IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // & # .^ .^. {./ A. ^% #/. 1.0 I.I 1.25 2.5 HIM I ^ 114 ^ 1^ ill 2.0 1.8 M. Ill 16 Pm <^ /^ ^ w/f' °' O'Pa Photographic Sciences Corporation % V '^k 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4503 CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques \ Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques at bibliographiques The institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. □ Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur □ Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagde □ Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurde at/ou peilicul^e D Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque r~~| Coloured maps/ D Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured ink (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bloue ou noire) I — I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ D >/ D D Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reiii avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ Ua re liure serree peut causer de I'ombre ou de la disiorsion le iong da la marge int^rieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais. lorsque ceia itait possible, ces pages n'ont pas hxh filmies. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppl^mentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a ite possible de se procurer. Les details de cet examplrire qui sont peut-dtre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiyer une modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiquAs ci-dessous. □ Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur □ Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^eis I — I Pages restored and/or laminated/ / D Pages restaur^es et/ou pelliculdes Pages discoloured, stained or foxe< Pages ddcolor^es, tachetdes ou piquees Pages detached/ Pages d^tachees I — I Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ [~~] Pages detached/ Showthrough/ Transparence rri Quality of print varies/ Quality inegale de {'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel supplementaire Only edition available/ Seule Edition disponible Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata. une pelure, etc., cnt h\h filmies d nouveau de facon a obtenir la meilleure image possible. This item is iilmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est filme au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 18X 22X 10X 14X 26X 30X 12X 16X y aox 24X 28X i I i 32X The copy filmed here has been reproduced thanks to tho generosity of: McLennan Library McGill University Montreal The imt jes appearing here are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility of the original copy and in Iceeping with the filming contract specifications. L'exempiaire film* fut reprodi grAce A la ginirositil de: McLennan Librciry McGill University Montreal Les Images sulvantes ont 6ti reproduites avec le plus grand soln, compte tenu de la condition et de la nettet* de l'exempiaire film*, et en conformity avec les conditions du contrat de filmage. Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated Impres- sion, or the bacic cover when appropriate. All other original copies are filmed beginning on the first page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with g printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded frame on each microfiche shall contain the symbol —^(meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (nraaning "END"), whichever applies. IVIaps. plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be pt,on , fl,ewing the caufes of thefe pub!,c calamu,es; their ruinous confequences n population, trade, and manufaftures ; with the ways of preventing thefc growing evils. Caufes of the dearth of Provilions in England- doe not proceed from any ten^porary J^^ caufes ; firft, ,he great increaft of the Towns fecond the want of Huftandmen and Labour-' mm the country ; third, the great number of Horfes, want of Tillage; obftacles to AgricuU Kdi:.h!r''°"^p'°^'^°^^"^^-'o:;;y br?d m the Country; decreafe in Towns • en- groffingofLands;expenfivewayofLi;i„;. «u™bera„de.penceofHorfes;Lye:t|; bread -;mmMmi':.M I:! «') CONTENTS. bread of the Poor j the Ifland of Britain k^ rot large enough to maintain a fufficient number of people for the many concerns of the nation, with fo many Horfes, and other Beafts ; a tax on Dogs and Horfes would afford a bounty on Corn confumed by the Poor, and Manufadurersj and would redeem the taxes on the neceff'ary arti^ dtfsaf daily confumption j and there appears to be no other way to obtain thefe defired ends, See- page I — 1 06. The number'of people in England, ScotlanJi md Ireland', their decreafe j caufesofitj hoW they may be increafed ; how mahy people this Ifland might maintain ; how they may be maintained and increafed by Plantations, &c. Page 107 PART II. Of the Agriculture, Staple Commoditlesy Popakiion, and Trade of North America y witii xkvc way. of improving them, fo as to ren- d.