to have

mentioned the word

at all.

would be very eafy

It

make

to

a large collelion

of cant or low phrafes at prefent in ufe, fuch as

helter Ikelter, topfy turvy, upfide down, the Devil to
pay, at fixes and fevens, put to his trumps, flung
Every one of thefe has been feen in
all in a heap.
print,

and many of the fame ftamp,

heard

as well as

in converfation.
I read, in a

not long fnice

It is

low methods oijhamNow, pray what is (hamming A

a fenfible writer in this city,

ming Abraham'

braham
that

difnculty I have underftood,

With fome

a cant phrafe

it is

ing ficknefs

piece publi/hed by

when

of the fame kind.

among feamen,

for pretend-

they are well, and other fetches

I

(hould be glad to

know how

foreigner could tranllate this expreffion into his own.

language.

Under

the head of cant phrafes, I

proverbial or

all

common

the language, as well as

Of

the

firft

upon the
you
tis

fort are thefe,

trite

and beaten

want

to

Supreme Being by

not pay any regard to his

upon

his

is

only gra-

almighty /j/,
All thefe

ipfe dixit.

from printed pieces, fome of them by au-

thors not contemptible;

is

ailufions..

put the faddle

of the fecond, the following, that

are taken

dixftf

fayings introduced into

right horfe, the labouring oar lies

dicfumy the

I will

would include

of the

mod

the lad of them, his

frequent ufe, and yet

is

ipfe

the

moft pedantic and puerile of the whole.

elude with obferving, that a cant phrafe,

do not

die

by the way, has three ftages

is, firft,

a cant phrafe

if it

in its progrefs.

fecondly, a vulgarifm

Bb

con-

It

thirds

THE DRUID.

290
ly,

Some

an idiom of the language.

or other of the two

ftages

firft

but

thefe, they are eftabliflied for ever.

example of
topfy

this above, in the

expire in one

they outlive

if

have given an

word mob

and

think

turvy and upjtde down have very nearly attained

the fame privilege.

The
is

feventh clafs confifts oiperfonal blunders^ that

to fay, eiFels of ignorance,

and want of precifion

which are properly

as an author,

own, and not

his

reducible to any of the heads above mentioned,

will

make
*

I.

the meaning of the former clafles

The examples follow.

The members of a

clear.

ihould be continually

that avail

is

The

it

more

popular government

availed of the fituation

condition of every part.

know

an example or two of this kind, becaufe

(hall give

author of

this did

and
not

neither an alive nor paflive, but

man

a reciprocal verb

thing, but not

avail others, or be availed by them.

1,

to

is

faid to avail himfelf of Tuny

degree of diflentions and oppofitions under

fome circumftanccs, and

political lethargy

others impend certain ruin to a free

neuter verb

is

made an

given fome examples in which this

but in the prefent cafe

it

is

Here

ft ate.*

active one.

under
a

have before

done commonly,

belongs to this author

alone.
3.

{hould have

ftlent difdain*

let

your performance fink into

performance may

fall

into con-

tempt, or fink into oblivion, or be treated with

dain, but to

make

it

fink into ftlent

difdairij is

dif-

a very

crude expreflion indeed.

4.

He

is

man

of moft accomplijhed

abilities,

THE DRUI
man may be

Spr

D.

of diftingulfhed

abilities

or

great accomplifhments, but accompUJhed

abilities

is

fald

to be

wholly new.
*

5.

have a

total

obje6lion againft this mea-

fuppofe the gentleman meant, that he ob-

fure.' I

jedled to the whole, and every part of

It

it.

was

only an irregular marriage of the adjeclive to the

wrong
6.

fubflantive.

An

axiom as well eftablifhed as any Euclid

Now,

ever demonftrated/

it

happens that Euclid,

notwithftanding his great love of demonftration,

never demonflrated

axioms,

but

took

them

for

granted.
I

hope the reader

will forgive

me

for not refer-

ring to the treatifes from which thefe examples are

They were in general anonymous and as

probable many of the authors are alive, and

taken.
it

is

may be

of further ufe to their country, fo being

wholly unknown to me, without the

envy or malevolence,

mean

degree of

not to injure but im-

prove them.

