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Strictly speaking, how many revolutions have we had?

How are they distinguished? How were they related to each other?

What does the venerable Adams say of the effects of our revolution? What query does he suggest concerning them?

When did the mental revolution begin?

acquaint them with the instructions they had given to their agent in England, to exert himself for the repeal of the Sugar Act, and to prevent the proposed Stamp Act, or any other impositions and taxes on the provinces; and to request the several assemblies to adopt a imilar measure. This was an important proceeding. It shows the alarm, which prevailed in Ms. and the deep sense entertained of the value of ancient rights, which it was necessary to preserve, if they would continue a free people. And it must have had the effect to rouse the citizens throughout the colonies to a consideration of the evils, which threatened, and to the adoption of united efforts to avert them.

During the recess of the legislature, from June to Nov. the members became more fully acquainted with the views and feelings of their constituents. The claim set up by Parliament of their right to tax America, was generally a subject of discussion with intelligent men through the province. The alarm had been given by the town of Boston, and the sentiments expressed by the assembly were almost universally approved. The pamphlet of Mr. Otis, stating the rights of the colonies, had an extensive circulation. From this pamphlet, the people derived correct views of their rights, and a just sense of their value, which they never ceased to cherish and maintain. The next session of the General Court

When did our external or political revolution begin?

What is generally meant by the American revolution?

Give some account of the origin of the American revolution, as stated by Mr. West to Mr. Adams.

Who was probably the principal author of those oppressions, which produced our revolution?

How came George III. to be

was in Nov. 1764. In his speech to the representatives of the people, Gov. Bernard studiously avoided introducing the subject, which he must have known, was uppermost in the minds of the Assembly, and most interesting to the people. But this did not prevent their deliberations in reference to the policy and measures of the parent country, which had excited such general alarm. The patriotic members of the legislature possessed the high feelings and spirit of their ancestors. They believed that they had a right to be free, and were determined to omit no efforts to remain so. They believed, that the present pretensions and impositions of British ministers were unjust; and if resolutely opposed, would be withdrawn; and that the regard for civil liberty was so great in England, that neither the people nor the government would justify such arbitrary measures."

During this session, the legislature adopted a memorial to the House of Commons. In this memorial, they mentioned many grievances. They also stated their inability to pay the duties required by the Sugar Act, and such as were proposed to be added by the Stamp Act; and at the same time, to discharge the debt of the province, and to contribute to the an nual support of their own government; that the colonies would be much impoverished by these duties, and the prosperity of Britain

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such a tyrant? He was educated by the earl of Bute.

Who was the earl of Bute? John Stewart, a Scotch nobleman, a relation of the Charleses and Jameses, who is said to have inherited their arbitrary principles.

What special reason did the British assign for taxing the colonies, besides their defending us? Their vast debt and needy circumstances.

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herself be thereby impeded, as there would be less demand in the colonies for British manufactures. They therefore humbly prayed to be relieved from the burden imposed by the late act of Parliament, to have their privileges, especially as to internal taxation, continued to them; or to have the execution of the laws, already passed, and of those in contemplation for raising a revenue in America, suspended, till the province, in conjunction with the other governments in N. A. could have opportunity to make a full representation of the state and condition of the colonies, and of the interests of Great Britain with regard to them."

How great was their debt? A bout 660 millions of dollars.

Can any pupil calculate the interest of that sum for a single day, at 6 per cent. a year?

How many times greater is the British debt now, than it was then? About six times.

What part of their debt had been contracted during the French and Indian War? About two thirds.

ments of the Council and Assembly of the province, in favor of the sole and exclusive right of the legislative authority in the colonies to raise taxes; thus virtually denying the claims of Parliament on this subject. It was the first expression of the legislature of any colony, publicly made on this momentous question, then beginning to be solemnly agitated; and though it was contained in a letter to an individual, that individual was a public agent, the document was a public one, and was soon published to the world, as expressive of the views and opinious of the patriots of Ms."