^r tljcHi equally beneficial to the Colonies^ and their ModiJir Country, and to keep them from inti::fciing with one another, in theie efilntial ccicltiis of the nation* Page 127 Neceflltv CONTENTS. Neceffity of colonies in AV/Z» America to Great Britain ; the BritiJJj colonies there mel^e but three different countries j their dinienfionfi. foil and climate ; produds i flaple commodi..' ties J ccra and grafsj agriculture j manuil;. . tores; number of people ; ftate of health ; \u^ tereft of Great Britain v. the Northern coicniiis will produce nothing for Britain ; the middle are worn out .; thc^ Southern are as barren unhealthful ; nccelTity of extending their feule, ments; proper territories for that pyrpgfe . Canada, Nova Scotia-, Georgia, Eali^ndJVrfi Flonda , territories of the Ohio and 'Miffifjippi, only three parts of North America Ht to produce any thing for Britain , proper fettlement of the colonies; ways of fecuring them , of rendering hem a benefit (o the nation , of prdervin^ their dependence ; improvements ,4 ture wanted ; obfcacles to thcfe imp proper commodities for them ; their . Page 127^..^^ PART III. Of the prefent (late and regulations of the colonies, theirproduce. annual income, con. dition and arcumftances; inability to pa^ taxes, diladvantages of their taxes to cLf 2 r • • i.ritGin CO N T E N T S. Britain j impropriety of the late regulations j of the ftamp-ad^j caufcs and confcquenccs of thcfe regulations ; the defence and fccurity of the colonies; objeds of the war; refourccs from the peace ; acquifitions j fifliftry and fur- trade ; price of labour ; of manufactures ; proper regulations for the colonies ; might fave half a million a year, and gain as mudi more ; colonies can only be taxed in ftaplc commo- dities ; confcquenccs of the lalte taxes ; and of repealing them, &c. Page 279 I PREFACE. IF we confider the con/equences of fuch a gereral -nd lafting dearth of all the necef- faries of life, as h,ith been felt in England for many years part, which is daily 'increafing, and that in a nation which depends fo much upon its trade and manufidtures, nothing can deferve a more ferious regard of the pubhc. It was computed before the laft war, that foi reigners could carry on mofl branches of trade 25 per cent, cheaper than we can, on account of our high taxes, and efpecially thofe ox\t\\Q articles of daily co'i/umption ; and if the price of labour and manufafftures ' ; ftill farther enhanced, not only by the additional taxes in the war, but by the advanced price of all the necejjaries of life, the trade of Great Britain, en which its very being in a manner depends,' muft be ruined, without fome feafonable re- lief from fuch a dangerous and growing evil. Since the firft apprehenfions of a dearth and fcarcity, and the difturbances thereby occa- fioned, the price of provifions has roVe nigh twenty per cent.-, as the dearnefs of tht^n ^ fcenis !fr .aBamaKt/* II PREFACE. feems not to be owing to any temporary ac- cidents of the feafons, but to proceed from permanent caufes, which are more deeply rooted in the very vitals of the nation. If this dearth continues, England will not only lofe great part of her trade in other parts of the world, but our colonies themfelves, who confume the moft of our manufadlures, will rival us in them, and be obliged to efta- blifh manufactures of their own. It has in- deed been imagined, that they could not make manufa;5tures, on account of the dearnefs of labour ; but it will appear from the follow- ing difcourfe, that their labour and manufac- tures are much cheaper, than they are in England: The advanced price therefore of ours will be a premium on theirs, and muft ruin the trade of the n-^.tion in all other parts of the world, as hath been abundantly (hewn by the beft judges of that important fubjedl *. The I * As to manufactures, high excifcs in time of peace fire utterly (]elhu£live to that principal part of England's weahh ; fur if Malt, Coals, Salt, Leather, and other things (particularly all the necejjaries of life) bear a great price, the wages of fervants, workmerr, and artificers, will confequtntly rife, for the income muft bear feme propuitioij I' R E F A C E. iii The affairs of the nation in North America, of which we give fome account in the other parts of this difcoiirfe, have become a topic of fuch general inquiry, and concern to the whole nation, after the immenfe fums which have been expended upon them, and the critical fituation they have been in for many years paft, that all information concerning them feems to be as earneflly defired, as it is highly interefling to the public. Thefe con- cerns of the nation in the colonies ire indeed fo numerous, and fo litt'e underflood ; they have been the fubjedl of fo many party feuds and conteoticns, which arc the fure caufes of proportion to the ex-pence ; and if fuch as fet the poor to ' work find wages for labour, or manufaaures, advance upon them, they mull rife in the price of their commodity, or they cannot live : All which would fignify little, if nothing but our own dealings among one another were thereby affcacd ; but it has a confequencc far more per- nicious in relation to our foreign trade, for it is the ex- portation of our own produil that muft make Endand nch.-If the price of the workmanlliip be enhanced, it will in a fliort courfe of time put a neceffity upon thofe vve deal with of fetting up manufadurcs of their own fuch as they can, or of buying goods of the like kind and life from nations that can aftbrd them cheaper I^en.on.E!]ay, o. Trade, Vol. iii. p. 30, 3,. See Sir itlTlc '' ^^' ^'''^" '^ '^' ^''^'"' '^ ^''''^' a 2 error: s?