FINIS.

Bb3

leaft

SUBSCRIBERS' NA2MES.
A
Robert Anderfon, Efq. Accountant, Edinburgh

Mr Aitchifon, Leith
Mr John Anderfon, Merchant. Edin.
Mr Robert Anderfon, Merchant, Edin.
Mr Anthony, Edin.
Mr James Anderfon, Surgeon, Edin.
Rev.

Mr

Tho. Alexander, Student, Edin.

Mrs

Mr

Arrol, Merchant, Edin.

Robert Aitkin, Burnt ifland

Matthew Adam, Weaver,

Paifley

Mifs Alexander, Glafgow

B
The Rev. Geo.

Baird,

and one of the

D. D.

Principal of the College,

minifters of the

High Church, Edin.

Mr

Buchannan, Canongate, Edin*

Rev. David Black, Edin.

Rev.

Rev. James Burns, Brechin

Rev.

Mr

Begg,

New Monkland

Rev. Kenneth Bayne, Greenock

Mr Adam Brooks, Merchant, Edin.

Mr Robert Bland, Merchant Dumfries
Mr Brown, Preacher, Belfaft
Mr James Brown, Teacher, Leith
Mr David Brewfter, Preacher
Mr John Baxter, Builder, Edinburgh
Mrs

Baillie,

Glafgow

Mr Peter Blair, Manufa^urer, PaiJley

Mr A. Boyd, Timber Merchant Paifley
Mr Robert Barclay, Merchant, Paifley
Mr James Brand, Dinwi^die mains

SUBSCRIBERS* NAMES,

294

Mr William Burns, Manufa6lurer, Paliley

Mr James Blair, Paiiley
Mr Walter Bruce, Cabinetmaker, Leith
Mr Alexander Brown, Bookfeller, Aberdeen, 12 Copies
Mr George Brown, Bookfeller, Perth, 2 Copies
Mr William Blackwood, Bookfeller, Edin. 2 Copies
Mr Allan Barr, Manufacturer, Edin.
Mr James Blair, Merchant, Belfaft, 6 Copies
Rev. Mr A. Bayne, Eaftbarns
Rev. Richard Black, Perth

Mr John Brown,

Preacher, Glafgow

Rev. John Brown, Biggar

Mr

Robertfon Buchanan, Glafgow

Dr

Rev.

Mr
Mr

Barr,

Balfour, Glafgow

Glafgow

Buchanan, Glafgow

James Bonnar, Efq. Excife, Edin.

Matthew Brown, Efq.

Mr

Paiiley

William Bleziland, Manufadl:erer, Paifley

John Blair, Farmer, Erfkine by Paiiley

Robert Blair, Farmer, Inchinnen
James

Blair,

Farmer, Killmalcolm

Hugh

Blair,

Farmer, Houfton

Rev. David Black, Dunfermline

C
Francis Carter,

M. D. Liverpool

Charles Cunningham, Efq. Linlithgow

Mr

Rev.

Mrs

Colquhoun, Leith

Bailie Coulter, Edin.

James Carlyle, Paiiley

J)hn Clapperton, Merchant, Edin.

Bailie

Mr
Mrs

Chryitie, Edin.

Mr John Campbell, preacher

Mr John Cummin, Dyer, Edin.
Mr Robert Crawford, preacher

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
Mr

25

John Clark, Builder, Edin.

Mr Hugh Cameron, Merchant,

Mr R. Carfwell, Manufa6lurer,
Mr G. Carfwell, Manufacturer,

Greenock
Pailley
Paifley

Mr William Campbell, Lockerby, 2 Copies

Mr Cheap, Paifley
Mr George Caldwell, Bookfeller, Paifley
Dr Cleghorn, Glafgow
Mr Thomas Carlile, Houfton
Mr Campbell, Bookfeller, Paifley, 3 Copies
Mr Campbell Teacher, Paifley

Mr D. Cowan, Paper maker, Edin.

