Family-histories and genealogies : containing a series of ...

heavier than the loins of his great grandfather ; and would bind all fast with a
military chain. . . . How
this will end, time must discover. If in a similar
event (which is not impossible to the providence of God, nor more improbable to
Britons than, five years ago, this stamp act was to Americans), the loss of two mil-
lions of the best affected subjects, and one third, some say one half, of the profits of
the national trade, must be no small weakening to the most flourishing kingdom in
the world. In fine, such are the nature and number of the evils apprehended as I
should think sufficient to awaken us to an engaged attention to our case, to evince us
of the necessity of a general congress, and excite this and the other governments,
from every principle of love and loyalty to our gracious King, to the British parlia-
ment, to the interest of the nation and of the colonies—to use their utmost efforts, in
lawful constitutional measures, to avert these evils, and for the repeal of this Stamp-
Act."
The fifth paper, dated October ii, discusses "the reasons assigned for
these extraordinary measures" by " Civis." The "better protecting and
securing of the American colonies " is first noticed ; and, with a view to
the repayment of expenses incurred for that purpose in past times, " 'tis
reasonable" it had been said, "we should contribute to diminish the vast
national debt ;"
" but " replied Johnson, " we know how it arose—by what immense sums sunk
in the ocean— Germany—in which Americans have no more concern than East
Indiamen. And is there any refunding from Germany ? We know what enormous
sums are annually expended in support of numerous idle officers and placemen in
Great Britain. . . . but
they are not of American appointment or good will.
. . . I hope these are not to be charged to American protection.
" When our forefathers were few and poor, and incompassed with innumerable
enemies, they greatly needed help and protection ;
yet then there was no such concern
and bustle about it ; no, they were left, unassisted, to their own efforts, and the pro-
tection of their God. And no wonder—there was no money immediately to be got
by it ; but now we are numerous, and Canada and our enemies are subdued—scarce
an enemy dare lift up his head in all the land— now, hungry placemen, and those who
would be such, make a mighty bustle about our belter protection ; and
we must be
heavily taxed, and an hundred thousand pounds annually raised and sent over to the
exchequer for the purpose. . . . But
what special protection have we ever had
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