Affiliate Link

The Eve of the Revolution, Chapter III: The Rights of a Nation

British subjects, by removing to America, cultivating a wilderness, extending the domain, and increasing the wealth, commerce, and power of the mother country, at the hazard of their lives and fortunes, ought not, and in fact do not thereby lose their native rights.–Benjamin Franklin. It was the misfortune of Grenville that this “interweaving,” as Pownall…

The Eve of the Revolution, Chapter II: The Burden of Empire

Nothing of note in Parliament, except one slight day on the American taxes.–Horace Walpole. There were plenty of men in England, any time before 1763, who found that an excellent arrangement which permitted them to hold office in the colonies while continuing to reside in London. They were thereby enabled to make debts, and sometimes…

The Eve of the Revolution, Chapter I: A Patriot of 1763

His Majesty’s reign…I predict will be happy and truly glorious.–Benjamin Franklin. The 29th of January, 1757, was a notable day in the life of Ben Franklin of Philadelphia, well known in the metropolis of America as printer and politician, and famous abroad as a scientist and Friend of the Human Race. It was on that…

Nothing Can Be Farther from the Truth

To Josiah Tucker Reverend Sir, London, Feb. 12, 1774. Being informed by a Friend that some severe Strictures on my Conduct and Character had appeared in a new Book published under your respectable Name, I purchased and read it. After thanking you sincerely for those Parts of it that are so instructive on Points of…

We Might As Well Have Hinder’d the Suns Setting

To Charles Thomson Dear Friend London July 11th: 1765 I am extreemly obliged by your kind Letters of Aprill 12th. and 14th. and thank you for the Intelligence they Contain. The Outrages continueally commited by those misguided people, will doubtless tend to Convince all the Considerate on your side of the Water of the Weakness…