England, now triumphant over the united powers of France and Spain, is determined to reduce, to the condition of slaves, her American subjects.

We might now display the Legislatures of the several States, together with the general Congress, petitioning, praying, remonstrating; and, like dutiful subjects, humbly laying their grievances before the throne.  On the other hand, we could exhibit a British Parliament, assiduously devising means to subjugate America—­disdaining our petitions, trampling on our rights, and menacingly telling us, in language not to be misunderstood, “Ye shall be slaves!”—­We could mention the haughty, tyrannical, perfidious GAGE, at the head of a standing army; we could show our brethren attacked and slaughtered at Lexington! our property plundered and destroyed at Concord!  Recollection can still pain us, with the spiral flames of burning Charleston, the agonizing groans of aged parents, the shrieks of widows, orphans and infants!—­Indelibly impressed on our memories, still live the dismal scenes of Bunker’s awful mount, the grand theatre of New-England bravery; where slaughter stalked, grimly triumphant! where relentless Britain saw her soldiers, the unhappy instruments of despotism, fallen, in heaps, beneath the nervous arm of injured freemen!—­There the great WARREN fought, and there, alas, he fell!  Valuing life only as it enabled him to serve his country, he freely resigned himself, a willing martyr in the cause of Liberty, and now lies encircled in the arms of glory!

  Peace to the patriot’s shades—­let no rude blast
  Disturb the willow, that nods o’er his tomb. 
  Let orphan tears bedew his sacred urn,
  And fame’s loud trump proclaim the heroe’s name,
  Far as the circuit of the spheres extends.

But, haughty Albion, thy reign shall soon be over,—­thou shalt triumph no longer! thine empire already reels and totters! thy laurels even now begin to wither, and thy fame decays!  Thou hast, at length, roused the indignation of an insulted people—­thine oppressions they deem no longer tolerable!

The 4th day of July, 1776, is now arrived; and America, manfully springing from the torturing fangs of the British Lion, now rises majestic in the pride of her sovereignty, and bids her Eagle elevate his wings!—­The solemn declaration of Independence is now pronounced, amidst crowds of admiring citizens, by the supreme council of our nation; and received with the unbounded plaudits of a grateful people!!

That was the hour, when heroism was proved, when the souls of men were tried.  It was then, ye venerable patriots, it was then you stretched the indignant arm, and unitedly swore to be free!  Despising such toys as subjugated empires, you then knew no middle fortune between liberty and death.  Firmly relying on the patronage of heaven, unwarped in the resolution you had taken, you, then undaunted, met, engaged, defeated the gigantic power of Britain, and rose triumphant over the ruins of your enemies!—­Trenton, Princeton, Bennington and Saratoga were the successive theatres of your victories, and the utmost bounds of creation are the limits to your fame!—­The sacred fire of freedom, then enkindled in your breasts, shall be perpetuated through the long descent of future ages, and burn, with undiminished fervor, in the bosoms of millions yet unborn.