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*%K**^^*\^*H^^'^^^-- i
DIALOGUES
IN THE
SHADE S,
BETWEEN
GENERAL WOLFE,
GENERAL MONTGOMERY,
DAVID HUME,
GEORGE GRENVILLE,
AND
CHARLES TOWNSHEND.
^■
LONDON:
Printed for G. KEARSLEY, N*46,
^ IN Fleet Street.
M«DCC.).XXVII. •
. I
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TO
/
Sir GEORGE SAVILE,
I INSCRIBE the diftates of
a philanthropy unbiafled by
party prejudices and free from
revengeful paflion, to the lover
df juftice and peace, to the true
patriot, and the eitcellent citizen, in
order that his moft honoured name
may be the voucher of my good
intention^ and for the particular
fatif-
4
fatisfaftion that an upright heart
feels in paying a due homage to
exalted virtue.
- -.-t-
,.■... , . ' '-iy
lam,
With great relpeft,
. ■ ' ,• ' ' '
S I R,
. Your molt humble fervant,
The author.
DIALOGUE L
SETWEEM
GENERAL WOLFE,
GENERAL MONTGOMERY,
AMD
DAVID HUME.
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D I A L O G U E i.
B£ T WEEN
ft
OENERAL WOLf^E,
GENERAL MONTGOltfEKt,
A WD
QAVID HUME. .
MONTGOMEftY.-^
IT is m huppythimcibf mt^ Win
Wolfe, w fiftd yoa saiWKe ill* tSft
folltary walk, fince I may, without
being interrupted, expatiate with you
Vii the uftjxrft cofitempt you hive ihewn
[ 4 ]
nic from the day of my arrival in this
delightful place : a treatment which 111
becomes your noble and patriotic foul.
WOLFE.
Do you claim in your behalf the
yery fentiment which excites my indig-
nation againft you ?
MONTGOMERY.
What can you charge me with?
Have I not, with a courage as undaunt-
ed as yours, encountered an honourable
death on the fame (pot where you glo-*
viouiQy fell» and which, though ren-
dered famous by your vidtory, cannot
be difgraced by my defeat.
Far be it from enlightened ibuls to
J^dgp
r 5 1
jiidgc of true valour according to ^oc^'
or ill fucccfs. No, the only difference *
between you and me is in the caofe for '
'which we fought.
'V MONTGOMERY,
Was the injury you avenged by tor- :
rents of blood of fo black a dye, that :.
nothing lefi would have wa(bed it oflf?
I thought that the ground of the quar-
rel you deem fo righteous, was only
fojne breaches of ancient treaties, which
fcarcely deferved the name of trefpaflcs.
WOLFE. ' '
Since you provoke me thus, I fhall
tell you in plain words, that I was the
champion of my country againft its na-
tural and inveterate enemy, the French;
and that you Aave been the leader of '
A3 feditious
iiidmoiis men, who revolted, againft ;!
jwpte IP whprp ttey wcr^ bound hy the
mpft fgcred tie pf^lial duty*
MONTGOMERY.
There are fo few inftances recorded
in the annal9 of mankind, to prove that
j)areAtai teiidemefs and filial love pre*
ponderate over felf-intereft in private
individuals, that it was not worth while
to employ the abfurd metaphor of the
Motber Country^ to enforce fentiments,
"which ^ould not be fo emphatically re*
lated, and fo much admired, if they
were common in the literal fcnfe of the
image. But, fuppofmg that nature
works mpre effeAually than (he gene-
rally doe$ upon the hearts o^ parents
^nd.childieni arc no( the inftrumeni^
fht
l\ r }
mid • long hibk? ^ ,
WOlPfi.
I fee you pretend, that the affiMty'
between a colony and the nation wh^hce '
it came, is like that which k fbtim! ihf
the brute creation, s^nd fubfides W^ii *
the weaknefs of early life ceafcs. HaVe'
you no faith either in friendfli^ 6r vit
alliance?
MONTGOMERY. .
Friendlhip (lands in the ikme predk ^
cament with filial duty in refpeA t6 us- ^
tions, for this fentiment is raifed in the '
human heart by the fame meahs \ ex-
cept, that not poffefllng the mind fo
foon, it admits and requires the iAiVllh ^
encc of rcafon and jwdgmentp i^hich, ,
A 4 (liu
[ 8 ]
llfll le(s than a blind partiiatky-» cannot-
operate on men feparated at a great*
diftance, and who hardly think upon
each other's exiftence in the whole
courfe of their lives. As to alliance^ I
acknowledge it a tie, and perhaps the
only one binding among men ; for it is
founded on mutual advantages, and al-
lowed to be difiblved when the balance
of thefe advantages inclines too much
on either fide. On this plan has been
railed the fabric of every government :
the multitude have (aid to one or to a
few, •• We will obey and honour you^
provided that you never mifufe the
power we are willing to grant you,
in order to fupport the dignity of
your ftations ; but obferve, to con-
** du£^ us and yourfelves according to
** the conftitutioiial laws we haveunani*''
" moufly
Ci
«c
<(
<i
I $ ]
*^ inou% approved ; if ever you. turn
*^ aftde from that facred ftandard, you
'* are no more our leaders, jput our
" greatcft enemies.'*
WOLFE.
Ah, ah, would you have Ipokenr
thus to an Afiatic prince, or even ta
fome European monarchs i
MONTGOMERY.
I fhould, undoubtedly, have had the
right, though perhaps not the courage,
to do it. But, as a reputed fubjedt ta
the Englifli government, I was not de-
bafed by flavery; I durft fpeak and
even arm in defence of Liberty.
WOLFE.
Oht moft facred word, how much
haft thou been prophaned in every age
* by
I '• 3
by turbulent or ^cfigiung tneii^ who^
claim (be bteffing tbou cxprdfeft with
deceitful Qghs, lyhik their hoaits are
bent upon deftroying it, either by aiw '
chy or defpotifnri ! _
MONTGOMERY.
* I refufc not to hear your virulent
apoftrophes, provided you give a fair
Rearing t€^ n)y meek argument^. >
WOLFE.
Forbear, if you think to impoTe up»
oft me by a Cant which cannot fervc
your turn but with fools. Stand firm,
if you can, on the ground of good
fenfe ; and expeft not to find me ig-
norant of the tr4nfaAion$ that have
have paflcd fincc I left the earth, for
here we have daily accounts of them, r
. V. * MONT-
C r« ]
MONTGOMERY.
On tbb is founded my hpp^ of con^
vincing yo»; lince you cannot but
know, that if our ancient prepofleffion^
are left us as a punifhment for them, we
are, neverthekfs, above uttering a vo-
luntary falfliood. Thus the fafts I
fliall alledge in favour of my caufe, be-
ing attefted by the moil partial (hades
of the oppofite party, you (hall have no
other trouble than that of judging if
my inferences arc right or wrong. As
to your fear of being tired with tlic'
jargon of an enthu6aft, I doubt not ta
remove it by a fimple q\^cftion. Do
you believ^ that your foldiers would ,
have fought as couragioufly as they did,,
if juft before the battleyou had gone from '
rank to rank, explaining to them the
uuc motives of your valour, and laid*
*• Here,
((
cc
cc
»
I
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ftC
il
[ '2 I
Here, my friends, we are to fupport^
at the hazard of our lives, ibme m-
tercft of commerce and tile glory of
our arms againft men who have the
very fame reafons to fight againfl: us,
and who, upon the whole, are neither
better nor worfe than ourfelves. Be-
lieve not the abfurdities related in
regard to the perfons, fentiments, and
defign of the French, but attack
them^ fpurred only by honour and a
patriotic jealoufy of fame i **
WOLFE.
I confefs that this harangue would
have been very prepofterous and inv
prudent.
MONTGOMERY.
Such has been always the cafe with
every
if
[ 13 ]
rvery general, chief, and even legifla-
ior: they knew, that common ibu}s
muft be moved by fprings lefs refined
than thofe which put heroic ones in
a&ion,^ and they dealt with them ac-
cordingly. Thus the generality of the
Roman warriors were urged to the con-
quefl: of the world from a prepoflefilon
that a man's head, which they found bu-
ried in the earth at the building of their
Capitol, was an infallible predidion of
their fuccefs. Thus your (bldiers want^
ed their prejudices againft the French^
and their terror of Popery, to conquen
and thus my Americans need all the
enthufiafm of a zealous feft to aflert
their rights.
vi
.-N'
WOLFE-
k*
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DfOLFE.
fiUtnber of ttttiie rights of cFaims.
i.x
di
MONTGOMERT.
: C&taixdy k 1% not for the Americans
^nfyp but ftlfo for 9U naii^ts wh^tltl-
(cyfrt for aslong. a^ the l%ws to which
4he/ have confeased hold the fway^ ^
ithey ought to do^. they arc not depeti-
dijeiic upORtanyotha: will butthdr own^
JMid when ch^fe laws yield to ufvirp^
^$101^ chcf are at fuU liber^ to chopip
ibme better defence againft the like
juvcroachmenoi^ and to rarfue by force
j^^t is denied, to reaibn. ^ Has not th^i
4xen always the opinion of free-bori)
,£ngliihmeni ^
.a
•4/.-
WOLFE.
i Mumw tniii miw
t i5 ]
: l^ts t> bvtt wife intsiiH in gcneiil^ albwr
femetfi^ to- circiimft4itce6 : they fyacf
ti6 wrdfigs wbei^ thm site nontf v fti^
^itk)ve iifi) mth noc at ]iiiq>attbiiitie9»
^¥ollr liafeiis for your nqpcare wkh
£i%iiiftit^ I jm wiitiRg to kesr 1^ mi
by ; t^ left Hiite tto^ tf in breaking
your ancient confie&ion. (I will not fay
in fhakingofFyour allegiancx), you pan
res^onabiy exped to remain a free peo-
ple amidft fb many^enterpfizingiieijgbr
]bour$?
