stly placed your whole happiness.

If this fact were true, the inference drawn from it would be
irresistible. But nothing is less founded. We admit, indeed, that
violent addresses have been procured with uncommon pains by wicked and
designing men, purporting to be the genuine voice of the whole people of
England,--that they have been published by authority here, and made
known to you by proclamations, in order, by despair and resentment,
incurably to poison your minds against the origin of your race, and to
render all cordial reconciliation between us utterly impracticable. The
same wicked men, for the same bad purposes, have so far surprised the
justice of Parliament as to cut off all communication betwixt us, except
what is to go in their own fallacious and hostile channel.

But we conjure you by the invaluable pledges which have hitherto united,
and which we trust will hereafter lastingly unite us, that you do not
suffer yourselves to be persuaded or provoked into an opinion that you
are at war with this nation. Do not think that the whole, or even the
uninfluenced majority, of Englishmen in this island are enemies to their
own blood on the American continent. Much delusion has been practised,
much corrupt influence treacherously employed. But still a large, and we
trust the largest and soundest, part of this kingdom perseveres in the
most perfect unity of sentiments, principles, and affections with you.
It spreads out a large and liberal platform of common liberty, upon
which we may all unite forever. It abhors the hostilities which have
been carried on against you, as much as you who feel the cruel effect of
them. It has disclaimed in the most solemn manner, at the foot of the
throne itself, the addresses which tended to irritate your sovereign
against his colonies. We are persuaded that even many of those who
unadvisedly have put their hands to such intemperate and inflammatory
addresses have not at all apprehended to what such proceedings naturally
lead, and would sooner die than afford them the least countenance, if
they were sensible of their fatal effects on the union and liberty of
the empire.

For ourselves, we faithfully assure you, that we have ever considered
you as rational creatures, as free agents, as men willing to pursue and
able to discern your own true interest. We have wished to continue
united with you, in order that a people of one origin and one character
should be directed to the rational ob