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M.DCC.LXXIV. ■ ■'I'-f—'-IlL F 3 n n if ft- - , r. •„ "J A ^ jMi^'riAr: )•' H;- j/u-'h \r)H «r-^» •^-••> • "^l* .a .G ,51 3 ::? ^ 'J T ii A I a o t v f J? ^ r e a ^ '_> : d 1[> / a '; Ci W t 'M ^W Um *i0J ^r- p-MMbo-^^ ,5! -■ .H 1 AH .'■: V ji -as r • Va t .: o .. c (».•* -^ ■ < it m'm^ wmv m M t -^-^ ■j'-ii \n ^ ft CONTENTS. Tract I. ^ So/ut/ofi of the important ^ejiion, Whether a poor Country, nvhere raw Materials and Provifions are cheap, and Wages low, can fupplant the Trade of a rich manujaauring Country, where raw Materials and Provifions are dear, and the Price of Labour high.-^With a Pojlfcript obviating ObjeSlions, , Tract II. The Cafe of going War for the Sake of Trade, confidered in a new Light ; being the Fragment of a greater Work. 13 f i a o I y gMfc'^'>'-=-— J' I;? S i' '■' i; '•< 'i c, :/.-*•"'.' ■ :; " '■ -■' ■ Tract III. ^ Letter from a Merchant ' m London, to his Nephew in America, concerning the late and prefent Dijiur- bances in the Colonies. ■ ■ * , ■. ■- ■ .,■■■'•'■, Tract IV. The true Intercfl of Great- Britain7^//tfr//; in Regard to the Colonies', and the Qnly Means of living in Peace and Harmony with them. r 'i' ;•! iJ LI , •!• ', « • '*.' .1 ^'^-.v? ;v • ■■"?'/.;. -rt ,n. •i .. .,^^d ;.,_.,, t«.;,tt;|^, t , . ,, i- ^ ^ . . , ■C. ^':*-. •'\ \s,. ..I-'--: .'-- Ail-.'. ■ IT T'l-*; ft ',V. '1 , IgW H* ''.! ' W >» 1 ij Ij^ .1 'K-^'-h.^. a \ . t' y ': .A •! <.' A" 1 .-■^Il'fMH-H.1 P R E F A C E. I HE firftof thefe Pieces ^vas never ; P""^"^'^ before, and is now pub- I hfhed as a Kind of IntroduftioA to thofc that follow, or as a Sort of Bafis on which the fucceeding Arguments are chiefly founded. The Piece itfelf arofe from a Correfpondence in the Year I7r8 with a Gentleman of North-Britain, emi- nently diftingui/hed in the Republic of Letters. Tho' I cannot boaft that I had the Honour of making the Gentleman a declared Convert, yet I can fay, and prove likewife, that in his Publications fince our Correfpondence, he has wrote, and rea- foned, as if he was a Convert ^"^* "'"'" " The' lilt I -)»TK ■jva ^Vj ii i | I Bjl jij]it)- ii in « If 111 lit ii r viii PREFACE. The fccond Tradt was firft publifhed in the Year 1763, juft after the Conclu- fion of the War. At that Juiidture the Mob and the News- Writers were fo en- raged at the Thoughts of Peace, that the Pamphlet lay negleded above a Year in the Hands of the Publifher, and had very few Readers. But the Approbation which it has fince met with, efpecklly from Abroad, ■where Premiums have been instituted for Diflertations on a like Plan, induce me to hope that Prejudices begin to wear off, and that it hath a better Chance now than it had before of being read with Candour, and attended to with Impartiality. In- deed it was necelTary for me to publifli it an this Colledion, becaufe of the Ufe which will be made of the fame Train of Arguments in the fourth of thefe Trads, when we come to fhew the true Interefts of Great-Britain with refped to the Co- lonies, and the only Means of living with them on Terms of Harmony and Friendfhip. fs. One Thing more I have to fay on this Head : The Trad fets forth, that it is the fj-T , * ' . Fragment '«»d*rii«>fc .._„«_.«i.i: C E. firft publifhed '.r the Conclu- t JuiKfture the :rs were £o en- *eace, that the ove a Year in and had very obation which 'yfrm Abroad, I inltituted for n, induce me in to wear off, nee now than vith Candour, irtiality. In- to publifli it J of the Ufe ame Train of thefe Trads, true Interefts a to the Co- ns of living larmony and fay on tliis that it is the: Fragment PREFACE. ix Frag, lent of a greater Work. This Work was undertaken at the Defire of Dr. Hayter, then Lord Bifhop of Norwichy and Preceptor to the Prince of Wales, his prefent Majefly. His Lord- ship's Defigri was to put into the Hands of his Royal Pupil fuch a Treatife as would convey both clear, and comprehen- five Ideas on the Subjed of National Com- merce, freed from the narrow Conceptions of ignoranti or the fmifter Views of crafty and defigning Men i and my honoured Friend, and revered Diocefan, the late Lord Biihop of Brijiol, Dr. Conybeare, was pleafed to recommend me, as a Perfon not altogether unqualified to write on fuch aSubjea. I therefore entered upon the Work with all imaginable Alacrity, and intended to. intitule my Performance, The ^k^nentsof Commerce, and Theory of Taxes, ButI had not made a great Pro^refs, before I difcovered that fuch a Work was by no Means , proper to be fheltered under the Protedion of a Royal Patronage, on ac- count oJ the many Jealoufies to which it -Avas liable, and the Cavils which might be " faifed againit it. In fad, I foon found ^ ^ that MMMMiiriktMi '''^. k. l .l 'll ll l j l . l > ^" X PREFACE, that there was fcarccly a Step I could take, but would bring to Light fome glaring Abfurdity, which Length of Time haid rendered facred, and which the Multitude would have been taught to contend for, as if their All was at Stake : Scarce a Propofal could I make for introducing a free> generous, and impartial Syftem of national Commerce, but it had fuch Numbers of popular Errors to combat, as wouM have excited loud Clamours, and fierce Op- pofitiony and, therefore, as the Herd of Mock-PatHots are ever on the Watch to feize on all Opportunities of inflaming the' Populace by Mifreprefentatibns, and falfe Alarms i and a^ the Pbople ate too apt to Iwallow every idle Tale of this Sort, I determined to give no Occafion to thofe who continually feek Occaifon. In fhort, as I perceived I could not fervemy Prince, by a liberal alid unreftrarnc^BtfcuiSon df the Points fefative to theft Matters, I deemed it the bcttet Pai*t to decline tlie Undertaking, rather than do any Thing tinder the San£Hj6n of his Pa- tronage, which might differve him in the Eyes of others : For thefe Reafbns I ^^ ^«a^ MSt..., , .^,r^ E. could take, )me glarings Time hatd 5 Multitude tend for, as e a Propofal ng a free, of national ^"umbers of as would 1 fierce Op- ^e Herd of : Witch to flaming the s, and falfe^ ; too apt to lis Sort, I oil to thofct In fhort, my Prince, rfcuffiondf Vfatters, I to decline Lii do any f his Pa- vt him in fe Reafbns ^^^i^wms" si. P R E F A C E. ^i I laid the Scheme afidej and if ever J Should refume, and complete it, the Work iliall appear without any Patronage Pro- tedion, or Dedication whatever. The third Trad is, A Letter from a Merchant in Lo;idon to his Nephew in America. Tliis wasfirftprinted in the Vear 1766, towards the Clofe of the Debate about the Stamp Ad; and the Cha- radter which it affumes, is not altogether fidlitious : — For an ejderly Gentleman, •long verfed ,iii the North-American Trade, and perfedly acquainted with .all the Wiles there pradlifed both du- ring Peace, and in Time of War, and who had Relations fettled in that Part of the World, defired me. to write on this Subjed:, and to .give the Trea- tife that Turn of Expreffion, and Air of Authority, which would not be unbecoming; an old Man :to » , even to the I, and naval iftroying the he Mother- ince of Mr. xtter to the , forbidding id traiterous as obliged to fe Refpedts, ■ by him in ted, that the rnaiblej tho' lis ow^n Ex- ter Price for eed. Skins, ier Articles, (ther Part of (loniits took xeturn, but > buy, even It of Great- hndy or any idently faw, 3n fubfifled tie Mother- ild the Bur- dens PREFACE. xiii dens grow upon the latter, and the greater w^ould be the Opportunities for thq artful and defigning Men of both Countries to irritate and inflame the giddy, unthinking Populace ; tho' he admitted, I fay, and allowed all thefe Premifes, he could not come at the Conclufion : For he ftartled as much at the Idea of a Separation^ as if he had feen a Spedlre ! And the Notion of parting with the Colonies entirely, and then making Leagues of Friendfhip with them as with fo many independent States, was too enlarged an Idea for a Mind wholly occupied within the narrow Circle of Trade, and a Stranger to the Revolutions of States and Empires, thoroughly to comprehend, much lefs to digeft. In Confequence of this, I was obliged, as the Reader will fee towards the Conclu- fion, to give the Argument fuch a Turn, as exprefled rather a cafual Threat to feparate, than a fettled Projedl of doing It. !t Now, to fuppfy this Dtfea:, or ra- ther to make the Conclufion to. cor- refpond Isim; ^^^^^,.M^i.,^i^ ^^^^ -41 rl xiv PREFACE. refpo/id with the Premifes, I have add- ed 9. fourth Tracft, wherein I attempt to (hew what is the true Intereft of Great-Britain in regard to the Colonies -, and to explain the only Means of living with them on Terms of mutual Satisfadion and Friendfliip, Referring therefore the Reader to the Tradt it- felf, I fhall only fay a^ prefent, that the more we familiarize ourfelves to the Idea of a Separation^ the lefs fur- prized, and the more prepared we fhall be whenever that Event fhall happen. For that it will, and mufl happen, on^e Day or other, is the Opinion of almofl every Man, — unlefs indeed we except the extraordinary Notion of the cele- brated Dr. Franklin, and of a few other exotic Patriots and Politicians, who are pleafed to think, that the Seat of Government ought to be tranf- ferred from hence to America ; in Con- fequence of which Tranflation, this little Spot will neceffarily become a Province of that vaft and mighty Em- pire. Surely every home-born EngliJIi- . • •• man C E. I have add- n I attempt : Intereft of the Colonies ; / Means of s of mutual Keferring le Tradt it- prefent, that ourfelves to the lefs fur- red we fhall hall happen, happen, on,e on of almoft we except of the cele- id of a few Politicians, k, that the to be tranf- :a i in Con- Qation, this ^ become a mighty Em- ►orn EngliJIi- man XV PREFACE. man will readily prefer a Separation, even a fpeedy Separation, to fuch an Union as this i and yet, alas ! the Time is approaching, when there can be no other Alternative. Pi FOUR C^^SK3i^ssamiHi^BKtifiiam^*i» ■■i» , III I 1 1 1 1 T)i !■ ■ I J.' tjTC-inii:^":^. fi/ V^:iq f^tln^A ^'-'''rr v^;; *. .1 :n\ w I ynl:'). .i,.-^ til ^■:"S!i;u 5^ f O !■ ■ iliiapHMMip^w^ .j^.v. FOUR TRACTS pn.POUTICAL .od COMMERCIAL SUBJECT S.' TRACT I. ; : ■; "T-^iegrc^t ^le/iion rejohed. Whether ' a rich ■Country can Jland a Competition wrtha poor Country (of equal natural Advan- tages) in raifing of Provifions, and Cheap- nefs of ManufaBures f-^-JVith fuitable Inferences and DeduSlions. [Thas been a Notion univerfally ', received. That Trade and Ma- •nufaftures, if left at ./«// Lwer- (y, will always defcend from a richer to a poorer State j fome- ,what in the fame Manner as a Stream of Water iails from higher to lower Grounds j or as f .-.,.... -^^ ■^ i I i8 Political and Commercial a Current of Air rulhes from a heavier to a lighter Part of the Atmofphere, in order to re- ftore the Equilibrium. It is likewife inferred, very confidently with this firft Principle, that when the poor Country, in Procefs of Time, and by this Influx of Trade and Manufa(5tures, is become relatively richer, the Courfc -f 1'raffic will turn again : So that by attending to this Change, you may difcover the comparative Riches or Poverty of each particular Place or Country. The Reafons ufually afligncd for this Migra- tion, or rather Circulation of Induftry and Com- merce, are the following, viz. In rich Countries, where Monfy is Plenty,, a greater Quantity thereof is given for all the Articles of Food, Raiment, and Dwelling: Whereas in poor Countries, where Money is fcarce, a lefler Quantity of it is madetoferve in procuring the like NeceiTaries of Life, and in paying the Wages of the, Shepherd, the Plowman, the Artificer, and Manufadlurer. The Inference from all which is, that Provifions are raifed, and Goods manufadtured much cheaper in poor Countries than in rich ones j and therefore every poor Country, if a near Neighbour to a rich one, and if there is an eafy and commodious Communication between them, mull unavoida- bly get the Trade from it,— were Trade to be left at Liberty to take its natural Courfq. Nor ^ill this Increafe of Agriculture and Manufac- tures -t.-.^ ...■^■■....^v-^^. . —■■^...^^■J^ ^i ^y | , y| )()jn i, ^| ICIAU L heavier to ^ n order to re- :wife inferred, Principle, that of Time, and nufadures, is rfc'v^f Traffic aiding to this comparative ticular Place or thisMigra- (Iry and Cora ■ ich Countries, Iter Quantity :les of Food, ireas in poor irce, a Icfler prociiring the 1 paying the lowman, the he Inference ire raifed, and aper in poor lerefore every aur to a rich commodious uft unavoida- Trade to be I^ourfq. Nor ind Manufac- tures SUBjfectS. 19 turcs, whereby the richer Country is drained, and the poorer proportionably enriched, be flopped or prevented, 'till Things are brought to a perfefl Level, or the Tide of Wealth begins to turn the other Way. \ Now, according to this Train of Reafoning, one alarming and obvious Confequence muft ne- ceflarily follow, vL. That the Provifions and Manufadlures of a rich Country could never find a Vent in a poor one, on Account of the higher Value, or dearer Price fet upon them : Whereas thofe of a poor Country would always find a Vent in a rich one, becaufe they would be afforded the cheapefl at the common Market. This being the Cafe, can it be denied, that every poor Country is the natural and unavoida- ble Enemy of a rich one ; efpecially if it fhould happen to be adjoining to it ? And are not we fure beforehand, that it will never ceafe from draining it of its Trade and Commerce, Induflry and Manufaftures, *till it has reduced it, at leafl fo fair as to be on a Level and Equality with itfelf ? Therefore the rich Country, if it regards its own Intereft, is obliged by a Kind of Self- defence to make War upon the poor one, and to endeavour to extirpate all its Inhabitants, in order to maintain itfelf in >?/j/« quo^ or to prevent the fatal Confequences of lofing its prefent In- fluence, Trade and Riches. For little lefs than a total Extirpation can be fuflicient to guard C a againfl 20 Political and Commkrcial againft the Evils to be feared from this dange- rous Rival, while it is fuffcrcd to exift, Bu r is ihis indeed the Cafe ?— One woulil not willingly run Counter to the fettled Notions of Mankind i and yet one ought not to make aSacrhicc of Truth to mere Numbers, and the Authority of Opinion j efpecially if it fliould appear, that thefe arc Truths of great Moment to the Welfare of Society. Therefore, with a becoming Deference, may it not Here be afked," Can you fuppofe, that Divine Provi- dence has really conftituted the Order of Things in fuch a Sbrr, as to make the Rule of national Sclf-prefervation to be incohfiftent witK the furl- damental Principle of univerfal' Benevolence, and the doing as we would be done by ? For my Part, I muft confcfs, I never couW conceive that an all- wife, juft, and benevolent Being woulci conirive one Part of his Plan to be fo contradidlory to the other, as here fuppofed ;— that is, would lay us under one Obligation as to florals, and another as to Trade j or, in (hort, make that to be our !)«/)•, which is nor, upon the whole, arid generally fpeaking (even without theConfidcrationof afuture S'-ate) owv Interefi likewilc. A Therefore I conclude a priori^ that there muft be fome Flaw or other in the preceding Argimients, plaufible as they feerri, and great as rhey are upon the Foot of human Authority. For ERCIAL om this dangc- cxift. '—One woiilil fettled Notions t nut to make libers, and the ly if it fliould great Moment ^ierefore, with : not here be Divine Provi- rder of Things jle of national t with tKe furi- ' Benevolence, ione By ? For oulH conceive :volent Beiiig ?lan to be fo : fuppofed ; — bligation as to i or, in ftiort, is nor, upon (even without our Imerefi riy that there he preceding Ti, and great in Authority. For SUBJECTS. a, For though the Appearance of Things at firft S'ght makes for this GoncIuHon. ^//"Th poor Countries muft inevitably draw away the Trade from rich ones, and confequcntJy im : P7".^ ^hem," the Faft itfelf c J.o" bVso But leavmg all Arguments of this Sort, as'be ■ng perhaps too metaphyfical for commpn Vk let us have Recourfe to others wherpinl- SuPPo„ therefore £,^W.nd &«Wto 1^ two con.^guous. indepe„dan,Ki„gdon,s Z^>1 luppofe l,kew,fe. that .he Numbers ofiS had acquired Twe«, Miluo»s of cufrent ihat Sum, wz. Two Millions : TheOueftion now,,Whe*er£»,W*i„beab,eco%pr Trade and Manufaflures, •,iU it i, funk into a of both Na,„ns wifl be brought to be iuft the fame, viz Elmn Millhm each. Manner a previous Enquiry ftould be* fet on Foot m How came £«fW ,0 aequi e thPs great Surplus of Wealth ? And by what Mean was .t accumulated ?^If i„ ,he Way of /&"! .t certamly cannot retain it long ;Ind fits will I I 22 Political and CoMAtERciAi, will again become poor j~ perhaps fo poor as •*o be little better than Hungary or Poland : But if by a Courfe of regular and unherfat Induftr)\ the fame Means, which obtained the Wealth at firft, will, if purfued certainly preferve it, and even add thereto : So that England heed not entertain any Jealoufy againft the Improvements and Manufadtures of Scotland i — and on the other Hand, Scotland without hurting England^ will likewife increafe in Trade, and be benefited both by its Example^ and its Riches. E'JT as thefe are only general Aflertions, let us now endeavour to fupport them by an In- du6tion of particular Cafes. . CASE I. ENGL ANT) has acquired 2o,goo,ooo1. of Specie in rhe Way of National Idlenefsy viz. Either by Difcoveries of very rich Mines of Gold and Silver,- -or by fuccefsful Priva- teering and making Captures of Plate Ships, — or by the Trade of Jewels, and vending them to foreign Nations for vaft Sums of Money,— or, in Ihort, by any other conceivable Method, wherein (univerfal Induftry and Ap- plication being out of the Qiicftion) very few Hands were employed in getting this Mafs of Wealth (and they only by Fits and Starts, not conflantly) m •MMERCIAL perhaps fo poor as iry or Polafid : But / univerfal Induftry, iined the Wealth at ly preferve it, and England heed not t the Improvements andi — and on the jt hurting England^ le, and be benefited Riches. eral Aflertions, let 3rt them by an In- . ! d 2O,G00,OO0l. of r National Idlenefs^ if very rich Mines y fuccefsful Priva- res of Plate Ships, ivels, and vending for vaft Sums of ly other conceivable Induftry and Ap- Qiicftion) very few :;tting this Mafs of 'its and Starts, not conflantly) SUBJECTS. 23 conllantly)— and fewer ftill are fuppofed to re- tain what is gotten. According to this State of the Cafe, if feems evidently to follow. That the Provifions and Manufadlures of fuch a Cuntry would bear a mod enormous Price, while this FluQi of Money lafted i and that for the two following Reafons: I ft. A people enriched by fuch improper Means as thefe, would not know the real Value of Money, but would ^ive any Price that was. afked •, their fuperior Folly and. Extravagance being the only Evidence which. tl|ey coyld pro- duce of their fuperior Riches, adly. At the fame Time that Provifions and Manufactures would bear fuch an exceflive Price, the (JuanT tity thereof raifed or made withirk the Kingdom would be lefs than everi inafmuch a* the Cart, and the Plow, the Anvil, the Wheel, and the Loom, would certainly be laid afide for diefe quicker and eafler Arts of getting rich,, and becoming fine G^enElemen and Ladies ; be- caufe aliPerfooSjwhether Male or Female, would endeavour to put themfelves.in Fortune's Way, and. hope tp. catch as much, as they could of this golden Shower. Hence the Number of Coaches, Poft-Ch^ifes, and all other Vehicles, of Pleafure, would prgdigioufly increafe ; while, the ufuaj Sets of Farmer's Carts and. Waggons pcoportionably decreafed : The Sons of lower Jr^^^fgi^ft^d, l^abQuwr^ would be converted ::, X into .ifll 24 Political and Commercial into fpruce, powdered Footmen j and that robuft Breed, which ufed to fupply the Calls for laborious Occupations, and common Manu- faftures, would turn off to commence Barbers and Hair-DrefTers, Dancing Mailers, Players, Fidlers, Pimps, and Gamefters. As to the Fe- male Sex, it is no difficult Matter to forefee, what would be the Fate of the younger, the more fprightly, and pleafing Part among them. In Ihort, the whole People would take a new Turn; and while Agriculture, and the ordinary me- chanic Trades became fhamefully neglefted, the Profefllons which fubSfi by procuring Amufcments and Diverfions, and exhibiting Allurements and Temptations, would be amaz- ingly incrcafed,-~and indeed for a Time en- riched } fo that from being a Nation of Bees producing Honey, they would become a Nation of Drones to eat it up. In fuch a Cafe certain it is, that their inditftrious Neighbours would foon drain them of this Quantity of Specie, — and not only drain them, fo far as to reduce them to a Level with the poor Country, but alfo fink them into the loweft State of abjedt Poverty. Perhaps indeed fome few of the in- habitants, being naturally Mifcrs, and forefeeing the general Poverty that was coming upon th6 Country, would make the more ample Provi- fion for themfelves j and, by feeding the Vices, and adminifteiing to the Follies and Extrava- -' " "" gances y> null lERClAL len ; and that ipply the Calls common Manu- nnicnce Barbers lafters. Players, As to the Fe- ' to forefee, what inger, the more long them. In ike a new Turn; ie ordinary me- fully neglected, : by procuring and exhibiting would beamaz- br a Time cn- J^ation of Bees lecome a Nation h a Cafe certain jghbours would itity of Specie, far as to reduce r Country, but State of abjeft few of the In- 5, and forefeeing ming upon th^ e ample Provi- :ding the Vices, s and Extrava- gances SUBJECTS. get fieh all at oijec withpiit Tra«te>or Ihduftry,--'- tlhis Seheme \W)uld have been- tiie moftiatjaUnd deftrUftivc of any, had not Providence kindly interpofed by defeating, it; Fot if We had beea viftorious, and had vanquiflfied the .^rr«/«r«faiias riiey fortndrijrvanquifhed thd:/»^/tf» Inhabitants,* dur Fate Jlh'd .^attiftiffient woUld have bben by this Tinie fimilar to theriris;— Pride tfhited with Imdginai^ WeaWi, and abfedt Powriy vrithbut Rdbtircei. . .HtNCE likeMrife wd may difcem'tKe "Weak^ rfefi bf one Augumdnr (iiideed'the only, pofniklr one) fdrndtfiries iriflfted on- witlTmore W4rmtli than Judgmoilt k FatJWir-tof ai^enj^itarMatllTas- liaatibbi .^z. 0?hat- it ^^i»oaCd«indUcc?ruoh riirh Fdfeigh^-au: ai« not^ sitgagcd iinvtfti^ ^t«de «r Bufin^fi, aftd ^deflft;qi«*ntly;iWe(ihjl nbt ifltdrf««; with' aay df ilie- NafiVfe^, ai? ebme-afrd f^eM WiJr $^^«»t'/'in tWS LSAd of^^LifeS'rty. -fWhsit U' truly ts^'be hepttl ^6*^ «'gefl«i%l Natutaiteat Uon, is," that it would ind.uceinduTlrious and in- genious Eoreignei-s, MeiuwHo hftve their Forr ., ; . tUncs h . ' ffw i i ^ilW(W W. i M f ! ■ .jW ii i J I JWi ERtflAL ik in us to have ng it)— thiswa? of national At-r tiSetb, the Wood '-•leven th0''th^ iti&c^lPlaniwas flinesby ukif^g. iy, ^tid fe co>get ?r»j[^ of wkit oati^DaL Advaa- t»g«? wQi^ldjtbey be m m? WJwtf, i (ky^ cwen Aippofing ws gottild ppiffuade ail the wealthy Fpfftigftew «f ihi8,Clj^ Ottoiigkoi^ the World to come tnd ft^iis'mEngiMd:? Tfcc re^ Faft ia, th(^t Ro ..i%.i>.., tmtJ"'- 'Attuu L ' ::,.}n, fwENTY Mll- Vay oi general Ingenuity and ng them a free )nfinemcnt, or dens to Celi- riieges to the fuch Laws, as :s more equally refent Laws of [ling the Taxes ngs hurtful to the SUBJECTS. 29 the Pubhc Good fhall be rendered proponiona- bly dear, and placed beyond the Reach of the IVIultitude; whereas luch Things asareneceflary, cr ufeful, Ihall be proportionably encouraged \ and, in fhort, by every other conceivable JVIe* thod, whereby the Drones of Society may be con- verted into Bees, and the Bees be prevented from degenerating back into Drones. -^| i-^n4^, Therefore, as we are to fuppofe, that by fuch Means as thefe, the South-Britons have ac cumulated 20,000,000!. in Specie, while the North-Britons have no more than 2,ooo,oool. : TheQueftion now is. Which of thefe two Na- tions can afford to raife Provifions, and fell their Manufadtures on the cheapeft Terms? « Suppofing that both did their utmoft to rival « one another, and that Trade and Manufac- « tures were left at Liberty to take their own *» Courfe, according as Cheapnefs or Intereft « direfted them." '^^^: Now, on the Side of the poorer Nation, it is alledged. That feeing it hath much lefs Money, and yet is equal in Size, Situation, and other natural Advantages, equal alfo in Numbers of People, and thofe equally willing to be dili- gent and induftrious ; it cannot be but that fuch a Country muft have a manifeft Advantage over the rich one in Point of its parfimonious Way of Living, low Wages, and confequently cheap JVIanufadlures. On m t f w ig i %.. 30 Political ancj CommherciaIi, On tHe contrary, the ri<:h Coimtry hath th« following Advantages which wiU more than counter-ballanc© ^ny . Difadvantage that may sirifc from.thc foregoing Articles, viz. i.ft. As the richer Country bath acquired its fopcrisr Wealth by a general Application, and long Habits of Induftry, k is , therefore in aftual Pofleflion of an eftabliflxed Trade and Cre<&t, largi; Correfpondences, experienced Agents and Fadors, eomraadious Shops, Work- Houfcs, Magazines, H^c. alfo a great Variety of ihe beft Tools and implements in the various Kinds of Manufa^bures, and Enigtnes for abttidiging Labour ; >-add to thcfe .gjood Roads, Cands,: and ocher anoifiicial Comniunications ; Quays, Docks* Wharfs^ and Piers; Ntimbers ef, Ships, good PiJots, and: trained Saik)t8:'-^ And in jrefpeft toHuflaiMMdrjr avd Agriculture,' it is Ukewifek jPoiTeflion of good Endofures, Drains, Waterings, artificial Grallbs, great Stocks, and confequcndy the greater Plenty of Manures ; alfo a great Variety of Plows, Ha<«-ows» -fef*. fuiced to the difl^rent Soils } an^ in flxut of every other fuperior Method of H^ifboindry arifing from long- Experience, various apd ex- penfive Trials. Whereas the poor Country has^ for the mod Part, all thefe Things to (eek after and procure,— Therefore what the Poet ob* ferved to be true in a private Senie, i$ true alfo in a public and commercial one, viz. , Haud ^'"y'- ' y '" ' ^ intry hath th U B J E G T S. 31 I Baud facile emergu^t, quorum zirtutiktf ohjlat . lies angujia dor^i 2dly. ^Hx. richer Country is not only in 'tat- ^ffion of the Things already made and fcttleJ, but a/fo 6f fuperior Skill and Knowledge (aci' quired by long Habit and Experience) for in- venting and making of more, the Importance of this w.n appear the gre^itcc, when we corifider, Wat no Man can pretend to fet BbUrids to the Progrefs that rtiay yet be made both in Agridl- ture and M^nufafiures- for who «n take upoh him xa affirm, that our Children cannot i& far ik- ceed us as we haVe exceeded Our Gothk Forefa- thers? And is it not much more niturilartdtea- fohablp to fuppofe, that we are raf hfcf at the Be- ginning only, and juft got Withift the ThWlHold. than that we are arrived at the ne plus ultra oi «feful fiifcovefies ? Now,' if fq, the poorer Country, however willing to learn, cantiot be fuppofed to be capable ofmaking the fame Prd- igrefs in ^.earning with the Rich, for wartt qf tqual Means of Inftfudion, equally, good Mo- dels and Examples j- and therefore, tho* both may be improving every Day^. yet tkt praElical Knowledge of the poorer in Agriculture and Manufadlures will always be found to ketfp at a hfpeflful Diftance behind that of the richer Counci;y. -4 Iff m l:;i HI 1,1 if 32 Political and Commercial gdly. The richer Country is not only mortf knowingy but is alfo more able than the other to make further Improvements, by laying out large Sums of Money in the Profecution of the in- tended Plan. Whereas the poor Country has here again the Mortification to find, that the Res angufta domi is in many Cafes an infuperable Bar to its Rife and Advancement : And this Circumftance deferves the more Regard as it Is a known Fa6k and trite Gbfervation, that vei^ few great and extenfive Projcdls were ever brought to bear at firft fetting out; and that i vaft deal of Money muft be funk, and many Years be elapfed, before they arc capable of making any Returns. In Ihort, the Inhabitants of a poor Country, who, according to the vulgar Phrafe, generally live from Hand to Mouth, dare not make fuch coltly Experiments, or em- bark in fuch expenfive and long -.winded Under- takings, as the Inhabitants of a rich Country can attempt, and execute with Eafe. 4thly. The higher "Wages of the rich Coun> try, and the greater Scope and Encouragement given for the Exertion of Genius, Induftry, and Ambition, will naturally determine a great many Men of Spirit and Enterprize to forfake their own poor Country, and fettle in the richer •, fo that the one will always drain the othefr of the Flower of its Inhabitants: Whereas there are not the fame Temptations for the beft Hands r I Hai I the The iow( Peoi rciaL not only more lan the other to laying out large ition of the in- or Country has find, that the an infuperable fnt : And this Regard as it is tion, that vei^ :dls were ever lit; and that a .ink, and many are capable of the Inhabitants ig to the vulgar and to Mouth, iments, or em- -.vinded Uiider- , rich Country afe. the rich Coun- jlncouragcment ;, Induftry, and ne a great many to forfakc their the richer*, fo lin the othefr nts : Whereas ons for the beft Hands I ■ ' ' -'^ — " ' - ' * ' ' -^ m I SUBJECTS. 3j I Hands and Artifts of a rich Country to forfakc the belt Pay. and fettle in a poor one.- i hough for Argument's Sake, it was al lowed at the Beginning, that the Numbers of leople m thefe two adjoining States were juft equal yet certain it is, that the Thing itfelf could never have fo happened.- the richer Country being always endowed with the attrac t.ve Qiiality of the Loadftone, and the poor one with the repelling: And therefore, feeing than the poorer Country muft neceflarily be the leafl: peopled (if there is a free Intercourfe between them) the Confequence would be, that in feveral Diftndts, and in many Inftances, it would be impoffible for certain Trades even tofubfift; becaufe the Scarcity and Poverty of the Inha- bitants would not afford a fufficient Number of Cuftomers to frequent the Shop, or to take ofF the Goods of the Manufacturer. 5tWy. In the richer Country] where the De- mands are great and conflant, every Manufac- ture that requires various ProceiTes, and is com- pofed of different Parts, is accordingly divided Brancle^'t' ^^ '^^^^^ -' ^^^'^^^ Branches ; whereby each Perfon becomes more expert and alfo more expeditious in the parti- cular Part affigned him. Whereas in a Voor Country the fame. Perfon is obliged by Necef- %, and for the Sake of getting a bare Sub- Mence, to wndwke fuch different Branches E .-■ P*Ei '-*-*-" --"--' -^ni B l a I '.l ajjuC-^ ii^' ' I I /4' PoLiricAL and Commkrcial .is prevent him from excelling, or being expeditious in any. In fuch a Cale, Is ic not much cheaper to give 2s. '60. a Day in the rich Country to the nimble and adroit Artift, than it is to give only 6d. in the poof one, to the tedious, aukward Bungler? 6thly. As the richer Country has the greater Number of rival Tradefmen, ar»d thofe more quick and dexterous, the Goods of fuA a Country have not only the Advantages arifing from Quicknefs and Dexterity, but alio wijil be afforded much the cheaper ort Account of the Emulation of fo mafty Rivals and Competitors. Whereas iiVa poor Country, it is very eafy for one rich, 6ver-gr6wn Tradcfman to monopolize the whole Trade to himfelf, and confequently to fet his own Price upon \ht Goods, as he knows that there ar« none wlio dare contendwith him in Point of Fortune j-or, what is full as bad, the like Confequences will follow where the Numbers of the Wealthy are fo few, that they can combine together whenever they will, to prey upon the Public. 7thly. and laftly. In th« rich Country, the Superiority of the Capital, and the low In- tereft of Money, will infure the vending of all Goods OP the cheapeft Tertns ; bccavfle a Man of 2000I. Capital can certainly afford to give the bed Wages to the beft Workmen, and' yet be able to llll the Produce or Manufadture of fuch :rcial ng, or beirtg a Cal'e, Is ic J. a Day in the d adroit Artift, xtov one, to the has the greater md thofe more odis of fudl a vantages arifing buc alio wijil be Account of the \d Competitors, is very eafy for 1 to monopolize id confequently t Goods, as he ire contend with lat is full as bad, low where the I few, that they ir they will, to h Country, the id the low In- t vending of all bccavtle a Man f afford to give rkmcn, and' yet Manufafture of . - Aich F " ~~~ I SUBJECTS. 35 I fiich Workmen at a much ehc^iper Rate than he I who has only a Capital of 2o< 1. For if the one gets only lol. per Cent, per , Ann. for his Money, that will bring him an income of 200I. a Year ; a Sum very fufficient to live with Cre- dit and Reputation in the Rank of a Tradcfman ; and confidcrably more than double to what he would have received in the Way of common Interefl, even if lent at 4I. and an Half per Cent. Whereas, the other with his poor Capital of 200I. muft get a Profit of at leaft 20I. per Cent, in order to have an Income juft above the Degree of a common Journeyman.— Not to mention, that Men of fuperior Capitals will always command the Market in buying the raw Materials at the beft Hand ; and command it •ilfo in another View, viz. by being able to give longer Credit to their Dealers and Cuftomers.— So much as to the rcafoning Part of this Subjeft : Let us now examine how ftand the Fads. And here it muft be premifed, that were a greater Qiiantity of Specie to enhance the Price of Provifions and Manufaftui-es in the Manner ufually fuppofed, the Confequence would be, that all Goods whatever would be fo much the dearer in a rich Country, compared with a poor one, as there had been different Sets of People employed, and greater Wages paid in making them. For the Argument proceeds thus,— The more Labour, the more Wages-,-- -the more ■wiAih ' " Ea .:v ''^ ^' Wages, :^r. 36 Political and Commercial Wages, the more Money ;— the mOiC Money paid for making them, the dearer the Goods muft come to Market : And yet the Faft itfelf is quite the Reverie of this feemingly juftCon- clufion. For it may be laid down as a general Propofition, which very feldom fails. That operofe or complicated Manufa£fures are cheapeft in rich countries; — and raw Materials in poor ones: And therefore in Proportion as any Commodity approaches to one, or other of thefe Extremes, in that Proportion it will be found to be cheaper, or dearer in a rich, or a poor Country. • •; - ' The raifmg of Corn, for Inftance, employs a confiderable Number of Hands, has various Proceflcs, takes up a great deal of Time, and is attended with great Expence. If fo, pray, Where is Corn the cheapeft? Why, Corn is raifed as cheap in England as in Scotland, if not cheaper. Moreover, tho' Wages are very high in Hertfordjhircy as being in the Neighbourhood of London, and the Lands dear, and far from being naturally good ; yet the Price of good Wheat is certainly as cheap in Hertford/hire as in Wales, and fometimes much cheaper ; tho' the Wages in Wales are low, the Rents eafy, and the Lands in many Places fufficiently rich and fertile, and the Land-Tax extremely light. The raifmg Garden-Stuff, and all Sorts of Produce fit for the Kitchen is another Inftance : for this likewife is an expenfive and operofe Affair, $ll-: OMMERCIAL ■--the moic Money lie dearer the Goods id yet the Faft itfelf feemihgly juftCon- d down as a general am fails. That operofe r are cheapeft in rich erials in poor ones: in as any Commodity T of thefe Extremes, found to be cheaper, or Country. %-•; - >r Inftance, employs Hands, has various deal of Time, and is lence. If fo, pray, )eft ? Why, Corn is as in Scotland^ if not Wages are very high 1 the Neighbourhood 5 dear, and far from the Price of good p in Hertford/hire as much cheaper ; tho' r, the Rents eafy, and fufficiently rich and ixtremely light. fF, and all Sorts of is another Inftance : penfive and operofe Affair, p 'ii g »ii j i ij i i, »iiii j i SUBJECTS. 