Administration, so friendly to their religion,
they might become formidable to us, and on
occasion, be fit instruments in the hands of
power, to reduce the ancient free Protestant Co-
lonies to the same state of slavery with them-
selves.
THIS was evidently the object of the Act: --
And in this view, being extremely dangerous
to our liberty and quiet, we cannot forbear com-
plaining of it as hostile to British
America. --
Superadded to these considerations, we cannot
help deploring the unhappy condition to which
it has reduced the many English settlers, who,
encouraged by the Royal Proclamation, pro-
mising the enjoyment of all their rights, have
purchased estates in that country. -- They are
now the subjects of an arbitrary government,
deprived of trial by jury, and when imprisoned
cannot claim the benefit of the habeas corpus
Act, that great bulwark and palladium of En-
glish liberty: -- Nor can we suppress our asto-
nishment, that a British Parliament should ever
consent to establish in that country a religion
that has deluged your island in blood, and dis-
persed impiety, bigotry, persecution, murder
and rebellion through every part of the world.
THIS being a true state of facts, let us beseech
you to consider to what end they lead.
ADMIT that the Ministry, by the powers of
Britain, and the aid of our Roman Catholic
neighbours, should be able to carry the point
of
taxation, and reduce us to a state of perfect
hu-