MONTIiaMEEY. f
Tkeic ^no choice lit tyfantsr. Ant
tfae chains of a people lifter ht being
impo&d upon them by a. xnrrmpid S^
mtii Ihiliii d»y wouM be by an arii^
irm^Mlmarthf. bnoiii atleaft, iliec^
4 mat
[ i6 3
*
tnal profped of future evils more
bounded^ when the power of infliAing
them lies in the hand of a (ingle wick^
€d man, who may be fucc^eded Jsy a
righteous one, than, when many are
^prompted by bafe intereft to opr ruin,
md leave their nufchievou$ venality a^
an inhentance to their fucoeflbrs j •
*
WOLFE. '^^
Mow dare you Ipeak thus before me?
"Who, well knowinjg that the beft abfo-
lute monarchy is to our happy fyffem
of equally balanced powers, what a tree
blailed'from its root is to another rotten
t)nly in fome of its branches, have la-
Tifhed my blood to prefer ve you from
falling into a ftate of flavery^ inot lefs
jnfupportable to a noble mind fOr being
•cafualiy fofcened No, I foqght not
.a;, a ^ fof
for ^ory only, as you arc willing to
infinuate I did^ to rob me of the moft
exalted virtue. Such an empty defirc
had not firength enough to roufe me
from the lethargy of death, when morr
tally wounded and juft expiring at the
foot of a tree, I exulted at the news of
a viftory bought at the price of my life;
it was benevolence that raifed my tranf-
port and gave me a momentary anima-
tion 5 a benevolence which I relqdtantly
-denied to the brave Montcalme, then my
adverfary and now my intimate friend,
although he deferved it better than your
Americans, for whom I exerted it to the
laft: ungrateful men !
MONTGOMERY.
Be appeafed ; we may deny that we
were the qaufe of the war which has
B
ju:ily
I »8 ]
juftly immortalized your name, with-,
out arraigning the private fentiments
by which a generous warrior may be
aftuated, even in following the orders
of unfeeling and artful politicians ; and
affure yourfelf, we retain a due fenfe of
the obligation we owe you. My eager-
nefs for being juftified in your mind, is
not a fmall proof of my veneration for
your heroic and focial virtues. But
fince you require a fatisfaftory anfwer
to your laft interrogation, know, that
our hope of becoming a free people in
the full extent of the word, feems to us
not fo deftitute of probability as you
think it. True, we cannot attain that
defirable end without infinite difEculties :
like the Ruffians, who, emerging from
ignorance and rufticity, have beeri en-
abled to raife a formidable empire by
many
[ ^9 ]
many ihameful defeats, we muft ac-
quire the military art with the pureft of
X)ur blood; but then, our dearly- bought
abilities (hall be employed againfl: any
one of the nations that might attempt
to enflave us, with as much fervency as
we had reludance to turn our natural,
but uncUfciplined, valour againfl: our
^hcient allies. - . . ,
WOLFE.
I thought.no being, but animals of
..prey, could' look upon a ftate of per-
petual warfare without horror.
MONTGOMERY.
Unhappily you are niifl:aken:
ftrength will always prevail over jufliicc
among mankind, and confequently a
country mufl: now, as formerly, build
B 1
Its
[ 20 ]
its freedom upon the bafis of wat
Thefe are undeniable though melan-
choly truths ; and the Americans, in
ivhofe name I Ipeak, have been made
.fo fenfible of them, that they are re-
solved never to toil for oppreflbrs, but
to fubftitute a martial ardour to an ac-
tive induftry ; for the tax of blood*
>vhich war impofes, falls equally on the
two adverfe parties.
WOLFE.
No, not always fo.; for, as you have
juftly obferved, ^ome ingredients are to
be added to courage, without which the
.moft obftinate refiijUnce muft b^, at la(^
iubdued.
MONTGOMERY.
2ut, wfaat can compdl the heart i
What
I ?r T
What can force a people to bear
Kimely their chains, when opportuitity
prefents itfelf for (hewing the abhor*
rence of them,, and for renewing a juft
war r
•
WOLFE.
Here is David Hums, who has ana-^
lyfed the human mind, and who comes
very fcafonably to anfwcr you.
HUME*
Who makes this peaceful abode re-
ibund with the odious word of war ?
Ah ! is it you noble Wolfe and brave
Montgomery, who give a frefli in-
ftance of the fatal power of prejudices,
which, alas ! fubfide not by death, but
continue to alarm the foul even in its
ftate of quiet.
B 3 ' MONT.
/
[ 22 J
MONTGOMERY.
Have you not need, David, of that
pity you bcftow upon us ?
HUME. ,
® As here the chaftifement is adequate
to the guilt, I muft be more unhappy
than both of you. You miftook paf-
fionate prepoflefllons for equitable fen-
timents-, you afted accordingly, and are
punifhed only by the continuation of
your blindnefs. It is not the fame with
me. I dared to face Truth in all its
fplendor; and with its bright torch I
traced the dark fteps of men's errors
from age to age : I could not confe-
quently be feduced by fhallow ambition,
nor over-perfuaded by infignificant in-
tereft, much lefs deceived by vain fac-
tions j but I fuffcred myfelf to bt
«. - know-
C ^3 T
knowingly mifled by thefe bad guides;
and the pcrfpicacity with which I was
endued is increafed to that pointy now
I cannot, though willingly, cover my
former faults with t;he leaft (hadow of
excufe. You difpute with each other, >
and ftill have the confolation of think-
ing yourfelves in the right ; I arraign
myfelf, and always conclude that I v/as
in the wrong. In vain I feek for tran-
quillity in the afylums of philofophy
which I have pointed out to mankind ;•
cither I mifs the plain road that leads
t6 them, by the remembrance of ths
crooked politics in which I imprudent-
ly wandered •, or I miflake the beauti-
ful flowers which adorn them, for tlje
thorns every where planted in the mi-
niftcrial cabinet. I no more admire the
fortitude of the ftoic philofophcr in the
B 4, nil. id-
i H ]
midft of accidental acute pains/ andP
voluntary aufterities, when I rcflcft o»
the conftancv with whfch the chief
m
leader of a ftate fufFers the mortifica-
tion of difappointment, the (harpnefs of
public reproaches, and willingly expofes
himfelf to violent pertubations and
never-ceafing trouble of mind. I am
even fo far difgufted with my favourite
Epicurean fyftem, for the confufion I
feel at having awhile forfaken it, that,
in order to be rid of myfelf, I often
mix with the multitude, whofe fenlelef^
agitations I cannot help envying.
WOLFE.
After this account of your fituation,
we may, without encroaching on your
fublimc thoughts, take you for our
judge
I ^5 ]
Judge ill a difputq that has> arifen be-
tween Montgomery and me, about
our refpe<5live dcath3^ He pretends^
that he fell in a caufe no lefs juft, and
honourable, than that for which 1 joy-
fully fpilled the laft drop of my blood.
But, though he has fpoken with great
vehemence, and not without truth, on:
the topic of liberty in general, he knows,
that I cannot give up the con tefted point,
till he enters into particulars, and makes
an exaft application of his principles to^
the prefent rebellion of his Americans, '
MONTGOMERY.
This will not be a difficult ta(k.
HUME.
Not fo eafy, in my judgment, as you
imagine.
X MONT-
r -6 1
MONTGOMERX '
How! have you not told us, that?
you were free ffom all kind of pre-
poflcflions^
HUME.
Be not fo hafty, Montgomery: It
is not my intention to give the pre-
ference over you to any warrior what-
ever: if I defy you to apologize for the
American war, it is becaul'e in the eyes of
reafon, war in general is not only unjufti-
fiable, but alfo the ignominy of mankind -,,
and becaufe a conqueror decked with the
laurels of v^ftory has no more real claim
to glory, than he whofe hope has bten
rejefted by fortune, and on whofe ncg-
lefted corpfc fall only the tears of difap-
pointed friends.
WOLFE,
re*
f ^7 !
WOLFE.
"What a ftrange paradox is thisf
But I will contain the indignation it
raifes in my foul, and hear the reafons
you have to alledge in fupport of it.
HUME.
Allow me, firft, that ingratitude and'
Infamy are taken by a generous mind
for fynonymous words.
MONTGOMERY-
Who doubts of it ?
HUME.
Thofc doubt it, who caufe benevo^-
lent nature co be accufed of injuftice and
parfimony, by over-running the earth
under the ftandard of envy and avarice,
to fpoil other countries of produftions
often not fo valuable as thofe of their
* own*
I *8 3 . ;
own, and always infinitely lefs adapretf
to their wants ; for this ingratitude, be-
ing the origin g( contentions among the*
}iuman fpecies,, war is branded with in»
famy. -^
WOLFR
'If yoU oblige every people to be <ion^
tented with the produftions of their na*^
tive fpot, you take from them animat*
ing variety, beneficent luxury, and at
the fame time all the arts and fciences,.
by which the focial tie has been extended
to the whole circumference of the worlds
HUME,
I Ihould take nothing from them, if,
by continuing their natural horror for
tlood, and by following their innate
inclination for quiet, they were to fub-
llicutc
■ I ^^ 3
Slitute for reciprocal rapines and niur-
vders, the univcrfal benefit of peaceful
.<;ommercc.
MONTGOMERY. >
Then would no taxes be arbitrarMy
impofed upon induftry ? and the fruits
of labour would be reaped by the
» hands that want has fet to work?