Mr Gavin Cuthbertfon, Bookfeller, Paifley
Mr Clark, near Falkirk
Rev. Robert Culbertfon, Leith

D
Mr

Charles Dick, Elgin

Rev. David Dickfon, Weft Church, Edin.

Rev. James Donaldfon, Edin.

Mr W. Dymock, Writer, Edin.

Mr James Dodds, Upholfterer, Edin.
Mr Alexander Davidfon, Merchant
Mr J. Davidfon, Tanner, Dumbarton
Mr H. Dunbar, Merchant, Edin.
Mr Dewar, York place
Mr J. Drummond, Manufacturer, Edin.
Divinity Hall, Edin.

Divinity Hall, Whitburn

Divinity Hall, Selkirk

Rev. Mr Douglas, Stewarton

Rev. D. Dickfon, one of the minifters of Edin.
Meff.

Mr

Denham

and Dick, Bookfellers, Edin. 1 Copies

Alex. Duncanfon, fliipowner, Alloa

Rev. Thos. Davidfon, D. D. one of the minifters of Edin*

296

U B S C R I B E R S N A ME S
'

E
Mrs

Janet ElHfon

Robert Edmondfon, Efq. Boarhllls

Rev. Mr Ellis, Saltcoats

Mr

Rev.

Eafton, Hamilton

F
Admiral
James

Sir

W.

G. Fairfax, North

Forreft, Efq. of

Caftle Street, Edin.

Commifton

Rev. Profeffor Finlayfon, Edin.

Rev. Dr Fleming, Kirkcaldy

Mr
Mr
Mr
Mr
Mr
Mr

J.

Frafer, Merchant, Leith

George

Forreft,

Brewer, Edin.

Daniel Frafer, Merchant, Glafgow

Alexander Finlay, Engraver, Glafgow

William Fergufon, Merchant, Glafgow

Jofeph Fowler, Paifley

Rev.

Mr

Forbes, Tarbat

Mr

James Ferrie, Kirkintulloch

Mr

Jofeph Fletcher, Chefter

Rev.

Rev.
Rev.

Mr
Mr
Mr

Fleming, Neilflon
French, Kilbride

Fleming, Weft Calder

Mr John Ford, Bookfeller,

Mr Robert Fergufon, near

Kirkcaldy, 2 Copies
Moffat

G
Archibald Gibfon, Efq.

W.

S.

Rev. Chriftopher Greig, Dunfermline

Rev. Mr Gray, Path-head
Rev,

Mr

Gregor, Bucclivie

Mr James Grieve, Merchant, Edin.

Mr George Gibfon, Merchant, Leith
Mr Thomas Gray, Student, Edin.
Mr Charles Gray, Edin.
Mr John Graham, Bal flack

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

297

Mr Tho. Gladftanes, Merchant, Leith

Mr Robert Galloway, Baker, Glafgow
Mr James Galloway, Baker, Glafgow
Mr Nathan Galloway, Baker, Glafgow

Mr John Grant, Hofier, Glafgow

Mr William Glafs, Upholfterer, Edin.
Mr Walter Graham, Preacher
Mr Gordon, Preacher of the Gofpel
Rev. Mr L. Glafs, Midholm
Rev. Mr James Gray, Brechin
Rev. Mr Graham, Glafgow
Rev. Mr Gardner, Bothwell
Meir. Guthrie and Tait, Edin. 6 Copies

Mifs Gibfon, Edin.

H
Tho. Henderfon, Efq. Dean of Guild, Edin.
Jofhua Heywood, Efq. Glafgow

Rev. Andrew Hunter, D. D. Profeffor of Divinity, and

one of the Miniflers of the Tron Church, Edin.

Rev.

Mr

Mr

Hall, Edin.

James Hill, Preacher, Haddingtan

Mifs Heron, St Andrew's Square, Edin.

