The task before you, though painful, is not difficult; give up the
murderer, and save your officer, as the first outset of a necessary
reformation.
COMMON SENSE.
PHILADELPHIA May 31, 1782.
XII.
TO THE EARL OF SHELBURNE.
MY LORD,- A speech, which has been printed in several of the British
and New York newspapers, as coming from your lordship, in answer to
one from the Duke of Richmond, of the 10th of July last, contains
expressions and opinions so new and singular, and so enveloped in
mysterious reasoning, that I address this publication to you, for
the purpose of giving them a free and candid examination. The speech I
allude to is in these words:
"His lordship said, it had been mentioned in another place, that
he had been guilty of inconsistency. To clear himself of this, he
asserted that he still held the same principles in respect to American
independence which he at first imbibed. He had been, and yet was of
opinion, whenever the Parliament of Great Britain acknowledges that
point, the sun of England's glory is set forever. Such were the
sentiments he possessed on a former day, and such the sentiments he
continued to hold at this hour. It was the opinion of Lord Chatham, as
well as many other able statesmen. Other noble lords, however, think
differently, and as the majority of the cabinet support them, he
acquiesced in the measure, dissenting from the idea; and the point
is settled for bringing the matter into the full discussion of
Parliament, where it will be candidly, fairly, and impartially
debated.
Pages:
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260