HUME,
JSood Montgomery, no taxes at
all; and it would be worthy of this
enlightened age if all nations fhould
agree on this. plan of a pi^ific exchange*
, Thus the refpeftivc gifts they have
received would be» as they were intend-
, ed^ the means of their prefervation and
enjoyment i inftead of being, as they
are.
E 3P }
.-are, the caufe of their deftruAion and
piifery.
WOLFE;
But fuppofing mankind wife enough
to agree in this defign^ and afterwards
fome people to oppofe it with invin-
cible obftinacy and determined malice^
would not a war be juft againft thefe en«
mies of the general good ?
HUME.
At leaft this fentence {hould not b^
j)afled in the dark councils of ambition
.andintereft,
WOLFE.
A genenfl, ^ho is ordered by his
j)rince or country to command the exe-
cutioners of this fentence, is feldom
called to the councils you mention, and
con-
•c<Jnfcqtiently is innocent of their irii-
*quity.
HUME.
if he is a man of a generous difpofi-
tion, care will be taken to keep him in
that ignorance, which is not imputed as
a crime by the Power who judges the
^cart. Thus, although the refpeftive
-caul'e, in defence of which you loft your
diives, are thought to be unjuft, the one
by the French, and the other by the
Engliih, you are both in thefe delight-
ful fields. But, in yonder dark valley,
are thofe who knowingly fought for in-
jufticc with all the perverfity of cor-
rupted nature. There groan thefe
ivicked men, who have forced a yield-
ring people to abhor the Englifli name,
ft for
I 3^ )
4or which they were fo favourafely pre-
pofleflcd, that they willingly proffered
all the precious materials of a mofl:
luxuriant foil in exchange for infignifi-
<:ant trifles, and would have continued
ito enrich England, if thefc thirfty mon-
ilers had not, by fraud, flaughter, and
rdefolation, almoft dried up the fources
of thefe treaiures, and at the fame time
raifed over their own heads mountains
«f guilt, to efcape which they have vaia-
iy haftened to this phice.
MONTGOMERY.
. Oh ! let them be crulhed for ever
^iiwder the weight of remorfe, fince th^
*are the principal caufe of the American
misfortune ! fmce their depredations in
.that ri^h country have turned the eyes
•sof avarice upon our poor land, and ex«
7 pofed
I 33 )
|)ored our hard-acquired pofleifions to
the perfecuting eagernefs that a fpont^-
4ieous wealth inipires.
HUME,
There is feme foundation for this
complaint: however, I advife Wolf^
•to beware of pailionate exclamations,
and to hear the arguments urged on
both fides with coolnefs ; for fince he
cannot be. prejudiced in the American
caufe, this method of clearing it to fatif-
faftion is the beft I can recommend :
confequently George Ghenvjlle is
the propereft opponent to Montgo-
mery.
WOLFE.
1 would not willingly give oflfence to
C my
[ 34 1
^niy advcrfary, by afking him to beat
the prefence of the very man, who is
deemed the firft author of his wrongs. '
MONTGOMERY.
Would to Heaven all the enemies
of the Americans were here to oppofe
me! '
HUME.
This is a truly patriotic wifli ! How
far its accomplifliment could he recon-
ciled with juftice, is more than I am
willing to take the trouble to difcu&.
Adieu.
MONTGOMERY.
This furmife favours of the Scotch
policy, and this indolence comes from
4 the
[ 35 ]
the felfifhnefs breathed in the Epicurean
bowers. Oh ! let me exclsdm with yoH
againft the fatal power cf pryudias%
fince the mod exalted fouls, notwith-
{landing their juft pretenfions, are n<^»
entirely, exempt from them.
End of the Fiilit DiAipQxfB.
C 2
DIALOGUE II.
BETWEEN
GENERAL WOLFE,
GENERAL MONTGOMERY,
AND
GEORGE GRENVILLE.
C3
t /
tftm
DIALOGUE IL
BETWEEN
GENERAL WOLFE,
GENERAL MONTGOMERY,
< AND
GEORGE GRENVILLE.
WOLFE.
I Have, according to your defire, pre-
vailed upon George Grenville to
join us in this pleafing arbour : but let
me entreat you to be lefs pafllonatc
with bim than you were with Hume,
C4 or;
[4a }
•r, at leaf!:, to avoid giving perfonal
offence.
MONTGOMERY.
Although paflion and animofities cai>
be of no danger here, I will endeavour
to obey your injundion^; for it is con-
fiftent with reafon that I Ihould bear with
the prepoffeflions of an adverfary who
is to bear with mine. This was not the
cafe with a philofopher, who boafted of
an impartiality founded on t;he moft en-
lightened underftanding.
WOLFE.
By doubting of the juftice of your
caufe, he had not taken part againft it.
MONTGOMERY.
Yes, he had ; I think him to be a man
initiated in the iniquitous plot intended
ft ' for
•\
lal
ir
la
r +« r
for our ruin; and who knows the fulJ'
extent of our wrongs and rights, fincche
praifed the fpirited condud of Hamp-*
DEM, under an opprefiion infinitely lefs
flagrant than thofe to which we have
been condemned,
WOLFE.
There is Grenville j let us pro-
ceed with fome method.
MONTGOMERY.
Let me aflc him in what light he
views the Americans.
grenville;
Now, as rebels and enemies 5 former^
ty, as fubjefts and friends.
MONTGOMERY. .
Subjedts ! to what power ? Friends f
to whom ?
G R E N-
[ 42 3
GRENVILLE,
Subjeas to the laws of England;,
friends to the Engliih people.
MONTGOMERY.
So we are ftill. We defire nothing
clfe but to fee thefe Jaws in force •, we
love none better than thofe who adhere
to them.
GRENVILLE.
Idle words! fuggefted to you by
ambitious men, who oppofe what they
call bad meafures to get at the power of
fupporting worfe ; but whofc feditious
harangues would be mere found, if they
were not echoed in the ears of thofe
who want judgment todifcern their art-
ful proceeding, and who plunge them-
fdves into the gulph of irretrievable
- ruin,
Idf
[ 43 ]
rub, while the cool incendLJes ad-
vance and retreat at pleafure. Yes» the
greater number of thefe champions of
liberty aim at nothing elfe but at be-
coming tyrants in their turn, well know-
ing, that they may afterwards wafll ofF
the odious ftain of this name in torrents
of eloquence, perverfely applied to fup-
pofed grievances and unfelt complaints.
Thus the Minifter whofe head is to-day
devoted to the block, by the blind mul-
titude^ may be to-morrow their idol,
while they themfelves continue the vic-
tims of their own infatuation.
MONTGOMERY.
Such recantation of errors will no(
be a reproach to your memory.
1
GREN-
[ 44 ]
GRENVILLE.
No ; becaufe the confcioufnels of aft*
ihg confiftently with juftice direfted all
my fteps when I was in power, and
proved fo great a comfort to me in my
private ftation, that I would not have
exchanged it for the fovereignty of the
world.
MONTGOMERY.
Was it juftice to tax the Americans
without their confent ? to deprive them
of the benefits arifing from a conftitu-
tion by which they were bound to Eng-
land ? on account of which they were
proud of their fubjeftion.
^ GRENVILLE.
What hinderai you from propofing
to have your reprefentatives in parlia-
ment i
MONT^
aft.
all
and
my
lave^
the
[ 45 1
MONTGOMERY.
'We were deterred from this thought,
•not, perhaps, fa much by the difficulty
of warning our reprefentatives againft
dangerous . meafures and uncommon
emergencies, as by a juft reluftancc
againft expofing fo many honeft and
fimple men to learn treachery and cor-
ruption. AVe dreaded the humiliation
of being obliged to envy the condition
of thofe people who are deemed flave^,
but whofe honour fcreens itfelf behind
the Coloflus of Defpotifm ; who, at
leaft, are opprefled without being de-
rided, and plunderedof half their proper-
ty, without being obliged to venture the
other half for the mummery of being
To treated, legally.
WOLFE,
f 46 ]
WOLFE.
Thefe are odious comparifons, and
injurious declamations to no purpofc*
Were you arbitrarily taxed without
having provoked the Ejnglifh govern-
ment to fuch a ftretch of power ? You
were, in my time, thought the beft
judges of your own abilities, and confe-
qiiently left at liberty to agree among
yourfelves on the propereft method of
paying yoiu* fhare towards the public
charges.
MONTGOMERY.
That is to fay, we were then allowed
to be Englifhmen, and as fuch cpnfi-
dered as a party in the beft fecial con-
traS: that ever was made among man-
kind. But, alas! it is not the fame
with us now ! America has been fpurn-
I 47 ]
td from that happy inclofure of whok-
fome laws in which Ihe ftood united
with England. My opponent here has
oinfortunately imitated the Firft Appius
Claudius, whofe inflexible chara&cr and
niiftaken notion of intereft and dignity
forced a part of the Roman people to
-defert their countrymen, and to plant on
the facred mount the ftandard of juft
refiftance ; he has, like him, unchained
the Hydra of Civil Diflentions, which
fooner or later devours both contending
parties, defolates the moft flourilhing
empires, and fcarcely leaves any traces
of their former exiftence.
GRENVILLE,
It was not the fever ity of the prudent
Appius which occafioned thefe calami-
nes you mention, but the indulgence of
fonie
[ 48 1
rfdmc inconfiderate fenatofs, who, com-
plying with the unjuft demands of the
rebels, permitted them to have their
rown Magiftrates : thence arofe an hurt-
ful power by which the legal authority
-of the Republic was infenfibly invaded :
thence a wife fenate was often infulted
. and prepared for dedrudtion by feditious
: men, who, under the name of Tribunes,
or defenders of the people, were always
the promoters and chiefs of thofe re-
volts and civil wars, to which the ruin
^ of the Roman empire is juftly afcribed
WOLFE.