^i ii M ■ ! V ■ iV PRE F A C E. error J that fomc account of them is highly wanted for the benefit of the nation, if it were only to iLew the many miflakes in the ac- counts vve have had ; to v/ipe off the preju- dices, or corrcd: the eiror,cous opinions, of many concerning tiscm ; and to give Great Britain a true kn(Q of her own intereft in the colonies, v^'hich lias bccii (o grolsly miiVepre- fented. All the rcgulationij lately made con- cerning the colonies have been reprefented, as if they were intended for the benefit of the nation at home, and as if the colonies were a feparate intercilj but it is palt doubt, and will abundantly appear from the following account of them, that the late proceedings in North America are as contrarv tv. the true in^ terefi: of Great Brituiv, as it they had been calculated to overlet it j and to deprive her of the benefit of her colonies, after the vafl: fums flic ha= expended in fccuring her property and interea :n t'nat part of the world. This is indee'i a fub^ed of fuch a complicated nature, anJ 1< r.tle unde-tlood, that fw people feem to be able tj form a jjit opinion, or rio-ht judgeniitt loiueruing it. The ilate of the ;_oIonies both before tiie war; and aiicr the peace; the debts they con- traded PREFACE. V traded by the war: the vaft Aim they owe to Great Britain amounting to five or fix mil- lions of money ; their bad circutnftances, and inability even to purchafe tlieir neceiTaries from Britain ; the want of money, and even of a medium of trade ; the wearing out of their lands, and failure of their ftaple com- modiies; the decline, if not the ruin, of their trade ; the daily and great increafe of the peo- ple, and the eftabliihment cf manufadurcs among them : Their inability to comply with ads of parliament; the late regulations, and the many difturbances they occalloned ; the great expence the nation is at upon the new acquifitions ■ the ftate of thefe acquifitions. and the confequsnces of them in the affairs of the nation ; the many improvements in rt.ple commodities, which are fo much wanted in ali our colonies; the failure and infuffi- cicncy of thofc which have been propofed for tliem;, he fingul, rand peculiar foil and -ate of North A,nerica, and ftate of the.r Agriculture, on which the whole inrercft of the nation :„ the colonies depends : And bove all, , ho necclllry of extend,', their fet! tlenK^nts and cnl.:,,:.g thei,. pi,,:,,,i,,,^ fo ^ to enao^e them to purchafe their neceffiuics "om Bntmn, or to fiibfift i„ u,,. a^.^ ^^ ^,,._ Pcndcncc on their mother country ; and the JanJs m vi PREFACE. lands which may be fit for that purpofe j Thefc, and many other concerns, numerous as thefe are, require the attention uf the pub- lic, and are necelTary to be underftood and confidered, in order to dett;rmine any thing concerning the colonies j or to eftabliih them on fuch a footing, as to keep up that connec- tion and correfpondence, which ought to be preferved between them and their mother country, and to render their dependence a mutual and reciprocal benefit to both, which is the defigp of our difcourfe. I,:; ''I But inftead of this reciprocation of benefits, Great Britain and her colonies are now likely to interfere with one another. They are no longer able to purchafe their manufadlures, and cannot fubfifl without them ; their lands arc worn out with ftaple commodities for Britain, and will no longer bear them ; the people are grown numerous, and require the produce of their lands for their own ufe; their produdsare not wanted in Britain, and for that reafon they are obliged to vend then, in foreign countries. Thus the colonies t..uil interfere with their mother country Loth in agriculture and manufactures, unlefij fome feafonable re- medy is applied, to prevent fuch a ruinous ftate PREFACE. vf} ftate of the nation, which it was our chief de/ign to point out. In the profecutlon of fuch a defign, it was necefTary to give feme account of the agricu/-^ ture of Great Britain, as well 2^s of North America, that the colonies, and their mother country, might be kept from interfering with one another in that fundamental and moft ef- fential fupport of all nations. It is likewife of the utmoft confequence to confider the number of people in the Englijh nation, both at home and abroad, and to pay due regard to their population, as well as the culture of their lands It has generally been computed, that the num^ ber of people in England is at Jeaft feven if not eight millions, and all our calculations' of the ftate and trade of the nation are founded on thatfuppofition *, but from more particu- Jar and certain accounts, it appears, that the number of people in England does not amount to above five millions and an half, or fix millions at moft, either of which would appear to be a very in ufficient number to manage and con, duc^ all the affairs of this nation, btth at home * Sec the 5r//;> Merchant, vol i n i6r r r r the dedine of foreign .