I'jg^' POPULATION IM N. AMERICA. 24I 



In the crowd of fplendid clrcumitances which prefs 

 on the fancy, it is one of the mod pleafing to reflect, 

 that the tyranny of prieflcrafr will be buried in hnaL 

 oblivion. The provincial adembly of Virginia had the 

 glory of fotting the firil examp.'i to mankind of an uni- 

 verfal and abfoliite right of confcience. Their edict 

 on that fiibjecl deferves to be tranlmitted to pofterity 

 on biafs and: marble. With what amazement and hor- 

 ror will the Americans of the next century look back 

 on our difgraceful hiltory, during this memorable year, 

 on the ijicendiaries of Birmingham, the juTors of War- 

 wick, and fome churchmen, worfe than either, who 

 vindicate perfecution. 



I was led into thefe reflecbions on the political pro- 

 grefs of America, by a recent debate in our Houfe of 

 Ccmmons, I mean that refpefting the conftitution of 

 the govenj.ment of Canada. Many long fpeeche;; 

 were made, and many violent exprelhons were em- 

 ployed. But pafhng over the extreme impertinence ot 

 introducing the French revolution, I with to aflc the. 

 oppofite parties this fimple queition ; " Pray, gentle- 

 men, hov/ long do you expect to govern Canada f.'"' 

 The province, as I have been well informed, contains 

 at lead 6 or 700,000 inhabitants, and it is . perfectly 

 known, that there is not a fiftieth intlividual wlio would 



fire a muPicet to. fave their rulers from extirpation 



That fiich a frail edilice has hitherto been fuficred to tot- 

 ter on the furface of the political world can be afcribed 

 to nothing but the moderation of tlie American congrefs. 

 That it can exilt for ten years lonjjer, is, in the nature 

 of human affairs, almnd morally impoiTiblc. The dif- 

 affi;(ftion of the inhabitants would alone bs fulficient 



f For fomc years p.iiT: Lord Dorch.iftcr gave a general pcrmlflit n to 

 the fiilijc^'s of tlic Uuit-'tl Srut(:s to fettle in Canada. An :ici[uainr- 

 aiice of n'line wasaiTurclby hi^ Lorrffhip'a Secretary, that in 1788, forty 

 thoufaiid perfoiis trhigratfd from the States into the foutlicrn parts of 

 that province ; and it is gciiendly underftood at Qijcbec, that the num- 

 ber of Yankies, aswc quaintly term tlicm, fettled in C.iuaua, i^ Aitii 

 cicijt lo drive tl.j lins^llQi j-overnor out of :hj cuuiitry. 



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