37 Affair, requiring great Skill and Judgment. But the Price of Garden Stuff is prodigioudy funk to what it was in former Times ; and I much queftion, whether any Town of Note in Scotland can now vie with the common Markets of London in that Refpefl. Certain it is, that formerly, viz. about loo Yrars ago, a Cabbage would have coft 3d. in London, when London vizs not near fo rich as it is now, which it prefent may be bought for a Halfpenny. And wcr- you to proceed on to Colliflowers, Afparagus, Broccoli, Melons, Cucumbers, and all Sorts of the choicer Wall Fruits, you would find the Difproportions ftill greater. But waving fuch Exotics, even the common Articles of Peafe and Beans, Sallads, Onions, Carrots, Parfneps, and Turneps, are confiderably cheaper than ever they were known to be in former Times ; tho* the Rent of Garden Grounds, and Wages of Journeymen Gardeners, are a great deal higher. On the contrary, the raifing both of fmall and large Cattle is a more fimple Affair, and doth not employ near fo many Hands, as the raifing of Corn or Garden-Stuff : Therefore you will find that fmall and large Cattle are much cheaper in poor Countries than in rich ones ; and that the Produce of fuch Cattle, for the fame Reafon, viz. Milk, Wool, and Hair, alfothe Flefh, Skins, Horns, and Hides, are cheaper likevvife. As to Milk, this being made into ~^*T i""*^*"?:^^ 1! ■i-ii )i Ag Political and Commercial into Butter or Cheefe by a lliort and fmgle Pro, cefs, and the Inrervention of only one Fefflale Servant, is indeed cheaper in the poorer Country. But were Butter and Cheefe to have required a more intricat-e Operation, and to have taken up as much Time, and employed as many Hands in the manufafturing of them, as Wool, or Leather, h miglit be greatly Cjueftioned whether the rkher Country would not have produced Bvitter and Che.^e at a cheaper Rate than the poor one. And what countenances this Sufpi- cion is, thatitt the Cafe of Wool, Hair, Horns, and Hides, when manufaaurcd into Cloth, Hair Cloths, Hornery-Ware, and Leather, the richer Country hath generally the Advantage : Indeed, if there are fome Exceptions, they are extremely few. And it is an indifputable Fad at this Day, that there arc more Woollen Cl«ths, Stuffs, Serges, ^c. more Horn Combs, Ink-Horns, Powder-Flafks, Lanthorns, ^c. more Leather for Shoes and Boots, fent by the Manufafturers ci England into Scotland^ tlian by thofe of Scot- Jaxd into England. Wood, or Timber, is another Inftance in Point : For Timber may be reckoned to be in a wreat Degree the fpontaneous Produftion of Na- Ture, and therefore Timber is always cheapeft in a poor Country. But what fliall we fay ot fuch Manufaftures, of which T-mber is only the raw Material? Are they cheaper alfo ? — J.; ■■■' • This. ■-«»»- ^ ERCIAL and fmgle Vro^ >nly one Female poorer Country, have required a 3 have taken ^p as many Hands 1) as Wool, or eftioned ptiiQus Houfes, and purchafing all the Furniture proper for them ; and to almoft every other Article, where many Hands, much Labour and Ex- pence, great Skill and Ingenuity, and a Variety of different Trades are required before the Thing in Qucflion is completely finifhed. For. in all thcfe Cafes, the rich, induftrious Country has a nianifcft Advantage over the poor one. LondaUj -^ thd' 40 Political and Commercial tho' the deareft Place in the Kingdom to live at, is by far the cheapeft for purchafmg Houlhold Goods. After fo much hath been faid on the Sub- jeft, it would be needtefs to have Recourfc to the Branch of Metals for further lUuftrationsy were it not that there is fomething fo very ftrik- ing in their Cafe, that it ought not to be omitted. Iron Ore, for Example, is dug in Lanca/hire^ and frequently fcnt by Sea Carriage into the County of Argyle^ there to be fmelted, on Ac- count of the great Plenty and Cheapnefs of Wood and Charcoal. Now, when it is thus brought into Pigs and Bars, the great Queftion is, "What becomes of it ? Do you find that any confiderable Quantity remains in Scotland? Or is the far greater Part brought back again, in order to be fent into the manufadluring Counties of England? — The \z**n is indifputably the Cafe, notwithftanding the Expencc of Re-car- riage; notwithftanding alfo, that the Collieries in Scotland could fupply as much Coal as even about Birmingham^ or Sheffield^ were Coal the only Article that was wanted. But for all that, Sheffield and Birmingham are in Poffcffion of the Trade j and will ever keep it, unkfs it be their own Faults. ■ V- jfj'i. The Cafe of Sweden is ftiil more extraordina- ry (and furely Sweden is a Country poor enough) .for the Swedijb Iron pays a large Duty to the S'^edijh -m* iRCIA^ ;dom to live at, afmg Houlhold id on the Sub- i^e Recourfc to er lUuftrationsy g (o very ftrik- t to be omitted. y in LancaJhirCt irriage into the Tjeked, on Ac- l Cheapnefs of vhen it is thus great Queftion }u find that any in Scotland? Or back again, in iluring Counties ndifputably the encc of Re-car- at the Collieries ch Coal as even were Coal the But for all that, Poffcfiion of the unlefs it be their lore extraordina- ry poor enough) ge Duty to the Swedijk " "■ np fi i- l y SUBJECTS. 4t Swedijh Government before Exportation ;— it is then burdened with Freight into England y-\t pays a heavy Duty Upon being landed here;- is then carried partly by Water, and partly by Land, into the manufaduring Counties; — i$ there fabricated,- -re- carried again to the Sea- Side,— therfe Ihipped off, fdr SwedgMy— pays a very heavy Duty, as Englijh Manufadures j— and yet, almoft every Article of fuch Manu- faftures, as hath pafled thro* two, three, or more Stages, before it was completed, is afforded fo cheap at the Market of Stockholm^ that the Swedes have loft Money in every Attempt they have made to rival them. Judge now, therefore, what little Caufe there is to fear that a poor Country can ever rival a rich one in the more operofe, complicated, and expenfive Branches of a Manufafture : Judge alfo, whether a rich Country can ever lofe its Trade, while it retains its Induftry -, and confe- qucntly how abfurd muft every Proje6t be for fecuring or encreafing this Trade, which doth not tend to fecure, or encreafe the Diligence and Frugality of the People. A War, whether crowned with Viftoryj oi- branded with Defeats, can never prevent another Nation from being more induftrious than you are ; and if they are more induftrious, they will fell cheaper ; and confequently your former Cuftomers will forfake your fliop, and go to F theirs; ■ ^-.-;i -*ift,ij> - -i£^U i i i 4 ^ Political and CoMMERCiAt jheirs ; tho' you covered the Ocean with Fleets, and the Land with Armies:— In ftiort, the Soldier may makje Wafte, the i^ri/aiecr, whether^ fuccefsful or unfuccefeful, will ma>ke Poor j but it is the eternal Law of Providence, that 'The If and of the Diligent alone can make Rich. This being the C^f?, it evidently follows, that as no trading Nation can ever he ruined but by itfelf, fo more particularly the Improve- ments and Manufadures of Scotland can never be a Detriment to England i unlefs the Enji/Ii do voluntarily decline their Induftry, and be- come proilig^te in their Morals. Indeed, when this comes to pafs, it is of little Confcquence by what Name that Nation is called, which runs away with their Trade •, for fome Country or other necelfarily muft. Whereas, were the Englifli to reform their Manners, and cncreafe their Induftry, the very Largenefs of their Ca- pitals, and their Vicinity to Scotland, might enable the En^li/h to affift the Scotch in various Ways, without prejudicing themfelves, viz. By lending them Money at moderate Intereft,- by embarking in Partnerfhip with them in fuch Undertakings as require large Stocks and long Credits,— by fupplying them with Models and Inftruftors^-'-exciting their Emulation, and di- recting their Operations with that Judgment and good Order which are only learnt by Ufe and Experience. Nay, 'fiav ^Mmqr in- * »J [ERCIAt :ean with Fleets, "In ftiort, the i7aiecr,whether» nake Poor i but rovidence, that n make Rich. iritjently follows, ever he ruined ly the Improve- oilan4 can never nlefs the EnJiJJi duftry, and be- Indeed, when tie Confcquence ailed, which runs bme Country or ereas, were the rs, and cncreafe [lefs of their Ca- Scotlandj might Scotch in various mfelves, viz. By ate Intereft,-- by :h them in ilich Stocks and long ivith Models and lulation, and di- at Judgment and arnt by Ufe and jr fnw.Fi?»r Nay, SUBJECTS. 43 Nay, to pafs from Particular* to Generals, we may hy it down as an univerfal Rule, fubjeft to very few Exceptions, that as an indxiftrious , Nation can never be hurt by the encreafing In- duftry of its Neighbours ; artd as it is to wifely contrived by Divine Providence, that all People Ihould have a ftrong Biafs towards the Produce and Manufadures of others-,— fo it follows, that when this Biafs is put yjinAer ftopt Regula- tions^ the rcfpeftive Induftry of Nation and Nation enables them to be fo much ,thc better Cuftomers, to improve in a friendly Intercpurfe, and to be a mutual Benefit to each other. A private .Shopkeeper would certainly wifti, that his Cuftomers did improve in their Circum- ftanees rather than go behind-hand j becaufe every fuch Improvement would probably re- dound to his Advantage. Where then can be the Wifdota in the public Shopkeeper, a trading People, to endeavour «> make the neighbouring States and Nations, that are bis Cuftomers, fo very pror as not to be able to trade with him ? The CottcHifion of the whole i& this : Heaps of Gold and Silver are not the true Riches of a Nation: Gold and Silver got in the Ways of Idlenefs are it» certain Ruin j it is Wealth in Appearance but Poverty in Reality : Gold and Silver got by Induftry, and fpent in Idlenefs, will prove to be Deftrudlion likewifc: But Gold and Silver acquired by general Induftry, and ufed with Sobriety, and according to good F 2 Morals, )f:^^^iu\.immtlittmi\\ <*----'- m 44 Political and Commircial Morals, will promote ftill greater Induftry, and go on, for any Thing that appears to the con- trary, ftill accumulating ; fo that every Aug- mentation of fuch Money is a Proof of a pre^ ceding Increafc of Induftry : Whereas an Aug- mentation of Money by fuch Means as decreaie Induftry, is a national Curfe— not a Bleffing. And therefore, tho' the Accounts of fuch a Na- tion may look fair to the Eyes of a Merchant or Tradefman, who (keeping their own Books by Pounds, Shillings, and Pence) fuppofe, that all muft be right, when they fee at the Foot of the Account, a large Balance of Pounds, Shil- lings, and Pence, in the Nation's Favour ; yet the able Statefman, and judicious Patriot, who are to keep the public Accounts by quite diffe- rent Columns,— by Men, Women, and Children, employed, or not employed,— will regard this Tumour of Wealth as a dangerous Difeafe, not as a natural and healthy Growth. In one Word, jfhe only pofllble Means of preventing a Rival Nation from running away with your Trade, is to prevent your own People from being more idle and vicious than they arie-, and by infpiring them with the contrary good Qua- lities : So that the only War, which can be at- tended with Succcfs in that Refpeft, is a War againft Vice and Idlenefs; a War, whofe Forces muft confift of— not Fleets and Armies,— but fuch judicious Taxes and wife Regulations, as |hall ?urn thePaffion of private Sclf-Love into the :rcial ;r Indullry, and ;ars to the con- lat every Aug- Proof of a prct hcrcas an Aug- eans as decreale ■ not a Blefling. s of fuch a Na- of a Merchant heir own Books e) fuppofe, that e at the Foot of ' Pounds, Shil- I's Favour ; yet us Patriot, who s by quite difFc- n, and Children, will regard this )us Difeafe, not . In one Word, venting a Rival th your Trade, )le from being they are-, and rary good Qua- ^hich can be at- peft, is a War r, whofe Forces 1 Armies, — but Regulations, as Sclf-Love into the ■"W'^T • m \\i >i Lmi- • "imw i n mm^> SUBJECTS. ,s the Channel of public Good. Indeed Fleets and Armies may be neceflary, where the Merchant or Manufafturer are in Danger of being robbed or plundered in carrying their Goods to Market •, but Fleets and Armies can never render thofc Goods the cheaper i an4 confequently cannot poffibly encreafe the Num- ber of your Cuftomers •, fuppofing fuch Cufr, tomers have the Liberty of trading where ever they pleafe, and to the beft Advantage. But if you fliould continue thefe Armaments, in order to ftop up the Ports of other Nations, and de- prive them of the Benefit of a free Trade, what will be the Confequence of this wife Manoeuvre ? Plainly this j— That while you are getting One Shilling, you are fpendingTen j while you are employing a few in a Courfe of regular Induftry, you are fupporting Thoufands in Habits of Idle- nefs, and at the fame Time involving the Na- tion in fuch immenfe Expences as muft, if per- fifted in, inevitably prove its Ruin.— Grant, therefore, that during a War, a War crowned' with uninterrupted Succefs (for no other can avail) [grant, I fay, that in fome Articles you enjoy an Increafe of Trade, at what Expence is this Increafe obtained, and how long is it to laft ? Moreover, that Confequences will arife when the War is at an End, and other Ports are open ? (for furely it cannot be intended that a trading Nation is to fight for ever,) and when Peace is made, what new Duties, what addi- tional 4.6 poLiticAL and Commercial tiortal Taxes are to be impofcd for defraying bodi Principal and Intereft of the Charges ot fuch a War?- How are they to be levied?— Who is to bear them ?— And will you by this Means be better able to render your Goods cheaper at a foreign Market than heretofore ?— A plain Anfwcr to thele Queftions, would un- ravct the whole Matter, and bring Mankind to a right Ufe of their Senfes. ^^ ^ .... f * .» it.'viWi rfi'i'S I "Aha Jiitfir ,^-^ P O S T .«■% -. l iu ii^m^tmm^ Hi>-«HlfpMr««*i9f*«m«v*lHI^ AL »r defraying Charges ot c levied?— you by this ^our Goods iretofore? — , would un- Mankmd to »»'ri.!o1 K; nhfdQti* Ui?^;'. P O S T- aro^r POSTSCRIPT. «_- ^* A— r [HE only fct of Objeftions, as far as they have come to my Knowledge, which have been hitherto made to the Princ; lies and Reafonings laid down and illuftrated in the forego- ing Treatife, are the four following : I ft. That according to this Hypothefis, Improvements, Induftry, and Riches, may be advanced and encrcafed ad infinitum ; which is a Pofition too extravagant to be admitted. ^ 2dly. That in Confequence of this accumu- lating Scheme, one Nation might engrofs the Trade of the whole World, and beggar every other State or Kingdom : which Opinion is not only contradidled by Fad and Experience, but is alfo contrary to my own Syftem of Commerce, wherein 1 ftrongly declare againll Monopoly and Exclufion of every Kind. 3dly. 48 Political ami Commercial 3dly. That tho* a poor Country cannot immediately and at once rival a rich one in its Trade and Manufafturcs, yet it may do it by Degrees, beginning firft with the coarfcr and lefs complicated Kinds, and then ad- vancing Step by Step to others more com- pounded, operofe, and coftly ; 'till at length it hath reached M«/ Summit of Art, Induftry,and Riches, from which the rich Country hath lately fallen, and from whence alfo this upftart Ad- venturer muft recede in its Turn. And to ftrengthen this Reafoning, it may be obferved, 4thly. « That all human Things have the «» Seeds of Decay within themfelvcs :— Great « Empires, great Cities, great Commerce, all " of them receive a Cheque, not from accidental " Events, but from neceflary Principles." Thus ftand the Obje£ti'Sns of that acute Phi- lofopher, and celebrated Writer, who honoured the above Treatife with his ingenious Re- marks. Let us now therefore attend to the Force of each of thefe Objeftions with that Care and Impartiality which the Caufe of Truth deferves i and with that Refpeft alfo, which is due to a Perfon of Eminence in the Republic of Letters. ^''^ t . J . And 1 ft. I muft beg Leave to obferve, that the Gentleman has, in Part at leaft, mifta!;en my Meaning, where I fay, towards the Clofe of the Treatife, «' That Gold and Silver ac- " quired CIAL luntry cannot 1 rich one in ;t it may do th the coarfcr nd then ad- 3 more corn- ill at length it , Induftry, and try hath lately is upftart Ad- Lirn. And to be obferved, lings have the [elves :---Great Commerce, all rom accidental ticiples." that acute Phi- who honoured ingenious Re- attend to the ions with that Zmk of Truth ; alfo, which is ;he Republic of o obferve, that lead, mifta!;en i/ards the Clofe and Silver ac- " quired SUBJECTS. 4^ '♦ quired by general Induftry, and ufed with " Sobriety, and according to good Morals, will " promote ftill greater Induftry, i»nd go on, for " any thing that appears to the contrary, ftill " accumulating :"— I fay, he has miftakcn my Meaning, if he imagined, that I roundly and pofitivcly there afferted, that the Progrefs mufi h% ad infinitum : For I did not intend to aflcrt any fuch Thing , and one Reafon, among others, which reftrained me, was the Conflderatioh that I am not Mctaphyfician enough to comprehend was Infinity really means. Therefore what I undertake to maintain is this,— That fuch a Progrcflion as here defcribed, may be fo far car- ried on, as evidently to prove, that no Man can pofitively define, wheny or where it muft necejfa- rily ftop : No Man can fet Bounds td Improve- ments even in Imagination j and therefore, 'till the ne plus ultra oi all Advancements in Arts, Sciences, and Manufactures, in Agriculture, Trade, and Navigation, £jfc. (dc. is clearly demonftrated (a Thing which I prefume no one will be in Haftc to attempt) we may ftill be al- lowed to aflert, that the richer manufafturing Nation will maintain its Superiority over the poorer one, notwithftanding this latter may be likewifc advancing towards Perfeftion. This being the Caufe it follows, 2dly. That my Hypothefis is fo far frorrf fuppofing that one Nation may cngrofs the G , . Trade 50 Political and Comtmercial Trade of the whole "World, and beggar all the reft, that it remains juft the contrary : Becaufe it follows, from my Syftem, that every Nation, poor as well as rich, may improve their Condi- tion if they pleafe. The poorer Nation, for Example, may adopt the good Police,— the Abolition of Monopolies and exclafive Com- panies, and feveral ufefut Regulations of its richer neighbouring State : All thefe it may adopt without Expeme^ ac the fame Time that \t may avoid their Errors or Miftakes •, for Errors there will be, more or lefs, in all human Inftitutions. Moreover, tho' the poorer Nation cannot rival the Manufaftures of a richer one at a third Place, or in a foreign Market, where the Goods and Merchandize of both are fup- ppfed to be admiflibk on the fame Footing, yec ie may, and, ought, by Means of judicious Taxes, to difcourage the too- great or exceffive Confu'mption of alien Manxifaftures, and efpc- cially Liquors, within its own Territories \ and as this likewife may be done without Ex- pencil nay^ to the great Advantage of the Revenue, it, therefore follows, that th«? poorer Nati(m may get forwards in many Refpefts without being obftruded by the rich one. To which Confidcration we (hould not forget to add, that there are certain local Advantages le- fulting either from the Climate, the Soil, the •Produdtions, the Situationv or even the natural Turn J -.-^I*— w.-r^^-i^Nrv-'- ' ifMERCIAL and beggar all the contrary: Becaufe , that every Nation, iprovc their Condi- poorer Nation, for good Police,— the nd exclafive Corn- Regulations of its All thefe it may the fame Time that or Miftakes ; for )r lefs, in all human d' the poorer Nation ures of a richer one eign Market, where ;c of both are fup- : fame Footing, yet leans of judicious lo- great or exceffive ufaftures, and efpc- in Territories \ and done without Ex- Advantage of the ws, that th<; poorer in many Refpefts f the rkh one. To ould not forget to ocal Advantages le- nate, the Soil, the or even the natural Turn SUBJECTS. 51 Turn and peculiar Genius of one People pre- ferably to thofe of another, which no Nation can deprive another of, unlefs by Violence and Conqueft i and therefore, thefe being out of the Queftion, the neceflary Confequencc is, that the poor Country is left at Liberty to cuhivate all thefe natural and local Advantages, as far as It can. Nay, I obferve further, than the very fuperior Riches of a 'neighbouring State may contribute greatly to the carrying of fuch a Plan into Execution : And here I do not mean merely to fay, that the Manufadures and .Merchant Adventurers of the poorer Country may avail tliemfelves of the Wealth of a. richer by bor- rowing Money, at alow Intereft, to be employed in Trade ; tho' by the bye, that is no fmall Benefit : But what May the chief Sttefs on at prefent is, that a rich Neighbour is more likely to become a good CuftorherJhan apoor one ^ and con- fequently, that the Traders of the poorer Coun- try will find a better Market, and a more ge- neral Demand for their peculiar ProducSlions, whether of Art or Nature, by Means of the ifuperior Wealth and great ConCumptions of their richer Neighbours, than they could pof- fibly have had, were the latter equally poor with .themfclves. Moreover, vice verfa, I affirm tin the ether Hand, thit even the rich Country' wHi be benefited in its Turn, by this Acccflion o^f "Wealth :flowing into the poor one. - For When Gz ,the T ■'iss'tti |« POJLITICAL and COMMECIAL the Inhabitants of the poorer Country feel them- fclves enabledy there is no Doubt to be made, bi^t that they will alfo become proportionably wil- ling to purchafe fome of the more commodious or more fumptuous Furniture, and elegant Ma- pufaftures, of thofe Perfops, who ?ire aftually ^heir bell Cuftomers, as well as richer Neigh- bours. Indeed, to fay the Truth, thefe Things are no other than the ufual Confequences, anc;! almofl: necelTary £ffe(^s of natural Caufes: And furely that Man mud have been a very great Stranger to what pafTes in the World, who can- not difcern thefe daily Rotations of Commercial Induftry. But there is one Circuniftance more, relative to this Subject, which being not fo obvious to common Obfervers, feems therefore to require a particular Explanation. The Circumftance is this, —That the very fame Country may be re- latively both richer and poorer than another at the very fame Time, if confidered in different Points of View » and confequently, that all the oppofite and fe|?qiingly contj-adidtory Affertions concerning both the Cheapnefs aqd the Dearnef^ of Manufaftures, niay be found to correfpond with Truth and Matters of Faft. Thus, for Ex- ample, England vi undoubtedly richer either thaQ Scotland or Ireland, in regard to moft Branche? of Trade and Manufafturci and therefore it fells thofe Manufa£bures much cheaper than they &■ 1L?. 11 l iw .ii i ' i "nw^ «*iii '"ni«4> - ^ " wijW ■ 1 ."nrF-rTf K, r T VIECIAL untry feel them- to be made, bi^t portionably wil- ore commodiou? and elegant Ma- who ^re adually IS richer Neigh- th, thefe Things nfequences, an^ ralCaufes: And een a very great World, whocan- s of Commercial ce more, relative iot fo obvious to refore to require ; Circumftance is intry may be re- ' than another at lered in different ntly, that all the idtory Affertions aqd the Dearnef^ nd to correfpond t. Thus, for Ex- richer either thai) :o mod Branches and therefore it :h cheaper than they '53 SUBJECTS. ^3 thev f.zn be fabricated in either of (thofe Coun- tries. But nevcrthelefs, both Scotland. vind Ire- land are richer than England in refpeft to one particular Point i for both thefe Countries have got the Start of England in refpedt to the Unen Manufa£lure, by more than Half a Century j and in Confequence thereof, their Capitals are larger their Machiner>'is better, and their Correfpon* dences are become more extenfive ; fo that in fliorr, almoft every thing relative to the Linen ^lanufadure in thofe Countries is conduced with more Adroitnefs, and managed to greater Advantage, than in England. Hence there- fore it is eafily to he accounted for, how it comes to pafs that r- ^otch and Irifh can fell their Lmens, and -^ .c efpecially their fine Linens, confiderably cheaper than the En^m Linen Manufadlurer is able to do. Nay by Way of ftrengthening the general Argument, I would obferve further, that tho' the Modes of Livingaremore expenfive, tho' the daily Wages and Rents of Houfes and Lands, and the Prices of Provifions, are at leaft doubled, \i not trebled in the manufafturing Parts of Scotland and Ireland, to what they were about 6o or 70 Tears ago,- yet theprefent Linens are both better and cheaper than the former, in a very confiderable Degree; fo that the Scotland i^nd Ireland of xht Year 1763, if compared with the Scotland ot Ireland of 1 700, m as ftrong an Inftance, and as 1',i lib £4 PoLiticAL and Commercial as convincing a Proof, as can pofllbly be defined of the Truth of thefe Pofitions :— And hence alfo we may obfervc, that the Riches of England in maTF^ Branches, and the Riches of Scotland and Ireland in fome Branches, are mutually af- fiftantto, and reciprocally advantageous to each other : For by mutually confuming and wearing each other's Manufaflures, the Englijhy Scotch, and Jrijk, become the better and the greater Cuftomers to each other. The 3d Objeftion needs not a Reply fo long and laboured as the fecond : For when the Gen- tleman propofed, that the poorerCountry (hould firft begin with the coarfer and more fimple Ma- zjufa£lures, and then proceed Step by Step to others more operofe, complicated, andexpenfivc, 'till at lafl: it had fupplanted the rich one in all its Trade and Manufadtures,— he unfortunately forgot, that in Proportion as his poorer Country anade a Progrefs in thefe Things, in the fame Proportion, or nearly the lame, would the Price of Labour, of Provifions, and of raw Materials, advance likewife -, fo that all thefe imaginary Advantages would vanifh away like a Dream, when they were moft wanted, and when he moft depended on their Affiftance. In faft, his not paying due Attention to this Circumftance was probably the very Thing which led him and others into fo many Errors on this Head, But as iie liad one Objei^ion more to ofFpr, let us iee fibly be defircd s :— And hence ches of England hes of Scotland ire mutually af- itageous to each ng and wearing Englifliy Scotch, and the greater a Reply fo long r when the Gen- r Country (hould nore fimple Ma- itep by Step to d, andexpenfive, e rich one in all he unfortunately ; poorer Country gs, in the fame would the Price if raw Materials, thefe imaginary f like a Dream, 3, and when he ice. In fa£l» his bis Circumftance hich led him and this Head. But e to-ofFpr, let us iec .: ■/^"•rHjft^'t^^tr^ SUBJECTS. 55 fee whether the Wf ight of that will make up for the Deficiency of the others. Now his 4th Objeftion, or rather his Obfcr- vation, is, « That all Human Things have the "Seeds of Decay within themfelves: Great « Empires, great Cities, great Commerce, aU " of them receive a Cheque, not from accidental « Events, but from neceflary Principles." |='fom all which it is implied, that the richer Nation cannot maintain its Superiority over apoorcr one v becaufe, when it comes to a certain Period, it muft neccflarily fall to Decay ;— J fay, this muft be the Inference intended,, otherwife the Obier- vation is not applicable, and has nothing to do with the prefcnt Subject. Here therefore, as the Ideas and Terms made ufe of, a>e borrowed from the State of natural Bodies, and from thence metaphorically transferred to political Conftitutions, one Thing is taken for granted in this Argument, to which I cannot readily aflcnt. It is taken for granted, that as all Animals, by having the Seeds of De- cay within themfelves, muft die fooner or later, therefore political or commercial Inftitutions are fubjedt to the like Fate, and on the fame Principles. Now this remains to be proved ; for the Parallel doth not hold in all Refpedls j and tho' it be true that the Body Politic may vome to an End, as well as the Body Na ', there is no phyfical Neceffity that it mtijt. A ijet 'i n\ ■ of J '(.t., 5^ Political and Commercial tof Rules and Regulations may be formed for the diftributing Property, the fecuring and dif- fufing Induftry, the preventing the prefent fhocking Vices of Eleftioneering, and ingeneral^ for the correfting moft, if not all of thofe Evils, which great Riches, Excefs of Liberty, and Length of Time, are too apt to introduce. I fay fuch a Set of Rules and Regulations may be formed •, againft the Admiffion of which into our Code of Laws, there cannot be the Jeaft Pretence of a Phyftcal Impofftbility. In one Word, the Conftitution of the Body Natural is fo framed, that after a certain length of Time, no Remedy in Nature can reftoreit to its priftine Health and Vigour •, for at laft old Age will neceffarily deftroy it, if nothing elfe /hall put a Period to it fooner : — But the Difeafes of the Body Politic are not abfolutely incurable i becaufe Care and Caution, and proper Remedies, judi- cioufly and honeftly applied, will produce thofe EfFefts in one Cafe, which it would be impoffi- ble for them to produce in the other. %i TRACT . ^■■■^ rar . ^ ^ ~" "I I • p-' • _i|iy|pHMii |_ II -^ I ^gr j i — 1 1 3RCIAL be formed for curing and dif> ig the prefent , and ingeneral^' 1 of thofe Evils, f Liberty, and itroduce. I fay ilations may be I of which into not be the teaft tbility. In one : Body Natural length of Time, eittoitspriftine ft old Age will ; elfe /hall put a Difeafes of the curable; becaufe Remedies, judi- II produce thofe ould be impoffi* other. .;.-! .;Lif'''' ') i^:^'\J 11 • T R A G T, The CASE of going to War; ''*"■'•"- BEING ■■.■'■'* ''r 3- i^V :;! -J V* The Fragment of a greater Work. TRACT CHAP, III. Prevention of fTan. ^ I D the Difficulty in this Argument confift in the Dubioufnefs of tlie Fi6t, * Whether Wars were deftruftive to * Mankind, or not,' that Difficulty- would not long fubfift j for, if ocular Demon- ftration can be allowed to be l^roof, it is but too manifeft. That both the conquering, and con- quered Countries, are prodigious Lolcrs by them. But, alar ! in this Cafe the Difficulty lies not in the Qbfcurity. of the Proof, but in H the ■ than that mill- onfifts m fecking for SUBJECTS. 59 for Empire by Means of Defolation» and for national Riches by introducing univcrfai Poverty and Want. In ancient Times, Men went to War without much Ceremony, or Pretence: It was thougiic Reafon good enough to juftify the Deed, if one Man liked what another Man had \ and War and Robbery were the honourable Profcflkwis : Nothing was adjudged difhonourable but the Arts of Peace and Induftry. This is Hitoi0tuC& Account of die Manner of living of the Bar- barians of Hhrace j and this, with very fmaU Alterations, mightferve to charadkcrife allpther .Barbarians^ either of ancient or modern Ti(nel« But at prefcnr, we, who chufe to call oor- fclvcs civilized Nations, generally afitd a mOrc ceremonious -Parad*, and many Pretences. Complaints are firft made of fomc Injury re- ceived, fome Right violated, fomc Incroach- ment, Detention, or ^furpatioii; and nont willacknowledge thcmfel ves-to be the Aggreflbra; nay, a folemn Appeal is «iadc to Heaven for the Truth of each Aflertion ; «tid the iinal Avenger of the OpppeflW, and Seardicr of all Hearts, is called upon to maintain the righteous Caufe, and to punifli the wrong -Doer. Thus it is with both Parties; and while neither ofthem will own their true Motives, perhaps fc is apparent to all the World, that, oa o«e Skle, •if not on both, a Third of Glory, aLuft of Hi Do- /j- A«ttMM| 60 Political and Commercial Dominion, the Cabals of Statefmen, or the ravenous Appetites of Individuals for Power or Plunder, for Wealth without Induftry, and Grcatnefs without Merit, were the only real and genuine Springs of Adlion. • Now the Alms of Princes in thefe Wars are partly the fame with, and p.:rtly different from, thofc of their Subjeds : As far aS Renown is concerned, their Views are alike, for Heroifm is the Wifh atid Envy of all Mankind ; and to be a Nation of Heroes, under the Cohdu6l of an heroic Leader, is regarded, both by Prince and People, as the Summit of all earthly Hap- • pinefs. It is really aftoniftiing to think with what Applaufe and Eclat the Memoirs' of fuch inhuman Monflers are trahfmitted down, in afl the Pomp of Profe and Vferfe, to diftant Gene- rations : Nay, let a Prince but feed his Subjefts with the empty Diet of military Fame, it mat- ters not what he does befides, in regard to them- felves as well as others; for the Lives and Li- berties, arid every Thing that can render So- ciety a BlelTing, are willingly offered up as a Sacrifice to this Idol, Glory. And were the Fad to be examined into, you would find, perhaps without a fingle Exception, that the greatcfl Conquerors abroad, have proved the heaviefl I'yrants at Home. However, as Vic- tory, like Charity, covereth a Multitude of Sins, thus it comes to pafs, that reafonable Beings ' ■ will m>m ,m ERCIAL tefmen, or the uals lor Power It Induftry, ami ; the only real thefe Wars are f different from, ir aS Renown is 4e, for Heroifm lankind; andto the Cohdu6l of both by Prince all earthly Hap- g to think with ylemoirs of fuch ted down, in afl to diftant Gene- feed his Subjefts ■y Fame, it mat- 1 regard to them- le Lives and Li- i can render So- ofFered up as a . And were the ^ou would find, :eption, that the have proved the iowever, as Vic- dultitude of Sins, eafonable Beings will SUBJECTS. 