he general cowardice of the Americans--but of the cowardice of Grant
I've been long convinced, by numbers of letters formerly from
America--I'm for doing the business effectually; don't let us be too
sanguine, trust to stories told by every sycophant, and hurry heels over
head to be laugh'd at; the Americans are bold, stubborn, and sour; it
will require foreign assistance to subdue 'em.

LORD CATSPAW. These four Americans, ignorant brutes, unbroke and wild,
must be tamed; they'll soon be humble if punish'd; but if disregarded,
grow fierce.--Barbarous nations must be held by fear, rein'd and spurr'd
hard, chain'd to the oar, and bow'd to due control, till they look grim
with blood; let's first humble America, and bring them under our feet;
the olive-branch has been held out, and they have rejected it; it now
becomes us to use the iron rod to break their disobedience; and should
we lack it, foreign assistance is at hand.

LORD HYPOCRITE. All this I grant, but I'm for sending a force sufficient
to crush 'em at once, and not with too much precipitation; I am first
for giving it a colour of impartiality, forbearance and religion.--Lay
it before parliament; we have then law on our side, and endeavour to
gain over some or all of the Methodist Teachers, and in particular my
very good friend Mr. Wesley, their Bishop, and the worthy Mr. Clapum,
which task I would undertake; it will then have the sanction of
religion, make it less suspected, and give it a better grace.

LORD CATSPAW. I should choose it to be done by consent of parliament; we
stand then on firmer ground; there's no doubt they'll grant ev'ry thing
your Lordship proposes upon my motion: but to tell the truth, I'd rather
be in Purgatory so long, than to run the gauntlet of the Bold Irishman's
tongue.

MOCKLAW. Aye, aye, don't part with the law while it's in our favour, or
we can have it by asking for--and as to the Bold Irishman, don't be
brow-beaten, you must summon all your brass, and put on a rugged
highwayman's face like his; I expect some work of that kind too, but the
devil himself sha'n't browbeat me.

PARAMOUNT. I am glad to find, my Lords and Gentlemen, you all see the
necessity of sending over troops and ships; I intend my Lord Catspaw
shall lay it before parliament, and am very certain they'll pass any
acts I can desire. I thank you, Lord Hypocrite, for your kind offer, and
accept of it; my Lord of Suffolk is negotiating the same business with
the rest