Mr W. Harley, Merchant, Glafgow

Mr William Haftings, Student, Edin.
Mr Alexander Haftings, Edin.
Mr Peter Hewit, Baker, Edin.
Mr James Haldane, Merchant, Edin.
Mifs Helen Henderfon, Leith

Mr
Mr

Andrew Hutchefon, Town

Hamilton,

M Her,

clerk, Burntilland

Glafgow

Mr Hall, Dumbarton,
Mr Tho. Hutchifon, Glazier, Paifley
Mr John Henderfon, Merchant, Paifley
Mr Archibald Henderfon, Student of Divinity,

Crafl

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES

298

Mr

James Halliday, Dyfter,

Rev.

Rev.

Mr

Mr Harper,
Mr Hannah,

parifh of

Lanark
Strikeathrough

Henry, Preacher, Stevenfon-manfe

Mrs Andrew Hamilton, GeorgC'S

Mr

Si^^uare,

Edin.

P. Hill, Bookfeller, Edin.

Rev.

Mr
Mr
Mr

Hutton

Mr

Henderfon, Hawick

James Hatrick, Camlachie

John Henderfon, Student,

Paiflej

Tho. Hurft, Merchant, Leith

I

Rev.

Mr

Ireland, Leith, 2 Copies

Rev. Mr. Johnfton, Moffat

Mr John Johnfton, Student, Edin,

Mr John Johnfton, Biker, Leith
Mr Robert Jamiefon, Baker, Glafgow
Rev. Mr Inglis, Port Glafgow
Mr Walter Johnfton, Merchant, Banks

hill,

K
James Kerr, Efq. Greenock

Mr Keith, Fala
Rev. Mr Kay, Kinclavcn
Mr John Kelly, Student, Edin.
Mr W. Knight, Aberdeen, 6 Copies
Rev.

J.

King, Efq. Jonfton

Mrs King, of Maybank

L
Ewan Liddle, Efq. Springfield
Mr Jofeph Livingftone, Merchant, Edin,
Mr James Laing, Farmer, Dumbarton
Mr Thomas Leechman, Baker, Paifley
Mr Laurie, Student of Divinity
Mr Laidlow, Preacher of the Gofpel

Lockerby

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.
Mr
Mr

29r

Lockhart, Parliament Square Edin.

James Love, Paiiley

Rev.

Mr W. Lauder, Earlfton
Mr Livingfton, Cambufnethen

Rev.

Mr

Laurie,

Rev.

Mr

Lindfay, Auchinlek

Rev.

Abernethy

M
H.

Sir

MoncriefF,

Miniflers of the

Wellwood, Bart. D. D. one of

Weft Church, Edinburgh

John Mair, Efq. Glafgow

A. Murray, Efq. of Ayton
William Murray, Efq. of Pomaife
Rev.
Rev.
Rev.

Mr
Mr
Mr

Macknight, Edinburgh
Mitchell, late of Montrofe

M'Lauchlan, Edinburgh
Rev. John M'Diarmid, Paifley
Rev. John Mackenzie, Glafgow
Rev. George Muirhead, Dyfart
Rev. Mr M*Bride Kilmore

Mrs Captain Mackintyre, Dumbarton

Mifs M*Pherfon, Frederic Street, Edinburgh

Mr Andrew M'Kean,

Mr W.

Writing-mafter, diUo
Muir, Merchant, Glafgow

Mr M'Dougal,

Mr

Merchant, ditto
T. Mitchell, Merchant, ditto

Mr Duncan M*Pherfon, Preacher

Mr William M<Pherfon, ditto

Mr Walter Munro, ditto

Mr Peter M'Laran, ditto
Mr A. M'Ritchie, Confeflioner, Edin.
Mr Geo. Murray, Confedtioner, ditto
Mr Alex. M*Allum, Vintner, ditto
Mr Andrew Miller, Writer, ditto
Mr James Mill, Merchant, ditto
Vol. IX.

the

SUBSCRIBERS' NAME

300

Mr

Robert Menzies, Shipbuilder, Leith

Mr

William

Mr
Mr

William M'Gregor, Agent,

Miller, Merchant,

William M'Kenrick,

Glafgow
ditto

ditto

Mr Duncan M'Dou,2:al, Merchant, ditto

Mr The. Mitchell, Ropemaker, ditto
Mr Peter M^Allum, Merchant, Greenock
Mr J. M'Linton, Merchant, Dumbarton
Mr James M'Farlane, Teacher, Paifley
Mr Robert Menzies, Diftiller, ditto
Mr William M'Hayne, Clerk, ditto
Mr W. Montgomery, Teacher, ditto

Mr J.
Mr

M'Farlane, Spirit Dealer, ditto

Peter Murray, Farmer, Libbertoii

Mrs Manfon, George

Mr
Mr
Mr

Edin.

