What does the venerable Adan say of the effects of our revolution? What query does he suggest con

To what act, does this circumstance impart peculiar importance? What two circumstances are to be considered in estimating the im-cerning them? portance of the Sugar act?

What was the grand bone of contention between us and Britain? What did this produce? § Strictly speaking, how many revolutions have we had?

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

When did the mental revolution begin?

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.

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 possess

their ancestors. They believed that they had a right to be free, and were determined to omit no efforts to remain so. They believ

so great in England, that neither the people nor the government would justify such arbitrary mea

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,ed the high feelings and spirit of 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 acquaint-ed, that the present pretensions and ed with the views and feelings of impositions of British ministers their constituents. The claim set were unjust; and if resolutely opup by Parliament of their right to posed, would be withdrawn; and tax America, was generally a sub-that the regard for civil liberty was ject of discussion with intelligent men through the province.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 ex-morial, they mentioned many grievtensive 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 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

sures.

During this session, the legislature adopted a memorial to the House of Commons. In this me

ances. 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 annual support of their own government; that the colonies would be much impoverished by these duties, and the prosperity of Britain herself be thereby impeded, as there would be less demand in the colonies for Brit

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

How came George III. to be 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 Charieses and Jameses, who is said to have inherited their arbitrary principles.

British assign for taxing the co nies, besides their defending us i Their vast debt and needy circum

stances.

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? § What special reason did the About six times.

ish manufactures. They thereforements of the Council and Assembly humbly prayed' to be relieved from of the province, in favor of the sole the burden imposed by the late act and exclusive right of the legislaof Parliament, to have their privi-tive authority in the colonies to leges, especially as to internal tax-raise taxes; thus virtually denying ation, continued to them; or to the claims of Parliament on this have the execution of the laws, al-subject. It was the first expres ready passed, and of those in con- sion of the legislature of any colony, templation for raising a revenue in publicly made on this momentous America, suspended, till the prov-question, then beginning to be solince, in conjunction with the other emnly agitated; and though it was governments in N. A. could have contained in a letter to an individopportunity to make a full repre- ual, that individual was a public sentation of the state and condition agent, the document was a public of the colonies, and of the interests one, and was soon published to the of Great Britain with regard to world, as expressive of the views them." and opinions of the patriots of Ms."

This memorial to the House of This imparts to the Sugar Act, Commons, was accompanied by a an importance, which otherwise it letter from the legislature to Mr. could by no means claim. In estiMauduit, their agent in England, mating the importance of the Sugar expressing more fully their opinion Act, then, two circumstances are of their exclusive right to tax them- to be considered. It was the first selves. In this letter to Mauduit, act of the British Parliament, exthey declare, that the people of pressly designed to raise a revenue the colonies have undoubtedly a in this country; and it was the first right by charter to tax themselves; grievance, that called forth in a cothat so far as Parliament should lonial legislature, an open expres lay taxes on the colonies, so far sion of opposition to the principle they would deprive them of this of taxation without representation. right; and that, had not the first This principle was the grand bone settlers of this province imagined of contention between us and Engthemselves as secure in the enjoy-land. Upon this principle, she inment of this right as of their titlesisted and acted, claiming the right to their lands, they probably would to BIND THE COLONIES ÎN never have left England."

ALL CASES WHATEVER.—

"Thus letter contains a full and This principle we denied, denouncexplicit declaration of the senti-ed as tyrannical, and most vigor.

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

§ What oppressive act soon followed the Sugar Act?

In what year, was the Stamp Act, passed?

How many letters are in the word stamp?

What did this Act ordain?

What minister brought into the House of Commons, the bill for the Stamp Act? George Grenville.

Who was the principal agent in causing it to be passed? George Grenville.

When did the House of Commons resolve, that it was expedient to pass the Stamp Act? In March, 1764, just before passing the Sugar Act.