6i will be content to be Slaves themfclvcs, pro- vided they may enflave others ; and while the People can look up to the glorious Hero on the Throne, they will be dazzled with the Splendor that furrounds him, and forget the Deeds of the Oppreflbr. Now, from this View of Things, one would be tempted to imagine, that a Pradite fo uni- verfally prevailing, was founded in the Courfe and Conftitution of Nature. Cne would be tempted to fuppofc, that Mankind were created on Purpofe to be engaged in deftru«5live Wars, and to worry and devour one another. " Per- " haps the Earth would be overftocked with " Numbers were it not for fuch Evacuations, " falutary upon the whole, and ncceffary for " the Good of the Remainder. Perhaps, like- " wife, there may be fome Truth in what is vulgarly given out, that one Nation cannot thrive but by the Downfall, and one People cannot grow rich but by the impoverifhing, " of its Neighbours." And yet, when we examine into this Affair, neither Reafon, nor Experience will give the leaft Countenance to this Suppofition. The Reafon of the Thing we will confider now, and referve the Faft *till by and by. Here then, if Principles of Reafon are to be our Guide, one would think, that a Being overflowing with Benevolence, and not limittid in Power, might have t( «( i 1 1 1 1 {X\ '•■'i™ i ;};^ 62 Political and Commercial have made a much better i^rovilioti for his Cre- tures, than what is here fuggellcd : Certainly he might have rendered their fcveral Interelli lcf« repugnant to each other ; or rather, he might have caufed them all to fpring from one 'Common Center, or to unite in one common Bafis. And we ar€ confirmed in this Train of Reafoning, when v/e reflect, that even the Be- nevolence and Power of human Governments, narrow and imperfeft as they are, do aftually provide for the Safety and Welfare of their re- fpedtive Subjeds by this very Method of an Union and Coalition of fcparate Intercfts. Thus for Example, the Inhabitants of one County, or of one City, have not fo much as an Idea, that they are, and muft be, according f the unalterable Courfe of Things, the conftitu- tional Foes of thofe of another County or City under the fame Government : Nor do we at all conceive that this or that particular Town, or Diftri£^, cannot grow rich, or profpcr, 'till the DiftrlAs, or Towns around it are reduced to Po- verty, or made a dreary Wafte^ On the con- trary, we naturally conclude, and jultly too, «liat their Intercfts are infeparablc from our own: And were their Numbers to be dimi- niftied, or their Circumftances altered from Af- fluence to Want, we ourfelves, in the Rotation of Things, fliould foon feel the bad EfFeds of fuch a Chance. If, therefore, this is the Cafci, with with ?hcy, ings, bcttc fnoul Warn prem Gove doyc vcrn Exan- vcrn «grcg Conft ploits. theW woulc andfe And that ( almoil Surelj ©f un mon ] Childi Tend< perfua the pc pugna •JLove 1 RCIAL )ti for his Cre- led : Certainly vcral Interelh or rather, he ring from one one common I this Train of t even the Bc- Govcrnmcnts, e, do aflualiy arc of their re- Method of an rate Intercfts. )itants of one t fo much as an s, according t« s, the conftitu- i^ounty or City or do we at all ular Town, or ofper, 'till the reduced to Po- i On the con- md jultly too, able from our rs to be dimi- Itered from Af- in the Rotation bad EfFeds of chis is the Cafe* with SUBJECT ^. 6^ with refpedl to human Government > and if they, notwithftanding ail their Faults and Fail, ings, can regulate Matters fo much for the better; how then comes it to pafs, that we fnould afcribe fo much Imperfedion, fuch Want of Benevolence, fgch Partiality, nay fuch premeditated Mifchicf to that great and equal Government, which prcfideth over all ? h it do you think, that the Almighty God cannot go- vern two large Diftrifts, France and E»glaud for Example, as well, and as wifely as you can go- vcrn two fmall ones ? Or is it, that he hath fo •gregiourty blundered in his firft framing the Conftitution of Things as to render thofc Ex- ploits, called Wars, necclTary for the Good of the Whole under his Adminiftration, which you. would juftly coivfider to be aDifgrace to yours, and feverely punilh as an Outrage? Surely no • And we cannot without Blafphemy, afcribe that Condudl to the bell of Beings, which is alraoft too bad to be fuppofed of the worft.- Surcly it is much more confonant to the Didateg ©f unbiafled Rcafon to believe, that our com- mon Parent and univcrfal Lord regards all hiA Children and Subjects with an Eye of equal Tenderneis and Good-will; and to be firmly perfuaded, that in his Plan of Government the political Intcreft of Nations cannot be re- pugnant to thofe moral Duties of Humanity and hQvc which he has fq univerfally prefcribed. '■'■ So 64. Political and Commercial So much as to the Reafon of the Thing : Lcr us now confider the Faft, and be determined by Experience. Princes expc6t to get by fuccefs- ful Wars, and a Series of Conquefts, either more Territory, or more Subjefts, or a more, ample Revenue; or perhaps, which is generally the Cafe, they expeA to obtain all three. Now, in regard to Territory, if mere Superficies were the Thing to be aimed at, it muft be allowed^ that a Country of a Million of fquare Miles is more in Qiiantity than tine of half that Ex- tent. But if Countries are not to be valued by Acres, but by the Cultivation and the Produce of thofe Acres, then it follows, that ten Acres may be better than a thoufand, or perhaps ten thoulandi and Bifhop Berkley^ Query may come in here very apropos,— " May not a " Man be the Proprietor of twenty Miles fquare *' in North Americay and yet be in Waht of a « Dinner?" , . As to Numbers, of S.ubjeds, furely War and Conqueft are not the moft likely Means for at- taining this End -, and-li Scheme^ which confifts in the DeftruAion 6f the /Htiman Speciesi is a very ftrange one indeed to be pro- pofed for their Increafe and Multiplication: Nay granting that Numbere of Subjedts might be acquired, together with the Acceffion of Tcr- ritoryj ftjll the>. new Subjeds would add no real Strength to the State ; becaufe new Acqui- . fitions 4ERCIAL f the Thing : Lcr be determined by get by fuccefs- uefts, either more or a more, ample is generally the three. Now, in 1 Superficies were muft be allowed^ of Tquare Miles of half that Ex- : to be valued by and the Produce 's, that ten Acres , or perhaps ten ?ys Query may — " May not a inty Miles fquare be in Want of a , furely War and ely Means for at- e^ which confifts Hftiman Species^ ed to be pro- Multiplication : >f Subjedts might ^cceffion of Ter- s would add no :aufe new Acqui- fitions SUBJECTS. 6$ litions would require more numerous Defences, and becaufe a People fcattered over an immenfe Tradl of Country are, in fad, much weaker than half their Numbers adling in Concert to- gether, and able by their Vicinity to fuccourone another. Moreover, as to the Affair of the Revenue, and the Produce of Taxes, the i'ame Arguments conclude equally ftrong in this Cafe as in the former : And the indifputable Fad is, that an ill-peopled Country, though large and extenfive, neither produces fo great a Revenue as a fmall One well cultivated and populous ; nor if it did, would the neat Produce of fuch a Revenue be equal to that of the other, becaufe it is, in a Man- ner, fwallowed up in Governments, Guards, and Garrifons, in Salaries and Penfions, and all the confuming Perquifites and Expences attendant On diftant Provinces. In reference to the Views of the People— as far as fuch Views coincide with thofe of the Prince, fo fat* they have been confidered al- ready : But, feeing that the Third of inordinate Riches in private Subjefts, which pudies them on to wilh fo vehemently for Wai , hasfomething in it diftindl from the Avarice of Princes^ let us now examine, whether this Trade of War is a likely Method to make a People rich, and let lis confider every Plea that can be offered. " Surely, fay thefe Men, to return Home laden I " with HPIiPIP ■^I kH l wmUBWli l V >i,i«n|i, ii iMy « 66 PoLiTicAt and Commercial *• with the Spoils of wealthy Nations is a eonr- '♦ pendious Way of getting Wealth; forcly " we cannot be deceived ii* lb plain a Gafc : For « we fee that what has been gathering together " andaccunnulating for Year*, and perhaps for *' Ages, thus becomes our own at once •, and *♦ more might be acquired by a happy Vidory «♦ within the Compafs of a Day, perhaps of an " Hour, than we could otherwifc promife ta " ourfelves by the tedious Purfuits of Induftry " through the whole Courfe of a long laborious " Life." Now, in order to treat with this People in their own Way, I woukl not awake them out of their prefent golden Dream i 1 would there- fore fuppofe, that they might fucceed to their Heart's Dcfire, though there is a Chance at leaft of being difappointed, and of meeting with Captivity inftead of Conqueft ; 1 will wave like- wife all Confiderations drawn' from the intoxi- cating Nature of Riches, when fo rapidly got, and improperly acquired: I will alfo grant, that great Stores of Gold and Silver, of Jewels, Diamonds, and precious Stones, may be brought Home ; and that the Treafures of the Univerfe may, if you pkafe» be made to circulate within the Limits of our own little Country : And if this were not enough, I would ftill grant more, d'd 1 really know what more could be wiflied £ov or excedied. wl ons is a com- eakh ; forclj n a Gafc : For :ring together ad perha|)sfoF at once •, and liappy Vidtory pcrhaips of an Fc promife t& its of Induftry lorKi laborious his People in rake them out I would there- icceed to their Chance at leaft meeting with vill wave like- m the intoxi- lO rapidly got, Ub grant, that T, of Jewels, lay be brought f the Univerfe irculate within jntry : And if II grant more, Lild be wifhed The SUBJECTS. €7 The Soldicrof Fortune, beingiiios made nich, fits down t3 enjoy the Fruits .of his Conqucft, and to gratify his Wiflies after fo much Fatigue and ToH : But alas ! fee prefently finds, that in Proportion as this .feeroic Spirit and Thkft for Glory have diffufed themTehres among liis Countrymen, in the iame Proportion the Spirit of Induftry hatii.fwnk and died away;; every Ntjceffary, and every Comfort and *Elegaiacc of life are grown dearer than before, becaufei:herp are fewer Hands, and krfs Inclination no pro- duce them -, at the lame Time his own Defjre^, and artificial Wants, inftead of being leflened, arc greatly multiplied;; for of what Ufe are Riches to him unlefs enjoyed ? Thus therefore it comes to pafs, that his Heaps of Treafure are like the Snow in Summer, continually melting away.; ib that the Land of Heroes foon becomes the Country of Beggars. His Riches, it it true, fulhed lin upon him like a Flood ; but, as he had no Mearas of retaining them, every Article he wanted or wiflied for, drained away his Stores like the Holes in a Sieve, 'till the Bottom became quite dry : In fhort, in this Si- tuation the Stims, which are daily and hourly ilTuing out, arc not to be replaced but by a new War, and a new Series of Viaories -, and thefe flcw Wars and new Viaories do all enhance the forn*er Evils ; fo that the relative Poverty of the inhabitants «f this warlike Country becomes 1 2 fo i 1 -'^-~"- •-"'-'■' (ST" f ",-V fi8 Political and Commercial fo much the greater, in Proportion to their Suc- cefs in the very Means miftakenly propofed for enriching them. A FEW indeed, excited by the ftrong Inftindl of an avaricious Temper, may gather and fcrape up what the many are fquandering away ; and fo the Impoverifhment of the Community may become the Enrichment of the Individual, But it is utterly impofliblej that the great Ma- jority of any Country can grow wealthy by that Courfc of Life which renders them both very extravagant, and very icUe. To illuftrate this Train of Reafbning, let us have recourfe to Fa6ts : But let the Fadts be fuch as my Opponents in this Argument would wilh of all others to have produced on this Oc- cafion : And as the Example of the Romans is eternally quoted, from the Pamphleteer in the Garret, to the Patriot in the Senate, as extremely worthy of the Imitation of Britons, let their Example decide the Difpute. *•' The brave Ro- f * mans I That glorious ! That godlike People ! f* The Conquerors of the World ! Who made ." the moft haughty Nations to fubmit ! Who ♦* put the Wcalthieft under Tribute, and brought ♦* all the Riches of the Univerfe to centre in the *' Imperial City of Rome !" Now this People, at the Beginning of their State, had a Territory not fo large as one of pur middling Counties, and neither healthy, nor mttmimfn r » m*m - *'^v ERCIAL :ion to their Suc- nly propofed for e ftrong Inftinft nay gather and uandering away ; the Community f the Individual, It the great Ma- r wealthy by that them both very ileafbning, let us et the Fadts be Argument would need on this Oc- af the Romans is mphleteer in the ite, as extremely MtonSf let their '* The brave Ro- godlike People ! Id ! Who made o fubmit ! Who ute, and brought ; to centre in the ginning of their > large as one of neither healthy, nor I ', .ai^u wiiirii^aiupnw I SUBJECTS. 69 nor fertile in its Nature; yet, by Means of Fru- gality and Induftry, and under the Influence oi Agrarian Laws (which allotted from two to fix, or eight, or perhaps ten Acres of Land to each Family) they not only procured a com- fortable Subfiftence, but alfo were enabled to carry on their petty Wars without Burden to the State, or pay to the Troops ; each Huf- bandman or little Freeholder ferving gratis, and providing his own Cloaths and Arms during the fhort Time that was necefTary for him to be ab- fent from his Cottage and Family on fuch Expe- ditions. But when their Neighbours were all fubdued, and the Seat of War removed to more diftant Countries, it became impoflible for them to draw their Subfiftence from their own Farms ; or in other Words, to ferve gratis any longer ; and therefore thty were under a Neceflity to accept of Pay. Moreover, as they could fel- dom vifit theii- little Eftates, thefe Farms were unavoidably neglefted, and confequently were foon difpofed of to engrofling Purchafers : And thus it came to pafs, that the Lands about Romcy in Spite of t\it Jgrarian Laws, and of the feveral Revivals of thofe Laws, were monopolized into a few Hands by Dint of their very Conquefts and SuccefTes: And thus alfo the Spirit of Induftry began to decline, in Proportion as the military Genius gained the ownv jfie PoLTTicA/L and Commerciai the Afcendant*. A Proof of this wc have m JJvy^ even fo far back as the Tame of their laft King Tarquimus Superbus : Far one of the Complaints brought againft that Prince was couched in the following Terms, TJiat having employed his Soldiers in mak«^ Drains and Common Sewers, "they thought it an Ligh *' Difgrace to Warriors t * be treated as Mc- •* chanics, and that the Conquerors of the *' neighbouring Nations fhould be degraded ** imo Stone-cutters and Mafons," thoughthefe Works were not the Monuments of unmeaning FoWy, or the Works of Oftentation, but evi- dently calculated for the Health of the Citizens and tTic Convenience of the Public. Had he led forth thefe indignant Heroes to the Extirpa- tion of ibme neighbouring State, they would not have confidered that as a Dilhonour to their Charafter. * T. Liv. Irb. i. Romanos homines, vitores ommum circa popiulorum, opifices ac lapicidas pro bellatoribuc fa£los. Thus rea'foned the People of Rome, as foon as ever they beg«n to be famous in the Chara£\er of Bellatores and FiHortt. And, as this Vanity is natural to Mankind, have not the Friends of Commerce too much Caufe to fear that our Oflfites and Lapicidas, now turned into ViSoret omnium circa Populerum, will reafon after the feme Manner ? And yet the Romans were not fo mad as to fight for Trade; they fought only for Conqueft and Dominion, which may be ac- . &c. produce: And it is remarkable, that very populous Coun- tries are much lefs fubjeft to Dearth or Famines than any other.- So much as to thofe Stores of Providence, which are laid up in the natural World, and gracioufly intended for the Uie of Mankind. MERCIAL realonably cheap t)ne Nation is, the more it will ctrr- Ince and Msnu- ghbour. Do yoii y the Wealth, or le Nations around ihat is the Conk- i keep a Shop, but r your Cuftoniers. dence of God has ':iplication of In- lOLiid be the beft ty to the Ground, ivy to the Tiller of Ircreafe of Num- n for going to War fending them out perates both as an ndman to increafe to the Demand at him to raife more riety and Plenty of the Concourfc of ,(£ic. &c. produce: ;ry populous Coun- Dearth or Famines IS to thofe Stores of L up in the natural idedfor the Ufeof As SUBJECTS. 7^ As to the moral and political World, Pro* vidence has fo ordained, that every Nation may increalb in Frugality and Induftrv, and confequently in Riches*, if they pleaiej becaufe it has given a Power to every Nation to make good Laws, and wife Re-t gulations, for their internal Government: And none can juilly blame them on this Ac- count. Should, for Example, the Poks^ or the Tartars grow wcary of their pnefene wretched Syflems, and refolve upon a betrer Gonftituticn i fhould they prefer Employment to Sloth, Liberty to Slavery, and Trade and Manufadures to Theft and Robbery j.. should • The Wealrh of this Nstioft—that aiviazirg Wfeahh^ which has Been Cu profatdy fquandered awav in ihc two laft general and devouring Wars, is prjncipallV owing to the wife Regulations of that able Miniitef, Sir Robbrt W A t po L B . Juftice to hife Charafler, and Gratitude to his Memory, demand this Tribute of Acknewledgcment to be paid him when dead, which was ihamefully' denied him while 'alive. Seii epiuUitum '^imfhenta Jelet tiki! And the Time is now come Whisn hisi very Adverfcries frankly con- fers, That his Plan of Commerce was manly and rational} that his Endeavours to prevent an infatuated People from quarrelling with their beft Cuftomers were truly patriotical ; and that his very Crmes wel-eimore owing to the Jixtrcmitiej to which he was driven by his implacable Enemies, thaa to any Malignity of his own. When he came into Ad- miniftration, he found the Englijb Book of Rates almoft as bad as any in Eurvfe ;■ but he left it the very belt. And were you to compare what he did for p»omoting general Tradi;, (and much more he would have done, had it not been J 8o Political and Commercial they give all poiTible Freedom and Encouragt- ment to induftrious Artificers, and lay heavy Difcouragements on Idlenefs and Vice, by Means of judicious Taxes •, and laftly, Ihould they root out all Notions of beggarly Pride, and of the Glory of making maroding Incurfions -, —what a mighty, what a happy Change would foon appear in the Face of thofe Countries! And what could then be faid to be wanting in order to render fuch Nations truely rich and great;?. PiRHAPS fomc neighbouring State (entertain- ihg a fooliih Jealoufy) would, take the Alarm, that their 'trade was in Dangen But if they at- been for the Madnefs of fome, and the Wickednefs of others)' were you but to Compaq? wh^t h« ^t^^ually did, with ^vhat has been done either before or finof, in diis, or any other Couiury, not forgettiog the Su L I, Y 's, the Co L B E RTs, •md the Fi. E u R^ t of Franii, yoM would .find thiit h? fhone ais mudi ahove all otlier jjtijiiftfirs, as Et^lan4 hath ex- ceeded the reft of tl^ World in hw iate enori»ous Expeaces. The Aut?ujr ip in no Pain ioJ- ;w/hat he hat advanced on this He*d/ Tr^th— unboughv unpenfioned, afld impar- tisi Truth,, is his only H^m : Indeed. wh«t other Mptive can any M«n have for fpeakiftg.well pf a. dead Minifter? Nay, he wijl further add, That iho' the Minifter was nei- ther compiiiil'-n^ed hy CorpOraticms, nor httzza'd by M'>b5; yet as long as vhe 8th of Geo. I, Cap. 15. (fee the Statute Book) ftiall remain among th« Laws of this Realm, iblong wUl fbefe Gimmcrcial Rtguldfioas he regarded by the think- ing PAd coiifideiate Par* of Mankind, as doing more tm JtfpivuK, tba*» all the Gd\i Bojiles, or honorary Freedoms chatcoiild have been i^^uvved^ ..; ±s(n:. tempted •.au-w - i,«--^ »., - 1 • W' ^jiO <■».. » ., », - Hfflggr-T | jr; ii„|ai>i RCIAL hd Encouragfe- and lay heavy and Vice, by laftly, Ihould arly Pride, and ng Incurfions; Change would ofe Countries! I be wanting in ruely rich and Itate (entertain- ike the Alarm, But if they at- ^e Wickednefs of 4l^ually did, with •je, io tills, or any 's,theCoLBERTS, iiod thiit h;^ ihune Eti^lanJ hath ex- lorgpious Expe&ces. ; hat advanced on oned, U)d impar- whflt other Mp.tive 3. dead Miniiler? ! Minifter was nei- httzza'd by M'>bs ; 5. (iee the Statute his. Realm, iblong rded by the thjnk- as doing more true lonorary Freedoms tempted SUBJECTS. 8t tempted to invade luch a Kingdom, they would find ta their Coft, that an induftrious State, abounding with People and with Riches, having Its Magazines well ftorec^, its frontier Towns* well forcfied, the Garriions duly paid, and the whole Country full of Villages and Enclofures; I fay, they would feel to their Coft, that fuch a State IS the ftrongeft of all others, and the moil ™ore cap ole^f tS^ ^^^'^^ ^::2: ^^^ u ufed to be; a^d that the numbeilefs Hnclofure"' nZ vers and Canah ; and while a few Light Horfe were em ployedin haraffing both the Front and^Rea/ofle En .mv" ;n falling on his Convoys, deftroying his Magazines S keeping him in a perpetual AlarmVhis pSTw^ fo retarded, and his Forces fo weakened. It the faJe Time hat H7 own would be encreafing in S^e'JtlnTkliT/ as would oblige him to retire without ofn^er to us b^ Wuh great ihame and Lofs to himfelf. Ha3 Harold ufed ^tJ.e fame Precaution againft the Duke ofXwrinftead ing, the latter muft have returned inglorioufly nerhans £„ rhl P . f' '^'" ^^ ^""^ penetrated a great Way mo the Country/«.y>.« the Reft urces of his Shipping ITA^f-!' ^^^'"S' notwithftanding Ji our Fleets' d all he Vigilance of their Comir indefs. But the nvS der would not have the leaft r>h,n •,. „f - . Country, unlefs the heLirn f • °^ ^°"3f "ng ti.e ' Ji. "^ neaaltro'i impatience of t\\v V„„ii/ti -I*' difficult mm^m-'mi: ''!•''']! . rii :.'! Hi 8t5 Political and Commercial difficult to be fubdued : Not tb mentidn tliatf other Potentates would naturally rife up tor its Defettcb and Prefervation •, becaufe, indeed, it \yldUM be their intereft that fuch a State as this- Ihould not be fwillowed up by another, and be- oaor*? thfey thdmfeives might have many Things to hope from it, And nothiAg to fear. But is this Spell, this Witchcraft, of the Jcalouly of Trade never to be diffolved ? And are there no Hopes that Mankind will recover their S'ehfes as to thtfe Thing*! ? For of all Abfurditiesi that of going to War for the Sake 6f gettitig Trade is thfe i^oft abfurdj 4nd nothing in Nature can be fo extravagantly fbolifh. Perhaps you cannot dig^ft thi^ ; you don't bclievt; it :— I grant, ther-efdre, that yoli l\ibdue your Rival by Force cf Aims: Will that Circurtlftancfe render y'our Goods cheaper at Nlarket than they Were before ? And W it will hot, hay if it tends to reiidfer ri«m much dearer, what have yOii got by foch a Viaory •? 1 aflc fotthtr. What ^ill be the Con- dxwSt of foreign Nations wlien youf Goods are brought to their Markets? t\)tty will hever enquire, whether you were viftorious or not -, b\it only, wlietl^r yofu will kU cheaper, or « Icaft as cheap as othefs ? Tty and fee, whether any Perfons, or any Nitregi/T^ with S':.hemei> L 2 of J I ■^■WW^WPW 'mM l gn^- i ">-y- 84 Political and Commercial of Oeconomy, and is a zealous Promoter of national Frugality*. He loudly declaims againft even a Imall, annual, parliamentary Army, both on Account of its Expcnce, and its Danger ; and pretends to be ftruck with a Panic at every Red-Coat that he fees. By per- fevering in thefe laudable Endeavours, and by fowing the Seeds of Jealoufy and Diftrufl among the Ignorant and Unwary, he prevents fuch ;i Number of Forces, by Sea and Land, from being kept up, as are prudently neceflary for the common Safety of the Kingdom : This is one Step gained. In the next Pl^ce, after hav- ing thrown out fuch a tqmptin^ Bait for Fo- reigners to catch at, on any trifling Affront he is all on Fire; his Brc aft beats high with the Love of his Country, and his Soul breathes Vengeance againft the Foes of Britain : Every popular Topic, and every inflammatory Ha- rangue is immediately put into Rehearfal ; and, O Liberty ! O mv Countet I is the continual Theme. The Fire then Ipareads •, th^ Souls of * All the Speeches and all dK Pamphlets poured fordi againft Standing Armies during the Adminiftration of Sir Ro B E R T W A L po L I , wcfc levelled at a Niitnber of Troops fo fmall that their highelt Complement did not exceed 20,000 ^1' n. Y '' thefe were rcprcfented as very formida- ble to ti,j OoniUiation by their Numbers ; and more for- midable iV.il by that vaft Acc^Ui a of Power, which accrued to the C ivn from the Diip^ial of fuch a Multitude of Places. — ^- How arc thcTimcs altered fincc ! -;-ys.nrp»fi3tgr»* w »« M i vmi jm n ^^ Hifi CIAL Promoter of lly declaims parliamentary Lxpcnce, and ftruck with a ees. By per- ours, and by )iftrufl among events fuch a I Land, from neceflary for lorn : This is ^ce, after hav- Bait for Fo- ng Affront he high with the Soul breathes 'iiain: Every nmatory Ha- i^arfal ; and, 5 the continual t th^ Souls of sts poured fordi iniftration of Sir iitnber of Troops It did not exceed as very formida- s ; and more for- er, which accrued h a Multitude of ,cc! the SUBJECTS. 85 the noble Britons are enkindled at it ; and Ven- geance and War are immediately refolved upon. Then the Miniftry are all in a Hurry- new Levies are half-formed, and half-difciplined : —Squadrons at Sea are half-manned, and the Officers mere Novices in their Bufinefs. In fhorr, Ignorance, Unfkilfulnefs, and Con- fufion, are unavoidable for a Time j the neceA fary Confequence of whicb is fome Defeat re- received, fome Stain or Difhonour caft upon the Arms of Britain. Then the long-wifhed for Opportunity comes at laft; the Patriot roars, the Populace clamour and addrefs, the Miniftry tremble, and the Adminiftration finks. The mi- nifterial Throne now being vacant, the Patriot triumphantly afcends it, adopts thofe iVTeafures he had formerly condemned, reaps the Benefit of the Preparations and Plans of his Predeceflbr, and, in the natural Courfe of Things, very probably gains fome Advantages ; this reftores the Credit of the Arms of Britain : Now the Lion is roufed, and now is the Time for crufti- ing our Enemies, that they may never be able to rife again. This is Pretext enough; and thus the Nation is plunged into an Expence ten Times as great, and made to raife Forces twenty Times as numerous, as were complained of before. « However, being now vidorious, " let tis follow the Blow and manfully go on, ':'■ and let npither Expence of Blood nor of Trea- . " furc ^mmm ,WI 86 JPOLI^ICAJ. and CoMMEUCIAt ** lyre be at ali regarded ; for another C4nv " paign wiU Aindoubtedly bring the Knpmy tQ ^* fubmit ;p our own Terijis, and it is ioipqlTible »' that thpy (hovjid ftandomc. any longer." Well, another CAnijpaign is, j^ught, - and another,— and another,'- and aROthfT, and yejt the Eneniy holdiB out i nor is the Carle hlan^hp tpaking any Progrefs jn its Journey ioto ^ritf^in. A Peace at laft M mad? : the Terqis of it are ijnpopMlar. Schpnofis of eKPcflRv« CEfonomy ar^e called ^br by a n?w Set of Patriots -, and the f^pnc Arts are pUy«d ^^iQ cjethronp tju; reignwg MiflJftf r, which he had prajt retain hin? pn ^heir Side, ^therefore he mvift write againft therr, *Atl do as much Mif- dbicf as he n \ for he beats the JFprefl:, and firft ftarts itjhe<5amei hcejjcploros the reign- ing Humour aod Whim ,.F* ^.q^if\^')noow ri^'.'vf*// »i'! >'^!Ti*fl)jtb^cr»-aodfCqBtiWk^r3 of »U.Kind« ani.Qfifttt i^egrckf&.ii:^Jmfnns^i the public IVtewaJ.;*.n!Wfl 1^® fjM^^Qv cpflrtitme a* i^iftjoft Brw<^ pf vY.ulwe*., who, p^uy uj?pn^ .thcii; pwpi SpeciflSjiJMJii, ift^tWnnOI. Hiinlan G«rd. •; Itt >nn>wWibe «N>^lef»,w r!9(¥)»i¥. th«) (varjouftrArts! aJbd /)Stramgpm$ b^; whichn , tlwfc , DevouilerS; l*te.»ms^djtp thwifel»ftulfji tltey fturt aiitfl anvvnt Qbjc^iqte toAvtry Svo^ plifit'Kaxi thac coulcV be made)k(r|tbio toAtftinp Flvy>.:;ti|iid«Jld (till fell at MajiWtr.',- '. oi',iv;j un:; ',4«k'-M»«»^ ■ OJ irtl*j*Jtk A V 6MahV IS 4Vi J EllMAL long, of Trutlif j^n indifpinable LkQii Nqws mad, it WftS Hoper)*-, 4p ol'dinForO' sHui Armies jr- iJw feveral De- •iiid cvcuy other fvof the public itme iM t^i(^iii£l i^pn',thcii?.ftwni ian G0r4. •; Itt mtvarjousvAtt^i wfc, DevouirerS; rnilhing; Hich?s,: s, thrpuglv . the; Kji. War :■ .Confe-i £t coyltl remajr* ,tipfti)cPQcket>j People 4 foloog. I bQith« Ccytrf: fo long Wftulfji Ins tai Deptli of this Policy? you are noci abl«' ItQ'tottpr^; hend it. Alas ! it is bwt'twovcafilj, and when explained, biit toowelKf^roved from Experience. The^neraMntertftof Triide, anel the Interefl: of particular Tradisrs^ are verf diftinft Things i nay, dre vei^ ^fttfH^^witti op^ pofite- to ,yi(h they were ? Why then alj Arts muft be ufpd, and in- defatigable Pains be taken to pqrfuad^ them, th?t this particular War is calculated for their Benefit i and that the Conqucft of fuch, or fuch a Place would infallibly redound both to the Advantage of thp landed I nter^fts, and the Im- provement and Ext^pfion of . Manufaftures. " Should (for Exampl?) the .E»g/^ once be- « come the Matters of Qant^a^ the Importati- " on of Skins and Beavers, and the Manufac- " ture of fine Hats, would extend prodigioufly : ** Every Man mir ^- afford to wear a Beaver Hat f* if he pleafed, t ever^ Woman be; deco- ** rated in the ricneit Furs j in return for which J* pur coarfe Woollens would find fuch a Vent " throuehout ERCIAL by the cold lan- iduftry. warlike Zeal of ations againd all )ut too cafily ac- :is odor lucri is the what other Con- landed Property, Ufli Artificers and ite, beyond all ; Kingdom, and he Side of Peace; military in their I would >yifti they t be ufpd, and in- pqrfuade them, culated for their t of fach, or fuch >und both to the jfts, apd the Im- ' , Manufa<5tures. En^lipiQXict be- lt the Importati- id the Manufac- nd prodigioufly : ear a Beaver Hat Voman be; deco- return for which [ind fuch a Vent " throughout SUBJECTS. 93 *' throughout thofe immenfe Northern Regioils «' as would make ample Satisfadlion for all our ^' Expences." Well, Canada is taken, and is now all our own : But what is the Confcquence after a Trial of fome Years* Poffcffion? Let thofe declare who can, and as they were before fo lavifti in their Promifes, letthem at laft provt their Aflertions, by appealing to Faft and Ex- perience. Alas ! they cannot do it : Nay, fo far from it, that Beaver7 and Furs, and Hats are dearer than ever : And all the Woollen?, which have been confumed -n thofe Countries by the Native Inhabitant Sy do hardly amount to a greater Quantity than thofe very Soldiers arid Sailors would have worn and confumed, whi) were loft in the taking, defending, a,id garrifon- ing of thofe Countries. "^ -^^ *? However, if Canada did not anfwer our ♦»fanguine Expeftations, fure we are, that *< the Sugar Countries would make Amends for ^' all : And, therefore, if the important Iflands ** of Guadabupe and Martinico were to be fub- " dUed'i then Sugars and Coffee, and Chocolate, ♦* arid Indigo, and Cotton, fsfr. ^c. would be- ^* come as cheap as we could wifh ; and both the ^* Counti*y Gentleman and the Manufafturer ♦' would find their Account in fuch Conquefts « as thefe." Well, Guadabupe and Martinico are both taken, and many other l.lands befides are mm :m\ -i-ttli- •94 Political and Commercial are added to our Empire, w ho fc; Produce is the very fame with theirs, Yer, what Eiep;ance of Life, or what Ingredient for Mjlnufaiilure, is thereby become the cheaper? And w>hich of aU thcjfe Things can ha: purchafcd at a lower Rate, at prefent than before the War?-- Not one can be named. On the contrary, thc; Man of landed Property can tell but too circu3i,>llantiaily, that Taxes are rifcn higher than ever,-- -that the Intereft of Money is greater ;™that every addi* tional Load of National Debt is a new Mort- gage on his exhauited and irapoverifhcd £ftate,; —and that, if he, happens to be a Member of Parliament, he runs th<; Rifque of being bought out of his. Family Borough, by ,Xllantiaily, in ever,- -that the —that every addi* bi is a new Mort- poverifhcd fiftate.^ > be a Member of e of being bought by.Xomo wpiiar^ OF. 't f.' uo' :ir^"- Ts likewife, . both eign Mateitiilrof jch riearer»~:fbat ely J:^_rcej>-.tbci!P -the rGopds,. of ra?(^ufa61:wrei^9r-^ the fjjn^jB Prifi^ an reaied, in foreigw :enient <^-;,War-5 that our own Co- arv/as faid to.i* .M}.:Hffl!nnd^ in S: U B J E C t-^ 0^ kafyi^a^ Hamburgh^ or any other Marker where tliey (Tan, buy them cheapeft, without re- garding the Inccrcft of the Mother^Coyntryy w-hc© fifuind to: be repugnant to their own. All thcfc Things, I fay. tht Engli/Ii Manufaawrer both fees and feels : And is not this enoiteh ? Or muft he carry his Complaifance ft ill far- tlicr, and never be a Friend to ^cace 'tUl it be- comes thp Intcreft. oif the Trader to befriend it liJcewifc ? Surely, fwrely, this is - ra^^r too much to be ex-pedled. , In one Wordy and to re-i turn.tp jrhe Point from whifih we fet put, the. In- tcreft of ^he. Trader, and th« intejeft of the Kipg. dom,. :ar^ two very diftit»dl Things;, bec^yfe the one obay, and often . doth, .get rith by that Courlc of Trade, which would- bring Rjwia.and Dcfolacioni on the other. . ; - 7. • Th E Land and Sea Officers are, .of cburfe,' the imamble Advocates for War. . Indeed u is their Trade, their Bread, and the lure Way to gee Promotion; therefore no other Language can be ^xpcfted from them: A fid yet, .^tb da them Juflace^i of all the Adverfaries of Peace^ they are the faireft and moft open- ift their f^ro^ cefedingst they ufe h^^Ait or Coleuringv an^ as you know their Motive, y6u mirft allowifor ic accordihgly. Nay,, whether fr©m.--a Principle of Honour natiiral to their Profeffion, ©r ftoni what other Cavfe I know not; but-fo it is, tha» - ■ * '•'••- ' thev $6 I*OLiTicAL and Commercial they very frankly difcover the bafc and difin- gcnuous Artifices of other Men. And the Au- thor of thefc Sheets owes much of his Intelli- gence to feveral Gentlfemen 6f this Profeflion, who were Eye and Ear-witncflesof the Fa,'; - TRACT III. if .' '.> ' ! ",; J fr ';' /.: .'.■ ! Letter from a Merchant m London TO HIS ■■■'"■ ''-'^ r: >: . -V'/ -'t:- ,.';'r'.oA i.u^l,:. ■ G fr: •;'; ••»• >I.EPHEW in AMERICA. •. Dear Cousin, . OUR Letters gave me formerly no fmall Pleal'urc, becaufe they feemed to have proceeded from a good Heart, guided by an Underftanding moreen- lightened than is ufually found among young Men : And the honeft Indignation you expreis againft thofe Artifices and Frauds, thofe Rob- beries and Infults, which lolt us the hearts and N 2 Affeaions ^ ,- 100 Political and Commercial Affcdions of the Indians, is particularly to be commended j for thcfe were the Ihings, as you julkly obfervcd, which involved us in the moft bloody and expenfive War that ever was known •, and thcfe, by being repeated, will Simulate the poor injured Savages to rcdrefs their Wrongs, ant; retaliate the Injury as foon as they can, by fome Means or other. You did therefore ex- ceedingly right, in manifefting the utmoft Ab- liorrence and Dctcftation of all fuch Fraftices. But of late I cannot fay, that I receive the fame Sati-^fadion from your Correfpondence : You, and your Country men, certainly are difcon- tented to a great Degree-, but whether your Dif content arifes from a Defire of Change, and of making Innovations in your Form of Govern- ment, or from a miftaken Notion, that we arc making Innovations in it, is hard to fay. Give me Leave, therefore, to expoftulate with you, on this ftrange Alteration in your Condudt. You indeed talk loudly of Chains, and exclaim vehemently againft Slavery:— But furely you do not fufpeft, that I can enter- tain the moft diftant Wifh of making any Man a Slave, much lefs my own Brother's Son, and my next of Kin.— So far from it, that whether I can m.ike you a Convert to my Way of think- ing or not, 1 (hall ftill aft by you as my neareft Relation-, being always defirous of allowing that Liberty toothers, which I hope ever to en- •■■ ^ ''■' ^^ - ' ' ."' • ' joy «•■- RCIAL ticuhrly to be Ihings, as you IS in the mod erwiis known; 1 Simulate the their Wrongs, 5 they can, by I therefore ex- ile utmoft Ab- ich Praftices. t I receive the irrefpondence : inly are difcon- ether your Dif- "hange, and of m of Govern- in, that we arc to fay. to expoftulate ation in your My of Chains, ift Slavery : — lat I can enter- iking any Man her's Son, and t, that whether Way of think- 1 as my neareft IS of allowing ope ever to en- joy SUBJECTS. 