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hands of onr K in g , as is ever could be in
the hands o f his Brittannic Majesty, against
’ whom we never meditated any hostilities;
that we would submit to our fate, should
they be cruel enough to attempt to destroy
an innocent city, which had not given them
the least occasion for such a treatment;
but that our honour and duty requires us to
reject a proposal, which is dishonourable
to an independant power, an that we have
determined to make resistance against any
agression and to defend the Capital and our
just-cause to the last, being ready to sacri
fice our lives to this effect. — Fellov-eiti-
zens 1 I am convinced, that this answer w ill
meet with your approbttion. Our country
is as dear to you as to me. Fellow-citizens!
take up arms, all of you, who can cooperate
in maintaining the honour and dépen
dance o f our beloved country. W e fight
for our dearest wealth.
Let us imitate
the conduct of our ancestors on similar
occasions.
1 shall let the brave inha
lants o f the Cap ital, who can be em-