ions which might be offered him to quit this petty
Spot, and reside in _America_.--I say, many of you must have heard Dr.
FRANKLIN haranguing after this Sort; or have seen Letters from him to the
same Effect:--For that this was his darling Scheme, even before he came to
reside in _England_, I have been well assured; as well as his favourite
Topic ever afterwards. Therefore I will add, that by the Help of this
Comment, we can explain many Passages in the Declarations of the grand
_American_ Congress, which otherwise must appear to be either nauseous
Compliments, or gross Contradictions:--The Passages I refer to, are the
Protestations so often and so solemnly repeated, that they [the
_Americans_] have no Intention of separating from this Country; and that
they have the purest Loyalty to the King, and the strongest Attachment to
the illustrious House of _Hanover_. This Key therefore unlocks the whole
Mystery of their (otherwise unaccountable) Proceedings. And as POPE said
on another Occasion:

'Tis in the _ruling Passion_: There alone,
The Wild are constant, and the _Cunning_ known.
This Clue, once found, unravels all the rest.
The Prospect clears, and CLODIO stands confest.

In the mean Time, because his Majesty is graciously disposed to join with
_Great-Britain_ against _America_ in this Contest for Empire, (for in Fact
_that is_ the _real_ Dispute, whatever may be the _Pretence_) not only
many among the _Americans_, which is natural enough, but (Shame to tell!)
even among _Englishmen_ themselves, vent the bitterest Reproaches against
him for being the best Friend and Protector of the Mother-Country. Surely
Posterity will stand amazed at such a Procedure! The like Scenes of
Infatuation and Ingratitude (not to mention Disloyalty and Rebellion)
never yet disgraced the Annals of the World! And it seems to be reserved
as a Mark of Infamy peculiar to the present Age, and to our modern Race of
Patriots, that while the Prince on the Throne is incessantly endeavouring
to keep his People free, and to secure their Freedom more and more by all
proper and constitutional Measures, such Numbers should be found amongst
his Subjects, who are equally industrious to thwart his truly patriotic
Designs, and to rush headlong into Slavery.

But as Providence very often brings the greatest Good out of the worst of
Evils, let us not despair, but that these very Attempts, wicked and
unnatural as they are, may be the Means of uniting al