When she defended our coasts, she fought for her customers, and
convoyed our ships loaded with wealth, which we had acquired for her
by our industry. She has treated us as beasts of burthen, whom the
lordly masters cherish that they may carry a greater load. Let us
inquire also against whom she has protected us? Against her own
enemies with whom we had no quarrel, or only on her account, and
against whom we always readily exerted our wealth and strength when
they were required. Were these colonies backward in giving
assistance to Great Britain, when they were called upon in 1739 to
aid the expedition against Carthagena? They at that time sent three
thousand men to join the British army, although the war commenced
without their consent. But the last war, 'tis said, was purely
American. This is a vulgar error, which, like many others, has
gained credit by being confidently repeated. The dispute between
the courts of Great Britain and France related to the limits of
Canada and Nova Scotia. The controverted territory was not claimed
by any in the colonies, but by the crown of Great Britain. It was
therefore their own quarrel. The infringement of a right which
England had, by the treaty of Utrecht, of trading in the Indian
country of Ohio, was another cause of the war. The French seized
large quantities of British manufacture and took possession of a
fort which a company of British merchants and factors had erected
for the security of their commerce. The war was therefore waged in
defense of lands claimed by the crown, and for the protection of
British property. The French at that time had no quarrel with
America, and, as appears by letters sent from their commander-in-chief,
to some of the colonies, wished to remain in peace with us. The
part, therefore, which we then took, and the miseries to which we
exposed ourselves, ought to be charged to our affection to Britain.
These colonies granted more than their proportion to the support of