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“ Britain, the assylum of liberty, the seat of arts and sciences, the glory of Europe, and the envy of the world, will be ruined by her own ungrateful sons, and become a desart. What neither Spain nor France, nor all the world combined, could accomplish, America, the child of her own fostering, will effect. ”

“ Instead of being relieved, must a new burden be laid on her shoulders to crush her entirely? A tax for the support of American guards and garrisons must be raised somewhere; else all the labour of the last war may be lost in a moment; the colonies may be conquered by our enemies in one campaign.
What then must be done? America must be taxed. By no means, says America; I am sufficiently taxed already; the many restrictions and prohibitions, under which I labour in point of trade, are an ample tax. ”

“ It is the British legislature alone, whose close connection with all the colonies, whose thorough acquaintance with their trade and with commerce in general, is universally allowed, that is properly qualified for such an arduous task.
Thus have I shewn that the interest of both parties, of England and America, is best promoted by adhering religiously to the ancient system; that a claim of new privileges by the Americans, for they have been taxed before by our parliament, will be attended with many immediate disadvantages, and that the remote consequence will be their own ruin and slavery. ”

“ In this age all the kingdoms in Europe maintain a standing military force, which may be ready on all occasions to defend themselves, and to seize every opportunity of annoying their foes; Great-Britain therefore is obliged to keep, tho' contrary to the genius of its constitution, a large body of regular troops in constant pay: and as America must have a considerable share of these for its safeguard, on whom ought the burden of supporting them to fall, but on the Americans, to whom they prove an immediate benefit? Great-Britain is sufficiently exhausted already ”

“ It is more probable that, when they hear of the final determination of this point against them by our parliament, the weight and authority of that body, the most august in the world, will make them sit down, like the Cyder counties, quiet under their burden.
But should they be so far infatuated as to act otherwise, it is in our power to prevent any fatal consequence; the British fleet can soon bring them to reason; all their capital towns lie defenceless on the edge of the shore, and must always obey the dictates of the tremendous mouths of cannon. ”

“ America will prove a continual drain upon her industry and people, an eternal spunge to suck up her vital moisture, and leave her a dry and sapless trunk, exposed, without branches, without leaves, to the inclemency of the weather. ”

“ Europe is still the same as in seventeen hundred and fifty-five, its inhabitants are as numerous; therefore as Britons, with regard to it and America, are, for the most part, but factors, the demand for American goods must be as great, if not greater, than formerly; their value cannot be diminished, nor can the Americans be worse situated than at the commencement of the war.
It is equally idle to pretend that a tax on America must prove prejudicial to Britain. ”

“ But if, after all, the prejudices of the Americans should be so great as to make them reject all reasonable terms of accommodation, should they be so tenacious of what they call their privileges, as to be fully resolved on asserting an absolute independence on the parliament of Great Britain. ”

“ Whereas by levying the tax on the colonies, she saves a round sum of money annually; the price of her manufactures continues nearly the same, and as the wants of the colonists, cannot be much lessened, her exports are almost equally considerable; in short, the foregoing prospect is wholly inverted.
But why keep any Forces at all in America? She is sufficiently able to defend herself. Every Male above sixteen years of age is enrolled in the militia; they have arms, they are disciplined, their numbers are great, and still upon the Increase: what more is wanting for her security? ”

“ But if the latter gave rise to your disaffection, you are very ill informed, very short sighted, in not perceiving, that a general tax, for the general defence of all America, could not be raised by peace-meal, in every province separately. How could the quota of every colony be ascertained; and, if it could be ascertained, how were the colonists to be persuaded to grant it? We remember with what difficulty they were induced to advance money for their own defence in the late war, when the enemy was at their gates, when they fought pro aris & focis, for their religion and property. ”

“ Each assembly among you, forsooth, pretends to an equality with the British parliament, and allows no laws binding but those, which are imposed by itself. But mark the consequence. Every colony becomes at once an independant kingdom, and the sovereign may become, in a short time, absolute master, by playing the one against the other. ”

“ A tax for defending it must, as hinted above, be levied somewhere; either in Britain or its colonies: and nothing is more manifest than that those, on whom the tax is laid, or who advance the money, must be the only sufferers, as in all dealings between two, what is taken from the one is added to the other; it always requires some time to balance accounts, by raising the price of commodities in proportion to the tax, and to reduce every thing by the course of circulation to a level. What America loses, Britain gains ”

