In
short, had you cast about for a plan on purpose to enrich your
enemies, you could not have hit upon a better.
C. S.
VIII.
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF ENGLAND.
"TRUSTING (says the king of England in his speech of November last,)
in the divine providence, and in the justice of my cause, I am
firmly resolved to prosecute the war with vigor, and to make every
exertion in order to compel our enemies to equitable terms of peace
and accommodation." To this declaration the United States of
America, and the confederated powers of Europe will reply, if
Britain will have war, she shall have enough of it.
Five years have nearly elapsed since the commencement of
hostilities, and every campaign, by a gradual decay, has lessened your
ability to conquer, without producing a serious thought on your
condition or your fate. Like a prodigal lingering in an habitual
consumption, you feel the relics of life, and mistake them for
recovery. New schemes, like new medicines, have administered fresh
hopes, and prolonged the disease instead of curing it. A change of
generals, like a change of physicians, served only to keep the
flattery alive, and furnish new pretences for new extravagance.
"Can Britain fail?"* has been proudly asked at the undertaking of
every enterprise; and that "whatever she wills is fate,"*(2) has
been given with the solemnity of prophetic confidence; and though
the question has been constantly replied to by disappointment, and the
prediction falsified by misfortune, yet still the insult continued,
and your catalogue of national evils increased therewith.
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