Volume 7

A philosophical and political history of the settlements and trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies ... / Rev., augm., and pub., in ten volumes, by the Abbé Raynal. Newly translated. from the French, by J.O. Justamond. F.R.S., with a new set of maps adapted to the work, and a copious index.

  • Raynal, abbé (Guillaume-Thomas-François), 1713-1796.
Date:
1783
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A philosophical and political history of the settlements and trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies ... / Rev., augm., and pub., in ten volumes, by the Abbé Raynal. Newly translated. from the French, by J.O. Justamond. F.R.S., with a new set of maps adapted to the work, and a copious index. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    517/586 (page 501)
    Let us therefore unite, and begin by declaring our Independence. That alone can efface the title of rebellious fubje£ls, which our infolentop- preflbrs dare to bellow upon us. That alone can make us rife to that dignity that is our due, in- fure us allies among the powers, and imprint re- fpecfl even on our enemies ; and if we treat with them, that alone can give us the right of treat- ing with that right and majefly which belongs to a nation. But I will repeat it ; Let us lofe no time. Our uncertainty occafions our weaknefs. Let us dare to be free, and we are fo. When we are ready to get over this flep, we dart back. W^e all look at each other with anxious curiofity. It feems as if we were adonifhed at our boldnefs, and frightened at our courage. But it is no longer time to calculate. In great affairs, and where there is but one great meafure to adopt, too much circumfpedlion ceafes to be prudence. Whatever is extreme, demands an extreme re- folution. Then the mod enterprizing deps are the mod prudent; and the excefs of boldnefs becomes even the means and the warrant of fuccefs. Such was the bafis of the fentiments and ideas diffufed in this work. They confirmed in their principles thofe bold men, who for a long time pad had afked to be entirely detached from the mother-country. The timid citizens, who had hitherto hefitated, at length determined on this great feparation. The wifh for independence had a fufficient number of partifans, to enable the ge- K k 3 neral H I BOOK. XVIlI The COÎ8» nies nrealc the vies which unit. ed tnem to England ; and declare fh'mfclves ind-penden^ of that country.