But what particular reafons had you,
good Grenville, for taxing the Ame-
xicans ?
GRENVILLR
I found that the regulations of com-
merce
i 49 1
hierce were malicioufly eluded by them;
dnd, as it was on account of the advan-
tagcs we expefted from trading with the
Colonies, that they were freed from
the taxes impofed upon the generality
of Englilh fubjefts, I thought thatj^
fince they not only deprived us of thefe
advantages, but alfo beftowed them
upon our enemies, they were no more
irititled to privileges and favours from
us.
MONTGOMERY.
It has been obferved, that thofe who
aim at ufurping the fovereignty over a
free people, have always the words, re^
gulation, order, and legal authority in
their mouth, and branding their oppo-
fers with the name of abettors of dif-
orders, anarchy, and rebellion. It is
D »^ alfo
I 50 ]
alfo known, that all dark attempts
upon the long enjoyed iiberties of t
people are of the moft dangerous na^
ture ; fince even barefaced delpotifm
has limits which cannot be pafled with-
out the immediate ruin of the rafti ty-
irant
GRENVILLE.
This is the new language of the
Americans, but the fentiments it half
exprefles have been always in their
hearth 5 for the founders of the Colonies
carried over the pretended enthufiafm
for liberty of the hypocrite Crom-
well.
MONTGOMERY.
Why do you not fay in plain words,
like the other partifans of opprefTion,
3 that
i St ]
^ thefc firft CoioiMfts were the di-egs
of a fanatic party, Whofe chief had
dared to teach mankind that the fWbrd
is the laft argument of an injured peo-
ple, and the beft leflbn of unjuft Mo^
narchs? Are you afraid of fome ani-
madverfions on the imprudence of
having provoked ^ race animated by
fuch f'"^:timents ?
WOLFE.
I did not expedt that our meeting
would be produdlive of thefe violent
altercations. Let us leave this ofFenfive
way of fupporting different opinions
in the poffedion of the living, and by
amicable arguments prove ourfelves
worthy of this blefled abode.
MONTGOMERY.
I am all paffive 6bediehce j and will
r
D 2
evci\
[ p 3
even praifc the ingenuity of an Englifli
writer who has juft now difcovered,
'* tha: Kings are not only of divine infti-
tuticn, but aifo veiled with an abfolute
power over the liberties, properties^
and lives of 4heirfubjedbs; who, inftead
of complaining when he takes from
them fome, or the greateft part, of thefc
bleflings, fhould be thankful for the
remainder."
WOLFE.
It is undoubtedly the foil of Bedlam
that has produced fuch abfurdities.
GRENVILLE.
It is a real misfortune for honcft men,
who are confcious of fupporting a good
caufe, to fee it thus difgraccd by im-
pertinence and folly,
WOLFE.
E 53 I
WOLFE.
TKey muft not then truft its defence
t® mercenary writers, who, like auxi-
liary troops, fight not for glory, care
not for fuccefs, and fear notdifhonour*,
but prompted only by a baft intercfty
either perfidioufly defert the field, or
extravagantly advance, without once re-
fiedling o.i the embarraffment and con-
fufion into which they may throw theic
employers.
GRENVrLLE.
But a ftatefman, who has bellowed
many days and nights of profound me-
ditation upon an ufeful fyftem, is not
anfwerable for the errors and mifchiefs
that wicked nefs and want of confidera^-
lion may draw from it.
D3
MONT-
I $4 3
MONTGOMERY.
He cannot be entirely deemed guilt-
lefs of them, who, by being too in-
tent on political prolpefts, has loft
light of hurpanity; and when in his cal-
culations he has neglefted the rules of
juftice. O Grenville! if you had
viewed the Americans with impartial
eyes, you would not have conlidered
them as the d^fcendants of miierable
outcafts, who had become by the
bounties of England a flouriihing) and
ungrateful, people. Their fo much
defpifed anceftors would have appeared
to you a fct of refolute and induftrious
nien, who intrepidly penetrated into a
dreadful wildernefs to fight with lavage
monfters, and to ftruggle againft a
barren foil. A look on Pennfylvania
would have raifed in you (as it does in
all
C 55 ]
aM civilized mankind) the remei^brance
of the golden age. The whole afped
of a country unhappily expofed to the
baneful influence of the North, fatally
doocped to be the Hril fcene of war in
every European contention, pleads in
favour of its inhabitants, whofe cou-
rage, induftry, and fiercenefs had over-
come all thefe difficulties, and deferved
not to be checked in an undertaking.
Lie profit of which would have always
been reaped by England, if impatient
avidity had not deftroyed its own food.
What, in fadl, can you now expefl:
from our forlaken fields ? our half-
burned towns ? On whom will you lay
your taxes if we fpill for a juft freedom
the laft drop of our blood ? Will you
fell our unproteftcd wives, our wretched
-- D 4 children
t 56 ]
chilcjren for flaves, and repliingc AmCr
rica in her former defblation f
GRENVILLE.
Forbid it, Heaven, that things ftiould
come to fuch extremities ! But feelings
are not arguments : . anfwer me two
iimple queftions ; Had not North Ame-
rica refounded with murmurs againft
England, long before I propofed to
raife a revenue from that country?
"Was not almoft every Colony carrying
on a fmuggling trade with the neigh-
bouring nations, in contempt of all the
ftipulations by which they had obtained
our protedibn and their charters ?
MONTGOMERY.
I could tell you, that we depended
upon no charters, but the glorious one
, • of
V
t 57 ]
of your, and then our own, excellent
conftitution J that, if our fore-fathers
had thought convenient to accept of
thefe private charters, we were no more
bound to rely upon them as our only
fupport, than a man to make ufe of his
crutches when cured of his lamenefs :•
but this would be expofing myfelf to
the reprimand of Wolfe; and I am
defirous to convince him, and you too,
if poffible, that juftice, reafon, and'
equity, are on our fide. We groaned,
indeed, under the burthen of an odious,;
unlimited monopoly, and cruel reftraints ;
but we fubmitted to them. Far from
encouraging thofe who tried to fliake^
off this yoke, we dealt with them very
feverely. It cannot be fuppofed that in
a country, ftill overcharged with the
debts contrafted fox fupporting the late
,". . . -, Var,
! s8 ]
waiv and obliged to mmtm a ftanding
irmy in the heart of peace, none of
tills foit of delinquents fhoiild be found,
when they fwarni in profpemus and rich
England; but how unmercifully were
thofe ufed, who having efcaped the vi-
gilance of our magiftrates, fcU into the
hands of the officer^ of the cuftorm !
How many wretched men, who, from
having calculated that a liule more gain
upon their very fmall ftores would help
them to fupport their numerous family,
and ventured upon thefc prohibited ex-
curfions, have brought back defolation
and ruin, inftead of relief, to their in-
nocent and helplefs children !
GRENVILLE.
The fufFerings of fome individuals
are not to be put in the balance againft
the public good*
WOLFE.
{
i 59 ]
WOLFEp
It is but too true, there arc evils in
fociety which cannot be avoided.
MONTGOMERY.
Then that inftitution is the beft which
hath found the means of alleviating
the greater number of thefe evils. AncJ
why fhould thofe men who are our
brethren, who even call us by a ftill
more endearing name, aim at depriving
us of the benefits arifing from fa happy
an inftitution ? Yes, noble Wolfe, the
Englifti fo long renowned for their na-
tural generofity, and accounted to be
the moft inveterate enemies of ty-
ranny, had eftablilhed in America fe-
veral pretended courts of juft ice, which
were, in faft, worfe than the odious
tribunal of the Spanilh Inquifition.
Wc
{
f 6d ]
We had a court of Admiralty, which
gave its fandion for breaking into the
afylum of our houfes without any fdrt^
of formalities ; and this upon the faith of
a bafe informer whofe name was con-
cealed, and whofe malice was protefted;
even after, the full detedlion of his
falfliood. As the officers of the fame
tribunal had no other means of fubfift-
ance but their captures, they fell upon
every fliip and boat, as the falcons
upon their prey, in hope of finding a
delinquent ; and often vented the grief
of difappointment upon the fair dealer,
whofe ftore they detained till it was
fpoiled, or the fcafon of conveying ic^
paft. We were deprived of the trial:
by jury: a ftanding magiftracy, as a^
Handing army, was our lot. Our'
judges were no more out of the reach
. . of
C 6x ]
pf corruption; they were not only rii
the danger, but even under the necefiity^
of yielding to it, whenever it might have
fiiited the power to which they owed
their precarious eflablidiment and main*
tenance. Inftead of being governed by
mild and equitable laws, we were to have
an imperious, and who is generally, an un-
juft mafter, who would have the fupre-
macy over all our tyrants, aflert the right
of declaring new kinds of crimes; of taking
away our ancient privileges •, of forbid-
ding us to aflemble, to ipeak, to write,
and even to think ; and who, on any
doubt of his legiflative authority^ might
be empowered, by his military forces, to
adt like Mahomet, and to fay, Iward
in hand, "Believe, or die!"
WOLFE.
Thefe are indeed infufferable griev-
2 ancesj
ances; but you cannot place tfhem td
the charge of Grenvilte, Whofe horror
agakift. corruption, and whdfe love foi*
juftice, hffvc been irtcontcftably proved
by the A& which has inlmortali2ed his
na^e*
MONTGOMERY.
