356 Readings in European History It contains such a train of consequences that they must be examined to feel its real weight. Whether the laying a tax was deserving all the evils that have arisen from it, I should suppose no man could allege that, without being thought more fit for Bedlam than a seat in the senate ; but step by step the demands of America have risen. Independence is their object ; that certainly is one which every man, not will- ing to sacrifice every object to a momentary and inglorious peace, must concur with me in thinking that this country can never submit to. Should America succeed in that, the West Indies must follow them, — not independence, but must for its own inter- est be dependent upon North America. Ireland would soon follow the same plan and be a separate state; then this island would be reduced to itself, and soon would be a poor island indeed, for, reduced in her trade, merchants would retire with their wealth to climates more to their advantage, and shoals of manufacturers would leave this country for the new empire. These self-evident consequences are not worse than what can arise should the Almighty permit every event to turn out to our disadvantage; consequently this country has but one sensible, one great line to follow, — the being ever ready to make peace when to be obtained without submitting to terms that in their consequence must annihilate this empire, and with firmness to make every effort to deserve success. BIBLIOGRAPHY A. Refer- The Union of Scotland and England: Green, Short History of the ences. English People, Chapter IX, sect. 9, pp. 714-715; Gardiner, A Stu- dent's History of England, pp. 685-686 ; Terry, A History of England, pp. 845-849; Colby, Selections from the Sources of English History, pp. 227-229. Walpole's Ministry: Andrews, History of England, pp. 437-443; Green, Chapter IX, sect. 10; Gardiner, pp. 712-730; Colby, pp. 229- 237 ; Kendall, Source Book of English History, pp. 341-342. Balance of Power — Europe at the Opening of the Eighteenth Cen- tury: Hassall, Euro-bean History, 17 13-1789, pp. 1-24.