“ All countries, unaccustomed to taxes, are at first violently prepossessed against them, though the price, which they give for their liberty: like an ox untamed to the yoke, they show, at first, a very stubborn neck, but by degrees become docile, and yield a willing obedience. ”

“ Talk not then, of such privileges; the spirit of the British constitution could allow you none, by which you did not remain subordinate to every branch of the legislature, and consequently subordinate to parliament. The king makes but one member of the legislature, and it is self-evident he cannot give away the rights and privileges of the rest. He can grant any body of men a charter, by which they are empowered to make bye-laws for their own government, but farther his prerogative does not extend. He cannot free them from obedience to acts of parliaments. ”

“ It is well known you cannot boast of much mutual love, or christian charity; the same spirit which actuated your ancestors, and kindled the flames of civil war in this country, still reigns among you, and wants but a single spark to raise a combustion. ”

“ But who can be so well acquainted with the circumstances of the colonies in general, as the British parliament? It is composed of men very well versed in mercantile affairs, and much accustomed to the discussion of intricate questions; many of them are merchants, and merchants that trade to America and the West Indies. They are always ready to receive information from any hand, and never proceed to business of importance, till they have made the requisite inquiries. ”

“ While the colonies were under any apprehensions from the encroachments of the French and Indians, they submitted to the British legislature without reluctance; because they were sensible of their inability to defend themselves, and of the necessity of taking shelter under the wings of their mother. But no sooner were the French kites and Indian vultures scared away, than they began to strut and to claim an independent property to the dunghil. Their fear and their natural affection forsook them at one and the same time. ”

“ Are we to imagine, that they will be more forward, more lavish now, when the danger is distant, and perhaps imperceptible to the dull senses of most of them, than when it stared them in the face, and threatened immediate ruin. ”

“ Their insolence is arrived to such a pitch that they are not ashamed to assume to themselves the merit of bringing the last war but one to a period. According to them, what obliged the enemy to listen to terms of accommodation was not our success by sea, not the ruin of the French navy, not the total stagnation of their trade, not the march of the Russian auxiliaries ”

“ It is plain, too plain, excessive prosperity has rendered your heads giddy, you attempt to soar higher than your strength will carry you, than your safety will permit; it is incumbent on us, under whose care you are, to clip your wings. ”

“ Though the partizans of America, in order to throw dust in our eyes, and erect a bug-bear to the ignorant, insinuate that the colonies would, in this extremity, follow the example of the Low Countries under Philip the Second, and call in the assistance of France and Spain. There is little reason to be apprehensive on that score; for the case is by no means parrellel: the Flemings and Dutch contended for ancient established rights, which had been allowed such by their oppressors themselves; the Americans assert privileges unknown, unheard of before ”

“ Anarchy and confusion will soon prevail, were it to attempt an union; and the loss of liberty will tread fast upon their heels. For a free and extended empire on a continent are incompatible: to think they are not is a perfect solecism in politicks. ”

“ This, however, is the last argument which ought to be used; for it is always of consequence to preserve the affections of subjects, to rule them by love rather than fear: nothing but the utmost contumacy, of which, I trust in Heaven, they will never be guilty, can justify such a violent measure. ”

“ And notwithstanding the antipathy which most people have to standing armies, they have been found to be very useful; and no government, antient or modern, can be named, which was not, without their assistance, subject to bloody riots and insurrections. ”

“ The strength of the Protestants and Roman Catholicks among them, is nearly equal, and keeps them in awe of each other; but above all, the fear of being crushed by the surrounding powers in case of intestine dissensions, prevents ambitious projects, and secures the peace. ”

“ I am only afraid that you will not be blest with enough of their company; they will be obliged to live on the frontiers, in order to check the Indians, and to preserve your hairy scalps untouched; they must be constantly exposed to secret treachery, and open violence, for your ease and security ”

“ Why likewise, do'st thou not throw into the opposite scale the many millions, which we have already laid out for thy preservation, and see whether they do not make all, that we have ever drawn from thee, mount up and kick the beam. ”

“ This is the more necessary, as there can be found no similar case in all the records of history to serve as a precedent, or clew, to direct their steps; and all they can do is to grope their way by their own industry, and to employ their reason, as the only compass which can steer their course aright to this land unknown. ”

“ It cannot therefore be impertinent in any one modestly to offer his sentiments on this topick; that by the confrontation of different opinions we may strike out truth, as we do fire by the collision of flints ”