But what cur'd
all this, set their Minds at ease, made short Work, and gave full
Scope to their Piratical Disposition, was another Act of Parliament,
forbidding any Inquisition into those _past_ Facts, declaring them
all Lawful, and all American Property to be forfeited, whether on Sea
or Land, and authorizing the King's British Subjects to take, seize,
sink, burn, or destroy, whatever they could find of it. The Property
suddenly, and by surprise taken from our Merchants by the Operation
of this Act, is incomputable. And yet the Cry did not diminish,
_These Americans don't pay their Debts!_
Had the several States of America, on the Publication of this
Act seiz'd all British Property in their Power, whether consisting of
Lands in their Country, Ships in their Harbours, or Debts in the
Hands of their Merchants, by way of Retaliation, it is probable a
great Part of the World would have deem'd such Conduct justifiable.
They, it seems, thought otherwise, and it was done only in one or two
States, and that under particular Circumstances of Provocation. And
not having thus abolish'd all Demands, the Cry subsists, that _the
Americans should pay their Debts!_
General Gage, being with his Army (before the declaration of
open War) in peaceable Possession of Boston, shut its Gates, and
plac'd Guards all around to prevent its Communication with the
Country.
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