This imparts to the Sugar Act, an importance, which otherwise it could by no means claim. In estimating the importance of the Sugar Act, then, two circumstances are to be considered. It was the first act of the British Parliament, expressly designed to raise a revenue in this country; and it was the first grievance, that called forth in a colonial legislature, an open expression of opposition to the principle of taxation without repre sentation. This principle was the grand bone of contention between us and England. Upon this princi

This memorial to the House of Commons, was accompanied by a letter from the legislature to Mr. Mauduit, their agent in England, expressing more fully their opinion of their exclusive right to tax themselves. In this letter to Mauduit, they declare," that the people of the colonies have undoubtedly a right by charter to tax themselves; that so far as Parliament should lay taxes on the colonies, so far they would deprive them of this right; and that, had not the first settlers of this province imagined themselves as secure in the enjoy-ple, she insisted and acted, claiming ment of this right as of their title to their lands, they probably would never have left England."

"This letter contains a full and explicit declaration of the senti

the right to BIND THE COLO NIES IN ALL CASES WHATEVER. This principle we denied, denounced as tyrannical, and most vigorously opposed, first by argu

What oppressive act soon followed the Sugar Act? p. 151. In what year, was the Stamp Act passed?

How many letters are in the word stump?

What did this Act ordain? What minister brought into the House of Commons, the bill for the Stamp Act? George Gren

ville.

Who was the principal agent in

ments and entreaties, and then by arms. This produced the revolution; or rather the two revolutions; for there were really two, very distinct from each other; the first, internal and merely mental, the other external and visible; the one in a great measure finished before the other began, the former, however, the cause of the latter. This is a subject, which deserves much more attention from the youthful student, than it generally receives.

The American Revolution," says the venerable Adams, "was not a common event. Its effects and consequences have already been awful over a great part of the globe. And when, and where, are they to cease? But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American War? The revolution was effected, before the war commenced. The revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people-a change in their religious sentiments, of their duties and obligations." This was certainly a revolution, most stupendous in itself, and glorious in its consequences. But surely no one can doubt, that what is generally denominated our revolution, was really a revolution. Not indeed the "American War." That was but the necessary attendant and promoter of the external revolution. But a change of government-an entire separation from Britain, as a governing

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power, a law-giver and judge-an elevation from the humble, degraded condition of oppressed British colonies -to the rank of independent freemen-a transition from being the mere appendage and despised suburbs of monarchy, to becoming a great and flourishing nation, the first and happiest REPUBLIC in the world this surely is a revolution, and of all political revolutions, by far the most glorious. It may be difficult to determine the time, when the first began. The way had been preparing for ages and centuries. Perhaps no point of time has a higher claim to this distinction than the hour, when the thunder of Otis blasted forever the Writs of Assistance. This prepared the Bostonians to make a stand against the Sugar Act. Their opposition kindled at least the feeling of opposition through Ms. and through all the rest of the colonies. Opposition to the Sugar Act prepared the way to oppose the Stamp Act. Thus opposition to British tyranny advanced, continually extending, increas ing and propagating itself, till the affection of the colonists was almost entirely destroyed, and loyalty was no more. That completed the first revolution, and prepared the way for the second. It prepared the way to decide the awful question of our independence, on the field of battle. This political revolution began, when our independence was

What seems to have been the design of Providence in delaying the Stamp Act? To give the colonists opportunity to prepare to oppose it.

In what month, was the Stamp Act passed? In March.

When was it to be in force in the colonies? In Nov. following.

How many months had the colo

nists to prepare to oppose the Stamp Act! About 18 from the time, that it was first threatened.

What minister most ardently exclaimed in favor of the Stamp Act?

Who indignantly replied to him?

What, did Barre say, had planted the Americans?

sovereign in Europe, who was

declared in 1776, and terminated, when it was acknowledged by Brit-lodged so poorly; that his sorry, ain in 1783, perhaps more properly, at the commencement of Washington's administration in 1789.

When the American tevolution is mentioned, the latter or external, political revolution is chiefly intended, though sometimes the writer or speaker may mean to include both.