Office, ditto

George Mather, George Inn,

Millar, Farmer,

Rev.

Mr
Mr

Street,

T. Mair, Infurance

Mr

ditto

Loanhead

Menzies, Logierait

Town's Hofpital, Glafgow

Robert M'Lean, Paifley
Rev. Dr M'Gill, Glafgow
Rev. Mr M*Ewan, Badernock
Mr John M* Arthur, Student, Glafgow
Moffat,

Benjamin Mathie, Efq. Glafgow

Mr

James M'Kinzie,

ditto

Mr

James ^lorrifon. Teacher, ditto

Rev. Mr Mackinlay, Kilmarnock

Rev.

Mr
Mr

Mr

M'Farlane, Biggar

James iVl'Laren, Bookleller,

Stirling

iVI'Gregor, Paifley

Mr Donald M'Grugor, Grocer, ditto

Mr John Muir, Writer, ditto
Mr John M*Gavin Manufacturer, Paifley
Rev. John Macfarlane, Waterback

S.

SM

SUBS CRIBERS' NAMES.

Mr

James Mochrie, Colraonell

N
Mr
Mr

John Newland, Student, Edin.

Mr

James Niven, Leith

Robert Neil, Cefs

ditto

Office,

O
Rev. James Oliphant, Dumbarton

Mr
Mr
Mr

T. Ovenftone, Upholfterer, Edin.

Will. Orr, Manufaftarer, Paifley

Robert Ogle, Bookfeller, London,

25 Copies

Mr

Maurice Ogle, Bookfeller, Glafgow, 50 Copies

P
Pitcairn, Efq.

John

Edinburgh

Alex. Pitcairn, Efq. ditto

Robert Pitcairn, Efq.

ditto

Rev.

Mr

Peddie, ditto

Rev.

Mr

Pringle, Nevvcaflle

Mr
Mrs

Robert Philp, Merchant, Lelth

Purves,

York

Place,

Edinburgh

Mr Daniel Paterfon, Builder, Edin.

Mr James Porteous, Preacher, ditto
Mr Rob. Penn, Cabinetmaker, ditto
Mr Patrick Peacock, Teacher, Paillcy
Mr James Paterfon, Preacher at Carfinday
Mrs Parker, Blochiron

Mr
Mr
Mr

Geo.

Peattie, Bookfeller, Leith

Patrick Peacock, Teacher, ditto

John Paterfon, Aberdeen,

R
Rev.
Rev.

Mr
Mr

Robertfon, one of the minifiers of South Leltli

Richardfon, Kirkconnel

c 3

SUBSCRIBERS'

302

NAM ES

Rev. Jonathan Rankine, Paiiley

Rev. Mr Ritchie, Afhilftoneford
Rev. MrRoi^,

late

of Amfterdam, 2 Copies

Mr James Re id, Merchant, Edinburgh

Mr John Rofs, Preacher, ditto
Mr James Ruflel, Student of Divinity
Mr Henry Rankine, Teacher, Leith
Mr James Roger, Merchant, Glafgow
Mr John Rankin, Bookfeller, Falkirk,
Mrs A. Robertfon, Glafgow
Rev. Dr Ranken, ditto
Rev. Dr Rutherford, Muirkirk
Rev.

Rev.

Mr
Mr

Robertfon Kilmarnock
Robertfon, Slamannan

Mr

James Ramfay, Baker, Paiiley

Rev. Mr Reid, Paiiley

S
Sir John Stirling, of Glorat,

Baronet

Col. William Simpfon, Kincraig

Rev.
Rev.