1 arraign not the heart, but the judg-
ment of my enemy ; I deny not that he
was an upright patriot, but I complain
that he has retrenched the Englifh of
America from the rights and even the
rank of his countrymen, and refufed
to bellow his good-will and even pity
upon them.
GRENVILLE.
What pity was owing ro a people,
who with the fame breath poured out
jiumble remonftrances and infotent
.. threats?
t-* jii^
t 65 1
threats? Would you think, Wolfc^
that thefe Arwericans for whom Montt
gortjery endeavours to excite our cotn-
padion, are the very fame individuals
who dragged from their houfes the col-
lectors of the taxes and burned their
public offices •, offered to their pretended
oppreffors every kind of infult and ill
treatment ; threw away the property of
private perfons with whom they had no
quarrel; and, at laft, aflerted all the
prerogatives of fovertignty.
MONTGOMERY.
Was it not time for us thus to exert
ourfelves? Were we^ to wdt for the
treatment which, according to Herodo-
tus* the Scythians made their (laves
undergo, whofe eyes they put out in
order that they might mofe clofely at-
^ . . . tend
I ii . i , || J | ». i mnuim i gji
[ 64 1
tend to their daily occupation of beat-
ing milk for their matters ufe. Indeed
we were not far from that condition ;
you had chained our commerce, taken
away our laws, and bade us work merely
to pay your taxes.
WOLFE.
All this jufl-ifies not the aft of vio-
lence committed againft a diflreiTed
Company.
MONTGOMERY.
Diftreflcd Company ! when in the
fpace of three years they have difcharged
four millions of their debts! No, this
pretended diftrcfs feems to be only a
fcheme formed againft us*, the miniftry
wanted to make us fwallow their ufurped
power of taxing us with this tea, and
tried to fubduc us by. commifcration
.^ • before
t «5 1
before they ufed force, in order to ren-
der their proceedings lefs odious.
GRENVILLE.
He will foon aflert, that the malked
perpetrators of this brutal action were
fecret emiflaries of the government
MONTGOMERY.
You might be, perhaps, very much
embarraflcd to prove the contrary. But
I have a lefs litigious excufe to alledge.
Suppofe that fome wary men among us
feeing all the extent of the danger, and
fearing that this objedt of luxury might
prove too powerful for the fex whofe in-
fluence upon us is the fame every where,
had in their patriotic zeal and juft in-
dignation thrown away the tempting
bait ; was their prudence to be deemed
an unpardonable crime ?
E wolfe;.
%
I
C 66 ]
WOLFE.
At l(«ft you fiould have made a re-
compence to th'; injured party.
MONTGOMERY.
We had no time to take the matter
into fcrious confideration, before the
port of Bofton w^a fhut up ; and then
it was not dif&cuk to judge that the
price of this iU-fated tea was the lead
wo wece fentenced to give. Thus felf-
prefervation obliged us to enter the def«
poratc road which kads to independence
or deftruftion ; a road, which many
people m our circumftances have trod-
den before us, with various fuccefs in^
detdi but always with the approbation
of the wife and Spirited part of man-
lund« 4
1JI--
GREN-
I 6? ]
GRfeNVtLLE.
If men were iii their primitive condi-
tion^ I confefs that cheyr could not at-
tempt forcibly to get or to maintain a
fuperiority over each other without in-
curring the blame due to violence and
opprefTion, But from the time they
preferred the amiable tie of fociety to
their favage freedom, they fubmitted to
the yoke of fubordination, without
which there can be neither liberty nor
fafety for them, firce their connexiori
in one city rendered it the more necef-
fary to curb their ferocious nature. To
fay that laws unfupported by power
may be obeyed, is only a jargon that
poets lare wel:ome to afcribe to the
demi-gods of their fiftitious golden
age i but which is totally unknown in
Ea
the
ii
I «8 ]
tTie true annals of mankind What a
wifdom acquired by experience has
taught us, is, to take care that thofe
who are intrufted with the authority of
enforcing the laws, Ihould not themfel ves
violate them to the prejudice of the
multitude. Among the nations who
have made their own laws, none has
ever given a better inftance of a found
judgment than ours. The Englifti can-
not be too jealous of their excellent
conftitution, fince it is the beft fyftem
that could be imagined to keep men in
order without enflaving them. But the
Americans fliould have reflefted on the
difference that there is between keeping
the fubjefts 6f thefe laws in their duty,
and tyrannifing over them, before they
had proclaimed their pretended wrongs
se the world. We find in our records
«• t.>4
of
at a
las
[ 6y J
of every reign, that a fpirit of mutirtjr'
has prevailed in the Colonics from their*
firft eftabliihment, to which the Englilh^
government has conftantly oppofed mild
reprimands, joined to innumerable be-'
nefits. What have been the confe-
quences of this condudi:? By thefe
bounties which they difclaim, by the
advantages they have reaped from the
very monopoly of which they complain,
the Colonifts have incredibly encreafed
in number, in wealth, and, unhappily,
in rebellious difpofitions. No fooner
has their want of fupport ceafed, than-
they have aimed at independence.
They had given many premature and
incautious tokens of their intentions,,
when our inconfiderate debates elated
their hopes, and caufed them to raife
the ftandard of revok. What can a
E 3 fovercigni,
tK
[ 7P ]
foijeireign, anfwer^bfe for ^1 the ftatct
inttwfted to his care, do in fucb circum-
ftapces? Was he to comply with the
feditious demanids of the rebels, in order
to biqt 9 temporary aa well as dilhor.
nourable peace at the riiik of ftrengthen-
ing then|\ by an ill placed lenity ^ He
could not gain their obdurate heart by
his goodnefs, but might by a. long for-
bearance have irretrievably loft a coun-
try, for the prefervation of which the
i.
b^ft blood o( his faithful fubjeds had
been fpilkd Was he obliged to cor-
rupt thp majority of the Parliament to
make them decide that this forbearance
would have been imprudent in the
higheft degree ? Was it not for the con-
trary decifion that a bribe (hould have
been necefiary to blind men verfed in
politics, or endued with common fenfe,
in
C 7t ]
in regard t6 thefr chVa inter^ft ? TRnil
loak upon the Americans as the gmlty
authors 6f this uhbappy ^at^ unA of
their 6wn ifiifer/. Ai ta me, I fiw
them iri the point of vieW in ^hich I
repreicM thetft. I morebver confiderc<$
that it was but juft they fhould partake
the biH^then of the Englifii natioi^, fihcef
they were eom^rifed i«i it ; and pay tbefir
(hare of a^ debt contraf^ed for a war in*
which they were^ at kaft> as mttch m^
tcreftcd as oiirfelves. I foUnd that th6y
pleaded poverty in the midft of afflu-
ence, that they refufed to tax them*
fclvcs, and I taxed them, as IWduld
have done the counties of Middkfex-
and Surry in ar fimilai* cafe^
MONTGOMERY.
Oh! there is n& doubt that thefe
E 4 V counties.
[7^ I
counties, and all the counties of Great
Britain will be treated in that arbitrary
manner, if the attempt upon American
liberty fucceeds 5 then, the majority of
their reprefentatives will probably awaken
from their dangerous dream, and feeing
the horrid precipice gaping before their
feci, will affert the prerogative of con-
ferring and deliberating on the good of the
nation, to which the word Parliament in-
titles them, as have our aflemblies. Our
crime, our only crime is to have refufed
giving up this prerogative. The mem«
bers of the provincial aflemblies which
conftkuted our reprefentation, were not
feduced into paffive obedience; they
durft fpeak, and faid, " You never had
" taxed us, becaufe you thought that the
" innumerable reftraints which you had
" put upon our comnicrcc were fufficicnt
" taxes i
c«
?ing
(C
4C
[ 73 J
"taxes; becaufe our voluntary grants
were more profitable than taxes, fince
they pafled not through the rapacious
" hands of colleftors, whofe number
*^ muft neceflarily increafe in proportion
" of the diftance in which the country
" taxed ftands from the feat of fove-
" reignty." Let us now examine your
motives for this innovation. You fay,
that the late war was made on our ac-
count ! Certainly you had as good rea-
fons for preferving us, as other ftates, in,
defence of which you have ftrained
your abilities to the utmoft. You fay,
that we muft pay our (hare towards a
debt contrafted for that war! Have
you not acknowledged that we have
overpaid it, by returning us fome of
the fums the bulk of which ftill prefles
us down ? You fay,— *^ No more of
« thcfc
[ 74 ]
" th^fe infolent expoftulations," ex-
claim our mighty lords of the mi-
niftry 5 " We do what we think pro-
** per J tax yoiirfelTcs according to our
*^ will and pfcaftire, or let your rebcl-
*V liourailemblies bedi£blved -, our ears
^« have been long unaccuftomed tode-
** nial." — " And thofe of freeborn men
^' to abfolute commands,'* anfwer the
Americans. Thence, brave Wolfe,
arofe the difpute which, has caufed this
flxameful war between brethren, to the
great joy of the common enemies ; and
you may eafily judge which of the two
parties was the aggreflbr. It is needlefs
to reply more minutely to the oraticp>
or rather inveftives of Grenville, for 1
have anticipated his ftronger arguments.
I cannot help* however, remarking, that
he has^ faid nothing in favour ^ the
new
:'<f
ex-
mi-
pro-
Dour
ebcl-
ears
ode-
men
the
oWc^
this
^ the
and
two
llefs
icn^
>rl
har
{he
w
ew
.[ 75 ]
new courts of juftice which had taken
place of our old ones, and has omitted
to explain why the Engliih government,
inftead of applying the taxes we will-
ingly pay and thofe we were forcibly
to pay, to the urgent neccffity of the
nation, deftiqed them to the purpofe of
keeping a military force in our thea
peaceful cauntry^
GRENVILLE,
- "What I have faid in regard to your
mutinous inclinations anfwers thefc two
articles. You deferved to, be treated
with rigour, and it was prudent t;o keep
you in awe.
