Upon this Subject, he waves the Consideration of every Thing, which might have a Tendency to keep the present Question out of Sight. _Great-Britain_ and her Colonies are now at open War. THIS IS THE FACT. But if it should be asked, How these Things came to pass? From what Causes did they spring? Which are the real, and which are the apparent Motives in this Controversy? Moreover, who were originally and principally to blame? And what Methods ought to have been taken at first, in order to have prevented Matters from coming to their present Height?--The Author having already given his Sentiments on each of these Heads in his 3d, 4th, and 5th preceding Tracts, and also in his Letter to Mr. BURKE, will not here repeat the same Things.--The grand Object now before him is simply this; _Great Britain and her Colonies are at open War_: And the proper and important Question arising from such a Fact is the following, _What is to be done at the present Crisis?_ Three Schemes have been proposed;--the Parliamentary,--Mr. BURKE's,--and my own. The Parliamentary Scheme is,--To maintain _vi et armis_ the Supremacy of the Mother-Country over her Colonies, in as full and ample a Manner, as over any Part of the _British_ Dominions. Mr. BURKE's is, [tho' not in express _Words_] To resign or relinquish the Power of the _British_ Parliament over the Colonies, and to erect each Provincial Assembly into an independent _American_ Parliament;--subject nevertheless to the King of _Great-Britain_, with his usual Prerogatives:--For which Favour of acknowledging the same Sovereign, the Colonists are to be complimented with the most precious Rights, Privileges, and Advantages of _British_ Subjects:--I say, _complimented_, and complimented even _gratuitously_:--For as to their contributing any Proportion, either of Men or Money, towards the public Expence, and in Return for those Favours--All this is to be entirely left to their own innate Goodness and Generosity, to do just as they please. My Scheme [which Mr. BURKE, in his last Speech of _March_ 22, 1775, is pleased to term a _childish_ one] is,--To separate totally from the Colonies, and to reject them from being Fellow-Members, and joint Partakers with us in the Privileges and Advantages of the _British_ Empire; because they refuse to submit to the Authority and Jurisdiction of the _British_ Legislature:--Offering at the same Time to enter into Alliances of Friendship, and Treaties of Commerce with them, as with any other sovereign, independent States. Now, in order to determine, which of these Schemes is the most eligible;--it would be right to consider, which is the easiest and most practicable,--which is least expensive,--which is likeliest to prevent similar Disturbances and Disputes for the future,--and which will least endanger the _English_ Constitution and our domestic Tranquility. For all these Circumstances ought to be taken into the Account, before a due Judgment can be formed.