^ade d m > ' " ^' " ""^ and \ ' i Viii PREFACE. ind abroad ; to people and fecure all thd BritiJJd dominions both in Europe^ Ajiay Afri- ta, and America, and to fupply them all with their neceflaries, or a fourth part of the mate-, rials. i r i' ■'! This deficiency and want of people in Greai Britahi can only be fupplied, as it might well be, by the great increafe of the colonies in North America. Great Britain wants nothing more than people, which the narrow and limit- ed bounds of her pofleflions at home will not maintain ; it muft, therefore, be of the utmoft tonfequence to this nation, to have fuch a number of people depending upon her in Ame- rica ; where they increafe and multiply very fafl:, and help to fupport the nation at home, if they are rightly employed for that purpofe. In twenty or thirty years, which foon come about in a nation, thefe colonies will double their numbers ; when there will be as many people in them, if not more, than are in Eng- land J and wc ought to confider in time, how they are to fublKl: by a dependence on Great Britain, which it was the chief defign of our difcourle to (hew. If this were done, as it might be, the great increafe ot the colonies would be a conftaht addition both to the power PREFACE. Ix power and wealth of this nation ; and is the only equivalent it has, or can expedt, for that great fuperiority, in numbers, which our ene- mies have over us in Europe. This would be a Sa/ance of power more in favour of Great Britain, than that which has coft fuch im- menfe Turns to preferve at home. Inftead of having our colonies to defend and protedt at fuch an expence, the number of people in them, if they were rightly employed for that purpofe, might be the greateft fecurity to all the Britijh dominions, in every part of the world, and worth to the nation five or fix mil- lions a year, , It is alfo by the number of people in North America, and by them alone, with their daily increafe, that Great Britain can ever expedi to people, cultivate or fecure, her acquifitions, and vacant territories in America, or to render them of any fervice to the nation. There arc no people in Britain to fpare for that purpofe, and it would be as great a lofs and prejudice Co the nation, to fend her people from home, in order to make new fettlements abroad, as it would be a benefit and advantage, to employ thofe we have in North America in that fervice * It is only by that means, ITl i»!lij X PREFACE. means, that the great numbers of people in the colonies can ever fubfift by a dependence on Great Brifam, for their neceffary fupplies, however they may Hve under her govern- ment ; this is a matter of the greateft confe- quence to this nation, on which her whole jntereft in North America will appear to de- pend, as we have more fully explained jn this account of that important copcern of the vvhoie nation. li :■ J W'. . I I But inftead of making this ufe of our ac- quifitions, which alone can ever render them of any fervice to the nation, we have made them a lofs and prejudice to it. The colonies arc excluded from all the fruitful parts of the continent, that will produce any thing for the benefit of the nation, and are confined to lands, which produce little or nothing but what Great Biitara does ; and on which they can, therefore, only interfere with her, both in agriculture and manufadures, as well as all the other clTcntial employments of the na- tion at home. By that means we take the di- xcOi way, to force the colonies to become in- dependent, whether they will or not j to deprive the nation of all the advantages, which migl : other wife be reaped from them 3 and to PREFACE. xi io render them a prejudice, rather than any benefit to their mother country. All this appears to be done, for the fake of Canada and Florida ; which are by that means rendered not only a very great burden and charge to the nation, without any mari- ner of profit, but the greateft detriment to it on many other accounts. The colonies are thereby not only compelled to interfere with their mother country, by being excluded from all the fruitful parts of the continent, for the fake of thfcfe barren deferts j but they muft drain the nation of people at home, Which is the greateft lofs it could well fuftain. Whatever any of thefe acquilitions are, or tvhatever opinion any here may have of them> the people in the colonies, whc> know them, and for whom new fettlements are only wanted, will never remove to any of them ; but except thofe in the colonies, and theif daily increafe, this nation has no people td fpare, to fettle thefe or any other parts of the world. Great Briiaiit cannot people thefe ac- (^uifitions, the colonies will not, and of what ufe then can they be to the nation ? Could ive even get any number of foreigners to go to thefe inhofoitible deferts. which we caii b 2 hardly m xH PREFACE, EillMi^ p.' , ^^ hardly expe^: after a tryal of them, it would not only be very difficult, if not impraaicablcy to naturalize them by themfelves in the woods of America, as we find by thofe we have mixed with the EngliJJj in the midft of our moft populous fctdements, but they would flill be a prejudice to the nation, in thefe ac- (^uifitions, as is here fhewn. Thus Great Br it gin is at the expence of nigh half a million a year, in fupporting thefe acquifitions, and runs the rifque of involving herfelf in new wars, and farther expences, on their account j and that for no other pur- pofe, but to ruin her own intereft in North America, after all it has coft her. It was indeed expeded, to throw this burden on the colonies, whether they could bear it or not; but it is here fhewn, that it is not in the na- ture of things, and is contrary to the very in- ftitution of colonies, which are intended to fiipply themfelves wnth their neceflaries from their mother country, to expect, that they cither can or fhould raife money, to pay taxes, for thefe or any other purpofes ; and that money taken from them, is more ruinous to Great Britain, than if (he were to pay it herfelf. Since the colonies therefore cannot ^ maintain I I' R E F A C E. x«< miintain thefe acquilldons, and that charge falls entirely upon the nation at home, the