MONTGOMERY.
By what code of penal laws is the
criminal obliged to find the rods with
which he is to be fcourgcd ? But can
you
[ 76 ]
you fay that we deferved to be kepr
under the edge of the fword at the very
time when the letters of our, not over-
kind governors, were filled with the
praifc of our good behaviour ? When
we had fought with you for the common
quarrel with a much applauded ar-
dour?
GRENVILLE.
Then, this (landing army was kept
partly to defend you againft the entcr-
prifes of the enemy.
MONTGOMERY.
What enemies remained in North
America ? Had not Wolfe given them
the laft blow at Quebec ? Were not the
conquered Canadians fecured to yonr
intcreft by the grant of their civil and
religious liberties, which has been fincc
t fokmnly
t T7 1
folemnly confirmed beyond their de-
mand, or even their hope ?
GRENVILLE.
I heard that the Quebec-Bill was ill
digefted by the Americans ; but you
were afliamed to make them aflert fo
foon the right of controlling thofe,
who, at leaft, may adt as they pleafe in
things that concern them not*
MONTGOMERY.
I afTure you that this aftonifhing ^
fanftion given to a government and ^
religion, both reprobated by our laws,
was a matter of great concern to us,
fince by reafcn of our vicinity to this fo
much indulged people, the contagion
of their bad principles, whether in poli-
tics or belief, might have reached us.
WOLFK.
^«>
i ?8 ]
WOLFE.
What principle could you imbibe
worfe, than that of looking upon the
pubKc faith as not binding? Who is
th« foVereign that could find a brave
general to commami hi^ army, if he
were to recompenfe his fcrvices with
difhonoiir by breaking a capitulation
which he had intitled him to accept? A
prince in the late war could not tamely
bear this injury from his r6yal father.
In (hort, it is my opinion that the ho-
nour and equity of the Quebec-Bill is a
full compenfatiori fOi all the inconve-
niences that may arife frorti it.
MONTGOMERY!
A fimple toleration, and not a/olemn
JanBion was required, and would have
..' . v^ been
.jt^'
[ 79 ]
been fufficient in this cafe, without
being dangerous.
GRENVILLE.
Do you reckon it for nothing to calm
the fears of a people, and to infure
their peace ?
MONTGOMERY.
I fee that the Englifh are like the
Romans, more jull as conquerors than
as legiflators ; this will prevent my un-
eafinefs upon the fate of the Ameri-
cans.
<
WOLFE.
Each of you has fo much irtf^refted
me for the party he has defended, that
my moft ardent wifh is to find fome
means of reconciliation between them.
I know you have refpeftivcly urged
* your
I So ]
your arguments in the fincerity of your
hearts, although it has appeared to me
that both of you entertain fentiments
too much in the extreme ; but the beft
way to efFeft a re-Union between friends,
is to leave out of the treaty the men-
tioning of their rights and wrongs.
This Ihould be your talk, good Gren-
VILLE.
GRENVILLE.
I ihould make but an indifferent
conciliator, it is not my talent; but
behold Char LEsTowNSHEND, he is the
very man for your purpofe.
TOWNSHEND.
' I have been in fcarch of you every
where, Grbnville •, who could h^ve
luppofcd you in this company ? Some
»I^Vf
very
[ 8r 3
very intercfting news is juft arrived
from the other world, upon which our
chofen fociety have aflembled in the
myrtle grove and impatiently wait for
you.
MONTGOMERY.
Then I muft retire under the weeping
willow ; for furely this eagernefs an-
nounces a new defeat of the Anicri-
cans.
ittercnt
TOWNSHEND.
; but
I never fliall rejoice in their misfor-
: is the
tune, but on the contrary fincerely
pity them.
«-
WOLFE.
everv
Will you anfwer this profcOion by
*
h^ve
meeting Montgomery and me in this
Some
arbour, in order to contrive th? meang.
F of
I 8z ]
of making an happy and lafting peace
between the two contending branches
of one family.
TOWNSHEND.
With all my heart 5 as foon as I have
parted with my friends.
MONTGOMERY.
In the mean time do not lavifli too
much of your pity upon the Colonies,
left you Ihould want fome for England,
which, whether conqueror or conquered,
cannot but deferve it.
P ^
■ /
End of tihe ceco:id Dialogue.
DIALOGUE III.
BE T WE E N
GENERAL WOLFE,
GENERAL MONTGOMERY,
CHARLES TOWNSHEND,
. AND
DAVID HUME.
F 2
I '*•
DIALOGUE III.
BETWEEN
GENERAL WOLFE,
GENERAL MONTGOMERY,
CHARLES TOWNSHEND,
AND
DAVID HUME.
■-«»
WOLFE,
WHAT can be the rcafon of your
reludlance to meet Charles
TowNSHEND, when you were fo eager
to encounter Grenville, whofe known
F 3 firmnefs
;f
[ 86 ]
firmnefs in his principles (hould have
made him appear to you a far more
dangerous advcrfary ?
MONTGOMERY.
I am fenfible that I have neither afpe-
rity, nor morofenefs, to fear from
TowN$HEND in this cafe; for, as he
was not an enemy of the Americans
from convidlion that they were in the
wrong, but from a defire of being
thought to be himfelf always in the
right, he cannot have brought hither
any fort of prejudice aga'inft them. It
is only with th^ fubjcdl we fliall dif-
courfe on, that I am difpieafed.
wolfb:.
Is the word of peace fo difagreeable
to your cars i
MONT-
■iV"?'
I 87 ]
MONTGOMERY.
It is infupportable to me, when I re-
fledt how difheartening it may prove to
the Americans, whofe coura'^ lepends
on the thought, that nothi their
own valour and conftancy cau extricate
them from the evils in which they are
involved.
WOLFE.
Do you think that their re-union
with England is incompatible with their
happinefs ? >
MONTGOMERY.
I am confcious it is fo ; and confe-
quently wifti that they may not be de-
ceived into a belief, which would more
effectually caufe their ruin than the
arms of their prefent enemies, or even
an invafion from the French.
F4 WOLFE.
>
IMAGE EVALUATION
TlbST TARGET (MT-3)
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1.0 ^lii 1^
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11.25
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lUit
Photographic
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23 WIST
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(7U)
MAIN STRUT
,N.Y. 14SM
171-4303
i
[ 88 3
WOLFE.
How can you advance fueh a pa-
radox? Can there be any evil com-
parable to that of being fubdued by a
people who are not accidentally, but by
fyftem, tyrannical ?
MONTGOMERY.
Thofe who have tafted the fweets of
Liberty can be no longer endaved,
than till they get ftrength enough to re-
cover their lofs. Now fuppofe that the
Americans fliould be entirely overcome
by the Englilh forces, would not the
hope of afferting again their natural
rights, be infinitely more precarious
when under the fcourge of revenge,
than when fubje&ed to new mailers
whofe tendernefs for their Colonies is
well known?
WOLFE.
k
[ 8? ]
WOLFE.
But the French government aflerfe
the right of afting arbitrarily^ and this
is the moft infufFerable pretenfion.
MONTGOMiERY.
Is it not worfe to do wrong with ac-
knowledging that we have no right of
doing it, than to afcertain this odious
right without makhrg any ufe of it ?
WOLFE.
I fee TowNSHEND haftening to us ;
let us wave all thefe litigious topics,
and endeavour to fettle matters ami-
cably.
TOWNSHEND.
To fay that I mourn at the new fuc-*
cefs of Britain in Americia, is not a
compliment to you, Montgomery;
for,
[ 90 1
for, as you have judicioufly obferved,
.a war between old friends admits of na
triumphs.
MONTGOMERY.
There ifi no cauie yet for triumphing
or joy, on either fide. A body of cool
and well-difcipUned troops have availed
themfelves of the unruly ardour of
men who fought in defence of their
country, families, nay, of their very
cxiftence ; they difperfed them, and of
courfe have taken an unguarded town,
a place acceflible to men of war as
well as to troops j they afterwards
gained fomc .er little advantages,
but at the expence of torrents of their
own blood i where is the wonder of all
this ? Have not the unikilkd Americans
equalled thefe mighty atchievements,
by
r 9' I
by reputing the ErtglKh fleets during
two ye^rs, deftroyiog their fliips, re-
taking Bofton, and forcing their haughty
governor to fneak off in confufion and
difmay?.
TOWNSHEND.
But, what can compenftte for their
mifcarriage before Quebec ? The ardent
zeal you preferve for their caufc, and
the bravery with which you fupported
their quarrel, renders it very difficult
for them to fet a juft value upon their
lofs.
MONTGOMERY.
That lofs, which you :^rc pleafed ta
over-rate, has been repaired by other
Generals as much attached to their in-
tereft as myftlf i and) I hope, more
cautious
'•/'•rmmrw^l^^'Sf.
[ 9» ]
»
cautious againfl; thofe aAs of perfid/
which have been decorated by the name^
of militaty ftratagems^
TOWNSHENa
But did you really depend upon tb&
Canadians whofe religious ceremonies
you had derided, without confidering
that this of all infults is the laft for-
given among men ?
MONTGOMERY.
This fault came from a fource which
is, I think, not unknown to you; from
the defire of equally pleafing the two
adverfe parties. Thus in order to ob-
tain the favour of the Englifh inhabi-
tants of Canada, we cenfured the fu-
perftitious rites of the French, whofe
intereft we courted afterwards by in-
dulging
t 93 ]
bulging them in their pious pageandies.
