Nor, my Lords and Gentlemen, is this Cause beneath your solemn Notice and Regard. In the former _Spanish_ [or no-search] War, you spent above _Sixty Millions_ Sterling, including the extraordinary Sums raised, and the fresh Debts contracted:--And in the last _French_, _Ohio_, or _Acadia_ War, you spent above NINETY MILLIONS STERLING, if computed after the same Manner, viz. Additional Sums annually raised, and new Debts contracted. And all, alas! for what!!!![2] But without any Retrospect to Things past, let us look towards what is to come. The first Thing to be considered in the Dispute between Mr. BURKE and me, is, which of Our Schemes _is the easiest to be executed, and the most practicable_? He proposes that all Concessions should be made on our Parts in Favour of the Colonies; but that none, or next to none, should be made by them in Favour of _Great Britain_. Now this Proposal can never terminate the Dispute between us and them, but on one or other of the following Suppositions. First, that the Parliament and People of _Great-Britain_ are now convinced, that they have acted injuriously, illegally, and unconstitutionally in pretending to make any Laws, whether good or bad, to bind the _Americans_: Because they (the _Americans_) have their own Legislatures, which are totally independent of ours: And therefore we take Shame to ourselves by revoking these pretended, usurping Laws. For in short, the first Step in Politics, as well as in Morals, towards sincere Repentance, is _Restitution_. Or, secondly, though we should not give up the Point of _Right_, of making Laws, and cry _peccavimus_,--yet we take for granted, that no improper Use will be made of the great and manifold Concessions, contained in Mr. BURKE's Scheme; because we have to deal with a People, who, (we know by long Experience) may be trusted with every Thing, as being the _Quintessence of Honour and Honesty_, both in public and private Life, and particularly the _fair unsullied Monuments of national Gratitude_. Or if this likewise should prove to be a Pill too large, and too nauseous for _Englishmen_ to swallow;--then, thirdly, we are to suppose, in order to end all Controversy, that the Trade with these _North-Americans_ is so essential to our Interests, as a commercial Nation, that we must keep them in good Humour at any Rate, and at any Expence;--least they should deprive us of their Custom, to the utter Ruin of our Manufactures, Shipping, Navigation, &c. &c. &c. Or lastly, we must suppose, that old _England_ is in Fact grown so exceedingly weak and impotent, and _America_ so very strong and powerful, that it is in vain to resist any Encroachments, which the Colonies may make on the Mother-Country:--For in such Circumstances, it is more prudent to submit to the present Evils, great as they are, than to provoke our Conquerors to inflict still greater.