But 0 ! the consequence ! and so like- " wise, a deceiver now says to you what! are you de- " fiied the pleasure of drinking tea f But I beg of you " not to be now deceived, nor prevailed on to bring " ruin and slavery on your country and posterity, by " tasting of that detestable herb, which hath already " been the cause of so much confusion. But if you " will not be entreated, but will "persist in using it^ " you will find your case similar to that of Eve, she " lost her innocence, and plunged all her descendants " into everlasting misery ; you will lose liberty, and " plunge your descendants into everlasting slavery.
" The Fanner too, complains bitterly about not " transporting sheep. I wish to God, the congress " had let us send away our black sheep; for then per- " haps this pretended Fanner, might have been trans- " ported before he could have made sucli a bleating.
" Now I would beg leave to say a few words on his " clamour against our delegates. He calls them traii- " ors, which name, he had much better have taken " on himself, where it might have been applied " with propriety. I cannot see any room for this vil- " est of mankiiul, to insiuiuite, that those men would " attempt to betray their country. Besides their un- " spotted cluiracters, are they not men of extensive " interests in America? have they estate in any other " country? No, what then should induce them to " betray America, .'•eeing that if America falls, they " must fall with it? This consideration alone, is suf- " ficient to clear them from our Fanner's aspersion. " But in my opinion, a siill stronger security for their " integrity and iaitlitiil discliaige of the trust reposed " in them, is, the unblemished chtiracter they have