pressed it-"The LORD has sifted three nations for good seed to sow the wilderness."

ORIGIN OF THE REVOLUTION.

The increasing prosperity and wealth of the English colonies in America, at length began to excite the avarice of the mother country.

With the hope of raising a revenue, she commenced and continued a course of unjust and oppressive legislation, which cost her an expensive war of seven years, and ended with the loss of thirteen of her most valuable colonies.

In 1651, she passed the Navigation Act, requiring all the Colonial trade to be carried on by English vessels, and soon after imposed heavy duties on all exports from the colonies. She prohibited all trade from one colony to another in home manufactured articles. She prohibited the manufacture of steel and iron. She would not allow a forge to be erected in America, and therefore the Colonists were compelled to send to England, at great expense, for all their steel and manufactured iron of every description.

The revenue derived by England, from all of these several sources, finally amounted to ten millions of dollars, annually; but she was still unsatisfied, and

What excited the avarice of the mother country?

What did the unjust legislation of England cost her?
What did the Navigation Act require?

How great was the revenue paid to England before this act?

another mode of increasing her revenue was resolved upon, namely, taxation.

Accordingly, in 1765, the "Stamp Act" was passed, imposing a tax on all mortgages, conveyances, wills, letters of administration, insurances, bills of lading, clearances of vessels, promissory notes, receipts, &c.; in a word, upon every piece of paper or parchment used in the civil or criminal courts. The tax on a single paper of some kinds, was upwards of forty dollars. Newspapers and Almanacs were taxed double their cost. A single advertisement was taxed over forty cents.

The news of the passage of this act, caused a universal burst of indignation through the colonies. Public meetings were held, and resolutions passed, denouncing the act. The officers who were appointed to distribute the stamped paper and collect the tax, were all compelled, by the people, to resign their offices.

And when the paper arrived from England, the people would not allow any of it to be landed, so every piece of it was returned to England.

When the English government found the Stamp Act could not be enforced, it was repealed. But its repeal was coupled with another Act almost as odious

What other mode was adopted to increase her revenue?
When was the Stamp act passed?

On what did this act impose a tax?

What effect did the passage of this act produce in the colonies? What did the officers do whose duty it was to collect the tax?

What became of the paper?

Was the Stamp act repealed?

What other odious act was passed at the same time?

to the people, declaring that Parliament had a right to bind the colonies in all cases whatsoever.

In 1768, British soldiers were sent over, and stationed in Boston, Massachusetts, to "dragoon the Bostonians into what was called their duty."

England next imposed a burdensome duty on Tea, Glass, Painter's Colors, &c.

In 1773, three vessels laden with this taxed tea, arrived in the harbor of Boston. Immediately after its arrival some thirty persons, disguised as Indians, rushed on board the vessels and threw all the tea into the sea.

This occurrence so incensed Parliament, that in March, 1774, they passed the famous "Boston Port Bill," prohibiting all trade with the city of Boston. By this bill the port of Boston was ordered to be closed, and goods of all descriptions were prevented from being either shipped or landed.

These unjust and oppressive measures at length aroused the people, and a general meeting of all the colonies was called, to meet at Philadelphia on the 4th of September, 1774, to consult for the common welfare and defence of the country.

The breach between the mother country and her colonies was now rapidly widening; and on the 19th of April, 1775, the battle of Lexington was fought,

When were British soldiers sent to Boston?

On what was a duty next imposed?

What became of the tea which was brought to Boston?
What bill did Parliament then pass, and what prohibit?

When and where was a general meeting of the colonies called?
When was the battle of Lexington fought?

which commenced the great drama of the Revolutionary War.

All hope of reconciliation with England was now abandoned, and on the 4th of July, 1776, the Continental Congress, then assembled at Philadelphia, declared that "America was, and of right ought to be free and independent.”

This act severed the thirteen American Colonies forever from England, and established a new nation which has since been known and recognized by the name of the United States of America.

On the 3d of September, 1783, Great Britain entered into a treaty with the United States, by which she recognized their Independence, and relinquished forever all claim to them.

Thus, all the title which England had to the territory comprised within the thirteen colonies, became now securely vested in the United States.

NATURE AND ORIGIN OF LAWS.

Were a man to live separate and apart from all other persons, like Robinson Crusoe, on the Island of Juan Fernandez, he would be independent of all human governments, and all civil laws. He would

When was the Declaration of Independence made?

When did Great Britain enter into a treaty with the U. States? What became of England's title to territory in the colonies? Under what circumstances would a man be independent of all human governments?

have no social duties to perform and no human punishments to fear. He would be absolutely free, in a liberal sense of the term.

He could do anything he pleased, provided it was not contrary to the Divine law. But if another person were to join him, then reciprocal duties and mutual claims upon the assistance of each other would immediately arise.

Each would be equally entitled to a share of the common bounties of nature around them. Each would be bound to relinquish some portion of his wild natural liberty, for the common good of both. Each would have rights with which the other would be bound not to interfere. Neither could command or rule over the other without his consent; but both together might make rules and regulations which both, or either, would be bound to obey.

Were they to be joined by a third person, the new comer would also be entitled to a portion of the gifts of his Creator, and he would likewise have a claim the sympathies and assistance of his companions. Every new addition to their numbers would create new relations and new duties, and call for a surrender of another portion of their natural liberty.

upon

Thus, in proportion as the community become larger and larger, additional duties would continue to

Would he have any social duties to perform?
What one law would he be bound to obey?
To what bounties would each be entitled?
To what would a third person be entitled?

When must a person surrender a portion of his natural liberty?