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neral rule, and extending that relief to them 

 which cannot be extended to others, it is not 

 my present business to inquire, even if I had 

 the proper time and means of inquiry. Cases 

 may occur, where, from motives of com- 

 passion to the sufferers, it may be excusable 

 to extend such relief; but I doubt exceeding- 

 ly, whether, in an enlarged view, it ever can 

 be for the public advantage to infringe the ge- 

 neral rule. 1 doubt if the public ever will suffer 

 so much from the ruin of a few imprudent indi- 

 viduals, as it will from the cost of relieving 

 them, and from the encouragement which such 

 relief gives to further imprudence. 



As already said, however, I do not wish to 

 push general principles too far. Justice may 

 sometimes relax from her rigid equality : And 

 I have not the means of deciding, whether the 

 case of the colonists may not be such as to 

 justify some deviation in their favour. If their 

 difficulties have been in part occasioned by the 

 public measures of the country, their claim is 

 no doubt the stronger. 



At the same time, it is not to be forgotten, 

 that the present distresses of the colonists will 

 never be removed by any temporary expedient. 

 If they depend on a general cause, (the over 

 culture of their commodity), the only effectual 

 remedy rests with themselves. If) by such 



