A British American, New-York

v1:289

A British American, who is a lover of peace, as well as hater of every species of tyranny, whether monarchical or parliamentary, proposes to the consideration of the public of Boston, whether it would not be their wisest course in the present critical situation of affairs, to raise immediately, by subscription, a sum equal to the estimated value of the drowned teas, and deposite it in some public office, ready to be tendered to his Excellency General Gage, immediatuly on his first requisition for restitution of the India Company' s loss, with a solemn declaration (conceived in respectful and conciliating terms,) that they make the reimbursement with real pleasure, as they thereby have at once an opportunity of testifying their readiness to repair every private loss that individuals may sustain, in the present unhappy struggle for the maintenance of their just rights — of manifesting the cheerfulness with which they would load themselves with any burden for the public good, whilst left to the exercise of the constitutional power of disposing of their own property for that purpose; and showing their promptness to act in consonance with the sentiments of the British Parliament in every thing they can, without sacrificing their liberties. Such a procedure will contain ample declaration of their steady continuance in their patriotic sentiments; and, at the same time, would so entirely conform to the requisitions in the Act of parliament that now threatens their destruction, as could not fail to place them at once in the light of constitutionally dutiful subjects to the Crown, as well as zealous defenders of the liberty of the subject.

The Querist presumes, that by adopting some such mode of management as this, "good may be brought out of evil;" and that hasty act of violence, which moderate men now look on with high disapprobation, be thereby rendered a circumstance honourable, to the Bostonians in particular, and advantageous to the Colonies in general, who doubtless would cheerfully bear their proportion in the sum to be raised.

It certainly would be the maddest of all possible Quixotisms to think of making an hostile opposition to such a naval and military force as it is certain is coming out with General Gage, and therefore some plan of constitutional policy that will afford means of evading the heavy threatened evils, should be fallen upon.

NEW-YORK, May 16, 1774.