Mr
Mr

SavilJe,

Edinburgh

Struthers, ditto

Rev. John

Scott,

D. D. Greenock

Mr J. Sommerville, Student, Edin.

Mr W. Sibbald, Town's Surveyor, ditto
Mr P. Scott, Jnfurance Broker, ditto
Mr Smith, Haddin's Court, ditto
Mr Will. Stevenfon, Merchant, ditto
Mr James Stewart, Student
Mr Daniel Siewart Shoemaker, ditto
Mr Wood Sinclair, Cooper, Leith
Mr T. Shoolbread, Hair-dreffer, ditto
Mr L. Simons, Surgeon, Burntifland
Mr Rob. Service, Wright, Dumbarton.
Mr Robert Stewart, Teacher, Paiiley

3 Copies

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

308

Mr W. Smith, Lafwade
Mr W. Somerville, Shaws of Tinwald, 13 Copies
Mr John Scott, Farmer Balboothie
Mr John Stiven, Bookfeller, Glafgow, 2 Copies
Mr John Scales, Writer, ditto
Mr William Scott, Bookfeller, Greenock
Mr James Smith, Kilbride
Mr R, Somers, Preacher, St Ninians
Mr Rob. ShirrefF, Merchant, Leith
Mr James Steele, Bookfeller, Glafgow
Mr Robert Stewart, Student, Paifley
Mr Matthew Sprowl, Bleacher
Rev. Mr Smart, Paiiley
Baillie

Robert Spiers, Paiiley

T
David Thomfon, Efq. Edinburgh
Rev. Dr Thomfon, one of the miniflers of Edinburgh
Rev.

W.

Thomfon, Hutchefon Town, near Glafgow

Rev. James Thomfon, Port Glafgow

Mr Will. Trotter, Upholflerer, ditto

Mr James Thomfon, Perfumer, ditto
Mr Will. Thorburn, Merchant, Leith
Mr John Thomfon, Barntiiland
Mr W. Thomfon, Merchant, Glafgow
Mr R. Turnbull, Watchmaker, Greenock
Mr K. Treafurer, Edin.
Rev.

Mr

Peter Tavlor, Ceres

Mr W. Thomfon, Wright, Edin.

Rev. Mr Thomfon, Carnock
Rev. Mr Thomfon, Leeds
Mr J. Thomfon, Clifton, by Kirkliftoa

V
Mr

Urie^ Giafaow

SUBSCRIBERS' NAMES.

S0

W
Rev.

Mr

Watfon, Biggar

Rev. Mr. Wemyfs, Burntiiland

Rev.
Rev.

Mr Watfon, Glafgow
Mr Willifon, Forgandenny

Mr C. Watfon, Cabinetmaker, Edinburgh

Mr Thomas Wardlaw, Hofier, ditto
Mr J. Wilfon, Teacher of Elocution
Mr J. Waugh, Manufacturer, Scienncs
Mr Alexander Weir, Student
Mr J. Watfon, Manufadlurer, Glafgow
Mr James Wright, Merchant, Paifley
Mr James White, Merchant, ditto
Mr James Walkingfhaw, Writer, dit^o
Mr James Wayle, Manufacturer, ditto
Mr T. Williams, Bookfeller, London, 25 Copies
Mr W. Whyte, Bookfeller, Beith, 2 Copies
Mr John Wyld, Glafgow
Rev. Mr Wilfon, Cumnock
Mr Wilfon, Merchant, Strathaven
Mr Will. Whyte, Bookfeller, Edin. 2 Copies
Mr Walker, Colleffie
Rev. Mr Williamfon, Whitehaven
Rev.

Mr James Wayle,
Mr John Whyte,

Weaver,

ditto

Candlemaker, Edin.

Y
Mr John Young, Upholfterer, Edin.
Mr William Young, Burntifland
Mr John Young, ditto
Mr Young, Glafgow
Mr Tho. Young, Molftiaugh

Pnncelon Theologicil Scmm/lry-Speei Library

1012 01149 8963