101 joy myfclf,— of letting every Man fee with his own Kyes, anil aft according to his own Judgment :— This I fay, I would willingly in- dulge every Man in, as far as ever is confiiknt with good Government, and the public Safety. For indeed Governments there muft be of fonic Kind or other •, and Peace and Subordination are to be prefervcd ; otherwife, there would be no fuch Thing as true Liberty fubfifting in the World. ,.^,, ,. In Purfuancc therefore of this rational Plan of Liberty, give me Leave to alk you. young Man, What is it you mean by repeating to me fo often in every Letter, T/ie Spirit of the Conjii- tution ? I own, I do no;: much approve of this Phrafe, becaufe its Meaning is fo vague and in- determinate •, and becaufe it may be made to ferve all Purpofes alike, good or bad. And indeed it has been my conflant Remark, That when Men were at a Lofs for folid Arguments and Matters of Fad, in their political Difputes, they then had Recourfe to the Spirit of the Con- ftitution as to their laft Shift, and the only Thing they had to fay. An American, for Ex- ample, now infills, That according to the Spirit of the Englifli Conftitution, he ought not to be taxed without his own Confent, given either by himfelf, or by a Reprefcntative in Parliament chofen by himfelf. Why ought he not ? And doth the Conftitution fay in fo many Words, that |102 P'oLiticAL and Commercial ' that he ought not ? Or doth it fay, That every Man either hath, or ought to have, or was in- tended to have a Vote fhr a Member of Parlia- ment ? No, by no Means : The Conftitution fays no fuch Thing.— But the Spirit of it doth ; and that is as good, perhaps better. — Very well : See then hov/ the fame Spirit will prefcntly wheel about, and aflert a Doftrine quite repugnant to the Claims and Pofitions of you Americans. Magna Charta, for Example, is the great Foun- dation of Efigli/h Liberties, and the Bafis of the Eii^Ulfi Conftitution. But by the Spirit of Magna Chart a, all Taxes laid on by Parliament are caftjlitutional^ legal Taxes -, and Taxes railed by the Prerogative^ of the Crown, v/it'hout the Confent of the Parliament, are illegal. ]^6xi fe- member, young Man, that the late Tax or Du- ties upon Stamps was laid on by Parliament; and therefore, according to yotir own Way of reafoning, muft havS been a regular, conltitu- tional, legal Tax. Nay more, the principal End arid Intention of Magna Chart a, as far is Tax- ation is concerned, was to aflert the Authority and Jurifdiftion of the three Eftaftes of the Kingdom, in Oppofition to the fole Prerogative of the King : So that if you will now plead the Spirit of Magna Charta againft the Jurifdidtibn of Parliament, you will plead Magna Charta againft itfelf. ■ . • ' ' 'h-^O .HAVING ^fERCIAL c fay, That every have, (jr was in- ^cmbcrof Parlia- The Conftitution Spirit of it doth -, tter. — Very well: ill prefcntly wheel Liite repugnant to you Americans. s the great Foun- L the Bafis of the jy the Spirit of on by Parliament and Taxes railed own, v/ic'hout the illegal. Nov; fe- : late Tax or Du- 1 by Parliament ; 'Otir own Way of egular, conltitu- the principal End 'a^ as far as Tax- brt the Authority : Eftaites of the e fole Prerogative ill now plead the [I the Jurifdidtion d Magna Cliarta •rf^uO Leaving SUBJECTS. joj L- r fiNc therefore all thelc fiiifting, unftable Topics, which, like changeable Silks, exhibit different Colours, according as they are viewed in diff'erent Lights ; let us from the Spirit of the Conftitution, come to the Conftitution itfdf. For this is a plain, obvious Matter of Fad; and Matters of Fad are faid to be ftubborn Things. Now the firft Emigrants, who fettled in America^ were certainly Englijh Subjedts,— fubjeft to the Laws and Jurifdidion of Parlia- ment, and conlcquently to parliamentary Taxes i^ifore their Emigration ; and therefore fubje<5l afterixards, unlefs fome legal, conftitutional Exemption can be produced. Now this is the Qiieftion, and the fole Queftion between you and me, reduced to a plain, fimple Matter of Fad. Is there therefore any fuch Exemption as here pretended .? And if you have if, why do you not produce it ? " The King, you fay, hath granted Charters of " Exemption to the American Colonies.'' This is now coming to the Point ; and this will brino- the Difpute to a ftiort IfTue. Let us tliereforc firft enquire. Whether he could legally and con- ftitutionally grant you fuch a Charter ? And fecondly, Whether he did ever fo much as at- tempt to doit ? And whether any fuch Charters are upon Record } Now, upon the firft fettling an EngltJJi Co- lony, and before ever you, Americans., could have H 104 Political and Commercial have chofen any Reprefentatives, and therefore before any Aflembly of fuch Reprefentatives could have poflibly met,— to whofe Laws, and to what legidative Power were you then fubjed? To the En^lijh moft undoubtedly, for you could have been fubjeft to no other. You were £«^/7/7/wf«yourfelveSi andyou carried thtEngliJIi Government, and an EfigUJh Charter over along with you. This being the Cafe, were you not then in the fame Condition, as to Conftitutional Rights and Liberties, with the reft of your FcUow-fubjeds, who remained in England? Certainly you were. I moft cordially agree, that you ought not to have been placed in a worfe ; and furely you had no Right to expeft a better. Suppofe, therefore, that the Crown had been fo ill advifed, as to have granted a Charter to any City or County here in England^ pretending to exempt them from the Power and Jurifdidlion of an Englifli Parliament •,— what would the Judges? what would the Lawyers ? nay, what would you Americans have faid to it ? Apply this now to your own Cafe ; for furely you cannot wilh to have it put upon a fairer Footing! try, therefore, and fee, and then tell me •, is it poffible for you to believe, that the King has a Power vefted in him by the Conftitution of dividinghis Kingdom intofeveral indcpcndant States, and petty Kingdoms, like the Heptarchy in the Times of the Saxons ? Or can » . RCIAL and therefor^ ieprefentatives ofe Laws, and >u then fubjed ? V for you could T. You were :riedthe£«^///7/ irter over along , were you not I Conftitutional e reft of your i in England? ordially agree, ;en placed in a light to expeft ;hat the Crown have granted a lere in England^ om the Power Parliament •,— lat would the Americans have our own Cafe ; ive it put upon , and fee, and you to believe, d in him by the Jomintofeveral ^mgdoms, like he Saxons ? Or can SUBJECTS. 105 can you really imagine, that he could crumble the parliamentary Authority and Jurifdidlion, were he fo minded, into Bits and Fragments, by afTigning one Parliament to one City or County, another to another, and fo on ? Is it poflible, I lay, for you to believe an Abfurdity fo grols and glaring ? And yet grofs and palpable as this Ab- furdity is, you muft either believe it, or adopt a ftill greater, viz. that, though the King cannot do thefe ftrange Things in England, yet he can do them all in America -, becaufe the Royal Prerogative, like Wire coiled up in a Box, can be ftretched and drawn out toalmoft any Length, according to the Diftance and Extent of his Dominions. Good Heavens ! what a fudden Alteration is this ! An American pleading for the Extenfion of the Prerogative of the Crown ? Yes, if it could make for his Caufe ; and for extending it too beyond all the Bounds of Law, of Reafon, and of Common Senfe ! But though I have for Argument's Sake, and merely to confute you in your own Way, here fuppofed, that the Crown had been fo ill-advifcd, as to grant Charters to the Colonies lo uncon- ftitutional and illegal, as thefe undoubtedly muft have been ; — yet the Faft itfelf is far otherwifc*i O for • Our former Princes claimed a Right, and frequently Kcrciled the Power of levying Taxes, without the Oonfent ©f ;Wm^ io6 Political and Commercial for no fuch Charters wc ever granted. Nay, many of your Colony Charters aflert quite the contrary, by containing exprefs Refervations of Parliamentary Rights, particularly that great dne of levying Taxes. And thofe Charters which do not thake fuch Provifoes in exprefs Terms, muft be fujipofed virtually to imply them i becaufe the Law and Conftitution will not allow, that the King cari do more either at home or abroad, by the Prerogative Royal, than the Lav/ dnd Conftitution authorize him to do. However; if you are ftill doubtful; and if you would wifli to have a Confirmation of this Argu- ment by fomc plain B'adl, fome ftriking Proof, and vifible Example, I will give you one ; and fuch an one too,, as fliall convince you, if any thing can; of the Folly and Abfurdity of your Pofitions : The City of London y for Inftance,-- a Body Politic As rtfpedlable, , Without Offence, of 'Parliament. But upo"il' retrilng tTie Colonies, this fuppofed Right, whic^coft Charlfcs 1. his CrQwh', and his Lite, was not infiiled on in any of" the Charters^ and, was ,exprcfsly given up in that which was granted to Lgrd Baltimore for Maryla'nti. Now this CAaiiie, whicTi is nothing ihore than the Renunciation of o(>Jolete Prerc/gatiVe, is quoted in our Newspapers, as if it was a Renunciation of the Rights of Farliamerit to Vaife Taxes. Whereas the King in that Charter ftipulated only /or himjcjlf, his Heirs, and SucceJ/ors, not to raife Taxes by V^irtus of the Prerogative Royal; which certainly he might do, and which was very proper to be done for the Encouragement and Security of a new Co- loiiy. But he could not llipulate for the 'Parliamcht ; anJ indeed he diu not ;:tttnnpt t'o do It. : as I .RCIAL ;ranted. Nay, aflert quite the Refervations of »rly that great thofe Charters foes in exprcfs jalljr to imply onftitution will more either at ive Royali, than rize him to do. )tfuli and if you )n of this Argu- ftriking Proof, : you one ; and ice you, if any ifurdity of your for Inftance,- ithout Offence, Ionics, thisfuppofed , and his Lite, whs and,was,exprcfs!y "Lqra Baltimore for nothing iftore than e, is (juot<;d in our an of the Rights of the King in that Heirs, and Succejfon, Prerogative Royal; 1 was very proper to ciirity of a new Co- ie 'Parliamcht ; an J il5 S ;U B J E C T S. 107 as the greateft of your Colonics, with Regard to Prop^riy^ and fuperior to many of thep with rcfpeftio Numbers ;— this great City, I fay, the Metropolis of the whole Britifli Empire, hath long enjoyed, before the Colonies were ever thoi'ght of, the threefold Pqjvcx of Jurifdi£tion, LcgiQatioq, and Taxation in certain Cafes : But no Man in his Senfcs ever yet fuppofed, that the City of London either was, or could be exempted by thefe Charters from Parliamentary Jurifdic- tion, or Parliamentary Taxes ; and if any Ci- tizen fliauld plead the Charters in Bar to Parlia- mentary Authority, or refufe to pay his Quota of the.Land Tax, ibecaufe that Tax is not laid on by an Aft of the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council •, — I do not fay, indeed, that the Judges ^would coma\\t\\\rc\iQ Newgate \ —but I do verily believe, that they would order him to another Place of Confinement, much tittetifor a Penfon in his unhappy Situation. And now, my good Friehd, what can yx)u fay to thefe Things i — ^The only Tijing which you ought to fay ip, that you ^id ,not fee the Affair in its true Light before j and that you are fincerely forry for having been ib pofitivjjin a wrong Gaufe. Contuted mpft undoubtedly you are beyond the Poffibility . of a Reply, as far as the Law aqd Conftiiifton of the Realm are concerned in this Queftjon. iJut indeed, it Je^is to me by certain Paffages in your L^tttirs, O 2 tlia m. io8 Political and Commercial that, though you raife a terrible Outcry againft the fuppofed Violation of your Charters •, you yourfelf would not reft the Merits of your Caule upon the Proof of fuch a Violation ; and that you would rather drop that Point, than attempt to juftify the Charge if called upon to do it. What then is it, which you have next to offer ? Oh ! « The Unreafonablenefs ! the In- " juftice ! and the Cruelty of taxing a free Peo- " pie, without permitting them to have Repre- " fentatives of their own to anfwer for them, ** and to maintain their fundamental Rights and *' Privileges!" JijiMf-n/iq ./'iiiadjyj^' i%r»^m Strange, that you did not difcover thefe bad Things before ! Strange, that though the Britijh Parliament has been, from the Begin- ning, thus unreafonable^ thus unjuft^ and cruel to- wards you, by levying Taxes on many Com- modities outwards and inwards, — nay, by lay- ing an internal Tax, the Poft-Tax for Example, on the whole Britifli Empire in America \ — and, what is ftill worfe, by making Laws to affedt your Property,— your Paper Currency, and even to take away Life iticlf, if you offend againft them : — Strange and unaccountable, I fay, that after you hadTuffered this fo long, you fliould not have been able to have difcovered, that you were without Reprefentatives in the Briti/h Parliament, of your own ele£iingy 'till this enlightening Tax upon Paper opened your Eyes! And IRGIAL Outcry againfl: Charters ; you ts of your Caule ation i and that It, than attempt pon to do it. lu have next to jlenefs ! the In- cing a free Peo- to have Rcpre- ifwer for them, :ntal Rights and : difcover thefe hat though the om the Begin- f/?, and cruel to- on many Com- — nay, by lay- X for Example, imerica i — and. Laws to affedt Currency, and if you offend accountable, I lis fo long, you ave difcovered, itatives in the kSling^ 'till this ned your Eyes! And SUBJECTS. ,09 And what a Pity is it, that you have been Slaves for fo many Generations, and yet ilid not know that you were Slaves until nov/. But let that pafs, my dear Coufin ; for I always choofe to confute you in your own Way. Now, if you mean any Thing at all by the Words unreafonable, unjuft, and cruel, as ufed in this Difpute; you muft mean, that the Mother Country deals worfe by you, than hj the Inhabitants oi Great- Britain-,' and that fhe denies certain Conftitutional Rights and Privi- leges to you abroad, which we enjoy here at home. Now pray what are thefe conftitutional Rights and Liberties, which are rcfufed to you > Name them, if you can. The Things which you pretend to alledge are, « The Rights of « voting for Members of the BritiJ^i Parliament; " and the Liberty of chufing your own Repre- « fentatives." But furely you will not dare to fay, that we refufe your Votes, when you come hither to offer them, and choofe to poll : You cannot have the Face to affert, that on an Elec- tion Day any Difference is put between the Vote of a Man born in America^ and of one born here in England. Yet this you muft affert, and prove too, before you can fay any thing to the prefent Purpofe. Suppofe therefore, that an American hath acquired a Vote (as he legally may, and many have done) in any of our Cities or Counties, Towns, or Boroughs ; fup- pofe. 41 -■**-■ - - UjC, .-*--.-... ^.._v. no Politic Ai, and Commercial poll-, that he is become aFrtcman, or. a Frte- hoklei- here in E>iglandi- on that State of the Cafe, prove if you can, that his Vote was ever refulecl, becaufe he was born \nJmet^ica:---i\ovtt this, I fay, and then I will allow, that yourCom- plaints are very j Lift.; and that ypu are indeed the much injured, the cruejjy treated People, you would make the World believe. . But, my good Friend, is this fuppofed Re- fufa.l„t;he real Caufe of your Complaint ? Is this the Grievance that calls fo loudly for Kedrefs ? Oh! no, you have no Complaint of this Soi;.t to make: But the Caufe of your Complaint is this ; that you live at too great a .Diftance from the Mother Country to be prefent at our EngUjh Eledtions, and that in Confequence of this Diftance, the Freedpm of our Towns, or the Freeholds in our Counties, as far as voting is concerned, are not worth attending to. It may befoi but pray confider, if you yourfelves do choofe to make it inconvenient for you to come and vote, by retiring into diftant Countries,— -what is that to us ? And why are we to be re- proached for committing a * Violation on die » Birth-rights of Englijhmen, which, if it be a * Violation, is committed only by yourfelves ?' It feems, you find it to be your particular In- tereft to live in the Colonies -, it f^ems, that you prefer the Emoluments of refiding there to your Capacity, or Capability (take which Word • . 1 you I i^_.,^ ERCIAL r.an, or. a h'wc- that State of the s Vote was ever America :---Viovc , that yourCom- ypu are indeed treated People, lieve. is llippofed Re- nplaint ? Is this lly for Kedrefs ? inc of this.Soi;.t Lir -Complaint is a Diftance from nt at our Engli/h iquence of this Towns, or the far as voting is ing to. It may u yourfelves do for you to come nt Countries,— ■e we to be re- iolation on die hich, if it be a by yourfelves ?' ir particular In- it f^ems, thiit efiding there to ke which Word you S U B J F. C T S. ,ri you pleafe) ' of refiding and voting here. Now this is your own free Choice ; and we leave you at full Liberty to' acft as vou think proper : But then, arc we obliged to alter our Political Syf- tem merely to ax cord with your Convenience ? Are we to change and new model our fixed and ancient Confticution, juft as you Ihall fee fit to command us ? and according as it fliall pleafe you to remove from Place to Place ? And is this the Complaifance, which you expeft the Mother Country niould fliew to her dutiful Children? Yes, it is; and you demand it too with a loud Voice, full of Anger, of Defiance, and Denunciation. However, the Lion is not always fo fierce as he is painted ; and 'till we are beaten into a Compliance, it is to be hoped, that we may be allowed to eipoftulate with you in a few harmlcfs,. unbloody Words. Granting therefore, that the' Colonies are unreprefented in the BntiJ/i Parlia- ment: Granting that two Millions of People in Jmerica have, in this Refpea, no Choice, nor Eleftion of tlteir own, through the Necellity of the Cafe, and their Diftance from the Place of Eleftion :— What would you infer from this Conceflion .? And wherein can fuch Kind of Topics fupport your Caufe? For know, young Man, that not only two Millions which are the utmoft, that your exaggerated Accounts can be fwelled to;— I fay not only two Millions, but fix ! *I2 POLtTlCAL and COMMKRCIAL fix Millions at leaft of the Inhabitants of Greal- Britain^ are ftill iinreprefcntcil in the BritiJIi Parliament. And this OmiiTion arifes, not from the Neceflity of the Cafe, not from confulting Intcreft and Convenience as with you, but from original Ideas of Gothic Vaflalage,— from va- rious Cafualtics and Accidents,— from Changes in the Nature of Property,---from the Alteration of Times and Circumftanccs,--and from a thoufand other Caufes. I'hus, for Example^ in the great Metropolis, and in many other Cities, landed Property itfelf hath no Repre- fentative in Parliament-, Copyholds and Lcafe- holds of various Kinds have none likewife, though of ever fo great a Value. This you yourfelf very well know ; bccaufe when you were here laft, you knew, that 1 was poflTeflcd of confiderablc landed Property in London^ and of feveral Copyhold and beneficial Leafeholds, in the Country, and yet that I never had a Vote. Moreover, in fome Towns neither Freedom, nor Birth right, nor tlic ferving of an Appren- ticefhip, fhall entitle a Man to give his Vote, though they may enable him to fet up a Trade ; In other Towns the moft numerous, the mod populous, and flourifhing of any, there are no Freedoms or Votes of any Sortj but all is open -, and none are reprefented. And befides all this, it is well known, that the great Eajt- India Company, v.'hich have fuch valV Settle- ments, ^«^ ''yr%^ ICIAL cants of Greai- in the BritiJ/i rifes, not from om confulting you, but from ge,— from va- from Changes the Alteration --and from a for Example^ n many other th no Repre- ids and Leafe- lone likewife, e. This you ife when you was polTeflcd 1 London^ and \\ Leafeholds, er had a Vote, her Freedom, if an Appren- ;ive his Vote, : up a Trade ; Dus, the mod there are no ti but all is And befides le great Eajt- h valV Settle- ments, SUBJECTS. 113 ments, and wiiich difpofc of the Fate of Kings and Kingdoms abroati, have not fo much as a fingle Member, or even a fingle Vote, quatenus a Company, to watch over their Intcrefts at home. What likewife Ihall we fay in regard tO the prodigious Number of Stock-holders°in our. public Funds? And may not their Property, perhaps little fhort of Onb hundred MILLI0^fs Sterling, as much deferve to be reprefented in Parliament, as the fcattered Townfliips, or ftrjggling Houfes of fome of your Provinces in America ? Yet we raife no Commotions \ we neither ring the Alarm-Bell, nor found the Trumpet j but fubmit to be taxed without being reprefented, and taxed too, let me tell you, for your Sakes. Witnefs the additional Duties on our Lands, Windows, Houfes \ alfo on our Malt, Beer, Ale, Cyder, Perry, Wines, Brandy, Rum, Coffee, Chocolate, (^c. ^c. ^c. for de- fraying the Expences of the late War,— nor for- getting the grievous Stamp-Duty itfelf. All this, I fay, we fubmitted to, when you were, or at leaft, when you pretended to be, in great Diftrefs; fo that neither IVIen, almoft to the iaft Dropof Blood we could fpill,— nor Money, to the Iaft Piece of Coin, were fpared : But all was granted away, all was made a SacriHce, when you cried out for Help. And the Debt which we contraded on this Occafion, is fo ex- traordinarj', as not to be parallelled in Hiftory. P It V . ' ^-T . ■ -«**■.■-,- ii4 Political and Commercial It is to be hopt-cl, for the Credit of human Na- ture, that the Returns which you have made us for thefe Succours, and your prefent Beha- viour towards us, which perhaps is ftill more extraordinary, may not be parallelli"d likewife. Bur as you Americans do not chufe to re- member any thing, which we have done for you-,— though we, and our Children (hall have Caufe to remember it "till latell Poller ityj— let us come to the Topic, which you yourfelves do wilh to left your Caufe upon, and which you imagine to be the Sheet Anchor of your State Veffel. " You arc not reprefented •, and you " are Two Milions •, therefore you ought not « to be taxed-." "We are not reprefented •, and we are Six Millions ; therefore we ought not to be taxed. Which now, even in your own Senle of Things, have moft Reafon to complain? And which Grievance, if it be a Grievance, de- ferves firft to be redreflcd ? Be it therefore fup- pofed, than an Augmentation ought to take place in our Houfe of Commons, in order to reprefentin Parliament the prodigious Numbers of Britijli Subfedts hitherto unreprefentcd. In this Cafe the Hrft Thing to be done, is to fettle the Proportion. And therefore if Two Millions (the Number of Perfons actually reprefented at prefent) require Five Hundred and Fifty-eight Reprefentatives (which I think is the Number ©four modern Houfe of Commons) how many will ^.J-J- ^ nifff- VIMF.RClAt edit of human Na- :h you have made four prefcnt Bcha- ■rhaps is ftill more irallclli"d likewife. o not chufe to rc- we have done for Children (hall have iteft Pofterityi--let h you yourfelves do on, and which you ichor of your State )refented •, and you ■ore you ouglit not )t reprefented -, and ore we ought not to n in your own Senle :afon to complain? be a Grievance, de- Be it therefore fup- tion ought to take nmons, in order to prodigious Numbers unreprefeiTtcd. In be done, is to fettle fore if Two Millions tually reprefented at Ired and Fifty-eight link is the Number amnions) how many will S U B J K C T S, ,,5 will Six Millions require? -The Anfwer is, that they will require One Thoufand Six Hun- dred and Seventy-four Keprcfcntatives. Now this is the lirft Augmentation, which is to be made to our Lill of Parliament Men. And after this Increafe, we are to be furniOied, by the fame Rule of Proportion, with Five Hun- dred and F'ifty-eight more from the Colonies. So that the total Numbers will be Two Thou- SANo Seven Hundred and Ninetv Repre- sentatives IN Parliament! A goodly Num- ber truly I and. very proper for the Difpatch of Bufinefs I Oh, the Decency and Order of fuch an Aflembly I The Wifdom and Gravity of Two Thoufand Seven Hundred and Ninety Le- giflators all met together in one Room! What: a Pity is it, that fo hopeful a Projedl fliould not be carried into immediate Execution I But, my noble Senator, — for certainly you yourfelf intend to figure away in fuch an auguft Aflembly," permit an old Man to reveal one Secret to you, before you proceed any further in your reprefenting Scheme — That the Com- plaint itfelf of being unreprefented^ is entirely falfe and groundlefs. For both the Six Millions at home, and the Two Millions in the Colonie-;, are all reprefented already. Tliis perhaps may ftartle you ; but neverthelefs this is the Faft. And though I have hitherto ufed a different Language merely to accommodate myfelf to P 2 your Il6 Political and Commercial your Ideas, and to confute your Folly in your own Way, I mud now tell you, that every Mem- ber of Parliament reprefents you and me, and cur public Interefts in all effential Points, juft as much as if we had voted for him. For though 6ne Place, or one Set of Men may eleft, and fend him up to Parliament, yet, whpn once he be- comes a Member, he then becomes the equal Guardians of all. Andhcought not, by the Duty of his Office, to fhew a Preference to his own Town City, or County, but in fuch Cafes only, where a Pi-eference fh'all not be found to interfere with the general Good. Nay, he ought in Confciencc to give his vote in Parliament againji the Senfe, and againft the Inftruftions of his Eledors, if he iKould think in his Confcience, that what they require, is wrong in itfelf, is illegal or injurious, and detrimental to the public Welfare. This then being the Cafe, it therefore follows, that our BirmirtgHamSy Manc/iefiers, Leeds, HalifaxeSy &^c. and your Boflons, New-Tor ks, and Phila- delphiasy are all as really^ though not fo nominally rcprefented, as any Part whatfoever of the Britijh Empire :-■ -And that each of thefe Places have in faft, inftead of one or two, not lefk than Five Hundred and Fifty-eight Guardians in the Britijh Senate. A Number abundantly fufficient, as far as human Prudence can fuggeft, 9r the jprefcnt imperfed State of Things will permit, MIVTERCIAL ; your Folly in your oil, that every Mem- ts you and me, and rential Points, juft as r him. For though 1 may eleft, and fend when once he bc- 1 becomes the equal jht not, by the Duty ;nce to his own Town 1 Cafes only, where ind to interfere with ought in Confcience nt againft the Senfe, af his Eledors, if he jce, that what they illegal or injurious, lie Welfare. This refore follows, that 'J, Leeds^ HalifaxeSy }-Torksj and Phila- gh not fo nominally whatfoever of the jach of thefe Places ; or two, not left ty-eight Guardians "umber abundantly .idence can fuggeflr, itc of Things will permit, S tj fi J E c T S. ,,7 germit, for the Security of our Rights, and the Prefervation of our Liberties. But perhaps you will fay, That though it may be a Senator's Duty to regard the Whole rather than a Part, and to be the equal Procedbf of all ; -yet he will, in fadt. regard that moft, which can beft promote his own Intereft, and feture his Eledlidn another Time. It may be fo : For who can guard againft all Pombilitir of Danger ? And what Syftem can thei-e be de- ^m but m^y be attended with Inconveniences and Imperfections in fome Refpeft or other '" Neverthelefs, if your general Objedion proves any thing, it proves a great deal too much : For Jt proves that no Man ought to pay any Tax but that only, to which the Member of L own Town City, snd County, hath particularly affented : BecaUfe all other Members being c1\ofen by other Perfbn., and not by him, and perhaps by Ferfons in an.oppofitc Intereft Art therefore not his Reprefeniatives, and confe- quenciy nqt the true Guardiaws of his Property Being therefore «;/M.»/ a Reprefintati'Oe 'm focfi a Parliament, he is under no Obligation to obey Jts Laws, or pay any of its Taxes. Where now, my Friend, will you turn? And what can you do to extricate yourfeff froni the Difficulties which arife on all Sides ort fhii Occafion ? You cannot turn about, and fay, that the other Reprefent-atives, wh^m fliis Man never chqfe, I ii ji8 Political and Commercial •chofe, and for whom lie had no Vote to give, and againfl whom perhaps he had particular Exceptions, have neverthelcfs a Right of taxing him becaufe he makes a Part of the Body Politic hnplied in, and concluded by the refl: j— you cannot fay this, becaufe the Doctrink of Implication is the very Thing to which you pbjed, and againft which you have raifed fo many Batteries of p pular Noife and Clamour. Nay, as the Objection is entirely of your own making, it muft go Hill further : For if your Argument is good for any thing, it is as good for North- America as it is for Great-Britain ; and confequently you muft maintain, tha*: all thofe in your feveral Provinces who have no Votes (and many Thoufands of fuch there are) and alfo all thofe Voters, whofe Reprefentatives did not expresfly confent to the A6t of your Aflem- blies for raifing any of your own provincial Taxes,— ought not to be compelled to pay them. Thefe now are the happy Confequences of your own Principles, fairly, clearly, and evidently deduced: Will you abide by them ? , , ., Bur however, not to pufh you into more Abfurdities of this Kind, let us wave the pre- fent Point, and come to another. For, after all your doleful Complaints, what if it fliould ap- pear, that thele Five Hundred and Fifty-eight Parliamentary Guardians, who reprefent you only by Implication, have, in fad, been kinder and more lERCIAL lo Vote to give, : had particular Right of taxing "t of the Body d by the reft j— e Doctrine of g to which you I have raifed fo fe and Clamour, ely of your own er : For if your ng, it is as good ■eat- Britain ; and n, tha*: all thofe ) have no Votes 1 there are) and prefentatives did t of your Aflem- own provincial •lied to pay them, i^quences of your ^ and evidently hem ? . , 1 you into more us wave the pre- r. For, after all t if it fliould ap- 1 and Fifty-eight reprefent you t, been kinder and more SUBJECTS. 119 more bountiful to you Americans, than they have been to their own Britijh Voters, whom they reprefent by Nomination ? And, what if even this Argument, fo full of Sorrow and Lamen- tation, (hould at lafl: be retorted upon you, and made to conclude, like all the reft, the very Re- verfe of what you intended ? This, I believe, is what you little expedlcd : But neverthelefs, this is the Cafe : For if there be any Partiality to be complained of in the Condudt of the Britijh Parliament, it will appear to be a Partiality iii , Favour of the Colonies, and againft the Mother Country. Do you demand my Authority •, for this Aflertion ? I will give it you:-— The Sta- tutes of the Realm are my Authority; and furely you cannot demand a better. By thefc then it will appear, that a Colonift, who is con- fequently fubordinate to the Mother Country in the very Nature to Things, is neverthelefs put upon a better Footing, in many Refpe£fs, than an Inhabitant oi Great-Britain. By thefe it will appear, that the Parliament, like an over-indul- gent Parent to his favourite, froward Child, hath been continually heaping Favours upon, you, of which we are not permitted to tafte. Thus, for Example, you have your Choice, whether you will accept of my Price for your Tobacco,— or after bringing it here, whether you will carry it away, and try your Fortune at another Market : But I have no Alternative allowed m 1^0 PoLiTicAt and Commercial allowed, being obliged to buy yours at your" own Price ; or elfe to pay fuch a Duty for the Tobacco of othei Countries, as rauft amount to a Prohibition. Nay, in order to favour your Plantations, 1 am not permitted to plant this Herb on iHiy own Eftate, though the Soil ihould be ever fo proper for it. Again, the fame Choice, and the fame Alterna-' tive are allowed to you, and denied to me, in regard to Rice ; with this additional Advantage, that in many Refpedls you need not bring it into England at all, unlefs you are So minded. And what will you fay in Relation to Hemp ? The Parliament now gives you a Bounty of 81. per Ton for exporting your Hemp from North- America -^ but will allow me nothing for growing it here in England; Aay, will tax me very fc- verely for fetching it from any other Country ; Xhough it be an Article moft eflentially necef- Jfary for all the Purpoies of Shipping and Navi- gation. Moreover in refpedt to the Culture of Raw Silk, you have an immeofe Parliamentary Premium for ihat Purpofe j and you receive further Encouragements from our Society for Arts andSciences, which is Gont-jnually adding freQi Rewards >- But I can receive no Encou- ragement either from the one, or from the other* to bear my Expences at firft fetting out; though moft undeniably the white Mulberry-Trees caff thrive as well on my Grounds, as they can in S''jsitzer' CIAL ours at your" Duty for the muA amount er to favour' permitted to ftate, though coper for it. fame Alteriw ied to me, in il Advantage, )t taring it into dnded. And Hemp ? The aty of 81. per from North- g for growing c me very fc- ber Country ;• ;ntially necef- ingand Navi- he Culture of Parliamentary i you receive jr Society for lually adding v^e no Encou- om the other* 5 out; though rry-Trees caff IS they can in SUBJECTS. i2i Stvitzerland, Branderibttrghy Denmark^ of Svjeden, where vaft Qiiantities are now raifint. Take another Inftance : --Why {hall not I be permitted to buy Pitch, Tar, and Turpentine,--withouc which I cannot put my Ships to Sea i^-and In^ digo, fo ufeful in many Manufaftures ;— why fhall not I be permitted to purchafe thefe Ar- ticles wherever I can, the beft in their Kind, and on the beft Terms ?— No, I fliall not } for though they are all raw Materials, which there- fore ought to have been imported Duty free, yet 1 am reftrained by an heavy Duty, almoft equal to a Prohibition, from purchafing them any where, but from you :- -Whereas you on the contrary are paid a Bounty for felling thefe very Articles, at the only Market, in which you Could fell them to Advantage, viz. the Engli/h*. Much more might have been faid on this SubjeA ; and the like Obfervations might have been extended to the Sugar Colonic's : But I fofbear. For indeed enough has been faid al- ready (and as it expofes our Partiality and In- fatuation a little feverely, perhaps too much) — in order to prove to the World, that of all Peo- ple upon Earth, you have the leafl: Reafon to complain. • Thofe who have not the Statutes at large, may fee thfr Things here referred to, and many others of tlie like Sort, in Crounh, through an prefs them. I think, it is the y in Excufe for ve other Public vhich the Britijfi ndoubtedly you other Taxes are et me afk, is not otwe many other )fe which belong accounted for at ve : Witnefs our , County 127 S- U B J E C T S. County Tax'es, MdiiiaTuxc, Pour Taxes, Va grant Taxes, Brulge Taxes, High KoacI and rurnpiko Taxes, Watch I axes. Lamps and Scavenger faxes, i^c. ^c. i^c.