[Extract]

We were assured last year, that upon the appearance of a re-inforcement which could protect them from the insults of the mob, a considerable party would declare themselves in favour of the mother country: that there is no reason now to flatter ourselves with such an expectation is too obvious to be insisted upon. It was said too, in the spring, that the Americans would not, some indeed were confidently persuaded they could not, fight; yet we now certainly know that they can and will fight, for they have fought. It is true, they were defeated, but considering the stand they made, and the intrepidity of the troops they had to contend with, they were not disgraced by their defeat. We were made to believe, a year ago, that the restraints put upon the commerce and fisheries of the colonies would press so hard upon their interests, as to bring them to submission. We have now learnt that their commerce is but a secondary consideration: if it may not be called liberty itself, that they are contending for, it is at least the opinion of liberty, which operates no less forcibly on the passions of mankind.