again at CHARTERS in America, (as their retained and pensioned Advocate Dr. JOHNSON says) for the sake of POWER, and they now have their Eye upon the Charters of London, for a Royal Reason,—for the sake of pursuing the Commercial-Interests of this Kingdom.
But are the PETITIONS of COMMON HALLS, or COMMON HALLS themselves, so dreadful? are the MEETINGS, (or more properely the GREAT COUNCILS,) of this METROPOLIS so terrible? are they not Meetings of MERITORIOUS Citizens and LOYAL Subjects? in both these Capacities they have ADDRESSED, and in both they have OFFENDED.
How harsh and grating is the Voice of TRUTH! how unhallowed are the Lips that dare to utter it before the THRONE! Approach it ye BRITISH SLAVES, upon the Knee; adore it with prostration, but profane it not with a PETITION! upon this Mercy Seat (alas!) the Sovereign will no more receive PETITIONS, from his FAITHFUL CITIZENS and Friends, from those who supply his WANTS, his SUPERFLUITIES, his EXTRAVAGANCIES, and his PLENTEOUS COFFERS, upon this sacred Seat he can only listen to the SYCOPHANTIC ADDRESSES of a CORRUPT and DESTRUCTIVE PARLIAMENT, those Leeches of the Realm, who so
[print edition page 133]
largely drain for their own abandaned uses, those Coffers, which his REPULSED CITIZENS so largely fill.
How like a GOD does a MONARCH look, encircled by TREACHEROUS MINIONS and RAPACIOUS FLATTERERS! How like a mere MORTAL, surrounded by Subjects MOST AFFECTIONATE, and SINCERE, who shower down at once both SUPPLIES and BLESSINGS, upon a Prince whom they HONOUR, ESTEEM, and LOVE!
But KINGS should quit the Track of MORTALS—they should disdain the little Virtues of HUMANITY! The Spirit of a Monarch should aspire at an ECCENTRIC CHARACTER, beyond the reach of MAN. This will nobly lead him not to endure, but to repell the humble Suits of his AGGRIVED SUBJECTS;—not to caress, but to detest his People;—not to sooth, conciliate, and appease; but to menace, insult, and exterminate: not to human Errors, but INHUMAN CRIMES: not to REFORMATION, but to MURDER. Not to JUSTICE, but to TYRANNY. Not to PEACE and HONOUR, but to REMORSE, HATRED, CALAMITY, RESISTANCE and the SCAFFOLD.
Let such Princes, like that unhappy Tyrant Charles the First, seek in Vain for Shelter, among the fawning Herds that idolize their Vices, for the sake of sharing their Prodigality and Profusion.
Let them try their faithful Scots, who as they have often received the Wages of CORRUPTION, will a Second Time receive the PRICE OF BLOOD.
Let them fly to the Arms of those tender Tyrants, their PRECEPTORS, who have thus carefully trained them to their IGNOMINY and RUIN from their Cradle.
Whilst they repulse a suffering and an injured Subject, let them fall for Consolation, upon the FRIENDLY Bosom of a Mansfield or a Bute.—Let them in their Frenzy fly for Succour to their CHANCELLOR,—not a York, alas!—but an Apsley, the poor SHADOW of a Mansfield.—Let them most deservedly taste all the Bitterness of Despair, and find Relief (though late) at last, in the generous CONDESCENSION and FORGIVENESS, of a DESPISED, INSULTED, and OPPRESSED PEOPLE.
[print edition page 134]
ASTONISHED then, my Lord Mansfield, not at the Humble, just PETITIONS, but at the LENITY of their PATIENT SUBJECTS, let them deliver up their MINIONS to the BLOCK, with Shame and Contrition resign the CROWN, and Sleep IGNOBLY with their Fathers; but let their INFAMY be recorded, that succeeding Princes may profit largely from such WEAK and GUILTY ANNALS.
CASCA.
N. B. The Epistle to Lord Mansfield from CASCA is received, and shall be made the Subject of our XVII Number. The Writer may depend, his Directions will upon every Occasion, be implicitly followed—The Authors of the CRISIS wish to be honoured with a private Direction, how to convey a few Papers Weekly to CASCA, for the Use of himself and Friends, as a small Tribute of Gratitude for the repeated Favours he has conferred on them. He may rest assured they never can betray PRIVATE CONFIDENCE, nor abuse the sacred Offices of Friendship.