-^W of them as nuni '.-ous and ar. burthenlome as any thai you can mention. And yet with all this Burthen yea, with an additional Weight of a Nitional Debt of ,81. Sterling per Head,-we.renuireof each of you to contribute only One Shij'lincr to every Twenty irom each of us l-yes, and diis Jhilling too to be fpent in your own Country for the Support of your own Civil and Military Lftabhfhments; together with many Shilling.., drawn from us for the fame Purpofe. Alar*! had you been in our Situation, and we in yours' would you have been content with our pavinrr' fofmall, fo inconfiderable a Share of the Public Expences ? And yet, fmall and inconfiderable as this Share is, you will not pay it. No vou will not ! And be it at our Peril, if we demand Now, my Friend, were Reafon and Argu- mcnt, were Juftice, Equity, or Candour to be allowed by you to have any Concern in this Affair, I would then fay, that you Americans are the mod unfortunate People in the World in your Management of the prefent Controverfy Unfortunate you are, becaufe the very Attempts you make towards fetting forth your Injbilitv prove to a Demonaration, that you are abun- dantly 128 Political and Commercial dandy able, were you but truly willing to pay this Tax. For how, and in what Manner do you prove your Allegations ? Why truly, by breaking forth into Riots and Infurreftions, and by committing every kind of Violence, that can caufe Trade to ftagnate, and Indullry to ceafe. And is this the Method, which you have chofcn to purfue, in order to make the World believe, that you are a jwor People ? Is this the Proof you bring, that the Stamp Duty is a Burthen too heavy for you to bear ? Surely, if you had really intended our Conviftion, you would have chofen fome other Medium : And were your Inability, or Poverty the fmgle Point in Queftion, you would not have taken to fuch Couries, as mufl: infallibly render you Hill the poorer. For in faft, if, after all your Com- plaints of Poverty, you can ftill afford ro idle away your Time, and to wafte Days, and Weeks, in Outrages and Uproars -, what elfe do you prove, but that you are a prodigal, and extravagant People ? For you muft acknow- ledt^e, that if but Half of this Time were fpent, as it ought to be, in honeft Induftry and ufeful Labour, it would have been more than fufficient to have paid double the Tax which is now required. ^ But you wiU ftill fay, that though the Tax may be allowed (nay indeed it muft be allowed) to be very moderate, every thing confidered, and ERCIAL r willing to pay (lat Manner do Why truly, by ifurreftions, and Violence, that and Indullry to which you have nake the World pie ? Is this the amp Duty is a -ar ? Surely, if ronviftion, you Medium : And the fingle Point i^e taken to fuch ier you Hill the all your Corn- ill afford to idle ifte Days, and oars -, what elfe a prodigal, and r muft acknow- his Time were left Induftry and been more than he Tax which is though the Tax muft be allowed) hing confidered, and SUBJECTS. ,29 and not all exceflivc . " h may neverthelefs " be Imd on very unfeafonably ; it may be wrong-timed, and ill-digefted." Now, here I muft own, that I am fomewhat at a Lofs how to anfwer you, becaufc I am not quite certain that I unfterftand your Meaning. It, for Example, by the Term ilt-digefled, you would infinuate, that t\xi: American iitamp Duty would grind the Faces of the Poor, and permit the Rich to efcape}— that it would affeft the Neceflanes, and not the Superrluities of Life • -that It would prevent the Building of Houfes' or the Clearing of Lands, or the Cultivation of Mates already cleared;-, or laftly, that it would dimimlh the Number of your Shipping, or flop the Pay of your Sailors: If thefe, or any of thelc are the Evils, which you would lay to the Charge of the Stamp Duty, nothing upon Earth could be a falfer Charge ; and you could not give a ftrongcr Proof either of your Defed in Judgment, or Want of Integrity, than by ut- tenng fuch Affenions as thefe i-Aflertions, which both daily Experience and the Nature of Things evidently demonftrate to be void of Truth. We in Britain have been fubjedt to a Stamp Dutyformany, very many Years; aDuty much higher than that which is intended for America ; and yet we know by long Experience, that It hath not been attended vvith any of the dreadful Confequences which are here fuppofed. *^ Again, 130 Political and Comtmerciae Again, as to the wrong- timing, or the Un- feafonabkiiefs of this Tax :— Ifby this you mean to lay, that it was laid on, at a Time, when yoii were poorer, and lefs able to bear it, than you were before •,— that x^falfe alfo For you never were richer, and you never were more able to contribute your Quota towards the general Ex- pencesj than at the Jundure of laying on this Tax. To prove this, let it be obferved, that juft before this Event, you had not only been draining the Mother Country by the im- menle Sums drawn from us to pay our Fleets and Armies, when afting in Defence oi America-t —and that your Jobbers and Contraftors had not only been fucking our Blood and Vitals by their extortionate Demands ;— but you had alfo been enriched by the Spoils,, and by the Traffic of the numerous Colonies of France and Spain. For you were continually adting the double Part either of Trade, or War, of Smuggling, or Privateering, according to the Profped of greater Gain. And while we at Home were exerting our utmoft to put a fpecdy End to the War by an honourable Peace,— you on the con- trary v/ere endeavouring to prolong it aa much as poffible •, and were fupplying our Enemies with all Manner of Provifions, and all Sorts of warlike Stores for that Purpofe. Nay, be- caufe a Part 6f thefe ill-gotten Riches was laid out in EngU/li Manufadures (there being at ONfMERCIAE ^■timing, or the Un- -Why this you mean at a Time, when yoii to bear it, than you alfo For you never ;r were more able to /ards the general Ex- ire of laying on this it be obferved, that you had not only Country by the im- us to pay our Fleets 1 Defence of America v and Contraftors had Blood and Vitals by s ;— but you had alfo Is,, and by the Traffic of France and Spain. y adting the double k/Var, of Smuggling, r to the Profpe6t of ,c we at Home were t a fpecdy End to the ace,— you on the con- prolong it as much pplying our Enemies ions, and all Sorts of Purpofe. Nay, be- l-gotten Riches was fadtures (there being at SUBJECTS. 131 at that 1 ime harcUy a PofTibility of purchafino' any but Engli/h^ when our Fleets were abfolure Mafters of the Sea) your Advocates and Au- thors trumpeted aloud the prodigious Profits of this North-Arnmcau Trade ;-- not confidering, or rather not willing that we iliouid fonhder, that while a few indiviluals were getrinw Thou- C-ynAp ^^... D,-,l-,i;,. , J". 1* n ii:\ Onck more :-- If by tiie Epithet unfenfonahle, you would be underflond to mein, that there was no Jff^' of taxinfr yuu at all at that Juncture; hecaiifelhe Mother Country izasftiU as able to carry the additioiud Load, ishich you had brought upon her, as /he had been to bear oh the reft : If this be your iVieanmj^-, 1 muii. tell you once for all, that you are egregi^^uily mi (taken. For we can bear no more: wc cannot fupport ourfelves under heavier Taxations, even were we ever fo wiUing i we have ftrained every Nerve already, and have no Refources left for new Impoutions. Therefore let what will come of the prelent Affairs, let the Stamp Duty be repealed, or not; {till the Expences of America muft be borne by the Americans in fome Form, or under fome De- nomination or other.-;/ • ' : '■"■- - Of-: But after all; perhaps you meant none of thefe Things; perhaps you meant to infinuate (though it was Prudence in you not to [peaic out) that the late Aci was ill-contrived and ill- timed ; becaufe it was made at a Jundlure, wlien R 2 neither I 132 Political and Commercial neither the French nor Indians were in your Rear to frighten, nor the EngUfJi Fleets and Armies on your Front to force you to a Compliance. Perhaps this was your real Meaning; ; and if it was, it inuft be confefled, that in that Senfe,' the late Adt was not well-timed ; and that a much properer Seafon might have been chofen. For iiau tuc Lr j or, if the of thefe Laws Inftruftions ; lut that all this \dnniniftration. 1 have done all im them. But rican carry him r complain and nplain, 'till all ill he can both /herefoever he this, is ftill a an Ufurpat'on erties of a free iny bad Things But, •■ mmw^ SUBJECTS. 135 But, my good Friend, be aflured, that thefs are Reftramts, which neither the prefent, nor any future Miniftry can exempt you fiom. They are the Handing Laws of the Kingdom.j and God forbid, that we Ihould allow that dif- penfing Power to our Minifters, which we fo juftly deny to our Kings. In fhort, while you MA ^ C«> •1 *r\ I rs Mother Country. Thefe are the 1 erms and Conditions, on which you were permitted to make your firft Settlements : They arc the Terms and Conditions on which you alone can be entitled to the Afliftance and Protedtion of Great Britain ; — they are alfo the fundamental Laws of the Realm; — and I will add further that if we are obliged to pay many Bounties for the Importation oiyour Goods, and are excluded from purchafing fuch Goods, in other Countries (where we might purchafe them on much cheaper Terms) in order to promote your In- tereft ;— by Parity of Reafon you ought to be fubjeft to the like Exclufions, in order to pro- mote ours. This then being the Cafe, do not exped, from the prefent Miniftry, that which is impolTible for any Set of Minifters to grant. All that they can do, is to connive a while at your unlawful Proceedings. But this can be but of Ihort Duration : For as foon as ever frefli Remonftrances are made by the Britijk Manufadlurers, and Britijli Merchants, the Mi- niftry 136 Political and CoMMERcrAL niftry muft renew the Orders of their Prede- ceflbrs j they muft enforce the Laws -, they muft require Searches, and Confifcations to be made ; and then the prefent Minifters will draw upon themfelves, for doing their Duty^ juft the fame Execrations, which you now beftow upon thelaft. • V So much as to your firft Grievance •, and as to your fecond, it is, beyond Doubt, of a Na- ture ftill worfe* For many among you are forely concerned, That they cannot pay their Briti/h Debts with an American Sponge. This is an in- tolerable Grievance •, and they long for the Day when they fliall be freed from this galling Chain. Our Merchants in London^ Brijlol, Liverpool^ Glafgow, (^c. i^c. perfedlly underftand your many Hints and Inuendoes to us, on this Head. But indeed, left we ftiould be fo dull as not to comprehend your Meaning, you have fpoken out, and propofed an open Aflbciation againft paying your juft Debts. Had our Debtors in any other Part of the Globe, had the French or Spaniards propofed the like (and furely they have all at leaft an equal Right) what Name would you have given to fuch Proceedings? But I forget : You are not the faithlefs French or Spaniards : You are ourfclves : You are hont^ Englijhmen. : ;■ : ' ^ j^ ; li*. Kv . Your third Grievance is the Sovereignty of Great-Britain: tor you want to be independent: You icrAL f their Prede- : Laws ; they ifcations to be fters will draw Da/v, juft the V beftow upon v^ance ■, and as ubt, of a Na- ; you are forely y their Britijh This is an in- ng for the Day galling Chain. loly Liverpool^ nderftand your , on this Head. dull as not to 11 have fpoken >ciation againil our Debtors in 1 the French or id furely they t) what Name Proceedings ? Faithlefs French 'es: You are i- ■'- .-, u»- ^. .-■ Sovereignty of e independent : You SUBJECTS. 137 You wifli to be an Empire by itfelf, and to be no longer the Province of another. This Spirit is uppermoft -, and this Principle is vifible in all your Speeches, and all your Writings, even when you take fome Pains to difguife it. — »» What ! an Ifland ! A Spot fuch as this to " command the great and mighty Continent of " North- /America ! Prepofterous ! A Continent, " whofe Inhabitants double every five and " twenty Years ! Who therefore^ within a Cen- « tury and an Half will be upwards of an " hundred and twenty Millions of Souls ! — " Forbid it Patriotifm, forbid it Politics, that " fuch a great and mighty Empire as this, « Ihould be held in Subjedion by the paltry " Kingdom of Great-Britain ! Rather let the " Seat of Empire be transferred ; and let it be " fixt, where it ought to be, viz. in Great " America .'" Now my good Friend, 1 will not ftay to difpute with you the Calculations, on which your Orators, Philofophers, and Politicians have, for fome Years paft, grounded thefe extravagant Conceits (though I think the Calculations themfelves both falfe, and abfurd) *, but I will Only fay, that while we have the Power, we may command your Obedience, if wie pleafe : And that it will be Time enough for you to propofe the making us a Province to America, S when t|8 Political arid ComAiirciai; ffheti you Ihall find yourfclvcs able td execute thfe Pr6je<^. In fcKe mean Time, the great Qiieftion is. What CdUMe arc we to take ? And what are we to db with^oA, bcfote you become this great arid formidable People ?™Plaih and evident it « by the whole Tenor of your Gonduft, that ybu ehdeavoiir^ with all yoiir Might to drive us to Extremities. For no Kind of Olitrage', or Infulf, is omitted on yolir Part^ that can ir- ritate Irtdividuftls, brlprovokeu Government to chAftifc the Infolenc'e, not to fay the Rebellion; bf its Subje'fts •, and ybu do not feem at ill dif- pofed to leave Room for in Accommodation. In fhort, the Sword is the only Choice, which you will p'crittit us to makcj unlefe we Will chuft tb give you entirely up^ and fubfcribe a Recantation. Upon thofe Terms indeed, you will deign to acknowledge the PoWcr and Au- thority of a Briti^ Parliament;— that is^ you will allow, that we haVe a Right and a- Power togive you Bounties, and to-payyouFExpenccs; but no other. A ftrange Kind of Allegiance this ! Arid the firft that has lever yet apipeared ih the Hiftory of Mankind ! , .■ However, this being the Cafe, fliall we now compel you, by Force of Arm*, to do your Duty ?- -Shall we procraftinate yovtr Cbmpul- fion ? — Or fhail we entirely give yoQ up, and have hA dc wi fhi an Si pi no br wl Gi M So yo in inl vii ha ou no yo fer yo be Inl M 4ar as IRCIAI5 able tb execute eat Qiieftion is. And what are :come this great 1 and evident it ■ Gonduft, that light to drive us id of Olitrage-, arti that can ir- Government to ^ the Rebellion; ', feem it ill dif- Lccommodation. Choice, which unlefe we Will and fubfcribe a ns indeed, you Po^cr and Au- i— that is^ you ht ind a- Power youFExpenccsi 1 of Allegiance er yet apipeared ■J-;. >: . fe, jfhall wt now 1*, to do your yovtr Cdmpul- -^e yotj up, and have SUBJECTS. IJ9 hiVP no Qthpr Coni)e£tions with ypu, than if you h^d been fp niany Sovereign §tatep, or Indepen- dent Kingdoms ? One or other of thcfc three will probably be refolyed wpon : And if it fhould be the firfl, I du not think that we have any Caufc to fear the Event, or to doubt of Succels. - r ■}• .. nv m. >,■ .:> For though your Populace may rob and plunder the Naked and Pefencelefs, this will not do the Bufinefs when a rpgular Force is brought againftihem. And a BritiJ^ Army, which perfornied lb maay brave Aiftipns in Germany^ will hardly fly before an American Mob; not to mention that our Officers and Soldiery, who pafled fevcral Campaigns wilJ^ your Provincials in America^ faw nothing cixher in their Condu6t, or their Courage, which could infpire them with a Dread of feeing the Pro- vincials a fecoind Time.— Neither fliouid we have the leaft Caufe to fufpedt the Fidelity of our Troops, any more than their Bravery^ — notwithftanding the bafe Infmuations of fome of your Friends here (if indeed fuch Perfons de- ferve to be called your Friends, who are in reality your greateft Foes, and whom you will find to be fo at the lad) ; notwithftanding, I fay, their Infmuations of the Feafibility of Corrupting his Majefty's Forces, when fent over, by Mt^ans of large Bribes, or double Pay. This is a Surmife, as weak as it is wicked : For the Honour of the S 2 BritiJIi ';. i: 140 Political and Commercial Britijh Soldiery, let me tell you, is not fo eafily corrupted. The h'rench In Europe never found it fo, with all their Gold, or all their Skill for Intrigue, and infinuating Addrefs. What then, in the Name of Wonder, have you to tempt them with in Jmerica^ which is thus to over- come, at once, all their former Senfe of Duty, all the Tves of Confcience, Loyalty and Honour ? — Befides, my Friend, if you really are fo rich, as to be able to give double Pay to *ur Troops, in a wrong Caufe •, do not grudge, let me be- feech you, to give one third oi/tngle Pay (for we aflc no more) in a right one :~ And let it not be faid, that you complain of Poverty, and plead an Inability to pay your juft Debts, at the very Inftant that you boaft of the fcandalous Ufe which you intend to make of your Riches. But notwithilanding all this, I am not for having Recourfe to Military Operations. For granting, that we (hall be victorious, ftill it is proper to enquire, before we begin. How we are to be benefitted by our Viftories ? And what Fruits are to refult from making you a con- quered People ? — Not an Increafe of Trade ; that is imp')flible : For a Shop-keeper will never get the more Cuftom by beating his Cuf- tomers : And what is true of a Shop-keeper, is true of a bhop- keeping Nation. We may in- deed vex and plague you, by ftationing a great Nup:iber of Ships to cruize along your Coafts \ .' ,-*. ' and ERCIAL 1, is not fo eafily rope never found U their Skill for fs. What then, ve you to tempt is thus to over- r Senfe of Duty, ilty and Honour? eally are fo rich, r to a'.r Troops, Jg;;, let me be- Qngle Pay (for we -And let it not of Poverty, and uft Debts, at the if the fcandalous of your Riches. is, 1 am not for Operations. For )rious, ilill it is :gin. How we are ries ? And what ing you a con< reafe of Trade ; Ihop-kccper will beating his Cuf- Shop- keeper, is n. We may in- (lationing a greai 3ng your Coafts i and SUBJECTS. 141 and we may appoint an Army of Cuftom-houfe Officers to patrole (after a Manner) two thou- fand Miles by Land. But while we are doing thefe Things againjl you^ what Ihall we be doing for eurfelves ? Not much, I am afraid : For we fhall only make you the more ingenious, the more intent, and the more inventive to deceive us. We fhall fharpen your Wits, which are pretty fharp already, to elude our Searches, and to bribe and corrupt our Officers. And after that is done, we may perhaps oblige you to buy the Value of twenty or thirty thoufand Pounds of Britifli Manufadlures, more than you would otherwife have done,™at the Expcnce of two or three hundred thoufand Pounds Lofs to Greai Britain, Ipent in Salaries, Wages, Ships, Forts, and other incidental Charges. Is this now a gainful Trade, and fit to be encouraged in a commercial Nation, fo many Millions in Debt already } And yet this is the beft, which we can exped by forcing you to trade with us, againft your Wills, and againft your Interefts ? Therefore fuch aMeafure as this being evi- dently detrimental to the Mother Country, I will now confider the fecond Propofal, viz. to procraftinate your Compulfion.- -But what good can that do ? And wherein will this Expedient mend the Matter ? For if Recourfe is to be had at laft to the Military Power we had better be- gin with it at firft j it being evident to the whole World, 14? PoLiT+CAL and Commercial World, that all Dthys on our Side will only ftrengthen rhc Oppofition on your^, and be in- terpreted by you as a Mark of Fear, and not as An Inftanie of Lenity. You fwcjl with too much vain Importance, and Self-fufficicncy al- ready } and therefore, fliould we brtray any Token of Submiffion j or (hould we yield to thefe your ill-humoured and petulant Defires; this would only fcrve to confirm you in your prcfcnt Notions, viz. that you have nothing more to do, than to deniand with the Tone of Autho- rity, and to infift, with Threacenings and De- fiance, in order to bring us upon our Knees, and to comply with every unreafonablc Iryunc- tion, which you fhall be plealcd to lay upon us. Sq that at iaft, when the Tiipe (hall come of appealing to the Sword, and of deciding our Difterence* by J)int of Arms, the Confcqucnoe jtrf" this Procraftination will be, that the Struggle will become (b much the more obllinate, and the Determination the more bloody. Nay, the Mei'chaflts ihemfelves, whofc Cafe is truly pjti- able for having oonfided fo much to your Ho- nour, aijd for having trufted you with fo many Jhundred thaufand Founds, or perhaps with fomc Millions of Property, and for whoie Benefit Alone fuch a Sujpenfion of the Stamp A£t could be propofed •, they * will find to their Cofts, • The Ev&nt has fevcrely pro|ved tjiis but toujuftly founded. ,ur« to be that !RCIA1. Side will only un, and be in- ear, and not as fwejl with tuo t-fufficicncy al- NC betray any lid we yield to tulant Defires -, m you in your e nothing more fonc of A utho- iinings and De- )on our Knees, fonable Ii;^unc- to lay upon us. : (hall conic of f deciding our le Coniiequence lat the Struggle obllinate, and jdy. Nay, the lie is truly pjti- ii to your Ho- j with fo niany haps with fomc whode iienefit amp A£t could to their Cofts, U 9o.i\j^ur« to iip that S t^ B J E C T S. ,4. that every I'.dulgcncc of this Nature will ortlv fum.n, another IVetcnce to you fol- the fufpend- ing of the Payment of their>y? Demands. I^ •fhort, ycu tieclare, that the Parlidrt.ent hath no Right ro tax you; and therefore you demand ^ R«nunciai.on of the Right, by repealing the At5t Thii being the Cafe, nothing lefs than a Re-* nuncation can be fatisfa^ory -, becaufe n^thinfe dfe can amount to a Confcffion, that the Par liament has aded illegally and ufurpingly in thii Affair. A bare Sufpetifion, or even a rtrere Re- peal, ts no Acknowledtrement of Guilt- niy it luppofes <,uite the contrary, ^nd only jyi^tporte* the txereife of this ufurped Power to a more convenient Seafdm Confeql,ently if yx)u think you could juftify the Non-payment of your c/n "^fl^f' ^R^P^/ltookl^lace, you certainljr can juftify the Sufpenftoh of the Payment 'till we have acknowledged our Guilt. So that after ali, the Qiieftion may cortie to this at laft, viz. Shall we renounce any Legiflative Authority over yot., and yet maintain you as we have hi- therto do«e ? Or /hall we give you entirely n^ unlefs yot, w.ll fubmit to be governed by the fame Laws as we are, and pay fomething to. wards mamtamirrg yourfelves ? The « it is certain we cannot do, and"' therefore the next Point to be confidc;ed i^ (which ,s alfo the third Propofal) Whether we are to give you entirely up l-M nfier /.avm^ obliged ml 144 PoLiticAL and Commercial obliged you to pay your Debts, whether we are to have no further Connexion with you, as a de- pendent State, or Colony. Now, in order to judge properly of this Af- fair, we muft give a Delineation of two Political Parties contending with each other, and ftrug- gling for Superiority :— And then we arc td confider, which of thefe two, muft be firft tired of the Conteft, and obliged to fub- mit. Behold therefore a Political Portrait of the Mother Country •,— a mighty Nation under one Government of a King and Parliament,— firmly refolved not to repeal the Aft, but to give it Time to execute itfelf,— fteady and temperate in the Ufe of Power,— not having Recourfe to fanguinary Methods, -but enforcing the Law by making the Difobedient feel the Want of it, —determined to protcft and cherilh thofe Co- lonies, which will return to their Allegiance within a limited Time (fuppofe twelve or eigh- teen Months)— and as determined to compel the obftinate Revolters to pay their Debts,— then to caft them off, and to exclude them/or ever from the manifold Advantages and Profits of Trade, which they nosv enjoy by no other Title, but that of being a Part of the BritiJJi Empire. Thus ftands the Cafe j and this is the View of Things on one Side. Observb a f c t i n fi c a: tl tl a] E ti h /^ fi Si B w ta w ]V ca th th m T ERCIAL hether we are to ch you, as a de- lerly of this Af- i of two Political (ther, and ftrug- then we arc td >, muft be firft bliged to fub- l Portrait of the ration under one liament,— firmly :, but to give it y and temperate i^ing Recourfe to forcing the Law Ithe Want ofit^ ;hcrilh thofe Co- their Allegiance b twelve or eigh- nined to compel ly their Debts,— exclude them/or itages and Profits njoy by no other art of the BritiJJi e i and this is the Observb SUBJECTS. ,45 OfisERVE ngain a Profped on the other; viz. a Variety of little Colonies under a Variety of petty Governments,— Rivals to, and jealous of each other.- never able to agree about any thing before,— and only now united by an En. thufiallic Fit of falfe Patriotifm j^-a Kit which neceflarily cools in Time, and cools dill the fafter, in Proportion, as the Obje<5t which firft excited it is removed, or changed. So much as to the general Outlines of your American fea- tures ; — but let us now take a nearer View of the Evils, which by your own mad Condud you are bringing fo fpeedily upon yourfelves. Externally, by being fevered from the Britifli Empire, you will be excluded from cut- ting Logwood in the Bays of Campeache and Hendurasy^^-from fifhing on the Banks of New foundland, on the Coaft of Labrador, or in the My of St. Laurence, -from trading (except by Stealth) with the Sugar 1 Hands, or with the Briti/h Colonics in any Part of the Globe. You will alfo lofe all the Bounties upon the Impor- tation of your Goods into Great-Britain : You will not dare to leduce a fingle JManufadturer or Mechanic from us under Pain of Death ; be- caufe you will then be confidered m the Eye of the Law as mere Foreigners, againft whom thefe Laws were made. You will lofe the Re- mittance of 300,0001. a Year to pay your Troops J and you will lofe the Benefit of thefe T , Troops 146 Political and Commer<:iai: Troops to proted you againit the Incurfions of the much injured and exafperated Savages ; moreover, in Cafe of Difference with other Powers, you will have none to complain to> none to aflill you : For affure yourfelf, that Holland^ France, and Spain, will look upon you with an evil Eye-, and will be particularly on their Guard againfl: you, left fuch an Example fhould inteft their own Colonies -, not to mention that the two latter will not care to have fuch a Nell of proftflcd Smugglers fo very near them. And after all, and in Spite of any thing you can do, we in Britain (hall ftill retain the grcateft Pare of your European Trade -, becaufewe fliall give a better Price for many of your Commodities than you can have any where elfe j and we fhall fell to you feveral of our Manufaftures, efpe- cially in the Woollen, Stuff, and Metal Way, on cheaper Terms. In fhort you will do then, what you only do now •, that is, you will trade with us, as far as your Intereft will lead you •, and no farther. Take now a Pifture of your internal State. When the great Power, which combined the fcatrered Provinces together, and formed them into one Empire, is once thrown off-, and when there will be no common Head to govern and proteft, all your ill Humours will break forth like a Torrent : Colony will enter into Bicker- ings and Difputes againft Colony -, Faftion will '^ intiigue '.CI At ; Incurfions of ited Savages ^ :e with other nplain to> none , that Holland^ m you with an larly on their .xample fhould 3 mention that /e fuch a Nell y near them. ■ thing you can le grcateft Part ^e we Ihall give • Commodities ; ; and we fhall faftures, efpe- id Metal Way, u will do then» you will trade will lead you -y • internal State, combined the d formed them off; and when to govern and rill break forth er into Bicker- ' i Faftion will intiigue SUBJECTS. 147 intri2;ue and cabal againft Fadion-, and Anarchy and Confulion will every where prevail. The Leaders of your Parries will then be fening all their Engines to work, to make Fools become the Dupes of Knaves, to bring to Maturity their half-forn.eu Schemes and lurking Defigns, and to give a Scope to that towering Ambition which was checked and reflraiiied before. In the me in Time, the Mai s of your People, who expeded, and who are promiled Mountains of Ticalures upon throwing off", what was ca;icd, the Yoke of the Mother Country, will meet with nothing bur fore Difappointments : Dil'ap- pointments indp^-d ! .F or inlltad of an imaginary Ycke, theyv^jli - obliged to bear a real, a heavy, and a f u . 0. one: Inftead of being freed from the Payment of ioo,oog1. (wluch is the utmoft that is now expefted from tiiem) they will find themfelves loaded with Taxes to the Ainount of at leall 4.00,000!. : Inftead of an Increale of Trade, they will feel a palpable De- creafe ; and inftead of having Troops to defend them, and thofe Troops paid by Great-Britain, they muft defend themfelves, and pay themrelves. Nay, the Number ot the 1 roops to be paid, will be more than doubled ; for fbme muft be ftationed in the back Settlements to proteft them againft the Indians^ wliom they h ive lb often injured and exafperated, and others alfo on each Frontier to prevent the Encroachments T 2 of 14^ PoLiTicAt and Commercial of each Sifter Colony. Not to mention, that the Expences of your Civil Governments will be neceflarily increafed j and that a Fleet, more or lefs, muft belong to each Province for guard- ing their Coafts, enfuring the Payment of Du- ties, and the like. Under all thefe Prefllires and Calamities, your deluded Countrymen will certainly open their Eyes at laft. For Difappointments and Diftrefles will effcftuatc that Cure, which Rea- fon and Argument, Lenity and Moderation, could not perform. In Ihort, having been fc- verely fcourged and difciplincd by their own Rod, they will curfe their Ambitious Leaders and deteft thofe Mock- Patriots, who involved them in fo many Miferies. And having been furfcitcd with the bitter Fruits of American Rcpublicifn. they will heartily wifh, and pe- tition to be agc.in united to the Mother Country. Then they will e.cpcrience the Difference between a rational Plan of Conftitutional Dependence, and the wild, romantic, and dellruftive Schemes of popular Independence. And you alfo, after you have played the Hero, and fpoke all your fine Speeches ; after you have been a Guftavus Vafuy and every other brave Deliverer of his Country -, after you have formed a thoufand Utopian Schemes, and been a thoufand Times difappointrd ; perhaps even you may awake out of your prefent po- litical RCIAL mention, that /ernments will t A Fleet, mpre inee for guard- ^ment of Du- id Calamities, certainly open lointments and •e, which Rea- i Moderation, aving been fc- by their own litious Leaders who involved d having been of American wifh, and pe- other Country, 'erence between I Dependence, jftive Schemes ve played the peeches ; after md every other after you have Schemes, and itcd; perhaps ur prcfent po- litical SUBJECTS. 149 litical Trance, and become a reafonable Man at laft. And aflure yourfelf, that whenever you can be cured of your prefent Delirium, and fhall betray no Symptoms of a Relapfe, you will be received with Affeftion by Tour old Uncle, Tour true Friend, And faithful Monitor, A.B. ;M TRACT I bur Col 'till and w*' TRAGI iV. THE True Intereft of Great-Britain SETFORTH In REGARD to the COLONIES i And the only Means of Living in Peace and Harmony with them. VERY ftrange Notion is now induf- 7^ trioufly fpreading, that 'till the late ^^^^ unhappy Stamp- Aft, there were no Bickerings and Difcontents, no Heart- burnings and Jealoufies -fubfifting between the Colonies and the Mother Country, It feems 'till that fatal Period, all was Harmony, Peace, and Love. Now it is fcarcely poffible even for the ■ym- 152 Political and Commercial the moft fuperficial Obfcrver, if his Knowledge extends beyond the Limits of a Newfpaper, not to know, That this is entirely falfe. And if he is a.t all converfant in the Hiftory of the Co- lonies, and has attended to the Accounts of their original Plantation, their Rife, and Progrefs, he muft know, that almoil from the very Be- ginning, there were mutual Difcontents, mutual Animofities and Reproaches. Indeed, while thefe Colonies were in a mere State of Infancy, dependent on their Mother Country, not only for daily Protection, but almofl for daily Bread, it cannot be fuppofed that they would give themfelves the fame Airs of Self-fufficiency and Independence, as they did afterwards, in Pro- portion as they grew up to a State of Maturity. But that they began very early to fhcw no other Marks of Attachment to their antient Parent, than what arofe from Views of Self-Intereft and Self-Love, many convincing Proofs might be drawn from the Complaints )blie$ againit the Interefl, Laws, • - ' and LCIAL lis Knowledge a Newfpaper, falfe. And if ory of the Co- :ounts of their and Progrefs, 1 the very Be* iitents, mutual Indeed, while ite of Infancy, ntry, not only or daily Bread, y would give fufficiency and srards, in Pro- e of Maturity, fhcw no other mtient Parent, If-Intereft and oofs might be nd the Inftruc- efpeftive Pro- our Boards of ime to his Ma- : Behaviour of ; Petitions and :s and Manu- even from the I of their Pro^ nterefl, Laws, and SUBJECTS. 153 and Government of the Mother Country v yet I will wave all thefe at prefent, and content my- felf with Proofs ftill more authentic and unex- ceptionable i I mean the public Statutes of the ^ealm : For from them it evidently appears, that long before there were any J houghts of the Stamp- Aft, the Mother Country had the following Accufations to bring againft the Co- lonies, viz. ifl, That they refufed to fubmit to her Ordinances and Regulations in Regard to Trade.— 2dly, That they attempted to frame Laws, and to ereft Jurifdiftions not only inde- pendently of her, but even in direft Oppofition toherAuthority.— And jdly. That many of them took unlawful Methods to fkreen thcmfelvesfrom paying the juft Debts they owed to the Merchants and Manufafturers of Great-Britain. These are the Objeftions of the Mother- Country to the Behaviour of the Colonies long before their late Outrages, and their prefent Con- dud:— For even as early as the Year 1670, it doth appear, that many Complaints (the very Words of the Aft) had been made againft the American Proprietors of Ships and Veffels, for engaging in Schemes of Traffic, contrary to the Regulations contained in the Aft of Navi- gation, and in other Statutes of the Realm made for conflning the Trade of the Colonics to the Mother Country. Nay, fo fenfible was the Parliament, above an hundred Years ago, that U ..Pro- 154 Political and Commercial Prol'erutions for the Bicac h of thofe Laws woull be to littk' or ng Kfil'd, if (*ari-ii\l on in /line- rican Courts, or before American Juries, that it is exprcfsly ordained, " It (liall, it may be law- " fui ^jr any Perfon or Perfons to profecute •' fuch Ship or Vefltl [offending asdefcribed in «' the preceding Section ) in any Court of Ad- *' miralty in hngland; the one Moiery of the •' Forfeiture, in Cafe of Condemnation, to be " to his Majefty-. his Heirs, and SuccefTors -, and «' the other Moiety to fuch Prolecutor or " Profccutors thereof." [See 22 and 23 of C/z. 