"stranger, an inhabitant of Cort- '■ landt's manor; I have nothing to dread or fear "from the resentment of any person or persons, as " I mean to give no offence to any individual ; "only wishing, that reason and common prudence "may take place of present bickerings, and the "detestable poison of party faction, ft is a matter no "longer to be hid under a cloud, whether we are in " reality, his Majesty's loyal subjects or not ; I have "all the reason in the world to believe, that the " worthy people of this Manor are so to all intents "and purposes; I mean as to their private sentiments; " but alas ! my friends, the time is at hand, when " those sentiments alone will not be of sufficient va- "lidity to justify the loyalty of your hearts. It re- " quires no great penetration to assign reasons for your " silence in matters of so great importance ; your con- "duct, my friends in this last point, is not to be "blamed; it rather redounds to your credit in the " eyes of every one that knows the life of a farmer. "The farmer is brought up to peace and trancjuility ; " politics, and the designs of crafty men are strangers " to his honest minds ; his care and toil, with the "sweat of his brow, is to turn the furrows which give "us subsistence: It is from industry, that worthy "merchants are enabled to extend their commerce, -- "commerce I the vitals of a nation, every country has "its share in different commodities, designed by tlie " will of an omnipotent Being to depend on each other, "linked in a chain of civil society. I presume it Avill " not be improper to see what part of this advantage "providence has allotted us; the question may be "easily solved ; we are placed in a fertile land, teein- "ing forth, in abundance, the necessaries of life for " ourselves, and a superfluity, which brings the wealth " of other nations to our own coffers. -- Every individ- "ual enjoys his share according to his industry and " situation in life ; he is protected in his possessions, "by what? 'Tis by the paternal care, the j)enetrating " eye, and the mighty arm of his mother country ; who " like a hen, when the hawk is near, hovers round her " chickens, takes them under her wings, and preserves "them from the enemy.