Petersburgh. The Americans, moreover, drew encouragement from the hope
that there might be a rebellion in Ireland, if not in England itself. To
ensure such a consummation in Ireland, they even sent addresses to the
Irish people which were well calculated to lead to it. How artfully
these addresses were worded may be seen from the following extract of
one, in which the Americans expressed their regret that they had been
compelled to include Ireland with Great Britain in their non-importation
agreements. It states:--"Your parliament had done us no wrong. You had
ever been friendly to the rights of mankind, and we acknowledge with
pleasure and gratitude that your nation has produced patriots who have
nobly distinguished themselves in the cause of humanity and America. On
the other hand we were not ignorant that the labour and manufactures of
Ireland, like those of the silkworm, were of little moment to herself,
but served only to give luxury to those who neither toil nor spin. We
perceived that if we continued our commerce with you, our agreement not
to import from Britain must be fruitless. Compelled to behold
thousands of our countrymen imprisoned; and men, women, and children in
promiscuous and unmerited misery--when we found all faith at an end,
and sacred treaties turned into tricks of state--when we perceived our
friends and kinsmen massacred, our habitations plundered, our houses
in flames, and their once happy inhabitants fed only by the hand of
charity--who can blame us for endeavouring to restrain the progress of
the desolation? Who can censure us for repelling the barbarous band?
Who in such circumstances would not obey the great, the universal, the
divine law of self-preservation? Though vilified as wanting spirit, we
are determined to behave like men; though insulted and abused, we wish
for reconciliation; though defamed as seditious, we are ready to obey
the laws: and though charged with rebellion, we will cheerfully bleed
in defence of our sovereign in a righteous cause.
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