'II, Cap. 26, § 12 and 13 ] And we find, that two Years afterwards, viz. 25 of Ch. II'. Cap. 7. 'the fame Complaints were again renewed ; and in Confcqucnce thereof higher Duties and ad- ditional Penalties were laid on, for the more ef- fectually enforcing ot the Obfervance of this and of the former Laws : But in Spite of all that wa-; done. Things grew worfe and worfe every Day. For it is obfervable, that in the Year 1696, the vei-y Authority of the Englrjh * Legifliture, for making fuch Laws and Regula- tibm, feemed to have bren called in Quedion ; ''<\'hich Authority, Therefore, the Parliament was obliged to aflert in Terms very peremptory •,— ■ and I may likewile add, very prophetical. The Law made on this Occifion was the fiimcus Statute of the 7th and 8th oilVilliam III. Cap. 7. wherein, after the Recital of " divers Afts «' made ICIAL fe Laws wouU ic\l on in Jine- Juries, that it it nuy be law- to profecute asdefcrlbecl in Court of Ad- Vloicry of the 1 nation, to be uccefTors -, and Prolecutor or and 2 ] of Ch. 1 we find, that Ch. Ii: Cap. 7. renewed -, and )uties and ad- >r the more ef- vance of this in Spite of all rfe and worfe f, that in the of the Englrjh /s and Regula- 1 in Quertion; :*ariiament was )eremptory •, — >hetical. The as the famous am III. Cap. 7. " divers Ad:s «' made SUBJECTS. 155 " made for the Kncouragement of the Nimsa. " tion of this Kingdom, and for the hetter Of- " curing and regulating the Plantation Trade II it.s remarked, thatnotwithllandingfuch Laws/ " great Abufcs are J^ti/y committed to the Prc- Mud.re of the E,>g/i//> Navigation, and the " Lofs ot great Part of the Plantation Trade " 'Z !|;'-^^K'ngf the Colonies, tence or Excufe. inted to the Defen- mpurgators, that he aiiiier let forth, — It ;en made of fuch a either SUB I E C T Q cither to throw off or evade the Power and Ju- rifdidion of the Mother Country,— It was ac § 9. " further enafted and declared by the Au- " thority afoiefaid, rhat all Laws, Bye-Laws " Ufages, or Cuftoms, at this lime, or which " hereafter fhall be in Praftice, or endeavoured « or pretended to be in Force or Pradlice, in any " of the laid Plantations, which arc in any wife " repugnant to the before-mentioned Laws or " any of them, fo far as thty do relate to'the " faid Plantations, or any of them, or which are " any ways repugnant to this prefent Aft, or " TO ANY OTHER LaW HEREAFTER TO BE MADE " m THIS Kingdom, fo tar as fuch Law fhall ♦| relate to, and mention the faid Plantations, " are ii.lecal, null, and void to all 1n- " tents and Purposes whatsoever," Words could hardly be devifed to exprefs the Sentiments of the Er,gli/I^ Legiflature, more fully and ftrongly, than thefe have done: And if ever a Body of uninfpired Men were endowed with a Spirit of Divination, or of forefeeing and alfo of providing againft untoward future Events, as far as human I'rudence could extend, the King, Lords, and Commons of the iEra 1696' were the very Men. For they evidently fore- faw, that a Time was approaching, when the Provincial AfTemblies would difpute the Right of American Sovereignty with the great in I general Council of the Briti/h Empire ; And tlierefore 15!? Political and Commercial therefore they took efFeftual Care that, whenever the Time came, no Law, no Precedent, nor Prefcription (hould be wanting, whereby the Mother Countr/ might alfert her conftitutional and inherent Right over the Colonies. But notw'thilanding thcle wife Trecautions, fome of the Colonies found Ways and Means to evade the Force and Meaning even of this ex- prefs Law-, at lead for a Time, and 'till the Legillature could be fufliciently apprized of the Injury defigned. The Coloniils, who pra^ifed thcle difingenuous Arts with mod Succefs, were thofe who were endowed with chartered Gorern- mentSy and who, in Confcquence of the extra- ordinary Favours thereby indulged them, could nominate or eleft their own Council, and (if my Memory doth not fail me) their own Go- vernors likewife -, — at leaft, who could grant fuch Salaries to their Governors, and with fuch Limitations, as would render them too depen- dent on the Wi)l and Plcafure of their Pay- Mafters. Hence therefore it came to pafs, that in the Colonics of Rhode- fjland and Providence Plantations, ConneSiicut^ the MoJ[achufet''s Bay, and New Hampjliire ; the Governors of thei'e Provinces fuffered thewfehes to be perjunded \.o give their Sani^lion to certain Votes and Reiblu- tions of their Aflemblies and Councils ; whereby Laws were cnadled firft to ilFue out Bills of Credit to a certain Amount, and then to make RCIAL that, whenever .■*recedenr, nor , whereby the r conftitutional )nics. fe Precautions, ; and Means to /en of this ex- ?, and 'till the apprized of the , who piadlift'd [I Succefs, were artered Gorern- ; of the extra- ed them, could 3uncil, and (if their own Go- lo could grant , and with fuch em too depen- ; of their Pay- ne to pafs, that and Providence ojfacliufet's Ba}\ ernors of theie be perjunded ro )tcs and Refolu- mcils ; whereby lie out Bills of d then to make SUBJECTS. i5c^ a Tender of thofe Bills to be confulcrcd as an adequate Difcharge of Debts, and a legal Re- leafe from Payment. A moft compendious Me- thod this for getting out of Debt ! And were the like Artifice to be authorized every where, I think it is very evident, that none but the moft ftupid Idcot would be incapable of dis- charging his Debts, Bonds, or Obligations-, and that too without advancing any Money. However, ss foon as the Bntijh Legidature came to be fully apprized of this Scheme of Ini- quity, they paired a Law, " to regukte and " reitrain Paper Bills of Credit in his Majefly's " Colonics or Plantations, of Rhode IJlnnd and " Providence Plantations, Connecticut^ the Maf~ " fachtifei'?, Bay^ and Nezv Hamp/hin., in Ame- " rica\ and to prevent the same beimg le- " GAL Tenders tN Payments of Movev." This is the very Title of the Statute ; but for further Particulars, and for the different Regula- tions therein contained, confult the Ad: itfelf, 24th oi GeorgeW. Cap. 53, Anm 1751. Now will any Man after this dare to fay, that the Stamp- Ad was the firft Caufe of DifTention- between the Mother Country and her Colonies .? Will any Man dill perfifl: it, maintaining fo grofs a Paradox, that 'till that fattl Period, the Co- lonies fhewed no Reludance to lubmit to the commercial Regulations, no Diipofition to con- teft the Authority, and no Delire to Queltion the ^ m I'll •jf'lt Eif i6o Political and Commercial the Right of the Mother Country ? The Man who can maintain thefe Paradoxes, is incapable of Convidion, and therefore is not to be rea- fohed with any longer. " But the Stamp-Aft " made l>ad to become worfe :---The Stamp- " Adt irritated and inflamed, and greatly en- " creafed all thofe ill Humours, which were but " too predominant before." Granted ; and I >vill further add, that any other Ad, or any other Meafuref of the Britijh Government, as well as the Stamp-A6l, if it were to compel the Colonifts to contribute a fingle Shilling to- wards the general Expence of the Briti/Ii Em- pire, would have had the fame Effeft. For, be it ever remembered, that the Colonifts did not fo much objed to the Mode of this Tax- ation, as to the Right itfelf of levying Taxes. Nay, their Friends and Agents here in England were known to have frequently declared. That if any Tax were to be crammed down their Throats without their Confcnt, and by an Au- thority which they difaliowed, they had rather pay this Siamp-Duty than any other. But indeed, and properly fpeaking, it was not the Stamp- Ad which incrcaled or heightened thefe ill Humours in tue Colonifts ; it was rather the Redudion of Canada, which called forth thofe Difpofitions into Adion v/hich had long b^en generating before ; and which were ready to burli forth at the firft Opportunity that fhould ,' offer. RCIAL ^? The Man 5, is incapable not to be rea- he Stamp-Ad: ■-The Stamp- nd greatly en- ^hich were but anted; and I r Ad, or any )vernment, as rre to compel le Shilling to- e BritiJIi Em- Effeft. For, Colonifts did of this Tax- ■Vying Taxes, ere in tngland eclared, That d down their nd by an Au- ley had rather er. raking, it was or heightened ■, it was rather I called forth hich had long v:h were ready ity that fliould ,' offer. SUBJECTS. leJf offer. For an undoubted Faft it is, that from the Moment in which Canada came into the Poflefllon of the EngliJI,, an End was put to the Sovereignty of the Mother-Country over her Colonies. They had then nothing to fear from a foreign Enemy ; and as to their own do- meftic Friends and Relations, they had for fo many Years preceding been accuftomed to tref- pafs upon their Forbearance and Indulgence, even when they moft wanted their Proteftion, that it was no Wonder they fhould openly re- nounce an Authority which they never thoroughly- approved of, and which now they found to be no longer neceflary for their own Defence. But here fome may be apt to ?% « Had the " Colonies no Provocation on their Part ? And " was all the Fault on one Side, and none on « the other ?" Probably not:— Probably there were Faults o:. both Sides. But what doth this ferve to prove .? If to exculpate the Colonies in regard to their prefent refradory Behaviour, it is needlefs. For I am far from charging our Colonies in particular with being Sinners above others i becaufc I believe (and if I am wrong, let the Hiftory of all Colonies, whether antient or modern, from the Days of Thucydides down to the prefent Time, confute me if it can) I lay, 'till that is done I believe, that it is the Nature of them all to afpire after Independence, and to fet up for themfelves as foon as ever they X , find ^ i6z Political and Commercial find that they are able to fubfift, without being beholden to the Mother-Country. And if our Americans have exprefled thcmfelves fooner on this Head than others have done, or in a more dired and daring Manner, this ought not to be imputed to any greater Malignity, or Ingrati- tude in them, than in others, but to chat free Conftitution, which is the Prerogative and Boaft: of us all. We ourfclves derive our Origin from thofe very SaxonSy who inhabited the lower Parts of Germany \ and yet 1 think ic is fufficiently evident, that we are not over com- plaifant to the Defcendants of thefe lower SaxanSy i. e. to the Offspring of our own Progenitors -, nor can we with any Colour of Reafon, pretend to complain that even the Boftonians have treated us more indignantly than we have tr<.'ated the Hanoverians. What then would have been the Cafe, if the little infignificant Eledorate of Hanoier had prefumed to retain a Claim of So- vereignty over fuch a Country as Great-Britain, the Pride and Miftrefs of the Ocean ? And yet, I believe, that in Point of Extent or Territory, the prefent Eiedoral Dominions, infignificant as they are lomenmes reprefented,. are more than a Moiety of England, exclufive of Scotland and fFales : W hereas the whole Ifland of Great- Brit(:i}i, is fcarcdy a twentieth Part of thofe vaft Reg'.ons which go under the Denomination of 'Nonh- America, Besides, ICIAL without being . And if our ves fooner on or in a more ight not to be y, or Ingrati- but to that rerogative and s derive our who inhabited et 1 think ic is lot over com- '■ lower SaxonSy Progenitors ; :afon, pretend ij have treated '■e tri>.'ated the have been the Eleftorate of Claim of So- jreat- Britain, n ? And yet, or Territory, ifignificant as re more than " Scotland and id of Great- : of thofe vaft omination of Besides, SUBJECTS. 165 Besides, if the American Colonies belonging to France or Spain, have not yet fet up for In- dependence, or thrown off the Mafque fo much as the Englifli Colonies have done— what is this fuperior Referve to be imputed to? Not to any greater filial Tendernefs in them for their refpeaive antient Parents than in others ;— not to Motives of any national Gratitude, or of na- tional Honour ;™but becaufe the Conftitution of each of thofe parent States is much more arbitrary and deJpotic than the Conllitution of Great Britain ; and therefore their refpeftive Offsprings are * awed by the Dread of Punifh- mentii from breaking forth into thofe Outrages which ours dare do with Impunity. Nay mo^e, the very Colonies of France and Spain, though they have not yet thrown off their Allegiance, are nevcrtheiefs as forward as any in difobcyng the Laws of their Mother Countries, wherever they find an Intereft in fo doing. For the Truth of this Fad, I appeal to that prodigious cian- dclhne Trade which they are continually carry- ing on with us, and with our Colonies, contrary to Lhe exprefs Prohibitions of France and Sp.m : And I appeal alfo to thofe very free Ports w.'iich the Briti//i Legiflature itfelf hath lately opened Hut notwith (landing this Awe, it is now pretty gene- rally known, that the Frenci, Colonifls of Wjpan'ola en- deavoured lately to fliake off the Government oi Old France, and applied to the Britijh Court for that Purpofe. X 2 for ■ip 164 Political and Commerciai. for accommodating thefe fmuggling Colonills to trade with the Subjefts of Great-Britain^ in Dif- obedience to the Injunftion of their Mother- Countries. Enough furely has been faid on this Subjeft ; and the Upftiot of the whole Matter is plainly this, — That even the arbitrary and defpotic Governments of France and Spain (arbitrary I fay, both in 'Temporals and in Spirituals) main- tain their Authority over their American Colonies but very imperfeftly -, in as much as they can- not reftrain them from breaking through thofe Rules and Regulations of exclufive Trade ■, for the Sake of which all Colonies feemed to have been originally founded. What then Ihall we fay in Regard to fuch Colonies as are the Off- fpring of a free Conftitution ? And after what Manner, or according to what Rule, are our own in particular to be governed, without ufing any Force or Compulfion, or purfuing any Meafure repugnant to their own Ideas of civil or religious Liberty ? In Ihort, and to fum up all, in one Word, How (hall we be able to ren- der thefe Colonies more fubfervient to the In- terefts, and more obedient to the Laws and Go- vernment of the Mother Country, than they voluntarily chufe to be ? After having pondered and revolved the Affair over and over, I con- fefs, there fecms to me to be but the five follow- ing Propofals, which can pofliblv be made, viz. . ' ift, ilClAL tg Colonills to hilain, in Dif- their Mother- I this Subjeft ; ,tter is plainly and defpotic in (arbitrary I ntuals) main- rican Colonies 1 as they can- through thofe e Trade -, for :emed to have then Ihall we IS are the Off- .nd after what Rule, are our without ufing purfulng any Ideas of civil md to fum up 3C able to ren- ent to the In- Laws and Go- ry, than they ving pondered over, I con- he five follow- be made, viz. I ft, S U B J E C T S. i6s ift, To fufFcr Things to go on for a While, as they have lately done, in Hopes that fome favourable Opportunity may offer for recovering the Jurifdiaion of the Briii/^i Legiflature over her Colonies, and for maintaining the Authority of the Mother-Country. -Or if thefe tempo- rifing Meafurcs fhould be found to ftrengthen and confirm the Evil, inftead of removing jti— then, 2dly, To attempt to perfuade the Colonies to fend over a certain Number of Deputies, or Reprefentatives, to fit and vote in the Brifi/k Parliament; in order to incorporate Jmerica and Great-Britain into one common Empire.— Or if this Propofal fiiould be found imprafti- cable, whether on Account of the Difficulties attending it on this Side of the Jt/antic, or be- caufe that the Americans themfelves would not concur in fuch a Meafure -,— then, 'jdly, To declare open War againft them as Rebels and Revolters; and after having made a perfeft Conqueft of the Country, then to govern it by military Force and defpotic Sway.— Or if this Scheme fhould be judged (as it ought to be) the moft deftruftive, and the lead eligible of any ;— then, 4thly, To propofe to confent that America fhould become the general Seat of Empire; and that Great-Britain and Ireland fhould be governed by Vice- Roys fent over from the I ; v# '" Court i I <.„;JHi 11 i66 Political arul Commercial Court Rcfidencies, cither at Philadelphia or J^neTork, or at fome other American imperial City. — Or if this Plan of Accommodation jhould be ill-digefted by home born Etiyji/hmeriy who, I will venture to affirm, woiild never fub- mit to fuch an Indignity, -then, 5thly, To propole to feparate entirely from the Colonies, by declaring them to be a free and independent People, over whom we lay no Claim i and then by offering to guarantee this Freedom and Independence againil all foreign Invaders whomfoever. Now thefe being all the Plans which, in the Nature of Things, feem capable of being pro- pofed, let us examine each of them in their Order. "* '' * ■" •''-■"-- - • '-- - - ■' : FIRST SCHEME. And I ft, as to that which recommends the fufFering all Things to go on as they have lately done, in Hopes that fome favourable Op- portunity may arife hereafter for recovering the Jurifdidlion, and vindicating the Honour of the Mother Country. ' <• ' --i ,; This Propofal is very unhappy' at firft fetting out-, becaufe it takes that for granted, which Hiftory and Experience prove to befalfe. It fuppolfes, that Colonies may become the more obedient, in Proportion as they arc fufFered to grow the more headftt^ng, and to feel their own Strength and Independence ; than which Sup- polition CIAI. iladelphia or ican imperial ommodation n Enyjiflitnen^ Id never fub- ;ntirely from to be a free )m we lay no iiarantce this ft all foreign /hich, in the f being pro- lem in their M E. ; ;; >mmends the s they have ^Durable Op- r recovering le Honour of ppy' at firft for granted, ve to be falfe. 3me the more re fufFered to eel their own I which Sup- polition SUBJECTS. tsy pofition there cannot be a more palpable Ab- furdity. For if a Father is not able to govern hisSonattheAgesof ,4or,6Year^ how can u be fuppofed that he will be better able when the Youth is become a Man of full aJc and Stature, in the Vigour of Health and Strength, and the Parent perhaps more feeble and dccrepid than he was before? Befides, it i! a Faa, that the Colonies, from almoft one End oiNorjn-Afnerica to the other, have already re volted from under the Jurifdidlion of the Brim Leg,nature;-each Houfe of A/Tern bly ha/h olready arrogated to themfelves a new Name bv ftilmg themfdves an House of Commons! \n Confcquence of which Stile and Title, they have already declared, that the BritiA Houfe of Com mons neither hath, nor ought to have, an^. Right to mtermeddlc in their Concerns. Now after they have advanced thus far already, what Rhetoric would you ufe for calling thefe Re voltersback? And is it at all probable, that the Provmcul Aflemblies would be induced by he Force of Oratory to renounce their own Im'por! tance and to acknowledge that to be a Crime wh.ch both they, and the People whom they Te! alienable Prerogative i The Man who can fup. pofcjhefe Things, muft have a moftextraol nary Opinion of his own Eloquence. i68 Political and Commercial But here perhaps fome may be inclined to a(k, Why would you meddle with the Colonies, at all ? And why not lufFer Things to remain in Jlatu quo ? The obvious Anfwer to which Queftions is this,---* That it is not the Mother- Country which meddles with the Colonies, but the Colonies which meddle with the Mother-Country : For they will not permit her to govern in the Manner fhe ought to do, and according to the original Terms of the Conftitu- tion i but are making Encroachments on her Authority every Day. Moreover as they in- creafe in Riches, Strength, and Numbers, their civil and military Eftablidiments muft ne- ceflarily increafe likewife; and feeing that this Circumftance is unavoidable, who is to defray the growing Expences of thefe increafing and thriving Colonies?-- " The Colonies themfelves " you will naturally fay, bccaufe none are fo fit, " and none fo able:" And perhaps fome Ame- rican Advocates will likewife add, " That the if • See the preceding letter from a Merchant in London to hisNephev^'in America ; wherein it is proved, toa3emonllra- tion, that the Powers, which the Colonies will not allow the Mother-Country noiv to exercife over them, are no other than what always belonged to her from the very firft Period of their Settlements, and according to the original Terms of their Conftitution. The Queilion therefore is. Which of the two, the Colonies, or ihe Mother-Country, ufurps on the legal Rights and conftitutional Privileges of the other? ■ i " Colonies m IIAL inclined to the Colonies, gs to remain ^er to which the Mother- be Colonies, le with the 3t permit her t to do, and the Conftitu- Tients on her as they in- d Numbers, ;nts miift ne- ;ing that this 3 is to defray ncreafing and ies themfelves lone are fo fit, 3S fome jime- I, " That the hant in London to I, toa3emonllra- will not allow the ni, are no other e very firft Period original Terms of ore is. Which of untry, ufurps on ;esof the other? " Colonies SUBJECTS. ,69 " Colonies do not refiife to dt/Vay thrfe F.x- « pences, provided they Hiall be the>V JuJ^ei " of the Quantum to be railed, or tiio Mode " of raifing it, and of the M.mner of its Ap- « plication." But here lies the Dilllculty, which remains yet to be folved : For if the Co- lonies are to be allowed to be the fole Jud^^cs in thefe Matters, the Sovereignty of the Briti/fi LegiHature is entirely at an ii,rid \ and thefe Co- lonies become in Fad, as much independent of their Mother-Country, as we are independent of Hanover or Ihnover of us ;-only indeed with this Difference (which an American aW/avs chuies to forg( t) I'hat whereas we lay a Duty on all raw Materials coming from the Eledoral Do- minions, we give a Bounty on rhofe which are imported from the Colonies. Befide.s, many will be apt to afk. Could not this Matter be compromifed in fome Degree.? And wilJ nothing lefs cyn:ent the Colonies than a total i^evoh from under the Jurii"iiftion of the Mother- Country .?- Some weil-meaning Perfons have propofed, that each Colony, like earh Country here in England, fhould be allowed to raife Taxes for its own internal Ufes, whiUl the Briti/Ji Parliament, the fovereign Council of the Brji/h Empire, fhould prefide over the whole ; and therefore fhould enad fuch Laws for the levying of thofe general Taxes, as are to be applied iov the common Protection, the Good, and Benefit Y of I 170 Political and Commercial of all. But the Misfortune is, tiiat the Colonies will not confent to this l-'artition of Power and Jurifdi^tion •, confequently any Scheme of this Nature is utterly impradicable. Indeed the late Stamp- Ai5t itfelf was no other than a Part of this very Scheme : For the Money to be mi(ed by that I ax, was to be applied to the fole Ufe of the Colonies, and to be expended no -j^lure elfe but in the Colonies. Nay it was not the Moiety, nor yet the third, nor the fourth Part of the Sum which Great-Britain was to have raifed on the fame Account, and to have expended in the fame Provinces:— So anxious was the ancient indulgent Parent not to lay too heavy a Burden on her favourite Children. But alas ! Favourites of all Kinds feldom make thofe returns of Gratitude and Obedience, which might be expeftcd. For even as to that boaftcd Loyalty, which the Colonies have hitherto pro- feflcd to maintain towards his Majefty King Geor^Ct -this Hands, and mud (land, according to their prefent political Syftem, on as precari- ' ous a footing as any of the reft of our Claims : For if the Briti/^i Parliaments have no Right to make Laws to bind the Colonies, they certainly ought not to be allowed to prefcribe to them w/ia JJiallbe their King -,- -much lefs ought they to pre- tend to a Right of 'enafting. That it (hall be a moft capital Offence, even High Treason itfelf, in a Colonift to dare to controvert the Title CIAL : the Colonies f Power and :hcme of this Indeed the •r than a Part Vioney to be pplicd to the e expended no [ay it was not lor the fourth itain was to , and to have —So anxious not to lay too Children. But m make thofe ience, which o that boaftcd hitherto pro- Vlajefty King tid, according on as precari- our Claims : e no Right to they certainly i tothemwAo It they to pre- t it fliall be a GH Treason introvert the Title SUBJECTS. i;t Tirle of any Prince or any Family, to the Americans Throne, whom the Briti/h Parliament fliall place thereon. Besides, fome of thofc lower Honfes of Aflemblies (which each Province now zftc/\$ to call its Hcufe of Commons) have already pro- ceeded to greater Lengths of Sovereignty and Independence than a BritiJJi Houfe of Commons ever prcfumed to do except in the Days of the grand Rebelhon. For they have already arro- gated to thi-mfelves a Power of difpoftng^ as well as oiraiftng the public Monies, without the Confent of the other Branches of the Legifla- ture i which is, in faft, nothing lefs than the Ercdlion of fo many fovereign and independent Democracies. Nay more, there is a general Com- bination and Confederacy entered into amono- them all : For each Houfe of Aflembly hath lately appointed a (landing Committee for cor- rcfponding with the landing Committees of other Provinces, in order the more effedtually to oppofe the Authority and Jurifdidtion of the Mother-Country. What then is to be done in fuch a Cafe? Evident it is beyond a difpute, that timid and temporifmg Meafures ferve to no otiier Purpofe but that of confirming the Colonies in their Oppofition, and ftrengthening them in their pre- feat Revolt. Y2 SCHEME 172 3B Political and Commercial S C H E M E II. Wherefore the zd Propofal is, To attempt to perluade the Colonies to fend over a certain Number of Reprefentatives to fit and vote in the Britifli Parliaments, in order to incorporate ylmerica and Great-Britain into one common Empire. * This is the Scheme of a very worthy Gen- tleman, eminently verfed in the Laws and Con- flitution of Great-Britaifiy and what is ftili better, a real, not a pretended Patriot. Let us therefore examine it with as miuh Refpedt and Deference to his Opinion, as the Caufe of Truth will permit ; which I ,im well perfuaded, is full as much as he would require. ' He begins with obferving veiy juftly. Page 4, " That the Subjeds of the Crown of Great " Britain, muft (i. e. ought to) continue to be " fo in every Refped, in all Parts of the « World, while they live under the Protcc- *' tion of the Briti/h Government -, and that " their crofling the Atlantic Ocean with the « King's Licence, and refiding in America for " the Purpofes of Trade, cannot afFedt their • See a Pamphlet, — " Confiderations on theExpediency « of .idmittinji; Reprefentatives from the American Colonies «« in f : itinBrit/h Houfe of Commons." — London, printed for B. White, 1770. legal « RCIAL II. is, To attempi I over a certain fit and vote in ■ to incorporate one common •y worthy Gen- Laws and Con- what is ftill atriot. Let us ;.h Refpeft and the Caufe of well perfuaded, lire. ' juftly,Page4, own of Great continue to be 1 Parts of the :r the Protcc- ent ; and that cean with the in America for ot afFedt their on the Expediency American Colonies — London, printed k( (( 4( (( ^73 « legal SUBJECTS. legal Subjeftion to the governing Powers of the Community to which they belong. " But yet he obferves, that the total Want ofRcprefentatives in the great Council of the Nation, to fupport their Interefts, and give an " Aflent on their Behalf to Laws and Taxes by " which they are bound and affcded, is a Misfor- " tune, whicli every Friend to Liberty and equal " Government mull be forry to fee them labour " under, and from which he mud wifh them to " be relieved in a regular and conftitutional " Manner, if fuch Relief can poftbly be afforded " thenty -without breaking the Unity of the Britilh " Government." He therefore proceeds, at Page lo, to propofe his Scheme for remedying this Misfortune; wz. " That about eighty Perfons might be ad- " mitted to fit in Parliament, as Members of " the Commons Houfe of Parliament for all " the King's Dominions in America, the JVe^l. " Indies, as well as North America -, and that " their Stile and Title fhould be Thi: Com- " MISSIONERS of THE CoLONIES OF Ami:RICA." After this he goes on to fix the Numbers rc- quifite to reprcfent each Colony, th<>ir Qualiti- cation, and the Mode of their liledlion ; alfo the Time of their continuing in Office, and the Manner of their being re-eleaed, or fuperfcdcd by others, if that Ihould be judged neceflary • In all which, tho' the Propofals are not quite con- i) m 174 Political and Commercial confiilent with the Unity of the Briti/h Govern- ment, yet as he has obviated the principal Dif- ficulties, it would be both ill-natured and unjult to fpy out every fmall Fault, or to magnify Ob- jections. But when he come to give us the Form, the Extent, and the JLimitation of thefe Com- miflions ; nay, when he propofes tocircumfcribe the Authority and Jurilllidion of the BrHiJIi Parlianfient itfelf, even after it hath been ftrengthened by the Accefilon of thefe Colony- Reprefentatives ; there, 1 humbly apprehend, the importance of the Subject fliould prepon- derate over mere Deference and Complaifance. Nay I will go ftill further, and add, that if the Meafures propofed (hould be fhewn to have a Tendency to beget endlefs Jealoufies, Quarrels, and Divifions, betwern the Mother-Country and the Colonies, inftead of proving a Means of Reconciliation, and a Center of Union, the Gentleman himfelf, I am fully perfuaded, would be among the firft in rejefting his own Plan, Let us therefore now defcend into Particulars. And ift, it is propofed. Page 1 1, That they (the Commiflloners) (hould receive a Commif- fion in "Writing from their Electors (viz. the * Afiemblies in each Province) " impowering " them * ^lere. Whether ir is intended that the loiuer Houfes in each Aflembly Ihould have the Tole Right of voting for ■ ^■■■ ■ thefe CIAL 'itijh Govern- irincipal Dif- cd and imjult magnify Qb- he Form, the thefe Com- >circumfcribe )f the Britijh t hath been thefe Colony- y apprehend, ould prepon- Zlomplaifance. Id, that if the ?wn to have a fies. Quarrels, :)ther-Country zing a Means )f Union, the [uaded, would his own Plan. ) Particulars. I, That they 7e a Commif- 'tors iviz. the IMPOWERING " them he loixier Houfes ight of voting for thefe SUBJECT S. 175 " them to fit and vote in the EntiJJi Kouft of " Commons, and (onlult with the King, and " tiie Great Men of the K.ngdum, and the " CommonsofthefameinParliamentafffmUled, " upon the great Aiairs of the Nation, and to " CONSENT on the Behalf of the Province, " for which they were cholcn, to fuch Things " as Ihall be ordained in Parliament, ^c. Now this Form might pals very well amono- ourielves at Home, where the Majority are nor concinually on the Watch ro I'py out every Flaw, real or imagmary : But in regard to the Colo- nists, and elpeciully ,n AfTembly of Colonics, the Cafe is widely different: For it is well known that their Wits are perpetually at work to avail' themfelves even of the Shadow of an Argument: to o[)po(e the Right and Authority of the Motiier-Coimtry. Therefore .hey v;ill imme- diately feize on the Words impw.ering and Con- fent^ and reafon after the following fallacious Manner: - «' The Aflt^mblics who -elcdled the " CommilTioners, have a Right to inftrudr thefe Commifnoners ; Or b(.th H;,ufes jointly? If the former, then the Colony Govcrnu.ents woJJ become lliU mota democraticalii\\a\ ihcj nv»w ar.-, tho' already f), to fuch aa txeeffive Degree, a.^, to be almoll incompatible with anyluea of Monarchy : But If e. ch xiouic is to vote fe parately, what Jars and Tattions, and reciprocal Rel proaches, would this o- -afioii ! And how would they be Hble to agree ? In Ih-j; , cither Way, the Profpeil is alarm- ing ! *^ " them J M 76 Political and Commercial them ; and theie Inftruftions, when properly drawn up, are no other than fo many Trufts or Powers granted to them from Time to Time, by the Aflembly which eledled them ; which Aflembly hath therefore a Right to con- tra6l or enlarge thc'r Commifllon, as they fhall find it to be the Intereft of the Province fo to do. Confequently, if thefe Commil- fioners fhould at any Time vote contrary to their Inftru6lions, that is, to their CommifTion, it follows, that in thefe Keipedls they have exceeded the Bounds prefcribed by their Ekdors. Therefore, being themfelves pro- tiibited from voting, and having no Authority to vote in fuch a Queftion, every Law wherein they gave their Suffrage, afieding the Interefts of the Colonies in general, or any Province in particular, is ipfo faclo null and void." Again,— " The Colony CommilTioners are to give their Confent in Behalf of the Prcvir.cc for which they arc choj'en^ to fuch Things asjimll he ordained in 'Parliament. This is the Foun- dation and Corncr-Stone of all the Buildincr; And therefore, if fuch or fuch Commiflioncrs did not give their Confent in Behalf of the Provinces for waicii they were chofcn, then it follows, of Courfe, that no I.,aw, affeding the Interefts of I'uch refpedivc Provinces, is obligatory, no Tax due or payable, nor any Regulations made by the pretended Authority " of ^ CIAL vhen properly many Trufts om Time to i levied them ; Right to con- Tion, as they ' the Province lefe Commil- ite contrary to rCommiflion, (fls they have 3ed by their emfelves pro- no Authority Law wherein g- the Interefts ly Province in void." mifTioners are \f the Province Things as/fiall s is the Foun- the Building: rommiflioncrs Behalf of the chofcn, then -aw, affedting Provinces, is able, nor any Jed Authority " of t( SUBJECTS. lyj of the Briti/Ji Parliament without the Con- " fent of fuch CommifTioners, are to be at all " regarded by the American Eleaors."— Thefe are a few of thofe blefied Conclufions, which the Politicians an the other Side of the .Atlantic will certainly draw from the Terms and Expref- fions contained in fuch a Form. And what is ftill worfe, both our own haired-brained Repub- licans, and our IVIock-Pacriots at Home will as certainly adopt the fame Language, and echo back the fame fpecious, tho' falfe Allegations, from one End of the Kingdom to the other! Indeed many there are, even among ourfelvesi who, with the moft ho.ned and upright Inten- tions, are at a Lofs at prefent how to diHntanole themfelves from thefe fallacious Reafonings. For having unhappily learnt in Newfpaper Dif- fertations, and from Coffee houJb Harangues, that the Deputies fent to the great Counc^il of the Nation, are the mere Attornies of thofe who eleded them j— the Inference is but natural, that thefe Attornies ought to do as they are bid \ and that in Cafe of Competition, they ought not to prefer their own private Opinions to the Judgment of their Conftituents.