Y t REPERIO ae 
T3 « 
Pee Oe ee ee! ee eee oe ee eee 
A PHILOSOPHICAL DISCOURSE. I1 
bly been loft ; and the world had not been aftonifhed at the no- 
ble and unexpected exertions, we fo happily made againft the 
power of Britain: a power, diftinguifhed for its magnitude, 
and with which we had to contend under the preffure of the 
greateft difficulties and difcouragements. 
E One ardent with will be indulged to me on this occafion, that 
we may ever deferve to be poffeffed of freedom and independence ; 
and by-deferving them, convince our enemies, that the SUPREME 
ARBITER of the fate of nations will not fuffer Britain to wreft 
them from us. The firft of them—freedom—in a conftitu- 
tional fenfe, while we remained-connected with Britain, and un- 
til the fpurned our repeated prayers to her for its reftoration, 
was E only Sn of our exertions : and the € 
juftice. 
With refpe& to the Indian tribes of America, and the Blacks 
of Africa, if they defcended from the fame original ftock, and 
are alike affected with the reft of mankind, they SR | partake of 
the advantages and difadvan tages of climate in common with 
them = unlefs it be fuppofed, that the unexplored caufe of the 
difference of colour may, in any meafure, alter the effe&s of cli- 
mate. If it doth not alter them, and if all nations in the fame 
latitudes, confidered in the grofs, have equal capacities, the dif- 
ference, that on comparifon appears between them, on be: 
cafual; arifing from fome certain adventitious E pem 
Which take place in fome of them, and not in others ; 
which, as they arife, call thofe capacities into action, and e 
occafion that difference. 
If 
