INTRODUCTION.

PERHAPS the sentiments contained in the follow-
ing pages are not yet sufficiently fashionable to pro-
cure them general favor;  a long habit of not thinking a
thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being
right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defence
of custom. But the tumult soon subsides. Time makes
more converts than reason.

As a long and violent abuse of power, is generally the
means of calling the right of it in question, (and in mat-
ters too which might never have been thought of, had not
the sufferers been aggravated into the enquiry) and as the
King of England hath undertaken in his own right, to
support the parliament in what he calls theirs, and as
the good people of this country are grievously oppressed by
the combination, they have an undoubted privilege to en-
quire into the pretensions of both, and equally to reject the
usurpation of either.

In the following sheets the author hath studiously avoid-
ed every thing which is personal among ourselves. Com-
pliments as well as censure to individuals make no part
thereof. The wise, and the worthy, need not the tri-
umph of a pamphlet; and those whose sentiments are in-
judicious, or unfriendly, will cease of themselves, unless
too much pains are bestowed upon their conversion.

The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of
all mankind. Many circumstances hath, and will arise,
which are not local, but universal, and through which the
principles of all lovers of mankind are affected, and in the
event of which their affections are interested. The laying
a country desolate with fire and sword, declaring war