have great Reason to expect the continuance of Peace.”] after the word [have] insert the word, [no]
“Nothing on my Part consistent,”] Instead of [consistent] read inconsistent.
“It gives me much concern”] after the word [me] insert the word [not]
“For the several Services of the current Year”] Instead of [Services] read Devices.
“Discernment of their true Interests”] Instead of [true] read [new] meaning the new and defferent Interests from what their foolish Ancestors had at the glorious Revolution. As the Crown and its Ministers have new Views, and new Modes of Government the People may well be supposed to have new Interests, since that whiggish Period, when the true Interest of the King and People were so much mistaken by a set of wild Enthusiats called Patriots. A Name which Doctor Johnson, in his Dictionary, says, is to be found in the Dictionary only; the Doctor at that Time little thought of writing an infamous Pamphlet under that Name.
My faithful and beloved People”] By this distinguishing and respectful Epithet [faithful,] must be meant the faithful Majority of Lords and
[print edition page 189]
Commons.—in the wheedling Epithet [beloved] this Majority is also certainly included—But the stiff-necked, patriotic Ministry, the plaintive City of London, the injured Subjects in general, and the brave Americans in particular, (not forgetting their truly noble Friend LORD EFFINGHAM,)6 are most certainly excepted. As to the firm Americans, it is impossible that they should be comprised in these tender Terms; because his Majesty is most graciously pleased to intimate, a little before that if his firm and steady Parliament had not, with a firm and steady Resolution, devoted that Part of his Majesty’s Subjects to Destruction, the Rights of his Crown, the Authority of Parliament, and the Commercial Interests of his Kingdoms, could not be maintained, protected and promoted.—The necessary Inference from these words is, that nothing can maintain, protect, or promote, the true Interests of the BRITISH EMPIRE, but Popery, Sword, and Famine, I may add TYRANNY, and TAXATION.—If the above sugared Words, [faithful and beloved] are extended generally, they must be looked upon as Springs to catch Woodcocks, they remind me of that shrew’d Reflection which SHAKESPEAR puts into the Mouth of Hotspur, upon King Henry’s SWEET WORDS, to that young Hero, whilst his Majesty was cajoling him, (as he says,) like a fawning Greyhound—viz.
________what a deal of candied Courtesy!
“Gentle Harry Piercy!—and kind Cousin!
“O! the Devil take such Cozeners!”7
[print edition page 190]
Q.—Whether this early Prorogation is not as truly symptomatic as the Minister’s Fears, as the sudden Dissolution was of the last infamous Parliament? This early prorogation (by Mansfield’s advice) shews, that after all the foul mouth’d, bullying, insolence, of a Tyrannic Administration, they dare not protract the Session of Parliament any longer for fear of hearing news from AMERICA (which they could not conceal) during that Session. This Vacation, therefore, is artfully contrived to give breath to a confused, destracted, and trembling ADMINISTRATION; at the opening of the next Session of Parliament, (if this vile ADMINISTRATION lives so long) we may (under Bute’s and Mansfield’s auspices) expect some curious State Manoeuvre, ready cut and dryed. I will venture to Prophesy with more certainty than Lord SANDWICH, Lord DENBIGH, or any other MINISTERIAL BULLY, in the GANG, that we shall, at last see, not a rational political Gratification of the wishes; but a pitiful, mean, contemptible, and dastardly SUBMISSION, (by downright COMPULSION) to the JUST DEMANDS of AMERICA. I call upon my Countrymen, to remember, that so insignificant an Individual as CASCA, now fortells that neither the present ADMINISTRATION, nor, (as I fear) the present REIGN will end till they have supplied Matter for a dreadful and most exemplary Record in the BRITISH ANNALS.
CASCA.
Printed and published for the Authors, by T. W. SHAW, in Fleet-Street, opposite Anderton’s Coffee House, where Letters to the Publisher will be thankfully received.
[print edition page 191]
THE
CRISIS
| NUMBER XXII | To be continued Weekly. |
| SATURDAY, JUNE 17, 1775 | [Price Two-pence Half-penny |
BLOOD calls for BLOOD.
To the People of England.
Friends and Fellow Countrymen,
LET me conjure you by all you hold dear, HERE and HEREAFTER, by all the Ties of NATURE and JUSTICE, to rouse in Defence of your persecuted Brethren and Fellow Subjects in America, who Daily fall Innocent Victoms to LAWLESS Power: let me intreat you to rouse in Defence of your Rights and Liberties; those Rights and Liberties which Heaven gave, and for which your Fathers bravely Fought, and Gloriously fell, to preserve themselves, and us their Posterity FREE; be assured if BLEEDING America can be reduced to Slavery, all the boasted Privileges of Englishmen must fall with her: let me therefore beseech you to OPPOSE with uplifted Hands, and stretched out Arms, the CRUEL, BLOODY, and UNNATURAL Tyranny of GEORGE the Third, and his diabolical Tory Minions: Perdition, Destruction, and all the Miseries of a tortured Death, attend the Wretch, who calls himself
[print edition page 192]
an ENGLISHMAN, and yet can TAMELY see his BROTHER, or Fellow Subject, Perish through wanton Cruelty, Oppression, or the Sword.
No Tyrant was ever more Despotic and Cruel than the present Sovereign, who disgraces the Seat of Royalty in the British Empire; no Court ever more Corrupt than his, and yet, O my Countrymen, to this merciless and despotic Tyrant, and to his wicked and corrupt Ministry, you sacrifice your Rights, and yield a PEACEABLE Submission.
Consider the gloomy, the dreadful Prospect before you, the Plains of America are running with the BLOOD of her Inhabitants, the Essence of the English Constitution destroyed, and nothing but the Form, the mere Shadow of it remains; all the dear bought Liberties purchased and sealed with the BLOOD of your Forefathers, wrested from you by the polluted Hands of an abandoned set of Miscreants, supported and defended by a ROYAL TYRANT; and a dark cloud of Slavery, like a rising Tempest, overspreads the Land, it approaches Swiftly, and at this Moment threatens our Destruction; it is therefore high Time you should be roused and awakened to a sense of your Danger, and by an appeal to Heaven, by a glorious RESISTANCE, provide for your common Safety.
This is the only way, we have no other, to prevent the RUIN that threatens us, if we are inattentive or inactive at this Time, our Chains will be fast rivetted, and Liberty must expire; your Petitions and Remonstrances have been spurned by the King, and you have now no Remedy left but that of entering into an ASSOCIATION in Defence of your Common Rights, and the Rights of America. They have set you a noble Example, an Example worthy of Britons, an Example which you are Bound by all the Principles of Justice and Self-preservation to FOLLOW; he must be Blind that is not convinced of this, and he is an abandoned Wretch, an Enemy to Mankind, who will not pursue the Road.
Upon your Virtue and Resolution at this juncture, depends the SALVATION of England and America; it is now in your Power to prevent the farther Progress of Despotism, the Butchery of your Fellow Countrymen, and yourselves from Slavery and Ruin.