queftion 'is, how is (lie to be relieved of that heavy burden ? Thefe are the fubjeds of the prefent dif- courfe, in treating of which, and in order to form a right judgement concerning them, the firft thing. neceflhry to be known, and duely confidered, is the fingular and peculiar climate of North America; which, if it were duely known, would perhaps appear to be the mofl fingular thing in nature. It is for want of a due knowledge of the climate, on which the intereft of the nation in colonies depends, that fo many miftakes are daily committed, and fuch erroneous opinions and prejudices are conceived, concerning that whole continent, and all the colonies in it. It was imagined, that the late tranfadions, and a more intimate concern, would give the nation at home fome bettCF knowledge of that continent, and of her colonies J but fo far from that, they feem only to have ferved to confirm the prejudices or miftakes of many, and to lead the nation into the greatefl: errors concerning her own intereft, io the ruin of it ; for which reafon innip H: : '('1'' 3tiv PREFACE. fomc account of thcfe important concerns i$ the rhore neceflary. To form a better judgement concerning the tolonieSi it would be neceflary to give an ac- tount of every one bf them ip particular ; to confider the nature of the foil and climate^ and what it prorluces, or is fit to produce for the benefit of the nation j this wc have en»- deavoured to fupply by a few notes, in order to explain many things, which appear to be but little underftoodi But as thefe can give but an injperfedt idea of many fubjeds treated of in therri, a more particular account (hall be given in a fecond part of this difcourfe, if we find, that defign is approved of. We may then alfo confider more particularly the feve- ral ftaple commodities that may be made in the plantations, for the benefit of the nation, and the ways of making them ; and give a more particular account of what they now i.. ?,:<;, or of the produce of the colonies, as well aj of 'lieir exports and imports, of which we could here only give the fum total, or a general view of the whole, r the fake of brevity ^ad diftindion* i*.' ^ By itii cerns 1^ ling the e an ac- ilar; to climate^ iuce for ave en»- in order ir to be :an give ; treated mt (hall )urfe, if A^e may he feve- nade in ; nation, 1 give a ey now inies, as f which :al, or a fake of By PREFACE. VY By fach a reprefentation of the concerns and intereft of the nation, both at home ^nd abroad, it is to be hoped, all future jealoufies and diflenfions, between the colonies and their mother country, may be happily prevented, tp the prpfperity and welfare qf both. Jt has been given out, in many accounts, both public and private, that the nation has beea involved in fuch an expenfiye war foltly on their account 5 that they not only refufe to bear any part of this expence, but even to pay a fmall part of what is, pretended to be, ne^ ce/Tary for their own protedion and f^curity -, when their abilities are reprefented to be un' queftionable ; and that they have refufed to fubmit to laws, which they might as eafily have complied with, as it was their duty to do : By thefe means, the colonies and their mother country are fet at variance; they are made a feparate intereft from Great Britain ; the nation is divided againft itfelf, and invol- ved in a ftate of civil warfare, after the griev- ous wars it has fuftained; and the colonies are rendered both unable, and lefs inclinable, to indemnify the nation for the expences that have been incurred. It is therefore necelTary, to fet thefe important concerns in a juft and true xvi PREFACE, true light, and to obviate the miftakes which have been committed, as well as the erroneous opinions which many have conceived, concern^ jng them ; that the nation may no longer take fuch mealures to ruin herfelf by her own pro- ceedings, which will otherwife appear to be the unavoidable confeqnence of thenj, fooner pr later. CON^ v^ s which roneous oncern-» jer take A'n pro- ar to be fooner ^ON- CONS I DERATIONS O N T H E AGRICULTURE of GREAT BRITAIN. THE general dearth and fcarcity of pro- tt,r. u i' '"^}''^ ^^"^ ''"" complained of throughout the whole kingdom, more or lefs for feveral years part, feera not to be owing to any temporary accidents, or unfavourable Iba- fons, whrch may ceafe of themfelves ; but to LTh T ""'■'=' '"^'"^ ''' more deeply rooted m the very vitals of the nation, a^nd may prove of worfe confequence, as they are detth"rt^V'° ': '" '^^^^'- ^ P"P«" tlMrth in the kingdom, and confequentlv a failure of «s trade and manufaftures, if "ot^of he Corn Trade likewife. unl.fs the fource of uch a rumous dearth are duely attended to, tne caufes of fo dangerous and growing an evil Ifthe fingle rainy month of July" whTch* happened only m the fouthern parts of the ki^'.. dom, and IS not uncommon in Engiand, may We occafioned a shorter crop o^corn tTat "fL,al, yet as that was fucceeded by the moft favourab e harveftand autumnal k2"thTav. commonly to be feen, it feems not ,o T Vuf! ficient to account for the r?en^r.l .U...U ...t.: 1 prevail all over the la " ° " """ """" riG h cfpe.hlly asthith lis il be en to httt) felt, mcfe or lefs, for feveral years pafl:» and in feafons which were remarkably favour- able, with the moH: plentiful crops. And how- ever that rainy month may have occafioncd a failure in the crops O' corn, in f me particular parts of the kingdom, yet even that is