Mr. Tudor in his life of Otis, gives us the following anecdote. When President Adams was minister at the court of St. James, he often saw his countryman, Benjamin West, the late president of the royal academy. Mr. West always retained a strong and unyielding affection for his native land. Mr. West one day asked Mr. Adams, if he should like to take a walk with him, and see the cause of the American revolution. The minister, having known something of this matter, smiled at the proposal, but told him, that he should be glad to see the cause of that revolution, and to take a walk with his friend West any where. The next morning he called according to agreement, and took Mr. Adams into Hyde Park, to a spot near the Serpentine River, where he gave him the following narrative. The king came to the throne a young man, surrounded by flattering courtiers; one of whose frequent topics it was, to declaim against the meanness of his palace, which was wholly unworthy a monarch of such a country as England, They said, that there was not a

dingy, old, brick palace of St. James, looked like a stable, and that he ought to build a palace suitable to his kingdom. The king was fond of architecture, and would therefore more readily listen to suggestions, which were in fact all true. This spot that you see here, was selected for the site, between this and this point, which were marked out. The king applied to his ministers on the subject; they inquired what sum would be wanted by his majesty, who said that he would begin with a million. They stated the expenses of the war, and the poverty of the treasury, but that his majesty's wishes should be taken into full consideration. Some time afterwards the king was informed, that the wants of the treasury were too urgent to admit of a supply from their present means, but that

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revenue might be raised in America, to supply all the king's wishes. This suggestion was fol lowed up, and the king was in this way first led to consider, and then to consent, to the scheme for taxing the colonies."

has been a question, from whom proceeded those measures of oppression, which drove us to revolt and produced our revolution. If I do not mistake, it was the opinion of Mr. Adams, whatever he might think of West's account, that they should be ascribed to king George himself, more than to any

From what, did he say, they fled?

Was it so? Principally; but not entirely.

What spirit, did Barre say, would continue with the Americans?

Where was Franklin at that time?

What did Franklin write to Mr. Thompson?

What did Thompson reply?

other person. He represents George III. as being in feeling and in principle, from the very beginning, a tyrant of the first magnitude. In one of his letters, he has the following sentence of condemnation upon his majesty. "I have no hesitation or scruple to say, that the commencement of the reign of George III. was the commencement of another Stewart's reign; and if it had not been checked by James Otis and others first, and by the great Chatham and others afterwards, it would have been as arbitrary as any of the four. I do not say would have extinguished civil and relig. ious liberty upon earth; but it would have gone great lengths towards it, and would have cost mankind even more than the French revolution, to preserve it."

+ NOTE W. Patrick Henry. This wonderful man was born in Hanover Co. Va. not far from Richmond, in the year 1736, about eleven years after the birth of Mr. Otis, at Barnstable, Ms. As a statesman, patriot and orator, the former was scarcely less illustrious than the latter. Indeed, I should not be offended with the Virginians, if they should think the citizen of their own state the greater light.

Effect of the news of the Stamp Act, in this country?

By whom, were passed resolu tions against the act?

What colony led the way in these resolutions?

Who presented the Va. resolu tions to their house of burgesses? Meaning of burgesses?

Two greatest orators, that ever this country produced? Probably James Otis and Patrick Henry.t

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Mr. Adams indeed declared in his old age, that Otis spoke "in a style of oratory, that he never heard equalled in this or any other country," and also said, that if Mr. Henry was Demosthenes, and Mr. Richard Henry Lee, Cicero, James Otis was Isaiah and Ezekiel united; yet Mr. Jefferson said, that Henry "was the greatest orator that ever lived;" and that "Mr. Henry certainly gave the first impulse to the ball of the Revolution." That Mr. Henry did not give the first impulse, appears clear from Mr. Adams's account of the Writs of Assistance. But if Mr. Otis was first and foremost, no doubt, Henry was second, and scarcely inferior to his great rival. In 1763, Mr. Henry "electrified" the Virginians, and prepared them to resist the Sugar Act and Stamp Act, in a manner, somewhat similar to what Mr. Otis had done the Bostonians in 1761. In his most celebrated speech, "when "he he plead against the parsons,' insisted on the connection and reciprocal duties between the king and his subjects; maintained that government was a conditional compact, composed of mutual and dependent covenants, of which, a violation by one party discharged the other; and intrepidly contended, that the disregard, which had been shown in this particular, to the pressing wants of the colony, was an instance of royal misrule, which had thus far

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