— I fay, this Inference is natural ; nay it is necefTarv,' juft, and true, were the Premifes but true from' whence it is deduced. Wherefore, having often had the Advan. tage of hearing no lefs a Perfon than the late J l |; p J■ ■l ^|[Jl ■i^f* ^ ■H^ ^J | i i 178 f*0LnicAL and Commercial excellent Judge Foster, that true Friend to all renfonahle Liberty, Civil and Religious,— I fay, having often heard hin difcourfing on the jRife and Origin oi" Parliamirnts, I will venture to lay his State of the Cafe before my Reader, hoping that it may remove ail his Difficulties (if he has any) and work the fame Fulnefs of Con- vidtion in his Mind, which it did in mine. " To realon- accurately, faid this upright and ♦' able Lawyer on live Origin of Parliaments, " we mull trace the Matter up to its conftituf-nt " Principles. Now the firft Idea which llrikcs " one on this Occafion is, that of a large Ai- " lembly of difFcrtnt Tribes of Warriors, eidier " preparing for fome military Expedition, or " got togedier, alter a Vidory, to (hare the ♦' Booty, and divide the Lands among the Con- " quercrs. When a-1 are met together in one « Place, they chufe a Committee for managing " their Affairs ; having found it impraftxabk « to tranfaft any Bufinef. of Conlequence in " any other Way. Now this Committee, " chofen by the whole Natiwn, actually affem- " bled, gives us the firll rude Draught of a na- " tional Parliamenr, or a national Council. " But in pioccfsof Time, and when the Nation " hui mac^e large Corquefts, and was cantoned " inio diftarit Provinces, if was found to be ex- « tremely inconvrnltvi to affen:.ible the whole " ISaucn tcffethtr into one Place. Therefore ^ " the il ^u. w wi i ti. wi if w i np itf ' ICIAL ue Friend to Religious,—! lurfing on the I win venture e my Reader, Difficulties (if ilnefs of Con- inmine. ■■ '•• is upright and f Parliaments, its conftituf nt which llrikcs if a large Af- arriors, eidier xpedition. or to {hare the long the Con- isether in one for managing impraft'.cabie Dnlequence in Committee, 6t:ually affem- •aught of a na- onal Council, en the Nation I was cantoned )und to be ex- ble the whole ;. Therefore " the f» f '^ m> ' n ^n ifigff ^u ipf L 'i I SUBJECTS, 179 '" tTie next, and indeed the only E,xpedient, was, " that each Canton, or each Dift ridl, which could " aflemble, fhould be authorized to eleft a De- " puty, or DcpiititSy nat for it/elf alvney that " IS THE GRAND Mistake, but for the Nation " at large, which could not aflemble.; and the " Powers to be granted to iuch Deputy, or " Deputies, were jult the fame as the Nation " would have granted to them had it bet n ac- " tually aflcmbled. Hence therefore it comes " to pafs, that each Deputy rcprefents the whole " Nation in general, as much as if he had been " eleftcd by the whole Nation; and confe- " quently fuch a Deputy is the Attorney (if he " mud be called by that Name) not of any one " particular Tribe, Society, or Diftridt, but of '.' the whole coUeSiively : So that it become> the " Duty of his Office to take Cart- of the Interefls " of all the People in general, becauje-he repre-, " [ents them all. In ihort, he cannot, coniillently " with the Duty which he owes to the whole, " pay any Deference totheRtqueft, Inftrudtion, " Kemonftrance, or IVIcmorial, of his particular " Eledlors, except in fut h Cafes only wherein " he is convinced in his Confcience, that the " Meaiures, whicij they require him to purfue, " are not intompatibte with the public Gsod." Thus far thh great juuge or the Briti/h Con- ftitiiCton. '\nd fio'uiany i:T.portanc Infer-^iives might be drawn fi'om hcnvc, whicii wouu, ef- Z 2 '"' fcdually ^^JiJifSV ^ ••--^'*».*FSB'r-^i*i|!jj^\ 'ksr.^,^' |8o Political and Commercial remove thofc Difficulties, with which the Sub- jedt has of late been artfully and ftudioufly per- plexed (and particularly in the Cafe of the Expulfion* of a Member of the Houfe of Com- mons) yet I (hall content myfelf with one general Remark at prefent •, viz. That as each Clafs of Men, each Society or Diftrift, throughout the Britijfi Empire, are as much reprefented by thofe Deputies, whom they did not perfonally eled, as they are by thofe whom they did •, it therefore follows, that there is no need, that the Deputies, particularly elefted by them, Ihould give their perfonal Confent to any A6ls of the Legiflature ; becaufe a Vote of the Majority is in faft a Vote of the Nation to all Intents and Purpofcs. * But it is now high Time to attend ^o another Part of this Gentleman*s Plan for admitting Commlffioners from the Colonies to fit and vote in the Briti/fi Houfe of Comi^ons. And that is, adly, the Extetit of their Com- miflion, and indeed the boundary Line prefcribed to the Britijfi Parliament itfelf, whenever it fliall interfere in American Affairs. For it fcems (fee * Sui-ely theNaion might have expelled Mr. Wilkes, or Iiave ftruck his Name out of the Lift of Commiuee, had it been affembled, and )\ad it thought proper fo to do. What then fhouJd hinder the Deputies of the Nation from doii)g the fame Thing? And which o ugl^t to prevail ii» this t^a^j;, tl)S l^ation in general of the County or Middle/ex ? ■-■■■■■-;. p. 14) p. i^ ♦* me « the «Col "the " pad "ori ** left "Col "in ( " Col " crea " tion " any " the " any " Tra( "Met " habi " or oi " to di " to Jt " anoti *' terin " loijie " the f " or to, ■ '■ rcint *r II 1 ii i rrr'BffTf ii iir i mi n ai m j i i !" i '~ i f] fl|| | i KCIAL hich the Sub- hidionfly per- Cafe of the [oufe of Com- th one general s each Clafs of iroughout the ;prefcnted by lot perfonally 1 they did j it need, that the them, Ihould I Ads of the [le Majority is II Intents and :nd ^o another for admitting to fit and vote of their Com- bine prefcribed enever it fliall ir it fcems (fee ed Mr. Wilkes, (I of Commiuee, t proper fo to do. the Nation from t to prevail ii> this f or Middle/ex ? P. 14) "«p»..»-.,.« SUBJECTS. ,8t p. 14) " That this Icgiflative Power of Parlia- ♦* mentlhoulJ be exercifed hutfelddm, and on Oc- I* caJoHs of great NeceJ^ty. Whatever related to " the internal Government of any particular « Colony (fueh as raiflng the neceffary Taxes for « the Support of its civil Government, and « pafling Laws for building Bridges, or Churches, " or Barracks, or other public Edijices) fhould be ^* left to the Governor and Affembly of that " Colony to tranfaft among themfelves, unlefs " in Cafes where the domeftic Diffentions of the « Colony put a Stop to public Bufmefs, and " created a Kind of N^ceflity for the Interpofi- « tton of the fupreme Leg Mature. But when " any general Tax was to U impofed upon all " the Jmericm Colonies for the Suppcri of a « War, or any other fuch general Purpofe ; or " any new Law was to be made to regulate the " Trade of all the Colonies ; or to appoint th^ »' Methods by which Debts owing from the In, " habitants of one Colony to thofe of another " or of Cyreat-Britain, fhould be recovered ; qJ " to direft the Manner of bringing Criminak " to Juftice who have fled from one Colony to "another; or to fettle the Manner of quar- ** tenng the King's Troops in the feveral Co- « Ionics ; or of levying Troops in them, and " the Number each Colony fhould contribute- " or to fettle the proportionable Values of difFe' • ^' rent Coins that fhould be made current in the " feveral y i in . 'm^ Political and CoMMr.RciAr <« fevcral provinces-, or to cftablifh % general ** Paper-Currency throughout America \ or for «* any other general Purpofe that relates to Ic- " vcral Coloaies :— In thefeCaies the Authority *' of Parliament (hould be employed." Here now is a Kind of Barrier fet up be- tween thefe two contending Powers, the Britifli Parliament, an ' die Provincial Aflemblies ;--- a Barrier, which mud be held fo facred by both Parties, as to limit their refpedlive Pretenfions, and to extinguifh all further Claims. Let us therefore fee how well this Scheme is calculated to anfwer fuch good Purpofes. ■■'-'- ■ And firfl: it is laid, that t^e Parliament ought to interfere but feldom ; and then only on Oc- cafions of great Necejfity. Now here permit mt to afk. Who are to be the Judges of what is feldorriy or what is frequent ? Moreover, who is to (ic! ermine between the Parliament ^ind the Provincial Aflemblies, when there is a great Neceffity for the Interference of the former, anc^ when there is but a little one, or none at all ?— Obvious it is, to all the World, that thefe jealous Rivals will never fettle fuch Points among th-mfelves -, and if they will not fettle them, in- deed if they cannot, who is to be their common Umpire or Referee ? Befides, granting even that this Difficvilty cpuid be got over in fome Degree, another formidable one immediately ftarts up, like another Hydra i viz. What are thefe " " I W " '" ■-y> ClAT.. Ih n guiieral rica \ or for relates to Te- lle Authority tcl." r fet lip be- s, the 5r////7i Temblies ;--- creel by both Pretenfions, ms. Let us is calculated ament ought only on Oc here permit es of what is over, who is lent ^nd the e is a great £ former, an4 tone at all ?— : thefe jealous aints among ttle them, in- heir common anting even )ver in fome immediately iz. What are thefe SUBJECTS. ,83 thefe Colony Agents to do in our Houfe of Commons, when no Colony Bufinefs happens to be tranfaded ? Arc they to reiiiain as fo many Mutes, without fpeaking a Word, or giving a fingle Vote for Weeks, or Months, or perhaps for a whole Seffion together? -Or are the} to fit and vote in all Briti/^i Caufes, great or fmall ; notwithltanding that the Briti/A Se, nators are precluded from voting, excepting in extraordinary Cafes, in refpeft to the Colonies ? In either Cafe here feems to be fomething in- troduced into the Briti//, Conftitution of a very heterogeneous Nature ; fomething very repug- nant to M«/ Uniiy of Government, which the Gentleman himfelf allows ought to be preferred to every other Confideration : And I will add further, that if the Colony-Commimcners are to fit and vote in ail our Caufes, tho' our Bni(/7i Reprefentatives are reftrained from voting in theirs, perhaps ninety- nine Times in an Hun- dred, this will be the fettiiig up of one of the moft partial, unequal, and unjuft Syftems of Pacification, that ever yet appeared in the World. • ' • -■•'- - .' - i ^ - : r*,v We therefore proceed to another weighty Objeftion againft the prefcnt Plan.— The Terms of this new Compaft are declared to be. That the Colony Afitmblies fiiall be inverted with the Right of interml and prcvwdal JunfdiAlon and ^^I'^-it'on i wiiile the Briii/^i Parliament, even ■ ' • after I " I. |i| n^ ^1 ' t^mtf^ .* •, m 184 Political and Commercial after the Accefllon of thefc 80 Colony Com- milTioners, fhall be content to retain only that which is external and gentrel. Bvit here alas! the very fame Difficulties return which prefled fo hard before : For who is to judge between the BritiJ}i Parliament and the Provin. cial Aflemblies in thefe Refpedls ? Who will venture to afcertain in every Cafe what is ex- ternal and general •, and what is merely internal and provincial ? Nay indeed, may not the very fame Things juftly pafs under both Denomina- tions, according as they are fccn from different Points of View ? Surely they may j and to convince any Man of this, let him attend to the very Catalogue of Articles, with which this Gen- tleman hath himfelf prefented us. For at Page 1 4, he obfervcs, " That whatever related *' to the r ern 1 Government of any particular " Colony, ihoiud be left to the Governor and " Af-'iTi' ly of that Colony to tranfadl among " thtr;.iclves ■" among which Articles belong- ing to internal Government^ He enumerates the huxXiXxnq^oi Barracks, and of other public Edi- fices i and yet both he and every Man mull al- low, that the building of Barracks, of Forts, and FortrefTes, the making of King's Docks and Ca- reening Places for the Navy, the laying out of military Roads, and the providing of Magazines for Provifions and military Stores, confidered iri another View, are of a general Nature •, in the Eredion '^i;! '*;-(' 'ik. I^H CIAL [Colony Com- ain only that — Bvit here rctvirn which ) is to judge d the Provin. I? Who will fe what is ex- >erely internal { not the very th Denomina- Tom different T»ay ; and to I attend to the hich this Gen- us. For at latever related any particular Governor and ranfadl among tides belong- numerates the r PUBLIC Edi- Man muft al- , of Forts, and Docks and Ca- i laying out of ; of Magazines , confidered irt Niature «, in the Eredion ,J f IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) 1.0 Ifi^ IM ■^ 1^ 12.2 I.I U 2.0 18 i-25 ;.4 |i.6 ^ 6" ► R' Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 672-4503 '^^^^<^ %^.^ ^^ 5? ...W ^A "mx) s' CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ■'■^ *;»?^-'***»»*wp-- SUBJECTS. ,85 Ereaion and Prefervation of which, the whole BritiJ/i Empire is deeply interefted. And yet were the BriiiJJi Parliament to frame Laws, and to levy Taxes on the Jmericatts for thefe Pur- pofes, what Outcries would immediately be railed againft the Mr)thcr Country ! Every Fortrefs, nay every Barrack, would bedefcribed as an odious Badge of Slavery ; and every little Magazine would be termed a Monument of Tyranny and defpotic Power, and a Preparative for deftroying the few Liberties that were left. Again, at the Bottom of the fame Page he declares, that the Authority of Parliament fhould be employed in feftlmg the Manner of quartering the King's Troops in thefeveral Colonies. I will not obje^l: to the Interpofition of Parlia- ment in fucii a Cafe : For well I know, that if the Parliament did not interfere, the Troops would very often have no Qiiarters at all ; and yet this very Circumftance would afford an American AiTcmbly the moil inviting Opportu- nity for Exclamation and Oppofition. « What! " rh^BritiJIt Parliament to take upon them to « lettle the Manner of quartering the Troops in " ourown Province, and on our own Inhabitants ' * \^ ho fo proper Judges as ourfclves, when or ' " where, or after what Manner, they fliould be " " quartered? AndhowcametheGentlemen,met " ^tlVeJimwJler, to be acquainted with theCir " cumftances of our People, and the Situation . -^^ "of i *-^ J^'*""»iit>.^;J:'t-^ i86 Political and Gommkrcial *♦ of Places, better than we, who refide on the " Spot ? No ! Thefe Adis of the Britijh Parlial *' ment are all barefaced Encroachments on our *• Liberties, and open Violations of our Rights " and Properties : They are the Chains which " our pretended Proteftors, but in Reality our *' £^j^//««Talk-Mafters,have been long forging ** for us. Let us therefore all unite, and man- « fully refill them -, let us poftponc the paying " of Debts, and enter into a general Aflbciation «* to refufe their Goods, to diftrefs their Trade, " and to harrafs our cruel Enemies by every " Method in our Power •, and if we are thus " united, they muft yield, as thsy did before" In fliort it would be endlefs to recount all the Topics which fuch a Scheme as this Gentleman has propofed would certainly furnilh to every popular Declaimer in every popular Aflembly j and the more improbable, the more abfurd and unjuft his Harangues were in Point of found Argument and juft Reafoning-, fo much, generally fpeaking, the more greedily would they be received. However, there is one Point more which I cannot omit, becaufe it will throw a further Light on this Matter, and difclofe a new Scene of patriotic Manoeuvres, and the Wiles of Po- liticians. At Page 13, this Author lays down a genera. e for the Conduft of Parliament with RelpcwC to America^ viz. " That it ought « to 1^ ' "" ' "" ' '" - III I i ii iii» jM iwwi|w tft ww I ■RCIAI. LO refide on the e Britijh Parlial chments on our s of our Rights e Chains which t in Reality our Ben long forging nite, and man- )onc the paying eral Aflbciation efs their Trade, emies by every if we are thus ^hsy did before" recount all the this Gentleman 'urnilh to every •ular Aflembly ; lore abfurd and Point of found igi fo much, greedily would it more which I hrow a further afe a new Scene e Wiles of Po- ithor lays down : of Parliament ' That it ought « tQ SUBJECTS. 187 "^ to be made a ftanding Order of both Houfes " of Parliament, never to pafs any Law, whe- " ther for impofing a Tax, or for regulating " Trade, or for any other Purpofe whatfoever " relating to any of the American Colonies, 'till " one whole Year after the firft reading of the " Bill \ unlefs it be to renew feme expiring " Laws of great Importance, and of immediate " and urgent Neceffity, fuch as the A6t for " billeting the King's Troops, and perhaps fome " few others that might be fpecially excepted « in the Order." This is the Reftridion in Point of Time, which our Author propoles to lay on the Par- liament of Great- Britain. " They never muft ■»♦ pafs any Law for impofing a Tax 'till one " whole Year after the firft reading of the Bill :" Why ? — " In order to give the Teveral Colonies " an Opportunity of making proper Reprefenta- " tions againft it, and to prevent the Parliament ** from making injudicious Laws, not fuited " to the Condition of the Colonies." A fine Contrivance truly ! and a moft effeftual Expe- dient to prevent the Parliament from ever making any Laws, to oblige the Americans to difcharge their Duty towards their Mother - Country : For this Gentleman might have known, indeed it is hardly poflible, that the Faft could have efcaped his Notice, had he re- coUeded it, that this very Circumftance of a A a 2 . Tear's tie "' i88 Political and Commercial Tear's Prccraftination was the main Engine em- ployed to batter down the late Stamp- Aft. When the Duty on Stamps was firft propofed, the Americans made as little Objeftion to it, as could be fuppofed to be made to any new Tax whatever. Nay, ieveral of their popular Ora- tors and Leaders ufed confiderable Intereft to be employed as Agents in the Diftribution ofthefe Stamps. But when the Outs and the Pouters on this Side the Water, faw the Advantage which the Minifler gave them by a whole Year's Delay, they eagerly feized the Op- portunity, Emiflaries and Agents were dif- patched into all Quarters ;— the Newfpapers were filled with Inveftives againft the new- intended Tax. It was injudicious '—it was ill-* timed !— opprefTive '--tyrannical !— and every Thing that was bad ! Letters upon Letters were wrote to America to excite the People to aflbciate, to remonltrate, and even to revolt. The moft ample Promifes were made from hence, of giv- ing them all the Afliftance which Faftion, and Clamour, and Mock-patriotifm, could mufter t!p. " Well, their indefatigable Endeavours proved but too fucceisful with an infatuated People : For a violent Storm was raifed againft the Mi- niiler for the Time being, and overfet him, as tiiey intended. Om patriotic Outs then became \he v.wiprial lus ; and therefore t!ie Storm hav- ing t'lu ii p i i, 8ii^j;> ';Li i i| . n.wi r w,. ii f g'if i . ^ 'n ' ^.j f iga! M i H^y aB ii i:;*y" RCIAL lin Engine em- te Stamp-Aft. firft propofed, eftion to it, as 3 any new Tax r popular Ora- le Intereft to be ibution of thefe nd the Pouters rhe Advantage 1 by a whole ized the Op- ents were dif- le Newfpapers ainft the new- us '—it was ill-* 1 !— and every >n Letters were pic to aflbciate, )lt. The moft I hence, of giv- h Facftion, and could mufter eavours proved uated People: igainft the Mi- overfet him, as ts then became the Storm hav- ing SUBJECTS. i8p ing now do:ie its Bufincfs, they had no further Occafion for it, wtre its mofl obedient humble Servants, and wifhed it to fubfide. But here they found themfelves cgrcgiouily miilaken. For the Americans had, in their Turn, learnt the Art of making Tools of them, inflead of beino- made Tools by them : So that having been taught by thefe Preceptors to feel their own Weight and Independence, they were not to be wheedled by foothing and cajoling Letters to give over their Enterprize, or to become a tradable, obe- dient People for the future. In fliort, hence it came to pafs, that even during the Continuance of this new and favourite Adminiftration, the ^American Spirit was rifing all the while, inftead of finking. And as like Caufes will always pro- duce like Effeds, efpecially fince Things have been fuffered to grow to fuch an Heighth, evident it is to common Senfe, that any future Attempt of the BritiJJt Parliament to levy a Tax on Ame- rica, will meet with no better a Fate than the Stamp- Ad has done. Moreover, a Year's De- lay in laying it on will be juft fo much Time given the Colonies to prepare for Battle i and Woe to that Adminiftration which fhall propofe it ; for they will certainly be overturned by the fame Arts and Managements which the former were, and with much greater Eafe. I fhould how have done with this Gentleman's Scheme, were it not that I find him, at Page 28, making f iQO Political and Commercial making a Kind of Apology to the Americans for the Conduft of our Parliament in paying the King's Debts of his Civil Lift. And I own myfelf more hurt by this Paragraph, than by all the reft of his Pamphlet : For as I am tho- roughly perfuaded, he wrote from Convidion, and not from any fmiftcr Views, one is forry to find fo able, fo honeft, and upright a Man, carried away by the Torrent of the Times to fuch a Degree, as to adopt Notions, which are almoft too crude for a Club of Livery Politici- ans met in fome blind Alley at a City Ale- houfe. His Words are thefe :— " It is certain* »* that no fuch (exorbitant) Grants as are above " mentioned have been made, unlefs in the fingle " Inftance of the Sum of 513,0001. granted to* « his prefent Majcfty for the Difcharge of the " Debts of his Civil Lift. And in this Cafe I " can eafily fuppofe, that a Motive of Com- « paflion for a Number of innocent Pet-fon, " who would otherwifehave been Sufferers from « that Load upon his Majefty's Revenue, and " an affeftionate Defire of relieving their ex- « ceilent Sovereign (who has in no Inftance en- " deavoured to violate the Liberties of his Sub- " jeds) from the unworthy Streights and In- " conveniences, ill becoming the Royal Dignity, « into which fome of his Mnifiers had brought ** him^ hy the injtidicicus Management of his Re- venutt may have induced many Members of " the (( iN|> i >|i M iiii »u \-> '« ■^■* -rt|j — I ' I i , iii m iii ICIAL ; Americans for in paying the And I own raph, than by »r as I am tho- rn Convidion, one is forry to iright a Man, the Times to ons, which are livery Politici- it a City Ale- " It is certain, ts as are above efs in the fingle )ol. granted to* ifcharge of the i in this Cafe I otive of Com- moccnt Petfon, Sufferers from Revenue, and ving their ex- no Inflance en- ties of his Sub- eights and In- Royal Dignity, '.rs had brought ment of his Re- y Members of " the SUBJECTS. 191 " the Houfe of Commons to confent to this " Grant, without any View to their own private " Interert -, though at the fame Time I ac- " knowledge it to be, confidering all its Circum- '■^ fiances^ a dangerous Compliance, and not ** worthy to be drawn into Example." Now if the Compliance of the Parliament in difcharging this Debt was dangerous, the Reafon muft be, becaufe the Circumftance of contrading the Debt itfelf was really infamous ; therefore ought not to be avowed, but had better be fupprefled in Tendernefs to the Royal Caufe. But can this Author point out any fuch infamous Circumftances, if he were minded to make the Difcovery ?— I dare anfwer for him, •that he cannot. And as 1 will not fuppofe that he has more Tales to tell than any other private Gentleman, and much lefs that he himfelf was an Accomplice in, or privy to any fuch Scenes of Iniquity as are here infinuated, — I will now undertake to prove to him and the World, how as great a Debt as this, nay a much greater, might have been contradted in the Space of ten Years, without the leaft Impeachment of Wafte, Profufion, Mifmanagement, or any other Mif- application whatfoever. Every Office, Dignity, Rank, or Station, has a certain Charadter to fuftain, which neceflarily requires a correfpondent Train of Expences ; fo that whether you confider the Demands upon ii -' .-t**.* "V 192 Political and Commercial , a King wiili a Salary of 8oo,oool. a Year, or the Derriiinds on a private Gentleman with only a clear Rental of 800I. a Year, the Scale of Ex- pences iiii.fl be proportionate, rhe Demands and Expencei in ;ng relative one to the other. Wl will therefore reafonon v/hat we are moil convcrfant with (and with Refpedl to which we may be allowed to be competent judges) viz. on the Cafe of a young Gentleman of a rcfpec- table ancient Family, juft come to take i-'offel- fion of an Ellate, which clears him Sool. a Year.. \'W'-:.:i-ii t/. . ift. Therefore, being appointed Sheriff of the County, he muft and ought to go through that cxpenfive Office in fuch a Manner as would refleft no Difgrace on himfelf, or the refpeda- ble Family from wliicli he is defcended (and the Office of Sheriff belonging to a private Gentleman is of much the fame Import in Point of Expence, as the Circumftances of a Cercnalion in rcfpeiSl to Majefty.) 2dly. Many Deaths and Funerals within the above-mentioned Period create another Article of Expence, which muft be borne j with this peculiar Circumftance attending it. That tho' he muft bury a Grandfather fuitablc to his Rank, alfo an Uncle, Aunt, a Brother and Sifters,- -yet he himfelf acquires no Addition of Fortune by their Deceafes. "•v ciAr, o\. a Year, or nan with only : Scale of Ex- rhc Demands ro the other, lat we are moil ;l to which we : judges) viz. m of a rcfpec- take i-'offef- him Sool. a ited Sheriff of to go tlirough inner as would r the refpeda- efcended (and ; to a private mport in Point of a Corcnaiion rah within the nother Article :ne j with this ; it. That tho' iiitablc to his 1 Brother and no Addition of SUBJECTS. 193 3dly. Several Marriages in the Family, and his own* in particular, bring on a thirdChargc, which furcly in Reafon and Confcience ought not to be objefted to. 4thly. Six or fevcn Chriftcnings and Lyings- in, expenfivc Articles in all Families, necefla- rily happen from the Circumftance of the Cafe, to be peculiarly expenfive in this: And yet neither the young Gentleman himfclf, nor any of his Friends and Well wiflicrs to the Family, ought to be fuppofed even to have wifhcd to have faved thefe extraordinary Charges. 5thly. A Train of unexpefted Vifitants bring m AZVCC\Af. the Rehuion of jbfifting between jncommon Dear- which for fome Thing known in )ne hath actually keeping in every Sum. laving fupported lires and growing :ther, at lall is lends and deareft Affiftance; be- w garters of a tat a Sum ! And Lid Outcries have irefore, indignant lifliman or Ameri- :, and aflc thyfelf )uld{l thou have n, had he been or tihe Heir-ap- l what Sort of lefervcd at thy nine. — But I will and Humanity, own Caufe. icientlydifcufled an: Nay, wc have amply SUBJECTS. 195 amply and particularly (hewn, that his Apology to the Americans in Behalf of the Brittjh Par- liament, for paying-the Arrears of his Majefty's Civil Lift, was quite a needlefs Thing. For if noftronger Proofs can be brought of their Ve- nality and Corruption than this Inftance, they ftill may be fafely trufted with the Guardianship of thofe Liberties and Properties, which they have hitherto not only preferved, but alfo ftrengthencd and cncreafed to a Degree unknown before in this, ^r any other Country. In one Word, the Scheme of an Union under our pre- fcnt Confidcration, is of fuch a Nature, as would ncceflarily tend to exafperate both Parties, inftead of mollifying or reconciling either. And as the Americans have already given us to underftand, both in their Provincial Aflemblies, and at their General Congrefles, that they will not accept of an Union with us \ and as Great-Britain ought not to petition for it; furely more need not be added for laying the Scheme afide. Indeed the Gentleman himfelf^ towards the Clofe of his Pamphlet, expreffes but little Hopes of its Succefs : For, after all, the beft Ufe he can put it to, feems to be the Juftifi- cation of the Mother-Country in declaring War againft the Colonies, in order to oblige them to fubmit to her Authority, and to return to their Obediei^e. So that this Scheme of Pacification Bb? .U ig6 Political and Commercial is to end in a War at laft. Therefore we are now come to confider the ,^. . ,;. , THIRD SCHEME.' The Expediency of having Recourfe to Arms, in order to compel the Colonies to fub- mit to the Authority and Jurifdidlion of the fupreme Council of the Briti/h Empire* the Parliament of Great-Britain. sio,li ' In regard to which important Point, the Gentleman reafons after the following Manner: —« After fuch ah Offer (of an Union, as above »« defcribed) and this contemptuous Refufal of « it by the Colonics, we may well fuppofe^ that « they (the Inhabitants of Great-Britain) will « aft as one Man, to fupport the juft and law- " ful, and neceffary Authority of the fupreme " Legiflature of the Britijh Nation over all the « Dominions of the Crown. The Juftice of their « Caufe will give Vigour to their Meafures; and « the Colonies that Ihall have the Folly and Pre- « fuitiption to refift them, will be quickly re- ' duced to Obedience." It is pbffible, nay indeed it is very probable, that if a War was to be fpeedily undertaken, before Great-Britain and Ireland had been too much exhaufted of their Inhabitants, emigrating to North^JmericOy— the Forces of the Mother- Country might prevail, indJmerica, however uhwilliftg,^ be forced to fubmit, Bwt alas ! Viftory alone is but a poor Compenfation for all the t- wjtfiri-aiiiian'ifc.. * '>* .II W'»-- — , tMERCIAL Therefore we are IE ME. ' I i^ing Recourfe to je Colonies to fub- urifdidlion of the iiijh EmpirCj the >rtant Point, the bllowing Manner: in Union, as above ptuous Refufal of well fuppofci that reat-Britain) will : the juft and law- :y of the fupreme Nation over all the 'hejufticeoftheir nrMeafures; and :hc Folly and Pre- 11 be quickly re- is very probable, idily undertakenj ind had been too itants, emigrating s of the Mother- Imerica, however mit. But alas ! npenfation for all the |h«* iiii M WillPpi " ' SUBJECTS. 197 the Blood and Treafure which muft be fpilt ort fuch an Occafion. Not to mention, that after a Conqueft of their Country, the Americans would certainly be kfs difpofed, even than they are at prefenr, to become our good Cuftomers, and to take our Manufa(awres in return for thofe In- juries and Oppreflions which they had fuffered from us :— I fay. Injuries ajtd Oppreffions : bc- caufe the Colonies would molt undoubtedly give no fofter an Appellation to this Conqueft, tho* perhaps it would be no other in itfelf, thart a juft Chaftifement for the manifold Offenccj they had committed. Moreover, as the Ameri- cans are endeavouring eveh at prefent to fet up all Sorts of mechanic Trades in order to rival us, or at leaft to fuperfcde the Ufc of our Manu- fadtures in their Countty,— can any Man fup* pofe, that their Ardor for fetting Up Manufac- tures would be abated, by their \xm% forced to deal at the only one E^urcpean Shop^ which they moftdctefted? Bvt what is ftill worfe, if poffiblej— though thcBritiJh Troops might over-run the great Con- tinent of North- Amerita at firft, it doth by no Means foll6w, that they could be able to main- tain, i Superiority in it afterwards for any Length of Time : And my Redbn is, becaufc the go- Turning of a Country after a Peace, is a muc't more arduous Taflc, in certain Circumltances, than die conquering it during a War. Thtw gmmm 198 Political and Commercial for Example, when a Peace enfues (and furely it is not intended that we Ihall be for ever in a State of War) then a civil Conftitution of fome Kind or other muft neceflarily be eftablifhed i and in the Cafe before us, there feems to be no other Alternative, but either the permitting the Colonies to enjoy once more thofe Advan- tages of Engli/h Liberty, and of an Englijh Conftitution, which they had forfeited i or elfe a Refolution to govern them for the future by arbitrary Sway and defpotic Power. If the latter Ihould be the Plan adopted, 1 then humbly fubmit it to be duly weighed and confidered, what a baleful Influence this Government a la Prujfe would have on every other Part of the Britifli Empire. England free, and America in Chains ! And how loon would the enflaved Pan of the Conftitution, and perhaps the greater, contaminate the free and the lefferj Nay, as America was found to increafe in Strength and Numbers, an Army of Engli/h-born Soldiers (for no others could be trufted) firft of 50,000, and afterwards per- haps of 100,000, would fcarcely be fufficient to keep thefe turbulent Spirits in Awe, and to prevent them, at fuch a prodigious Diftance from the Center of Government, from break- ing out into Infurrcftions and Rebellions at every favourable Opportunity. But if the former were to prevail, and a Return of Engli/h „ , Liberties fcte^^if'..>ll.j|lh«t,»:ii^i ERCIAL fues (and finely be for ever in a titution of fome be eftablifbed -, '. feems to be no e permitting the ; thofe Advan- i of an EngUJh 1 forfeited \ or them for the defpotic Power. Plan adopted, )e duly weighed ileful Influence Je would have Britifli Empire. Iiains ! And how the Conftitution, aminate the free 'ca was found to )ers, ail Army of others could be afterwards per- cely be fufficient :s in Awe, and to digious Diftance ent, from break- id Rebellions at y. But if the Return of Englifli Liberties S I d J E C T S. J9IJ Liberties was .gain to take Place, it muft jilfo follow, that tht Syftem of Trials by Juries muft return with them : And then, when Ame- rica fhall grow ftronger and ftronger every Day, and England proportionably weaker, how is an Infurredion to be quelled in America? And what Englifli Officer, civil or military, wquld dare to do it ? Nay, I aflc, further, granting that he was fo brave, or rather fo fool-hardy, as to attempt to do his Duty, who is to protedl him in the Execution of his Office ? Or how is he to be preferved, by due Forms of Lawy againft the Determination of an /Imerican Jury } A Tumult is excited j—the Military is called forth;— the Soldiers are infultedj — many per- haps wounded, and fome even killed. The Patience of the Officers worn out, and in their own Defence, they are obliged to give the Word of Command to Jire. The Relations of thofe who fell by this Fire, bring on an Appeal of Blood. The American Jury find the Officers who commanded, and perhaps the whole Corps who fired, guilty of wilful Murder •, and then all the Power of the Crown, legally exerted^ is not able to fave the Lives of thefe poor innocent Men. •Pitiable fure is fuch a Cafe; and yet it • Since the firft Edition of this Pamphlet, an A« has paft for remedying the Evils fo juftly apprehended relative to the Cafe of jfppeak of BleeJ.— Bat ftill, tho' this Diffi. cHlty is re^Qyed, m»ny and various ones yet remain. 11 ^ §k 200 Political and Commercial is a Cafe which would and muft frequently theii happen in the itural Courfe of Things, ac- cording to our legal Conftitution. PBB.HAPS it might be faid, that American Juries are as confcientious as other Juries in bringing in their Verdifts according to Law •, and that it is very uncharitable even to fuppofc the contrary.*- Be it fo : But the Queftion here runs on. What will be the Sug^eftions of Con- fcience in the flrcaft of ah American on fwh an Occafion ?— What^would be his Ideas of Law, Juftice, or Equity, when England and America ftood in Competition ?— Certainly, if ever the Inhabitants of tlhat Country fliould come (and they are for the moft Part come already) to be fuHy perfuaded, that the Bfitifli Parliament1»t«» tio Right to make Laws either to tax or to go- nrern diem [and the having once beaten them ■will not be taken as a convincing Proof that we always have either the Right or the Power to beat them] then every Attempt towatds throwmg ofFthis odious Yoke^ would appear in their Eyes as fo many noble Struggles for *he Caufc of Liberty : And therefore t^e bafe E»^;^ Hireling, who wou4di3aretofinjwfe this Yacred'Caufe, deferved to die a thoufand Deaths. Such undoubtedly would fee the Language, and 'fM(?h*e Sentiments of the great -Majority of i^nVtfW, whenever fuch.aCafe iKouid happen. In a Word, an ertoneous Confcieneej and a ' . falfe h .