not gene- ral i and if it were, it is fi. from being fuffici- ent to caufe that dearth and fcarcity of other provifions, which have been complained of for many years, and feem daily to increafe. This public calamity muft therefore be at- tributed to fome other caufes, which were per- ceived from an inquiry into the Agriculture of the kingdom, feveral years before they pro- duced their effed: j infomuch that, from a due confideration of thefc caufes, and of the ftate of agriculture in the kingdom, it xvasforefeen and foretold, that a dearth and fcarcity both of corn and other provifions would be the unavoidable confequence, which hath accordingly happen- ed. Therefore, as this appeared to us fome years ago^ with other better judges, we could not but thus fet down our obibrvations and fen- timents concerning a matter, which appears to he of fuch general concern ?nd confequence to the whole nation. Now as this dearth was thus forcfeen, it is likely to be as lafting, as the cr.ufes of it are fixed and permanent j what- ever temporary expedients may be thought of to remove the prefent effedts ; to flatter our hopes with vain expcdations, while provifions f^xif^r . rvr tn iK-in th^* rlamnnr«; of tl le III [ 3 ] the people, without affording them any real and effectual relief. And that this is to be appre- hended, without feme more efFe(5tual relief than feems yet to have been propofed, will abun- dantly appear from the caufes of this dearth, as they are hereafter explained ; which feem to require the united endeavours of the whole nation to prevent their pernicious and ruinous confequences, if they may not merit the atten- tion of the legiflature. The confequences of fuch a dearth and fear- city of provifions need not to be told, where they are felt, but in this kingdom they are more to be apprehended, than in any others as a dearnefs of provifions^ which enhances the price of every thing, threatens the ruin of the manufadlurcs, trade, and navigation of the kingdom, and confequently of Its maritime power ; on which the very being of this nation, as an independent ftate, is well known to de- pend. The many ruinous confequences of fuch a dearth in this kingdom are fo manifeft in themfelves, and are fo fully {hewn by Dr. Davenanty in his EfTays upon the Trade of the Nation, that they need not to be infifted upon. But befides thefe confequences of fuch a dearth, which are obvious in themfelves, it ap- pears to us to be ftill more prejudicial to the nation j and to threaten the very exiftence as well as the fubfiftence of the people, who are already by far too few, either to cultivate the lands, or to fupport the trade and manutadtures ?2 of [ 4 ] of the kingdom i whence the conicqucnccs of this dearth, and of the caqfes which appear to occafion it, may be much more ruinois, than leems to be apprehenjied. To fee fqch a dearth, which threatens to be lading in fuch a fruitful land as this, which yearly Tupplies its neighbours with great quanti- ties of corn, is fomewhat furprifmg • and it may therefore appear to be as curious, per- haps, as It is intercfting, tc inveftigate the taules of fuch an uncommon event, and to prevent the ruinous effeas of fuch a general and public calamity. ' ^" In fuch a plentiful country as England, where plenty appears in the face of every thing, we liiould have no reafon to apprehend fuch a aene- ral dearth and fcarcity of the neceffaries of life, were It not pwing to fome uncommon and peculiar caufes, which deprive the people of that p cnty which the land naturally affords. And although everyone may put their own f'onflruaion upon the cauf s of fuch a general complaint, according as they are affedted by them, yet, upon due inquiry and confideration of the matter for ieveral years, they appear to us, who have no other concern in them but the public vy^Ifare of the nation, to be, chiefly and principally, the four following; which are fo manifeft in themfelvcs, that they feem not to require a more particular difcuflion ; however the other caufes of this dearth, and the methods 9t preventing it, which are hereafter more fully III'! fally explained, may deferve a more particular confideration. And thefe ciufes of this dearth Jt will be neceffary to confjder in the firft place, and to be well apprifed of them, left we ihould encreafe the caufe by endeavouring^ to prevent the efFedt, which would appear to be the tendency of the expedients that arc com- monly propofed,as is hereafter more fully (hewn. I. The firft and moil manifeft cauife of this dearth appears to be, a great increafe of the trading and manuf^dturing towns throu'^hout the whole kingdom, which raife no corn nor Other provifions, and make a greater demand for tliem than the fupply will anfwer. The great increafe of the trading an ! manu- faaunng towns is vifible to evefy one, and may be feen ,n all parts of the kingdom. This IS the natural confequence of an extenfive trade and an increafe of manufadures, which are the chief purfu.ts of the nation ; but it would ap- pear f. om what follows, that neither the num- ber of people in the kingdom, nor its agricul- ture, limited and confined as it is to one or two particular products of the earth, are fufficient merce, which takes the people from their cm- ployment in agriculture, to plow the feas inftead of the land i and to make thofe many articles Pf trade and manufafture, which their fupply of provifions will hardly enable them to carry on. Thus