Wesley Corpus

It might just as well have been said, “Attempts were made to procure a large body of Tartars.” 50. Now for a little more encouragement to your good friends and allies in America: “The utmost force we can employ does not exceed thirty thousand men to conquer half a million of determined men, fighting for that sacred blessing of liberty, without which man is a beast, and government a curse.” (Page 95.) I am not sure that our utmost force is either thirty, or forty, or fifty, thousand men. But are you sure, that “half a million, at least, are determined to fight” against them? Yes: For “a quarter of the inhabitants of every country are fighting men; and the colonies consist of two millions.” Here are several points which are not quite clear. I doubt, (1.) Whether those colonies contain two millions. I doubt, (2.) Whether a quarter of the inhabitants of any country are fighting men: We usually reckon a sixth part. I doubt, (3.) Whether a quarter of the American fighting men, are determined to fight in so bad a cause; to fight, not for liberty, which they have long enjoyed, but for independency. Will you affirm, that “without this, man is a beast, and government a curse?” Then, show me where man is not a beast, and where government is not a curse. 51. But you give them more encouragement still: “In the Netherlands, a few states thus circumstanced withstood the whole force of the Spanish monarchy; and, at last, emancipated themselves from its tyranny.” (Ibid.) Thus circumstanced : No; they were in wholly different circumstances; they were cruelly and wantonly oppressed; they were robbed both of civil and religious liberty; they were slaughtered all the day long; and, during the contest, which was really for liberty, they were assisted by the German Princes, by England, and by France itself. But “what can thirty thousand men do, when they are to be fed from hence?” (Page 96.) Do you think they will stand with their finger in their eye? If they cannot find food at land, (which would be strange,) the seas and rivers are open. “Their maritime towns they are resolved to burn themselves.” They will think twice, before they execute that resolution. “As to their trade, the loss of it will do them unspeakable good.” Will it indeed? Then let them acknowledge their benefactors.