I cannot fay that I approved this piece
of policy, always dangerous, and often
attended with the moft pernicious con-
fequences.
TOWNS HEN D.
You may refledt, but too juftljr,*^
upon my conduft in i-egard tathe Ame-
rican taxes ; 1 am very far from juftify-
ing it, although I ftill hoU its .princi-
ples good; for, I think the duty of .a
focial being is to Ilrengthen the tie of
fociety, by endeavouring to pleafe every
one, and I look upon ^ fatisfadtion
he feels at being admired, as the juft
reward of his trouble. It is true, the
moft laudable fentiment&inay be canied
too far, and this was my cafe when I
f ropofed the rcaewal of thefe fatd
caxes4
[
6
t 9* 1
tasGcs. I am not) hcmev^r^ mihcm
cxciife on this pditit; for I made To
fnany amendnnents in the Bill, all fa-
vourable to thtf Aitttric^ns, that 1 could
not forefee they would be exafpcrated
4?y it.
MONTGOMERY.
You gilded indeed the bitter pill,
'but could not render it palatable ; be-
caofe k is as impofliblc to reconcile
$ajfwe obedience mth, freedom^ as infant^
'With honour j and becaufe our too well
awakened watchfulnefs took the alarm
-at the leaft appearance of danger.
TOWNSHEND.
This vigilance in your chiefs is not
•fo praifed by feverd Americans, as it is
by you. They afcribe it to a fecret
motive.
iihcm
adc fo
all fa-
could
erated
r pill,
' ; be-
loncile
rnfanty
o well
alarm
IS not
\s it is
fecrct
lOtivc,
t 95 1
motive, far different from that which it
given out for the true one. They pre*
tend, that your famous Congrefs is lefs
intended as a bulwark againlB: tyranny,
than as a fupport to an Ariftocracy,
which hath already given many inftances
of the arbitrary difpofition juftly im-
puted to that kind of government.
MONTGOMERY.
Was ever a laudable undertakings
generally approved even by thofe who
are to reap the fruit of it ? We have
Jlothful brothers who lay a claim to the
common inheritance, to defend whiclv
they would not willingly advance a ftep
forward 5 we have falfe ones always
ready to fell the publk: intereft in order
to obtain for themfelves a precarious
welfare ; but this is the common fate of
6 €very
1
t 96 ]
every nation at its firft rife to inde-
pendence, and we fubmit to it. ,
TOWN.SHEND.
Not very patiently, as it is reported;
but, indeed, what i: faid of your into-
lerance muft be exaggerated ; for you
could not thus tranigrefs the rules you
Jet to others.
. MONTGOMERY.
This is not the time for entering into
the particulars of our conduct in this
:refpe6b, and I fhall content myfelf with
explaining the fpirit of it, which is very
far irom being arbitrary. It is well
known, that all the Englifh Colonies in
North America have concurred in the
neceflary meafures for letting themfelves
free irom prefent oppreffion, and pre-
vcntir^g
C 97 1
venting future flavery. The wife few
have, undoubtedly, influenced the ^ddy
multitude in this refolution, from which
they now cannot recede without falling
into the jaws of deftruftion. Is it not
then the duty of thefe prudent leaders
to contain in due bounds thofe diey
command, when, from a wavering and
inconfiftent temper they excite trouble,
and threaten divilion ? Have they not
the right to do it, at leaft till the great
work which aflembled them is per-
formed ? If this could be denied, the
unthinking and fickle vulgar would
never be refcued from oppreffive hands
by the advice of feleft and judicious
men, who would, with juft reafon, re-
fufe venturing their own quiet to no
purpofe. This prerogative that Reafon
has over folly, was unqueltionable
G , among
1 98 J
o^ri6ri^ tht Rottiteins, vAto certainly
i^figNc feds^ of entir«^ fmdotn in the
fldurflhing time of their republic.
The right of refolvii^ iipon a war was
vefted ih the people, but when once
Holder the ftandards of their General^
^€y could not change their minds.;
for the l^ft token of pufiUanioiity or
disobedience was ipunifhed by a rigo-
YfMS decimation, to which they often
willing:ly oflfered tbemfelves, althongh
they ^v?ere capable of pulling down the
csipitol upon the heads of ^e fenators
on, the occafipn of a new arbijraiy tax^
fp well th<y knew how to make the dif-
ference between a lawful authority and
an lifiirited power.
TOWN&HEND.
ladkmiwfcdge my error, and&cwild
-te-ytiy wilteng toatonefor it. •
MONT-
ily
C W ]
^tOWTGOMERY,
'This conceffion ig worthy of your
ti(Afefntnd.
WOLFE.
The narrow compafs of ob^i^acy
c;api;iot contain a generous foul. As to
inc, I have given up the point for
which I firft contended with Montqo-
M^RV ; I now Ipotk wppn him ^s my
brother, and in this quality intreat him
to forget all paft injuries, and to turn
h\$ thoughts entirely to the bleflings of
MONTGOMERY.
I fee no profpeift of accommodatioii
%>ecween the contending parties ; but (
^n foretdl^l what ¥^11 bd called peace if
the Americans ace fubdued. The taxes
be remitted to them for a fpace»
G a
becaufe
^^becaufe they are now unable "^to pay
them \ but a watchful garrifon will^be
placed in every one of their principal
cities. Some trifling indulgences will
be fliown them, in order to revive their
laborious difpofition and their induftry.
In the mean time their wary, and then
multiplied governors, will obferve, with
the hundred eyes of Argus, the progrefs
of their pblitical ftrength, and double
every day the fcore which t;hey ynll
have to difcharge on their perffeft reco-
very. Oh ! before the glorious under-
taking of reftoring America to its natu-
ral (late of independence fhould come
to fuch an end, may all its inhabitants
perifli to the laft man ! The fword which
has been unflicathed for the caufe of
liberty, mud never drop from the hand
of its bearer, but when he falls himfelf
lifelefs
c
lOI
]
lifelefs on the very ground his courage:
has kept free.
WOLFE.
But, why do you fuppofe the Englilh
capable of making fo ungenerous an
ufage of their fuccefles ? On the con-
trary, ! hope they will avail themfelves
of the fmiles with which fortune favours
them now, to (how a greatnefs of foul .
which would have been, perhaps, called
pufillanimity in other circumftances*.
I expert that they will redrefs all your
wrongs ; give back all your privileges % ,
and reftore you to the condition in which ■>
you were before this unhappy quarrel. .
MONTGOMERY.
This would be a truce inftead of a
peace.- The feeds of contention muft
G 3. be.
be flmked ^ta^ and not carefully e9verei
up for a new vegetation. No; the la^
tent caufe of difcord is not to be fo
eafilyremovcdonthisoccafion. Nothing
but to rdkort the confticiition of Eng-
land to its primitive purity can infure
the peace of the fufajefb* Let the
Houfe of Commons be renewed every
three years^ as it was intended % let each
of the ihembers, who accepts a place
frohn court) lofe his icat for ever» or at
kaft a$ long as he holds that place, and
then ihnumerabte evils will he eradi-
cated. Then, our national aflemblics
will not be deemed feditious \ thofe who
compofe them, and who now are
branded with injurious epithets, will
be looked upon as a part of the ge-
neral reprefcntation, very willing to con-
cur with the other part in all the mca-
/ fures
[ ^^3 I
furcs tending to the glory of the Efi^ifli
name, and to the prolperity of all thqfe
who can boaft of it in what quarter fo-
cver of the world they may be. But
who is to make this reformation ? or
rather, to what power belongs the right
of giving it the fandion of authority ?
Oh ! the anfwer to this queftion is fo
truly difcouraging, that the moft ardejit
hope grows cold at the thought, and
flies away as a dream.
TOWNSHEND.
You (hould not raife fo many diffi-
culties, left the Englifti government
ihould think proper to imitate the Ro-
mans, who, after their famous focial
war, granted the requefted privilege of
being called citizen of Rome, only to
fome of the confederate States, and re-
G 4 fufed
I 104 ]
fufcd It to thofe who had been verf
forward in the revolt, in order that the
fpur of emulation might prompt them
to atone for paft offences.
MONTGOMERY.
Or rather to excite jealoufy and breed
diflenfions among them. But it is to
be confidered, that this tyrannical na-
tion could eafily fucceed by thofe little
arts with a people, who by reafon of
vicinity were dazzled with their pageant
cf dignity, and awed by their boafted
power.
TOWNSHEND.
They employed the fame means with
the inhabitants of the remotefl: coun-
tries^ and thus extended their empire
t«
P7
Die-
to the furthcft verge of the then known
world.
MONTGOMERY.
No, all the nations could not be lb
bafe as to facrHice their liberty for this
vain and abfurd title; but thofe who
a£ted with fpirit and dignity were, ac^
the inftigation of the ufurpers, drawn
to this fhame by bad neighbours.
This may be in time attempted againfl:
us by the Canadians.
TOWNSHEND.
The French would have more effec-
tually caufed this alteration in your
principles, if they had been left in
pofTeflion of Canada.
MONTGOMERY.
At leaft their vicinity wojild have
pre-
prese nted the extremities to wkith we
have been reduced, by railing the jea«
loufy of the Englifli, and caufing them
to aA with more prudence with ms.
WOLFE.
You will foon find among you that I
have been inftrumental to this odious
war.
TOWNSHEND<
of
Who can forefee the confcquena
thefimpleft, thejufteft, thebeftaAion?
We are all doomed to the tafk of
making fuch or fuch a link in the chain
of events, but are not anfwerable for a
work of fatality, except when we are
prompted to it by malice.