the nation, which is fo bent upon "''" "^"vigafion, icems never to havecon- ' iidered »» «\aw ttliVi Ihj. I! i!i ill! [ 6 J (idered the neceffity of extending its agriculture in proportion to its trade, which may otherwife ruin one another ; the firft may be ruined for want of hands, if they are employed in trade and manufactures ; and the lafl for want of fupplies from the land to fupport them. Unlefs trade and agriculture arc made fub- fervient to their mutual lUpport, neither of them can ever thrive or profper ; the dearth of provi^ fions, and confequently of all the articles of trade, and of every thing that the country pror duces, muft ruin the trade and manufadlures of the kingdom, and when thefe fail, the rents of lands muft fall with them^ which there ap- pears to be no way to prevent, but to enlarge the agriculture in proportion to the trade of the kingdom, by fome fuch method as is hereafter propofcd, and for which thefe fheets were in- tended. Agriculture is the chief fupport of all nations, and the firft thing to be confidered in all countries j without which the trade of this kingdom muft decline, and its navigation go to decay. It was computed before the laft war, that the French could carry on moft branches of trade and manufadtures 25 per cent, cheaper than Britain ; whofe trade muft now be ruined, after all the late additional taxes, unlefs (he provides for her labourers and manufacturers at a cheaper rate, by preventing thefe caufes of dearth. A dearth and fcarpity of provifions ftrike at the very root of trade and 'manufac- tures, t 7 i tui'es, and render every thing that is made in the country fo dear, that we can never expert to vye with any competitors. While this is the cafe in Europe, and the nation is in danger of lofing its trade, by a competition here, it may have as many more rivals of its own raifing in America, unlels their agriculture likewife is eftabliflied on a better footing. Our very colonies themfelves, on whom we think we can rely for the vent of our manufadures, and which are the beft markets for them, will rival us in them, and already make them cheaper than we can 5 which feems to have eftabliflied manu- fadures among them in fuch a manner, that it will be very difficult, if not imprafticable, to put them down again, as the dearnefs of ours is fuch a premium on theirs, when they are unable to purchafe the very cheapeft-. Either of thefe there is no way to prevent, but by extending and improving the agriculture of the nation, both at home and abroad ; by ren- dering provifions cheaper at home, in order to make our manufatftures at a reafonable rate, and by getting the materials for them from the colonies. But inftead of this, we feem to mind nothing but trade both at home and abroad, and may thereby ruin the nation by itj the mother country endeavours to preferve the pro- fitable trade of the colonies, without either ne- cefTaries or materials to carry it on to advan- tage 1 and tbe rn1nnl/ac r»iin-» a *fnAa. ...:«.t.^.,.. Q - _, ^^.^„. ._,... ^.„iij. j4 issiwv vviWiJiOuL iiijy thing I'M ining to traJe upon, and thereby lofe not kCs ' than 400,000 /. if not half a million a year, as would abundantly appear, if the ftate of theif trade, which has been fo much canvaiTed were duly inquired into, and compared with their ftaplc commodities, or the produce of their lands -j-. Thus f The neceflity of manufaaures in tfje Colonies, fo long as they continue in their prefent. fituation, muft appear to all who will confider their condition and circumftances, or their income, which upon the ftriaeft inquiry, does not appear to exceed ten or twelve fhillings a head per amums take all the people in North America one with another, and muft be very intufficient to purchafe a fifth part of their neceflarics from Britain, withoL't paying any taxes. Such taxes muft therefore have totally ruined the intcieft of this nation in the colonies, and (he muft thereby have loft the benefit of them, after the immenfe fums that have been ex- pended uppn them; from whidi we could fee nothin!^"""' "'^^ who appear tot .Totw^rhefman"""'^' cerns. and extenfive trad^ uLh T"^ ''°"- abroad. If we mTv ht' T l' ''°™= ^"'1 ought IHcewifefr ^ T ^°' ^^"^ ^^(i' we hopes and erounH^- • a^ "'"°" °" "^'^ areV fuSr ?ouK"t,L!!'^^.^. ^h^- People decreare. notwithftand;ntth;y'';:"fo much * .i.r It; 'Hi m .|J;| I [ 14 ] inuch wanted} and efpecially to esftend the agriculture of the kingdom at home, in pro- portion to its trade and many concerns abroad. Now as this decreafc of people muft be in the country, fince the towns are fo mucji en- larged, it may eafily be accounted for from this pracftice of monopolizing the farms, and pulling down the houfes. As f^r as we can Jearn, there are few or no eftates, on which fome houfes have not thus gone to decay, and and a great number on others, which mud amount to a ronfiderable number in the whole kingdom. There were formerly, by all ac- counts, many farms under 20 1. a year, on which the greateit number of people is bred ; tnd great numbers under 40 and 50, which laft is now reckoned a very low rent, and fuch as few care to have on their eftates. Thus one half of the farms in the kingdom may have been incorporated, and fo many people expelled from them, for ought we know ; which feems to proceed from the ,c»reat change of property in the country, from the landlords living in and reforting to the towns, and from their te- nants