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I have never met with a man either in England or America, who hath not confessed his opinion, that a separation between the countries would take place one time or other: And there is no instance in which we have shown less judgment, than in endeavoring to describe, what we call, the ripeness or fitness of the continent for independence. As all men allow the measure, and vary only in their opinion of the time, let us, in order to remove mistakes, take a general survey of things, and endeavor if possible to find out the VERY time. But I need not go far, the inquiry ceases at once, for the TIME HATH FOUND US. The general concurrence, the glorious union of all things, proves the fact. ’Tis not in numbers but in unity that our great strength lies: yet our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world. The Continent hath at this time the largest body of armed and disciplined men of any power under Heaven: and is just arrived at that pitch of strength, in which no single colony is able to support itself, and the whole, when united, is able to do anything. Our land force is more than sufficient, and as to Naval affairs, we cannot be insensible that Britain would never suffer an American man of war to be built, while the Continent remained in her hands. Wherefore, we should be no forwarder an hundred years hence in that branch than we are now; but the truth is, we should be less so, because the timber of the Country is every day diminishing, and that which will remain at last, will be far off or difficult to procure. Selection 3: adapted from The Deceiver Unmasked by Reverend Charles Inglis In the 1770s, the resentment American colonists felt toward their British rulers was taking fire. In January 1776, the American Revolutionary Thomas Paine published his famous pamphlet, Common Sense. In the pamphlet, Paine urged the colonists to declare independence from Britain and to establish a republic—a nation with democratic rule. Some Americans, loyal to the British, were appalled by Paine’s radicalism. By March 1776, the Reverend Charles Inglis, a Loyalist, had published a rebuttal of Paine, The Deceiver Unmasked. For Inglis, Paine was a deceiver, interested only in his own ambitions. Paine’s arguments for independence, Inglis urged, masked the dire consequences that would surely follow an American revolt. By a declaration for independency, every avenue to an accommodation with Great Britain would be closed; the sword only could then decide the quarrel; and the sword would not be sheathed till one had conquered the other. The importance of these colonies to Britain need not be enlarged on, it is a thing so universally known. The greater their importance is to her, so much the more obstinate will her struggle be, not to lose them. The independency of America would, in the end, deprive her of the West Indies, shake her empire to the foundation, and reduce her to a state of the most mortifying insignificance. Great Britain therefore must, for her own preservation, risk everything, and exert her whole strength, to prevent such an event from taking place. This being the case— Devastation and ruin must mark the progress of this war along the sea-coast of America. . . . Ruthless war, with all its aggravated horrors, will ravage our once happy land; our sea-coasts and ports will be ruined, and our ships taken. Torrents of blood will be spilt, and thousands reduced to beggary and wretchedness. This melancholy contest would [last] till one side conquered. Supposing Britain to be victorious; however high my opinion is of British generosity, I should be exceedingly sorry to receive terms from her in the haughty tone of a conqueror. Or supposing such a failure of her manufactures, commerce and strength, that victory should incline to the side of America; yet who can say in that case, what extremities her sense of resentment and self-preservation will drive Great Britain to? For my part, I should not in the least be surprised, if, on such a prospect as the independency of America, she would parcel out this continent to the different European powers. Canada might be restored to France, Florida to Spain. . . .1 But supposing, once more, that we were able to cut off every regiment that Britain can spare or hire, and to destroy every ship she can send—that we could beat off any other European power that would presume to intrude upon this continent; yet a republican form of government2 would neither suit the genius of the people, nor the extent of America. . . . The Americans are properly Britons. They have the manners, habits, and ideas of Britons; and have been accustomed to a similar form of government. But Britons never could bear the extremes, either of monarchy or republicanism. Some of their kings have aimed at despotism; but always failed. Repeated efforts have been made towards democracy, and they equally failed. Once indeed republicanism triumphed over the constitution; the despotism of one person ensued; both were finally expelled.3 If we may judge of future events by past transactions, in similar circumstances, this would most probably be the case of America, were a republican form of government adopted in our present ferment. After much blood was shed, those confusions would terminate in the despotism of some one successful adventurer; and should the Americans be so fortunate as to emancipate themselves from that thraldom,4 perhaps the whole would end in a limited monarchy, after shedding as much more blood. Limited monarchy is the form of government which is most favorable to liberty—which is best adapted to the genius and temper of Britons; although here and there among us a crack-brained zealot5 for democracy, or absolute monarchy, may be sometimes found. _________________________________________________________________ 1. Canada might be restored to France, Florida to Spain At the end of the Seven Years’ War in 1763, Britain had expanded its territory in North America, winning Canada from France and Florida from Spain. 2. a republican form of government The American revolutionaries wanted to establish America as a republic, or nation in which the people approved the laws and there was no king or queen. 3. Once indeed republicanism triumphed . . . finally expelled Inglis is referring to the English Civil Wars, during which a Parliamentary leader backed by the military rather than the king briefly ruled the country. The English Republic failed, and loyal supporters of the monarchy restored that institution in 1660. 4. thraldom slavery 5. zealot fanatic