America in any part of that kingdom were very few; and those whose friendship was difinterefted, and in no degree owing to their own political factions, ftill fewer. The wife and valuable part of the nation were, and as yet are, in a great measure ignorant of the state of things in this country; neither is it easy for the bulk of a people to fhake off their prejudices, and open their eyes upon the great principles of univerfal liberty. It is therefore at least very difputable, whether there is any just ground for the distinction between Scots and English on this fubject at all.

This dispute, however, I do not mean to enter upon, because it is of too little moment to find a place here, but fuppofing that, in some provinces especially, the natives of Scotland have been too much inclined to fupport the ufurpations of the parent state, I will first endeavour to account for it, by affigning fome of its probable causes; and then offer a few confiderations which fhould induce them to wipe off the afperfion entirely, by a contrary conduct.

As to the first of thefe, I will mention what I fuppofe to have been the firft and radical cause, and which gave birth to every other, of the difaffection of fome of the natives of Scotland to the juft privileges of America. What I have in view was, the friends of liberty, in many places of America, taking the part of, and seeming to confider themselves as in a great measure engaged in the fame caufe with that very diftinguished perfon,

John

John Wilkes, Efq: of London. This was done,, not only in many writings and news-paper differtations, but one or two colonies, in fome of their most respectable meetings, manifested their attachment to him, and feemed to confider him as their patron and friend. N° 45, which was the moft offenfive number of a worthlefs paper, was repeated and echoed, by the moft filly and ridiculous allufions to it, through every part of the country, and by many who could not tell what was fignified by the term.

It will not be neceffary to fay muck on the pru-.. dence of fuch conduct, because I suppose thofe who expected, Wilkes's mob would pull down the parliament-house, or that there would be infurrections all over the kingdom in behalf of America, are by this time fully fatisfied of their miftake. It appears now in the clearest manner, that, till very, lately those who seemed to take the part of America in the British parliament, never did it on American principles. They either did not understand, or were not willing to admit, the extent of our claim. Even the great Lord Chatham's bill for reconciliation would not have been accepted here, and did not materially differ from what the ministry would have confented to. The truth is, the far greatest part of the countenance given in Britain to the complaints of this country, was by those who had no other intention in it than to use them as an engine of oppofition to the miniftry for the time being. It is true, fome of them

them have now learned to reafon very justly, and upon the most liberal principles; but their number is not great, and it was not the cafe with any one fpeaker or writer, whofe works I have had the opportunity of perufing, till the very laft ftage of the quarrel.

What effect this Wilkifm (if I may speak fo) of many Americans may be fupposed to have had upon the minds of gentlemen from Scotland, it is not difficult to explain. That gentleman, and his affociates, thought proper to found the whole of their oppofition to the then ministry, upon a contempt and hatred of the Scots nation; and by the most illiberal methods, and the most fcandalous falfehoods, to ftir up a national jealoufy between the northern and fouthern parts of the island. There was not a vile term or hateful idea, which ancient vulgar animofity had ever used, though long union had made them scarcely intelligible, which he did not rake up and attempt to bring into credit, by writing and converfation. The confequence of this is well known. Wilkes and fome others were burnt in effigy in Scotland; and it produced fo general an attachment to the king and ministry, as has not yet fpent its force. In these circumstances, is it to be wondered at that many who left Scotland, within the last fifteen years, when they heard Wilkes, and those who adhered to him, extolled and celebrated by the fons of liberty, fhould be apt to confider it as an evidence of the fame fpirit, and

that:

that they were engaged in fupport of the fame caufe. Perhaps we may go a little higher with this remark, in tracing political appearances to their fource. It is generally faid, that the King himself has discovered a violent, rancorous, perfonal hatred against the Americans. If this be true, and I know nothing to the contrary, it may be easily accounted for upon the very fame principles.

I am far from fuppofing that this was a good reafon for any man's being cool to the American cause, which was as different from that of Wilkes, as light is from darkness. It was indeed doing great dishonour to the noble struggle, to fuppofe it to have any connection with who fhould be in or out of court favour at London; and therefore it was always my opinion, that those who railed against the King and ministry only, did not carry the argument home, nor fully understand the nature of their own plea. In order to justify the American oppofition, it is not neceffary to fhew that the perfons in power have invaded liberty in Britain; it is fufficient to fay, that they, with the concurrence of the whole nation, have refufed to fuffer it to continue in the colonies.

This leads me to the fecond part of my defign, which was to lay before you the reasons which, I think, fhould induce every lover of justice and of mankind, not only to be a well-wisher, but a firm and ftedfaft friend to America, in this im-. portant conteft,

It.

It has been often faid, that the prefent is likely to be an important æra to America. I think we may fay much more; it is likely to be an important æra in the history of mankind. In the ancient migrations, a new country was generally fettled by a finall, unconnected, and often an ignorant band. The people and the foil were alike uncultivated, and therefore they proceeded to improvement by very flow degrees; nay, many of them fell back and degenerated into a state vastly more favage than the people from whence they came. In America we fee a rich and valuable foil, and an extenfive country, taken poffeffion of by the power, the learning, and the wealth of Europe. For this reason it is now exhibiting to the world a scene which was never feen before. It has had a progress in improvement and population, fo rapid as no political calculators have been able to ascertain. I look upon every thing that has been faid upon this fubject to be mere conjecture, except in fuch places as there has been an actual numeration. When men say that America doubles its number in fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five years, they speak by guefs, and they fay nothing. In fome places that may be under or over the truth; but there are vast tracks of land that fill every year with inhabitants, and yet the old fettled places ftill continue to in crease.

It is proper to obferve, that the British fettlements have been improved in a proportion far be

yond