e by ourselves. We
clear ourselves to you our brethren, to the present age, and to future
generations, to our king and our country, and to Europe, which, as a
spectator, beholds this tragic scene, of every part or share in adding
this last and worst of evils to the inevitable mischiefs of a civil war.

We do not call you rebels and traitors. We do not call for the vengeance
of the crown against you. We do not know how to qualify millions of our
countrymen, contending with one heart for an admission to privileges
which we have ever thought our own happiness and honor, by odious and
unworthy names. On the contrary, we highly revere the principles on
which you act, though we lament some of their effects. Armed as you are,
we embrace you as our friends and as our brethren by the best and
dearest ties of relation.

We view the establishment of the English colonies on principles of
liberty as that which is to render this kingdom venerable to future
ages. In comparison of this, we regard all the victories and conquests
of our warlike ancestors, or of our own times, as barbarous, vulgar
distinctions, in which many nations, whom we look upon with little
respect or value, have equalled, if not far exceeded us. This is the
peculiar and appropriated glory of England. Those who _have and who
hold_ to that foundation of common liberty, whether on this or on your
side of the ocean, we consider as the true, and the only true,
Englishmen. Those who depart from it, whether there or here, are
attainted, corrupted in blood, and wholly fallen from their original
rank and value. They are the real rebels to the fair constitution and
just supremacy of England.

We exhort you, therefore, to cleave forever to those principles, as
being the true bond of union in this empire,--and to show by a manly
perseverance that the sentiments of honor and the rights of mankind are
not held by the uncertain events of war, as you have hitherto shown a
glorious and affecting example to the world that they are not dependent
on the ordinary conveniences and satisfactions of life.

Knowing no other arguments to be used to men of liberal minds, it is
upon these very principles, and these alone, we hope and trust that no
flattering and no alarming circumstances shall permit you to listen to
the seductions of those who would alienate you from your dependence on
the crown and Parliament of this kingdom. That very liberty which you so
justly prize above all things