Good Sir, what fatall Dreadful things The proclamation of French King’s War ’gainst Emperour of Germany May bring upon this new Country! And Else how far it may effect Tranquility of Europe great, Approaching time must only speak. But, Sir, great Britain, wee do hope And other powers of Europe, By prudent Mediation, may Divert unto another day Th’ alarming noise of cruell War, With which wee so frightened are, And then conclude a happy peace, That war & war’s alarms may cease. And this wee do believe full well, Because, Great Sir, you did not tell In Speech to us you lately made The advise came from Board of Trade. For surely wee do apprehend That they would forward to us send There timely wise Direction, If of war they had Conception.[2] If with such sums wee should Supply The present wants of Treasury, As wee do Judge Sufficient are, The Walls & Towers to repair Of Old Fort William and Mary, And to pay poor Jos. & Harry; If wee the Prison should rebuild, Our promises not yet fulfill’d, Together with the gen’rall Tax Already laid by sev’ral Acts For repaying and for drownding, For Sinking & for Confounding Money borrowed heretofore, When Indians bad in Days of yore, Like Dastard sons of Swarthy whore, Proclaim’d a sad Unnatural War; These things (if wee are right) wee Count, To Sums so large would sure amount, As Constable would not be able, On Poles[3] & ’states (O Lamentable) Of Subjects good of Majesty, To gather in a Subsidy. And such an Act would surely be A great and sore Calamity, And war itself by far outvye. Which, should this house be Instrumental in, It would not only much dishonour King, But of Oppression be a peice, And savour much of Injustice; And wee presume you well do know Peices this House are strangers to. And to prevent such Imputations, Wee once did, in December Sessions,[4] An act pass for the Emitting Pounds Six thousand paper bills in, To repair William and Mary, Treasury also to supply, Which did both houses pass, ’tis said, With the act which Courts Removed From Portsmouth, O Unhappy Mischance! To Towns from us a greater Distance.