Digital Paxton: Digital Collection, Critical Edition, and Teaching Platform

The Substance of a Council Held at Lancaster - 12

Suppose we have no great Affection for Kingly Government, yet why our Ministers shou'd be such shallow Politicians as to publish this to the World under the mild Reign of George the Third, who has never done us any Injury, is a Piece of Priestcraft that I can't account for? Can it render us acceptable to the King to proclaim to the World, that our Antipathy is to the "Form of his Government," of which he can by no Means divest himself, without renouncing his Crown? Surely by this Declaration, viz. "as long as the * form of his Government subsists &c. we declare ourselves not only his, but his Successors inveterate Foes.

Neither was it prudent in them to insinuate that we shou'd be "reduced," by such a Change; surely they did not mean like half-pay Officers, broken Soldiers, or Wealthy Farmers reduced to want and Beggary through the Calamities of the Times, and who had Nothing to live upon but daily Alms. I am still more astonish'd when reading their Letter; I find them possess'd of such disrespectful Thoughts of our most gracious Sovereign, as to compare him to a Rat-Catcher by indecently saying he wou'd make "Traps," to catch the poor and worthy Inhabitants of Pennsylvania! I love our Chris-

* See Circular Letter.

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