1822 April 15

Rid Yourselves

Lett. 18. Relinquisht. mode

' 3. Case II. Subjection contested

Buyers inhabitants

2. Case 2. Dominion /Subjection/ contested, hands looked to for

payment, the inhabitants of the Province - money redemption as before

This source does not present itself as a very promising one. By the supposition the

province has not in exercise a set of rulers otherwise than those which yours have

found for them. Here then a government to treat with and raise the money remains as

yet to be found. That for any such purpose as the payment of the money there should

among the influential few be any great disposition to labour in the formation of a

new government does not seem in any very high degree probable: notwithstanding

/although/ that independence and self government will be the benefits obtained in

lieu of it. From one to another this will be apt to be the language If they will set

us free money, they will set us free gratis: for it will cost them more beyond all

comparison to make war upon us than it will us to defend ourselves. Whatever be the

number of men at present employed in governing the country and defending it against

its inhabitants, if we can but rid ourselves of their hostility any how - by force or

gifts, by extirpation or adoption, what we are sufficiently assured of is - that

there will be no more of them. Never will men be at any such expence for the purpose

of opposing with one hand what they are doing if they have not done it already with

the other.