MONTGOMERY.
This juft diftindkion makes the guilt
of
It I
[ ^07 ]
of the Englilh appear in its moft
glaring colour. Ardent emiSaries c^
our evil fate, they eagerly embrace all
ibrt of dai^ers for the barbanyus joy of
carrymg defolatbn to our hemifphere.
But they will foon find that thefe coftly
and perilous hoftile vifits cannot be
often renewed^ and mufl: end in their
own ruin^ and that unleft they find
meant to eficA in time our utter de-
ftruftion, it would have been better for
them to leave us in our juftiy a&crted
independence.
WOLFE.
. This laft alternative is the moft fafc
and glorious they even now can take.
TOWNSHEND.
. I am fo entirely of your opinion^
thac
[ 1^8 ]
that I have made it the bafis of my
treaty of peace. I firft eftabliOi as a
principle, that the beft trophies are
thofe which the viftor erefts by his
clemency in the hearts of the van-
quiflied, fince the remembrance of a
generous adtion lives for ever in th6
human mind, but is deftroyed by the
hand of time and the rigour of feafons
when only written on pillars and obe-
lifks. After this preliminary, I thus
addrefs the Americans i*— " A&uated
by this truth, we veft in you our
right of making the conditions of
" peace. Arc you abfolutely deter-
** mined to feparate* from us and to be-
" come an independent people ? Let it
" be fo ; it is better for us to look upon
" you as entire aliens, than to find you
" cither inveterate enemies, or difcon-
« tented
(C
t€
< 'CCl
it
(1
[ i<^9 1
* « tented friends. We even difdain
«*.4naking any fort of ftipulations in
** regard to commerce* fare, as we ar?,
that you will not find your account in
trading with other nations fo well as
** -mth lis. Are you defirous of being
*' proteded by our arms in cafe you
*^ fhould be attacked by the very fame
people to whom you now give the
preference over us, but whom you
** will foon leafn to dread? We are
willing, in confideration of our an-
cient connexion with you, to engage
in a treaty fimilar to thofe which the
Oriental Sovereigns make with the
conquered princes who live too far
•** from the feat of their dominions,
** Let us agree on a fum which (hall be
*' paid us as a tribute,^\
MONT-
<c
(C
cc
(C
«(
«c
<c
cc
•(€
I
1 10
1
Montgomery:
Do not lafe the language of (lavtrjr
in a trea^ for independenee.
TOWNSHEKD.
You are in the right, MourojOMmTi
1 fhould have rcfleftcd that men arc
ruled by words, moved by words, dc-»
voted to words, and very little taken
with the real fubllance of things.
Let it then be called a fubfidy.^-^^
** You (hall pay us an annual fubfidy,
** without any addition in time of war,
"without -any diminution in time of
" peace -, and ibr the remainder, gOf
^' vern yourXclves as you think prqper-
** Make ufe of our conftitution, if you
" pleafe; take it in its ftriacft fenfe, if
" it fuits your difpofition 5 invent a
" better one, if you can 5 that is matter
"of
f "I 1
" of indifferenycc taus^ We IhaU fid*
*^ fill our engagement as long is y^u
^^ fulfill yours ; if you break it, trake
*' the confequence for yourielves. Far<^
" and be good friends in the ufual ftile
"of mankind."
MONTGQIMERY.
Yes, we will {say a-ftipukted fubfidy
on the conditions you^propofe; and we
will mofl: willingly enrich En^and by
our commerce, "^len the immenfe pro^
fits arifing from it ihall not be empk^
againft ourfelves. H^ppy £qv Philip
the Second, King of Spain^ if he had
made fuch a peace with the Dutch j if
by a faMe flrameof making an alliance
with thofe whom he had called hisfub-
jefts but treated as flat^es, he had not
involved his people in a long and fruit-
5 l^ls
lefs war, which cauied the canker-wornfi
of diflenfion to deftroy his own family,
and paved the way to* his throne for the
race of his moft inveterate enemy.
WOLFE.
Then you accept this treaty in the
name of the Americans,
MONTGOMERY.
Certainly I doj and they are very
much altered in their fentiments fince
my death if they difown me for this
aflent. But I fhould wifh that Towns-
HEND were as fure to have the appro-
bation of his party.
TOWNSHEND.
It muft be confefled that this may be
queftionable; however, by means of
fome fccret claufe — — *—
MONT.
I ^13 i
MONTGOMERY.
/No claufe at all, Townsheud; fdr
once, let not ^ tvc^pf qf peace be the
foundation pf a new w^r.
TOWNSHEND.
At leaft we Ihould confult about k
ibme of the Uluftrious dead, who have
diftingiiHfhed themfdves no lefs by a
love for their country, than by their po-
litical abilities. Ah! — whence comes
this infulting fit of laughter^
WOLFE.
From David Hvme, who, conce4*
ing himfelf behind this fycamore, haa
liftened to our converfation.
MONTGOMERY.
,I| the important fubjeft we have diA
H cuflcd
SfM
I ^H ]
ciilTed To ridiculous in the eyes of phi-
Igfophy ?
.. i.i i.
,HUME.
Indeed it is fo even in thofe of coni-
mon fenfe. Poor fouls ! Miferably en-
itranced in your former paflions, t you
confider not, that though the acccfs to
this place is free, none of its inhabi-
tants hath ever been allowed to return
to, that, world which fo much ingroffes
your thoughts. Be not confounded at
this obfervation ; your zeal would prove
equally ufelefs, even if one of you were
pcrnaitted to exert it among the living.
Aflc DemoftJienes and Cicero concern-
ing their former fuccefs : they will
tell you how vainly they endeavoured
. to refcue their refpeftive countries from
-the gulph of ruin. Was ever an elo-
quence
u-
I"' "5 J
r.
q«cnce fo irrefiftible as theirs ? So weffi '
fuited for the purpofe to which they em-^
ployed it? They indeed ravifhed the*
minds of their hearers^ but nevep-
changed their corrupted hearts ; wer©^
admired for their expreflions, but perfe-
cuted for their fentiments, and at lad un« '
timely fent hither to receive the reward-'
of their virtue. It is true, a zealous-
patriot, a vehenEient orator, has now
nothing to fear but the difguft and for-
row which attend ill fuccefs ; happy for *
him, when he Is convinced before his <
death, that -nothing but empty notions, .
puerile prejudices, govern the generality;
of mankind, and decide the fate of'
empires. Be yourfdvcs comforted by
this truth •, remember that if Julius
Caefar had returned the falutation of
the fenators, he might have lived to re--
Ha" ftore ^
itore fFdedbm to hk covktktty tfhich "ma
efib&ualljr eiifkvtd by his tiTiti^otth/
fiicteflb^. S6m ilfch fid^loUl rt^^
scuty procure the ^ce ydU fa tlrdimcty
defii'e, better tbad ymi itiKAk folk! 8»f-
guinehts. Both the Engtifb ahd the
Aftiericans pretend to be in thci right v
to undeceive one Of the par&^ or
both, would be only admJiWft^ring fuel
to theiir fury. Let the ocean roar^ Mt
h^ve happily reached the harbour.
MONTGOMERY.
Oh! who cah re)oice in his owii'
fafety, when he fees the companions of
bi^ toils tofl&d ih. the mercilefs waves ?
WOLFE.
Nrithfcr you, nor I, Montgomery,
can boaft of this infenfibility.
TOWN-
TOWNSMEND.
As idf thCi I am mudnif of Horn's
cf iniidn 6H th6 ^jeA ; ft^ ihinic h a
weaknefs unworthy of us to chctiflb ufe*^
lefs feelings. Thofe men we juft now
mconfidcratcly pitied, have the fame
means for ftruggiing againft the evils of
life as>we had^ and muft in a fbon time
arrive at this place of repofe. Let us
wait patiently for the event. I defpair
not to hear that both parties have ac«
knowledgedy that their fulkft .fuccefsi
againft each other never can be a conn
penfation for the reciprocal lofles the^
muft fuftain in a feparation of ia-
tereft.
MONTGOMERY.
No compenfation I
TOWNSHEND.
No : for a precarious abfolutc fe-
vereignty
vereignty on one fide, and a naomentary '
independence on the other, could not
fardy balance the advantages of ' a
friendly union* ?
MONTGOMERY,
Thus you now pretend that the Ame- •
ricans muft — — — ^— — — —
TOWNSHEND.
Be not angry with me, Montgo-
mery ; confider what lengths I had -
gone to make a treaty of peace con-
formable to your prepoflefllons, which *
yet were much dilFcrent from my own; ^
and confefs, that the fociety of thofe'
who are aftuated by the dcfire of pleafing
every one, is more agreeable than that
of morofe men like Grenville, whofe
inflexible mind has not in the leaft
been
y •
a
l "9 ]
" J)cen ftaggered by your ftrongeftargu-
: mcnts.
WOLFE.
This was a thing of courfe; for m
V this fort of debates the refpeftive ad-
\ verfaries are too much urged by paflion
.to liften to truth, whieh however finds
. its account in thefe virulent and reci-
procal reproaches better than in guarded
expreiTions, whofe art may eafily miflead
the cool hearer. But alas! fince it is in
vain we have probed the ivounds which
difcord has inflided on the two con-
tending countries, fince we cannot
, pour into them the balm of a falutary
advice, let us fubftitute the moft
ardent wiflies to a fruitlefs zeal. May
.the eyes of our infatuated friends be
open on the dangers which furround
them !
I '^^
]
stbcml mvf they retreat m time undier-
thewi^gsof concord, and, by mutud
iranquiUity on earth, prepare themfelves
for eternal PEACE!
THE E N D,
Vr