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 de

ously opposed, first by arguments 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 an merely mental, the other exter-spised suburbs of monarchy, to benal and visible; the one in a great coming a great and flourishing nameasure finished before the other tion, the first and happiest REbegan, the former, however, the PUBLIC in the world-this surely cause of the latter, This is a sub- is a revolution, and of all political ject, which deserves much more at-revolutions, by far the most gloritention from the youthful student, than it generally receives.

ous. It may be difficult to determine the time, when the first be"The American revolution," gan The way had been preparing says the venerable Adams, "was for ages and centuries. Perhaps not a common event. Its effects no point of time has a higher claim and consequences have already been to, this distinction than the hour, awful over a great part of the globe, when the thunder of Otis blasted And when, and where, are they to forever the Writs of Assistance. cease? But what do we mean by This prepared the Bostonians to the American Revolution? Do we make a stand against the Sugar mean the American War? The Act. Their opposition kindled revolution was effected, before the at least the feeling of opposition war commenced. The revolution through Ms. and through all the was in the minds and hearts of the rest of the colonies. Opposition to people a change in their religious the Sugar Act prepared the way to sentiments, of their duties and ob- oppose the Stamp Act. Thus opligations." This was certainly a position to British tyranny advancrevolution, most stupendous in it-ed, continually extending, increasself, and glorious in its consequen-ing and propagating itself, till the ces. But surely no one can doubt, affection of the colonists was almost that what is generally denominated entirely destroyed, and loyalty was our revolution, was really a revolu- no more. That completed the first tion. Not indeed the "American revolution, and prepared the way War." That was but the neces- for the second. It prepared the sary attendant and promoter of the way to decide the awful question external revolution. But a change of our independence, on the field of of government-an entire separa-battle. This political revolution tion from Britain, as a governing began when our independence was

declared in 1776, and terminated, arch of such a country as England. when it was acknowledged by Bri-They said, that there was not a tain in 1783, perhaps more proper-sovereign in Europe, who was lodg ly, at the commencement of Wash-ed so poorly; that his sorry, dingy, ington's administration in 1789.

old, brick palace of St. James, When the American revolution looked like a stable, and that he is mentioned, the latter or external, ought to build a palace suitable to political revolution is chiefly in- his kingdom. The king was fʊnd tended, though sometimes the writ-of architecture, and would thereer or speaker may mean to include both.

fore more readily listen to suggestions, which were in fact all tree This spot that you see here, was

Mr. Tudor in his life of Otis, gives us the following anecdote.selected for the site, between this "When President Adams was min- and this point, which were marked ister at the court of St. James, he out. The king applied to his minoften saw his countryman, Benja-isters on the subject; they inquired min West, the late president of the what sum would be wanted by his royal academy. Mr. West always majesty, who said that he would retained a strong and unyielding begin with a million. They stated affection for his native land. Mr. the expenses of the war, and the West one day asked Mr. Adams, poverty of the treasury, but that his if he should like to take a walk majesty's wishes should be taken with him, and see the cause of the into full consideration. Some time American revolution. The minis- afterwards the king was informed, ter, having known something of this that the wants of the treasury were matter, smiled at the proposal, but too urgent to admit of a supply told him, that he should be glad to from their present means, but that see the cause of that revolution, and a revenue might be raised in Amerto take a walk with his friend Westca, to supply all the king's wishes. 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 mon

This suggestion was followed up, and the king was in this way first led to consider, and then to consent, to the scheme for taxing the colonies."

It 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

Who indignantly replied to him? What, did Barre say, had planted the Americans?

From what, did he say, they fled ?

Was it so? Principally; but not entirely.

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

Where was Franklin at that time?

Two greatest orators, that ever

What did Franklin write to Mr. this country produced? Probably Thompson? James Otis and Patrick Henry.t

he might think of West's account, they should think the citizen of that they should be ascribed to king their own state the greater light. George himself, more than to any Mr. Adams indéed declared in his other person. He represents George old age, that Otis spoke "in a style 11. as being in feeling and in prin- of oratory, that he never heard ciple, from the very beginning, a equalled in this or any other countyrant of the first magnitude. Intry," and also said, " that if Mr. cne 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 it would have extinguished civil and religious 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 X.

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 Bostomians in 1761. In his most celebrated speech, "when he plead against the parsons,' "" he insisted on the connection and reciprocal duties between the king and his

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 states-subjects; maintained that governinan, patriot and orator, the former was scarcely less illustrious than the latter. Indeed, I should not be offended with the Virginians, il

ment was a conditional compact, composed of mutual and dependent covenants, of which, a violation by one party discharged the other'