«.;.' *»Mi:t>&l> T- RCIAL requcntly theri f Things, ac- that Ammcan ather Juries in irding to Law •, :ven to fuppofc • Queftion here jeftions of Con- \erican on fiich is Ideas of Law, md and America [ily, if ever the juld come (and e already) to be Parliamentlwt?* to tax or to go- ce beaten them ring Proof that It or the Power ttennpt towards would appear in Itnrggles for nfcieflce> and a falfe SUBJECTS. 201 JFalfe Zeal, would have juft the fame bad EfFedls ih the new World refpefting civil Government, as they have formerly had in the old, in regard to Religion : And therefore, either Way, whethei: we fhould treat thefe Americans as an enflaved People, or whether we fhould reftore to them, after a Conqueft, the fame Conftitution which we enjoy ourfelves.the Event would finally come to this,— That England would be the greateft Sufferer -, arid that America is not to be govern- ed againft its own Inclinations. Wherefore let us now come to the FOURTH SCHEME. To confent that America fhould become the general Seat of Empire, and that Great- Britain and Ireland fhould be governed by Vice-Roys fent over from the Court Refidencies either at Philadelphia:, or New-Tork, or at fome other ^»wnVa» Imperial City. * Now, wild as fuch a, Scheme may appear, there are certainly fome Americans who ferioufly embrace it: And the late prodigious Swarms of Emigrants encourage them to fuppofe, that a Time is approaching, when the Seat of Em- pire mufl be changed. But whatever Events may be in the Womb of Time, or whatever Revolutions may happen in the Rife and Fall of Empires, there is not the leaft Probability, that this Country fhould ever become a Pro- vince to 1^0. th- America. For granting even, C c that 202 Political and Cqmmerciab that ft would be lb weakened and enfeebled by thefc Colony-Drains, as not to be able to defend itfelf from Invaders, yet America is at too great a Diftance to invade it at firft, much Icfs to de- fend the Conqueft of it afterwards, againft the neighbouring Powers of Eur&pt. And as to any Notion that we ourfelvtes (hould prefer an American Yoke to any other,- -this Suppofition is chimeiical indeed : Becaufe it is much more probable, were Things to come to fuch a dread- ful Crifis, that the MiHglifti would rather iubmit to a French Yoke, than to an Afurican\ as being the leller Indignity of the, two. So that in fhort, if we muft Teafbn in Politics accordjrf^ to the ^euftBioatf Principles m Philefophy,'T^the Idea of tiie leiTer Country gravitating towards the greiter, muilr lead tu to conclude, that this Idand would rather gravitate awards the Con- tinent of Europe, than cowards the Coatinent of ,jfyuricii\ ufllcls indeed we fliould add one Ex- travagance to another, by fuppofing tiiat thefe jfytericaH iieroei are to conquer all the World. And in that Cafe I do allow, thA£ Ep^andm^i^ ■faeconae a Province to America. B«t ; Solamen mifms focies hghtijfe doleri^, . i^ \ DisMissiNO therefore this Ideaj. as an idle Dneam, we come now kfVly to coofuier the FIFTH S e H E M E.* - To propofe to feparffte entirely from tlie 'Horth-Ameriean-Ciiiom^y by declaringthem to be I •W'^f'''li^*'*frT'r''TTf'1°fr(ii •nixriiL'.'^ '''''' '" '""" '^ ^/^■"'""•i^' "• :-i "JUji'" ?'' ' -". . r"! ■ i , i iri \ •ii,ir'-"r'T>iia- '• liwAakJwMwiMa>v-- — v^ ERCIAB nd enfeebled by e able to defend' a is at too great nuch lefs to de- irds, againft the pe. And as to hould prefer an this Supposition it is much more to fuch a dread- Id rather iubmit uricani as being So that in fhort, iccordjil^ to the iphyj-^the Idea ng towards the clxide, that this }wards the Con- :he Continent of dd add one Ex- jqfing that thefe r aU the World. «£ Eti^and muA But ijfe iobirh, . is Ideaj. as an J to confuier the EM E. itirely from tlie tclflringthem to be SUBJECTS. 203 be a free and independent People, over whom 'we lay no Claim } and tlien by offering to guar- rantee this Freedom and Indepeindence againft rdll foreign Invaders whatever. >^ And, in fa£t, what is all this but the natural and even the necelTary Corollary to b6 deduced from each of the former Reafons and Obferva- tions ? For if we neither can govern the Anit- ricans^ nor be governed by them j if we can neither unite with them, not ought t« fubdtfe themi what remain^ but to part with theth on as friendly Terms as we can ? And if any MiXi fliould think that'he can reaibn better from the above Pfeitiifes, let hini try. Bwt Ks the Idei of Separition, and the givhfig up t4te Colonies forever^ willfhock many Ateak PeoplCi who thiiik, that there is neither .Hftjltpineft ricfr Security but in art over-growft ftnweildy Empire, I Will for their Sakes enter into a Dilcttffibn of the fttppofed Difadvaritages. attending fuch a Dlsjunftion ; and then will fet forth the manifoki Advantages. Tiii firft and capital j^^^^Difadvantage \% ^hau if 'me fepardte from the Colonies^ wefltall lofe their Trade. But why fb ? And how does this appear ? The Colonies, we know by Experience, will trade with any People, even with their bit- tcreft Enemies, during the hotteft of a War, and ft War undertaken at their own earned Re^ qucft, and for their own Sakes i---the Cok>nie», CC2 I niri-['i>lli^fci».ii' li' ,i,|yi» y i.i ^-ft i n r a- 1MH I ]H >II | I| ^ I F.RCIAL provided they o. Why then the fame Selt- •adewith us? — it no Hoftilities ry, are ftill to Guardians and North-America us, and we of us will turn on ids, in a general ^ropean State to an with Great- linly yi'iW j but 1 their Cuftom, :d \yith every ion over them^ and Merchan- J the moft fale- hiefly Lumber, d, Skins, Furs, f\.(hes, Indigo, aver, that, ej^- : is hardly one American could e, as he can in y, I ought to s to Tobacco, :-exported into France, SUBJECTS. 205 France, yet it is well known, that the French might raife it at Home, if they were permittcdj much cheaper than they can import it from our Colonies. The Fadt is this,— The Farm of To- bacco is one of the five great Farms, which make up the chief Part of the Royal Revenue-, and therefore the Farmers General, for Bye- Ends of their own, have hitherto had Intereft enough with the Court to prohibit the Cultiva- tion of it in *Old France, under the fevered Pe- nalties. But neverthelefs the real French Pa- triots, and particularly the Marquis de Mirabeau, have fully demonftrated, that it is the Intereft of the French Government toencourage the Cul- tivation of it i and have pointed out a fure and eafy Method for colkaing the Duties ;— which was the fole Pretence of the Farmers General for foliciting a Prohibition. So that it is appre- hended, that the French Governrtent will at laft open their Eyes in this Refpeft, and allow the Cultivation of it. Tobacco therefore being likely to be foon out of the Queftion, the only • Great Quantities of Tobacco are permitted to bcraifed in Frincb-F landers, jll/aee, and all the Pais conquifes, i. e. the newly conquertd Pravintei; becaufethe Inhabitants of thcfe Countries are indulged in many Liberties, which are denied to the Provinces of Old France. . Bat the Farmers General keep a ftrift Watch, that none of this Tobacco (hall be permitted to be brought into Old France, except by themfelves or their Agents. And the Penalty ijgamft Smuggling in this Cafe is \cty cruel and ieven. M,.-.^.^; , <> remaining ■^--^i-i^i- > , fc i «aM& W*^ . ia S> ''ssr 206 FOLTTICAI. and CoMMERCtAL remaining Article is Rice : And this, it muft be acknowledged, would bear a better Price at the, Hamburgh or Dutch Markets than it gene- rally doth in England. But as this is only one Article, out of many, ic (hould be further con- sidered, that even the Ships which import Rice into England, generally bring fuch other Pro- duce as would ilot be l4leable to Advantage in other Parts of Europe : So that there is no great Caufe td fear, that we fbould confidtrably lofe the Trade even of this Article, were the Colonies to be difmembercid from us. Not to mention that all the Costfts of the Mediterranean and the South of Europe are already fupplied with Rice, from the Colonies, in the fame Man- ner as if there had been an adlual Separation ) — no Rice-Ship bound (o any Place South al Cape-k'iniftere bting at all obliged to touch at any Port o( Great -Britain. So much,, therefore, as to the fl;^>le Exports of the Colonics. Let us now confider their Imports, And here one Thing is very clear and ceruin, That whatever Goods, Merchandize, or Manufafitures, the Merchants of Great-Britain can fell to the reft of Europe^ they might fell the fame to the Colonies, if wanted : Becaufe it is evident, that the Colonies could not purchafe fuch Goods at a cheaper Rate at any iwher European Market. Now, let any one caft. his Eye over the Bills of Exports from London^ BriJioL, Uverpool, Hull, Glafgowt n^-. ti »^,d •' .ittu'i iksiitmi^tiii Tet . ■ , I ",-■ rrsr lERCFAl nd this, it muft a better Price at ts than it gene- this is only on« be further con- lich import Rice ilich other Pro- : to Advantage that there is no ould con/idirably rticle» were the onn us. Not to e Mediterranean tlready fupplied I the fame Man* kual Separation ) ' Place South ci iged to touch at [nuch^thcrefore» !)!olonics. Intports. And idceruin, That }rManuf adjures, i can fell to the the fame to the is evident, that b fuch Goods at tropeati Market. over the Bills of Liverpealy Hull, Clafgow, SUBJECTS. 2or Glajgow, &c. &c. and then he will loon difcover ihat excepting Gold and Silver Lace, Winc-^, and Brandies, fome Sorts of Silk and Linens, and perhaps a little Paper and Gun-powder j I fay, excepting thefe few Articles, Great- Britain is become a Kind of a * general Mart for moft ether Commodities : And indeed were it not fo, liow is it conceiveable, that fo little a Spot as this Ifland could have made fuch a Fi- gure either in Peace or War, as it hath lately done ? How is it poffible, that after having con- trafted a Debt of nearly One Hundred and Forty Millions, we Ihould neverthclefs be able to make more rapid Progreffes in all Sorts of Improvements, ufeful and ornamental, public and private, agricolic and commercial, than any other Nation ever did ?— Faft it is, thar thefe Improvements have been made of late Years, and are daily making : And Fadls arc ftubborn Things. But, fays the Objeftor, you allow, that Gold and Silver Lace,-.-that Wines and Brandies,— • I am credibly informed, that it appears by Extra^s (nun the Cuftom-lioure Books, that more Englijh Goods are fent up the two Rivers o( Gtrmany, the tVe/tr and the Elhe, than up any two Rivers in Ncrth-Amtrua. Yet the Uirtb- Jmtrkmns aqd their Partifans are continually upbraiding us, as if we enjoyed no Trade, worth mentioning, except that with the Coloniee. ,. „ , ... fome ■■■^■aiaM ^. l i l i l »r«>; a., ^i,,.P,.,i.^:,..,-l',^r,-i^^..,. -j;--^- > ,.^ : . . „ ^,. |i -|i r LOT -n f tt if ii fl jH 2o8 Political and CoMMERCur. fome Sorts of Silks,— fome Sorts of Papifi, Gunpowder, and perhaps other Articles, can be purchafcd at certain European Markets on cheaper Terms than they can in England: And therefore it follows, that wc fhould certainly lofe thefc Branches of Commerce by a Separa- tion, even fuppofing that we could retain the reft. Indeed even this doth not follow j becaufc we have loft them already, as far as it' was the Intereft of the Colonies, that we fhould lofe them. And if any Man can doubt of this, let him but confider, that the Lumber, and Fro- vifion-Vcflels, which are continually running down from Bofton^ RJiode-^andy New Torky Philadelphia^ Charles-Town^ &c. &c. to Marti- nicoy and the other French Iflands, bring Home in return not only Sugars and MolalTes, but alfo French Wines, Silks, Gold and Silver Lace, and in (hort every other Article, in which they can find a profitable Account : Moreover thofe Ships, which fail to Euflatia and Curacoa, trade with the Dutch, and confeiquently with all the North of Europe^ on the fame Principle. And as the Ships which fteer South of Cape-Finijiere, what do they do? — DoubtHs, they purchafe whatever Commodities they find it their Intereft to purchafe, and carry them Home to Nert/i- Anerica. Indeed w hat Ihould hinder them from afting agreeably to their own Ideas of Advan- .-■..■^-jJ^.L^^il^-.^-^^^ti.'-^ :;V i r i nirfMt ' 'f i C ■■■^'^- ■';■ ■ W];« fc . i W »iartil. k^ SRClAf. iorts of F*apfer, rr Articles, can an Markets on England: And (hould certainly ce by a Scpara* :ould retain the follow i becaufc 'ar as it' was the we fhould lofe )ubt of this, let iber, and Pro- inually running «f Cape- Finift ere y , they purchafe I it their Intercft ome to NortJi- nder them from deas of Advan- tage ^*^>>WflV*"«*iP^*' SUBJECTS. 209 tage in thcfc Rcfptels? The CuOom-houfe Officers, perhaps, you may (ay, will hinder them. But alas ! the Cullom-houfe Officers of North- jimerica, if they were ten Times more numerous, and ten Times more uncorrupt than they are, could not poflibly guard a tenth Part of the Coaft. In fliort thclc Things arc fo very no- torious that they cannot be difputed-, and therefore were the whole I'rade of North- America to be divided into two Branches, viz. the Voluntary^ rcfuhing from a free Choice of of the Americans thcmfclves purluing their own Intereft, and the Fnvolmtary, in Confe- quencc of compulfory Afts of the Britijh Par- lianienf. ;— this latter would appear fo very fmall and inconfiderable, as hardly to deferve , a Name in an Eftimate of national Commerce. fuTHE 2d Objedion againll giving up the Co- lonics is, that fuch a Meafure would igreatly de- creafe our Shipping and Navigation, and con- fcquently diminilh the Breed of Sailors. But tliifi Objeftion has been fully obviated already : For if we Ihall not lofe our Trade, at leaft in ar^y important Degree, even with the Northern Colonies (and moft probably we (hall cncreafe ic with other Countries) then it follows, that nei- ther the Quantity of Shipping, nor the Breed of Sailors, can fuffer any confitlerable Dimi- nution: So that this Si^ppofition is merely •Dd \ ^•ailrft.MjJt / ,/-- i^ iP i.w > v . ^/,w^fl^ ' yB »- 2 to t*OLlTlCAL and CoMMERCIAt a Panic, and has no Foundation. Not to men- tion, that in Proportion as the Americans fhail- be obliged to exert themfelves to defend their owr». Coafto, in Cafe of a War-, in the fame Proportion fhall Great-Britain be exonerated from tliat Burden, and Ihall have more Ships and Men at command, to protect her own ChannePfrade, and for other Services. The ^d Objedlion is. That if we were to grve trp thefe Colonies, the French would take immediate Poflcffion of them. Now this Gbjeflion is entirely built on the followirig very wild, very extravagant, and abfard Sup- pofitions. ' "^^f 'v-»i'H • :^->*»tj ■ 1 ft. It fuppofes, that the' Colonics thriniel^ds, whof cannot brook our Government, woiild like a French one much better. Great- Britain^ it feems, doth not grant them Liberty enotigh j and therefore they have Recourfe to France to obtain more: — That is, in plain Englipi^ bur riiild arid limited Government, where Preroga- ■ tive js afcertained by Law, where every Man 'is at Liberty t6 feek fdr Redrefs, and where jpo- '■^uVarClamdufi too often cdrryefvery Thirig before thern,--ris neverthclefs too fevere, 't6o . oppreflive, and too tyrannical for the Spirits and Genius of Americans to bear; and theriefore they will apply to an arbitrary, defpotic Goverh- iritnt, where the People have nd Share in the Le- j ^W j^.W ' y W J l W.iH^feJ iy y. "IP [ERCIAt n. Not to meiT- : Americans (half s to defend their ar; in the fame I be exonerated have more Ships 3rote<5t her own Services. ^ t if wc were to ^■ench would take em. Now this n the followirig and abftird Sup- ernment, woiild . Great-Britaitty Liberty enotigh \ lurfe to France to lain Englipi^ bur , where Preroga- vhere every Man Is, and where po- [rry dvery Thirig 1 too fevere, 't6o for the Spirits and ; and theriefo're defpotic Goverh- i nd Share in the Le- SUBJECTS. 2ii I-egiflature, where there is no Liberty of the Prefs, and where General Warrants and Lettres des cachets are irrejiftwle,- --in order to enjoy greater Freedoms than they have at prefent, and to be refcued from the intolerable Yoke, under which they now groan. What monftrous Abfurdities are thefe ! But even this is not all : For thefc Americans are reprefented by this Suppofition, as not only preferring a French Government to a Briti/fi, but even to a Government of their own modelling and chafing ! For after they are fet free from any Submifllon to their Mother- Country } after they are told, that for the fu- turfe they muft endeavour to pleafe themfelves, feeing we cannot pleafe them •, then, inftead of attempting to frame any popular Governments for redreffing thofe Evils, of which they now fo bitterly complain,— they are reprefented as throwing themfelves at once into the Arms of France \ — the Republican Spirit is to fubfidc ; the Doftrine of paffive Obedience and Non- refiftance is to fucceed ; and, inftcad of fetting up for Freedom and Independence, they are to glory for having the Honour of being num- bered among the Slaves of the Grand Monarch ! But adly, this Matter may be further con- fidercd in another Point of View: For if it Ihould be faid, that the Americans might ftUl retain their Republican Spirit, tho' they fub- D d 2 mitted n-; I'fefiiai ■ i yn ^rw i p . i> g. i fo idcrcd, whether 1 difpenfe with irit will require, tiefs ! No Con- f Speaking or ^ewfpapers and :reft Invedlives iment ! Aflbci- t to cry down; r Dependents! the Provincial ithority and In- oops from Old No raifing of quartering of or erefting c^ , no raifiKg ef ntand Appro- an Parliaments e Porpofes ! — whether thefe Idea of an ar- — Nay more, f, or his Mi- :h Notions as f Oid France ? a Communi- cation m v if it ' . ' . ft f mm'* ^}}} ^* l y iini. i i P . iw^l^pi^^^^|Hfw SUBJECTS. 2,^ cation is kept open between the two Countries j while Corefpondences are carried on i Letters, Pamphlets and Newfpapers, pafs and rcpals;. and in Ihort, while the Americam are permitted to come into FrancCy and Frenchmen into jUmt^ rica. So much therefore as to this Clafs of Obw jeftions. Indeed I might ha.'ve infifted further^ that Great-Britain alone could at any Time pre- vent fueh an Acquificion to be made by France^ as is here fuppofed, if flie fhould think it ne- ceffary to interfere, and if fuch an Acquifi- tion of Territory would really and truly be an Addition of Strength in the political Balance and Scale of Power*. But furcly I have Ikid ., enough.^ • The Phaenomenon of that prodigious Increafe of Trade, which thi« Country haa experienced fince the happy Revolution, is what few People can explain ; and therefore they cut the Matter (hort, by afcribing it all to the Growth, of our Colonics : But the true Principles and peal Cau&s of that amazing. Increafe, are the fbllowinff : 1. The SupreiTion of various IVfcwwpolies and exclufire Companies exiiling before, for foreign Trade. 2 The opening of Corporations, or the undenminina of exdufive Privileges and Conjpanies of Trade at Home ; or what comes to the fame Thing, the eluding of their bad Effedls by Means of legal Dedfions in our Courts of Law. And N. B. The like Ohfervation extenda to the Carfe of evading the Penalties of tJw Aft 5 th of Queen Elixait.-b, agair.ft exerciftng thcfe Trades, to which Perfons have not fervcd regular Apprenticrfhips. 3. The Nurfing up of new Trades and new Branches of Commerce by Means of Bounties, and. national Premiums. ■ 4. The iS*il««- .-■•"- ."^ WMfiSifWi-**-— , T - I^KfT 214 Political and Commercial enough ; and therefore let us now haften briefly to point out ^he manifold Advantages attendant onfuch a Scheme. And I ft, A Disjunflion from the Northern Colonies would effcdually put a Stop to our prefent Emigrations. By the Laws of the Land it is made a capital Offence to inveigle Arti- ficers and Mechanics to leave the Kingdom. But this Law is unhappily fuperfeded at pre- fent as far as the Colonies are concerned. Therefore when they come to be difmembercd from us, it will operate as ftrongly againft them, and their Kidnappers^ as againft others. And here it may be worth while to obferve, tliat the Emigrants, who lately failed in fuch Mul- 4. The giving of Drawbacks, or the Return of Duties on the Exportation of fuch Goods, as were to have paid a Duty, if ufed and confumed at Home. . 5. The Repeal of Taxes formerly laid on raw Materials coming into the Kingdom. See 8. G. I. C. 15. 6. The Repeal of 1 axes formerly laid on our own Ma- nufaflures, when exported. See ditto. ^ 7. The Improvements in various Engines, with new In- ventions and Difcoveries for the Abridgment of La- bour. 8. Better Communications eftabliflicd thoughout the Kingdom by Means of Turnpike Roads and Canals, and the fpcedy Conveyance of Letters to every great Town and noted Place of Manufafture, by Means of Improvements in thePoft-Office. . 9. Happy Difcoveries and Improvements in Agriculture and in the mechanic Arts. .. 10. Laiger iw y ■ " ■ " ' . ' H ll t>|J - - il i Wl 1.' ! , *^ . ' "^fmmifr vm.v^ w^ * i jt kv r m mjf^ t ^ -w CIAL haften briefly nfuch a Scheme. the Northern \ Stop to our vs of the Land inveigle Arti- he Kingdom, feded at pre- re concerned. difmerrtbercd ongly againft asainft others, ile to obferve, failed in fuch Mul- :tum of Duties on have paid a Duty, on raw Materials . C. 15. I on our own Ma« ines, with new In- ridgment of La- id thoughout the and Canab, and y great Town and f Improvements in nts in Agriculture 10. Larger SUBJECTS. 215 Multitude from the North of Scotland^ and more efpecially from the North of Irelandy were far from being the molt indigent, or the leaft capable of fubfifting in their own Country. No; it was not Poverty or Neceflity which compelled, but Ambition which inticed them to forfake their native Soil. For after they began to tafte the Sweets of Induftry, and to partake of the Comforts of Life, then they became a valuable Prey for thefe Harpies. In fhort, fuch were the Perfons to whom thefe Seducers principally applied ; becaufe they found that they had gotten fome little Subftance together worth devouring. They therefore told them many plaufible Stories-- - that if they would emigrate to North-America^ 10. Larger Capitals than ufual employed both in Huf- bandry and Manufaftures ; alfo in the Importation and Ex- portation of Goods. Now all thefe Things co-operating together, would render any Country rich and flourifhing, whether it had Colonies or not : And this Country in particular would have found the happy Effefls of them to a much greater De- £ree than it now doth, were they n*t counter-aSed by our uxury, our Gambling, our frequent ruinous and ex- penfive Wars, our Colony-Drains, and by that ill-gotten, and ill-fpent Wealth, which was obtained by robbing, plup- dering, and ftarving the poor defcncelefs Natives of the Eaft-hJies. — A Species of Villainy this, for which the Ettglifo Language had not a Name, 'till it adopted tjie Word Nababhig. they ^^:«;v.Sfe.i'.., , - Jitfr«^idUn^')'':JifcM3s**'?'^'i«i;*> '< 4ii6 Political and Commercial they might have Eftatcs for nothing, and be- come Gentlemen for everj whereas ,if they remained at Home, they had nothing to ex- peft beyond the Condition of a wretched Journeyman, or a fmall laborious Farmer. Nay, lone of thefe falfe Guides was known to have put out public Advertifements, fome few Years ago, in the North of 7r^^«4» wherein he engaged to carry all, who would follow him, into fuch a glorious Country, where there was neither Tax, nor Tithe, nor Land- lord's Rent to be paid. This was enough : It took with Thoufands : And this ,he might ,fafcly engage to do. — But at the fame Time he ov^ght to have told thenn (as Bilhop Berkley in his Queries juftly obfervcs) That a Man may poflefs twenty Miles fquare in this glorious Country, and yet not be able to get a Dinner. . 2diy. Another great Advantage to te ide- ■Vived fi-om -a Separation rs, that we ftiall then feve between 3 and 400,0001. a Year, by 'being difchargcd from the I^ayment of any civil or military Eftablilhment belong- ing 'to the Gdlortits ;-'jF6r Whidh gertefous Be- ,nefai£tion we ireceive atcprefent no other Return 'than Inveftivesand^^eproaChes. J 3dly. The ceafing of the Payment of ,-iBounties on certain Colony Produdions will be RCIAL thing, and be- krhereas ,if they nothing to ex- f z wretched orious Farmer. tes was known jfements, fome helandn wherein > would follow ounti^, where the, nor Land- is was enough : J this ,he might : at the fame told them (as juftly obfervcs) ity Miles fquare ^et not be able itage to te ide- that we Ihall 3,QooL a Year, he I^ayment of (hment belong- i\\ gerterous Be- tvo other Return e Payment of ^roduftions will . be SUBJECTS. 217 be another great Saving; perhaps not lefs than 20o,oool. a Year : And is very re- markable, that the Goods imported from the Colonies in Confequence of thefe Boun- ties, could not have been imported into any other Part of Europe^ were there a Liberty to do it i becaufe the Freight and firft Coft would have amounted to more than they could be fold fdr: So that in Faft we give Premiums to the Colonies for felling Goods to us, which would not have been fold at all any where elfe. However, when the prefent Bounties fhall ceafe, we may then confider, at our Leifure, whether it would be right to give them again, or notj' and we Ihall have it totally in our Power to favour that Country mod, which will ihew the greateft Favour to us, and to our Ma- nufactures. 4thly. When we are no longer corinedled with the Colonics by the imaginary Tie of an Indentity of Government, then our Merchant-Exporters and Manufafturers will have a better Chance of having their Debts paid, than they have at prefent: For as Matters now ftand, the Colonifts chufe to carry their ready Cafh to other Nations, while they are contrafting Debts with their Mother-Country; with whom they think they can take greater Liberties : And pro- E e vided ic-^.-iii^i&a 2lS FdtlTlCAL andCoMMERCtAL vidcd they are truftcd, they care not to- what Amount this Debt fliall rife :— For v;hen the Time for Payment draws on, they are feized with a Fit of Patriotifm-, and then Confederacies and Affociations are to dif- charge all Arrears ; or, at Icaft, arc- to poftpone the Payment of them^ne die. 5thly. After a Separation from the Co- lonies, our Influence over them will be much greater than ever it was, fince they began to feel their own Weight and Im- portance : For at prefent we are looked upon in no better a Light than that of Robbers and Ufurpersj wliereas, we fhall tlien be confidered as their Protedors, Me- diators, and Benefadors. The Moment a Sepa- ration takes Effe6l, inteftine Quarrels will begin i For it is well known, that the Seeds of Difcord and DifTention between Province and Province, are now ready to (hoot forth; and that they are only kept down by the prefent Combinations of all the Colonies againll us,, whom they un- happily fancy to be their common Enemy.- When therefore this Objcdl of their Ha- tred fliall be removed by .• Declaration on ovjr Parts, that, fo far from ufurping all Authority, we, from henceforward, will af- iume none at all againll their own Confenf, the weaker Provinces will intreat our Pro- teftion ^^«^U-i*MS*^.«^' „.:-.rf:,..*ij*»., .ij^iit M l -JfeJMIu -^-i*^ RCtAL ■ care not to- all rife:— For draws on, they- triotifnii and ions are to dif- arc- to poftpone from the Co- them will be as, fmce they eight and Im- e are looked than that of reas, we fhall rotedors, Me- /f omenta Sepa- Quarrels will wn, that the ntion between now ready to are only kept inations of all lom they un- ommon Enemy. of their Ha- Deckration on 1 ufurping all •ward, will af- own Confent \ treat our Pro- teftion S U B J E C T S. 2t«~r ■■^m aao Political and Commercial will learn Wifdom by the Mifcarriages and Sufferings of thele unhappy People ; and that from henceforward they will revefe the Authority of a Government, which has the feweA Faults, and grants the greateft Liberty, of any yet known upon Earth. . > i But after all, there is one Thing more, to which I muft make fome Reply. ■ Many, perhaps mod of my Readers, will be apt to afk,—What is all this about ? And what doth this Author really mean ? — Can he feriouily think, rh:it becaufe he hath taken fuch Pains to prove a Sepa- ration ta be a right Meafure, that there- fore wc Ihali fcparate in good Earneft? And is he ftill fo much a Novice as not to know, that Meai'ures are rarely adopted merely becaufe they are right, but be- caufe they can ftr.e a prefent Turn? Therefore let it be alked, "What prefent Convenience or Advantage doth he propofe jcither to Adminiftration, or to Anti-Admi- niftration, hy the Execution of his Plan? — This is confjing to the Point, and without it, all that he has faid will pafs for no- thing. / y; . I frankly acknowledge, I propofe no pre- ' fent Convenience or Advantage to either ; nay, I firmly believe, that no Minifter, as filings are now circumi^tanced, will dare to L. d^ ^**v. u.t,^^-'^ «-^ ' irti nrta.u^j| ' - <^ ;rcial ifcarriages and People i and J will revere :nt, which has :s ihe greateft Karth. ; su Thing more, le Reply.—— Readers, will 1 this about ? really mean ? mt becaufe he iiove a Sepa- e, that there- ;ood Earneft ? >jovice as not rarely adopted ght, but be- lt Turn ? "What prefent >th he propofc ;o Anti-Admi- ►f his Plan?— , and without pafs for no- ropofe no pre- ige to either } Minifter, as 1, will dare to dp, SUBJECTS. 221 do fo much Good to his Country ; and a& to the Herd of Anti-Minifters, they, I am pcrluaded, would not wilh to fee it done ; becaufe it would deprive them of one - of their moft plentiful Sources for Clamour and Detradion i And yet I have obferved> and have myfelf had fom« Experience, that Mcafurcs evidently right will prevail at laft : Therefore I make not the leaft Doubt but that a Separation from the northern Colonics, and alfo another . right Meafure, niiz. a complete Union and Ineorporation with Ireland (however unpopular either of them may now appear) will both take Place within half 0^ Century :— And perhaps that which happens to be Hrll accomplifhed, will greatly accelerate the Accomplifhment of the other. Indeed almoft all People are apt to ftartle at firft at bold Truths: But it is ob- fervable, that in Proportion as they grow familiarized to them, and can fee and con* fider them from different Pomt) of View, their Fears fubfide, and they beconie re- conciled by Degrees: — Nay, it is Uot an un- common Thing for them to adopt' thofe fa- lutary Meafures afterwards with as much Zeal and Ardor, as they had rej^dled them before with Anger and Indignation. Need I add. That the Man, who will have Refolution enough to advance any bold un- .*■ ». t^t^kAn-MrfutJ c« Political and Commerciai." unwelcome Truth (unwelcome I mean at. its firft Appearance) ought to be fuch an one, whofe Competency of Fortune, joined " to a natural Independency of Spirit, places him in that happy Situation, as to be equally indifferent to the Smiles, or Frowns either of the Great, or the Vulgar ? Lastly, fome l/cribns perhaps may wonder, , that, being myfelf a Clergyman, I have faid no- thing about the Perfecution which the Church of England daily fuffers in Amerka^ by being de- nied thofe Rights which every other Seft of • Chriftians fo amply enjoys. I own I have hi- therto omitted to mike Mention of that Cir- cumftance, not thro* Inadvertence, but by De- ' fign; as being unwilling to embarrafs my general Plan with what might be deemed by fome , Readers to be foreign to the Subjcft : And therefore I (hall be very ihort in what 1 have to add at prefent. nTHAT each Religious Perfuafion ought to'^ have a full Toleration from the State to worfhip Almighty God, according to the Diftates of their own Confciences, is to me fo clear a Cafe, thatllhall not attempt to make it clearer ; and nothingbut the maintaining fome monftrousOpi- nion inconfiftent with the Safety of Society,— ' and that not barely in Theory and Speculation, but by open Praftice and outward Aftions,— I iay, nothing but the avowedly maintaining of fuch »r 1 ithtlimil^ltSlm»amAmimi/Ullitmmai' iin>i'ii' i ;< ■nin -y: i» ri.Ti... CIAt I mean at be fuch an rtune, joined Jpirit, places be equally vns eitlier of may wonder, have faid no- :he Church of by being de- )fher Seft of m I have hi- of that Cir- ;, but by De- ifs my general led by fome ubjcft : And /hac 1 have to ion ought to ate to worfhip e Diftates of clear a Cafe, clearer; and lonftrousOpi- of Society,"- 1 Speculation, I A(5tions,— I laintaining of fuch c. U B J E C T S. azy Uicl. Jam^erous Principles can juftify the MagU- trare ii, abridging any Set of Men of thefc rhcir natural Rights. It is alio equally evident, thae the Church of England doth not, cannot fali under the Ccnfurc of holding Opinions incon- fiftent with the Safety of the State, and the Good of Mankind,— even her Enemies thcmfdvcs being Judges : And yet the Church of England alone doth not enjoy a Toleration in that full Extent, which is granted to the Members of every other Denomination. What then can be the Caufe of putting fo injurious a Diftinaion between the Church of England, and other Churches in this Rcfpcd ? The Reafon is plain; The Americans have taken it into their Heads to believe, that an Epifcopatc would operate as iome further Tie upon them, not to break loofe from thofe Obligations which they owe to the Mother Country ; and that this is to be u fed as an Engine, under the Mafque of Religion, to rivet thofe Chains, which they imagine we arc forging for them. Let therefore the Mother- Country herfelf refign up all Claim of Autho- rity over them, as well Ecclefiaftical as Civil $ let her declare North- America to be independent of Great -Britain in every Re/ped: whatever ;— let her do this, I fay, and then all their Fears will vanifh away, and their Panics be at an End : . And then, a Bifliop, who has no more Connec- tions with England either in Church or State, than ^24 Political and Commercial than he has with Germany , Sweden, or any other Country, will be no longer looked upon in Ame- tica as a Monfter but a Man. In ftiort. when all Motives for Oppofuion are at an End, it is obfervable, that the Qppofition itfelf foon ceafes and dies away. In a Word, an Epifcopate may then take Place-, and whether this new Ecclefiaftical Officer be called from a Name derived from the Greekj the Latiny or the Ger^ wfl«, .-that is, whether he be ftiled Epifcopus, Superintendent, Supervifor, Overfeer, (^c.(^c. it matters not,-"provided he be invefted with com- petent Authority to ordain and confirm fuch of the Members of hisov^rn Perfualion, as Ihall vo- luntarily offer themfelves, and to infpe^t the Lives and Morals of his own Clergy. '«.<•( d^. J . ^ 'IjiU-J * tJt ' '/-4, i i> -tJ» w .♦;-,. ,-*S - , *-^- -:■• iVAi asaS.,^^sfe^!3S'«^*3i^' '^-^j'-i* wti OlfeMliI ijiUuai II « ■'i j-iiii'iM'JBTW''^ ''Vii ' CIAL or any other upon in Jme- 1 fhort, when It an End, it in itfelf foon an Epifcopate ther this new rem a Name », or the Ger- :d Epifcopus, reer,&?f.&ff. it ftedwitheom- onfirnl fuch of >n, as (hall vo- to infpeA the <.<-;< 5i y y