be laid upon us; for we are not only to "defend, "protect and secure" them, but also to make "an

adequate provision for defraying the charge of "the administration of justice, and the support of "civil government, in such provinces where it "shall be found necessary.'

NOT one of the provinces of Canada, Nova-Scotia, or Florida, has ever defrayed these expences within itself: and if the duties imposed by the last statute are collected, all of them together, according to the best information I can get, will not pay one quarter as much as Pennsylvania alone. So that the British colonies are to be drained of the rewards of their labour, to cherish the scorching sands of Florida, and the icy rocks of Canada and Nova-Scotia, which never will return to us one farthing that we send to them.

GREAT-BRITAIN-I mean, the ministry in Great-Britain, has cantoned Canada and Florida out into five or six governments, and may form as many more. There now are fourteen or fifteen regiments on this continent; and there soon may be as many more. " To make an adequate provision" for all these expences, is, no doubt, to be the inhe

ritance of the colonies.

CAN any man believe that the duties upon paper, &c. are the last that will be laid for these purposes? It is in vain to hope, that because it is imprudent to lay duties on the exportation of manufactures from a mother country to colonies, as it may promote manufactures among them, that this consideration will prevent such a measure.

AMBITIOUS artful men have made it popular, and whatever injustice or destruction will attend it in the opinion of the colonists, at home it will be thought just and salutary.*

THE people of Great-Britain will be told, and have been told, that they are sinking under an immense debt that great part of this has been contracted in defending the colonies-that these are so ungrateful and undutiful, that they will not contribute one mite to its payment--nor even to the support of the army now kept up for their "de"fence and security," that they are rolling in wealth, and are of so bold and republican a spirit, that they are aiming at independence that the only way to retain them in "obedience," is to keep a strict watch over them, and to draw off part of their riches in taxes and that every burden

"So credulous as well as obstinate, are the people in believing every thing, which flatters their prevailing passion. HUME's Hist. of England.

laid upon them, is taking off so much from GreatBritain. These assertions will be generally believed, and the people will be persuaded that they cannot be too angry with their colonies, as that anger will be profitable to themselves.

In truth, Great-Britain alone receives any benefit from Canada, Nova-Scotia, and Florida; and therefore she alone ought to maintain them. The old maxim of the law is drawn from reason and justice, and never could be more properly applied, than in this case.

Qui sentit commodum, sentire debet et onus. They who feel the benefit, ought to feel the burden.

A FARMER.

I HAVE made some observations on the purpo ses for which money is to be levied upon us by the late act of parliament. I shall now offer to your consideration some further reflections on that sub-.. ject and unless I am greatly mistaken, if these purposes are accomplished according to the expressed intention of the act, they will be found effectually to supercede that authority in our respective assemblies, which is essential to liberty.

The

question is not "whether some branches shall be "lopped off?"The axe is laid to the root of the tree; and the whole body must infallibly perish, if we remain idle spectators of the work.

No free people ever existed, or can ever exist, without keeping, to use a common, but strong expression, "the purse strings," in their own hands. Where this is the case, they have a constitutional check upon the administration, which may thereby be brought into order without violence: but where such a power is not lodged in the people, oppression proceeds uncontrouled in its career, till the go

verned, transported into rage, seek redress in the midst of blood and confusion.

THE ingenious mr. Hume, speaking of the AngloNorman government, says" princes and ministers were too ignorant, to be themselves sensible of the advantage attending an equitable administration, and there was no established council or assembly, which could protect the people, and by withdrawing supplies, regularly and peaceably admonish the king of his duty, and insure the execu-· tion of the laws."

THUS this great man, whose political reflections are so much admired, makes this power one of the foundations of liberty.

THE English history abounds with instances, proving that this is the proper and successful way to obtain redress of grievances.-How often have kings and ministers endeavoured to throw off this legal curb upon them, by attempting to raise money by a variety of inventions, under pretence of law, without having recourse to parliament? And how often have they been brought to reason, and peaceably obliged to do justice, by the exertion of this constitutional authority of the people, vested in their representatives?