Printed and published for the Authors, by T. W. SHAW, in Fleet-Street, opposite Anderton’s Coffee House, where Letters to the Publisher will be thankfully received.
[print edition page 135]
THE
CRISIS
| NUMBER XVI | To be continued Weekly. |
| SATURDAY, MAY 6, 1775, | [Price Two-pence Half-penny. |
—Parcere Subjectis, et debellare Superbos.1—
VIRG.
To SUPPLICATION turn a Princely ear;
Nor MURDER Subjects you have SWORN to HEAR.
THE Motto of this Paper gives a Specimen of Roman, the proceedings against America, of English Policy.—There is, and must necessarily be, a Compact, either express, or emplyed, between every Sovereign and Subject. PROTECTION and OBEDIENCE are the mutual Stipulations, if the ONE is WITHDRAWN, the OTHER CEASES. Now, PROTECTION is certainly withdrawn, when Subjects, guilty of no HOSTILE, or REBELLIOUS Act, (I defy
[print edition page 136]
the Ministry to prove one against them) are nevertheless treated (like the Americans) as ENEMIES and REBELS. Administration, most falsely and audaciously, stigmatize them with the Name of REBELS, merely to colour their own base Designs, and UNJUSTIFIABE HOSTILITIES against their Fellow-Subjects; in whom they discern an odious Spirit of LIBERTY, which sets (for them) a DANGEROUS EXAMPLE to the Mother Country. The NOBLE FLAME is dying HERE, and it would be fatal to Ministerial designs, that it should be cherished in any Part of our Dominions.
The SPIRITED AMERICANS feel this Truth, they foresee, and wisely guard against the Danger. They have convened, and consulted for the PUBLIC SAFETY, like TRUE BRITONS. What then? Is such a national, political Congress, a traiterous Association? At SUCH a Time too, and in SUCH a Cause? Is the Situation and Circumstances of America (a NATION in point of Territory and Numbers) to be compared to that of Truro (a rotten Borough) in Cornwall? Buffoonery in serious Cases, Doctor Johnson, dishonours human Nature, and degrades human Understanding. Not even the Example of your Master, Doctor, who played Falstaff, after he had deluded a late unhappy LORD CHANCELOR of England into Suicide, can sanctify dramatic Pleasantry, at the Expence of LIFE, LIBERTY, PROPERTY, and a whole COUNTRY.2
“Kill the next Piercy yourself,” my Lord, is a species of Drollery, in a Case of BLOOD, unworthy even of a Hackney Writer; as to you, Doctor Johnson,—I do not expect you will write HONESTLY, but write Sensibly. Treat Subjects, (which might Affect even the Humanity of a
[print edition page 137]
Scotchman) no more ludicrously, indecently, unfeelingly, and abandonly.3—With your leave, Doctor, I once more call America a NATION, and a great NATION; too far distant from her Mother Country, to receive from her either immediate, or timely Assistance on any sudden foreign Attack, SHE must, in such a Case, find Succour within herself, or PERISH. And shall SHE, whose ABILITIES we do not know, whose Country, on an emergency, we cannot Defend, shall SHE be denied the BRITISH RIGHT of Representation in our Parliament, if SHE must be TAXED by our Parliament: suppose it will not avail her, if she had it, and she would, notwithstanding, be borne down and overwhelmed (as Doctor Johnson tells us) by a Majority of CORRUPT VOICES: yet, let her have the Pleasure of seeing the UNCLEAN Hands, if not the TRAITEROUS HEARTS, of those by whom she is to FALL.—It is her BIRTHRIGHT.—Shall SHE, so situated, so circumstanced, be denied the INHERENT PRIVILEGE, that INDUBITABLE RIGHT, of MEETING, CONSULTING, and RESOLVING for herself, at all Times, much less when we have wantonly assailed her? Is this REBELLION, let me cooly ask, Who was the first Agressor? Did we first consult, resolve, nay, act against America, or America against us? Here Administration must be dumb.
If UNWARRANTABLE OPPRESSION may be RESISTED, upon Revolution Principles, the Tye between England and America, is actually dissolved, our PROTECTION is withdrawn,