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Rh pay that twenty shillings ship-money would be the first act of a resistance that was destined to arouse a whole nation, and kindle civil war from one end of our island to the other?"

"Yet, surely," interrupted his listener, "you do not repent of one of the noblest acts to which patriotism ever stimulated an individual?"

"Never! during the many troubles that followed the scenes of bloodshed that ensued, I have looked back to the pure and honourable motives, and to the enlightened views, with which our resistance commenced, in a spirit of great consolation and the perfect conviction of its necessity. I have never doubted for a moment but that we acted for the best. The benefit has not, as yet, been equal to the evil; we have not yet succeeded to our hope—liberty is still insecure, and England is still rent by small factions, distracted by foolish bigotries, and now at the will of one man; yet the good seed has been sown. We have shown what opposition may effect, and what individual exertions may achieve. We have awakened men to the knowledge of their rights; and though for a while the energy of this nation may sleep after its fierce struggle, a lesson has been given which may never be forgotten. The