following them. This concourfe of people to the towns, which has become fo common in England, is the more to be regarded and reprehended, as it appears, that they decreafe in thcrn much fafter than they increafe in the country ; to which the decreafe of people feems to be owing. It has been found by a gentleman of difiinc- tion. it Jv'tend the 2, in pro- ns abroad, null be in mucji en- for from 'arms, and as we can on which iecay, and hich mud the whole by all ac- 3. year, on lie is bred 5 50, which , and fuch Thus one may have >le expelled hich Teems f property ; living in ii their te- he towns, ngland, is heijdcd, as hem much ountry ; to ) be owing, of difiiiic- tion. tion, who Is well acquainted with fuch import tant concerns of the nation, and has had the curiofity to examine the regifters of the births and burials in feveral parts of the country, that in the country parifhes of England the people mcreafe very faft, generally at the rate of one third or one fourth every year, fo that they would double their number every three or four years *, were they not to be expelled from the country, both for want of habitations and em- ployments ; and to be taken off by the large towns, in which they decreafe very faft as . appears from the bills of mortality. Now as the proprietors of lands, who at prefent refort to the towns, were formerly obliged to live in the country, as appears from feveral proclama- tions m former reigns iffued for thr,t purpofe • and as the common people then refided entirely upon fmail farms lu the country, from which have ItTSL^n! nhr' '^' '' '''' '"^^^^^^ ^' "^^"^ind. ■ihouldtakeitfUm hecoun^^^ ' nZ '""TT^''' "^ tioMPft ,^ *u L ^"'"" V* *" the panlhes here men- loned, to the number of al.out twenty in different narts of he country, the b.rths yearly exceeded the .llZy °a there parite, who d id ..o^ ie i'^'L"'!', ' '''" l" fome difference, a» it doe, in a I t hel keT^'cula il'' ""m low,ng tor this, the increafe may le on in ,i .^ u part ev ru vcir Mr r\. ' '/"^ ^° '" 1°'^. or a fifth rials in l'~\^'^^^ 7''" ."k '^'"'" ■"' ""^ ^"- about i8 in ,rn nlr ^ ' ^"^^ '" "" mcreafe of ch "2. p. ,:, ','°- ^''■^"-'■'"'"" '" "- W'' 'f •nortal..,, they 'i:! m I I6 ] ihey are now expelled, this will abundanilV account for a lofs and decreafe of people, and appears to render it unavoidable. Agriculture, which is the natural employ- ment of all mankind, and perhaps the only one breeds people both for the plough and loom, tor land and Tea fervice j and if a few engrofs that, as they have done in England, they muft themfelves both cultivate their lands, and con- fume the produce of them j or fupply their neighbours and enemies by the depopulation of their own country- Nothing will either breed or maintain a number of people in any country, but a general and extenfive agricul- ture, and if we lufFer that to be engrolTed, the very exiftence of the people will be cut off, as well as a more moderate fubfiftence for the few we have. In towns, to which the people of England fo much refort, they cannot maintain and pro- vide for a family, as they do upon farms in the country, which fupply every one with the ne- ceiTanes of life from their own labour and in- duftry. Upon land, people can only want through negligence, but in towns they ftarve tor want of employment, which they often cannot get ; efpecially where every thing is become fo dear, that none can afforJ cither to maintain or employ them. Hence in the popu- lous towns in England moll people are obliged to live a life of celibacy ; which has become fo common th^*" *^^"^ '■"^'^*-i^~^^^r' -U > t^'-' J who '*^ Hi bundaniljr bple, and employ- only one,^ nd loom, V engrofs hey muft and con- ply their jlation of 11 either le in any ; agricul- fTed, the It off, as • the few t i7 ] tvho was at fuch pains to inquire into the num- ber of people in the kingdom, thought there was no way to increafe them, but to lay a tax upon batchelors * ; who are often maintained in idle- nefs, at the expence of the public, from the pro- pertythey have in the flocks, which farther in- creafe this national lofs of people. Hence we are told by our greateft enemy, ' the funis of * money lent by the national creditors have en- * couraged^ great numbers of them to lead an * idle life, in a ftate of celibacy, at the expence * of the nation f ;' from which, among other things, he would prognofcicate the dov/nfal of Great Britain j and there may be too much reafon to apprehend the truth of his predic- tion, if the people ^re drove from the country, as they are in fuch numbers every day, and cannot fubfift in the towns, from the exceffive dearnefs of every thing. When the people are obliged to quit the country, they have no way to fubfift, but in the trading and manufaauring towns, where the dearnefs of provifions renders their labour and manufactures uhouccte s View of }f upland. Ih ienefit of increafe general one will country, Efq; in rvations lual lofs e taken /olution 36,000 ;ars; to e town has not 00,000 10,000 : nation beildes [ ^9 ] all the other towns in the kingdom, and the numbers that are yearly loft abroad, in the fleets, army, wars, &c. And it would farther appear from his ufcful obfervations, that he has foretold the prefent dearth and fcarcity, the rife of the price of manufadures, and decreafe of the people, from this yearly lols of people in the country ; which is the greateft argu- ment that can well be given for a general natu- ralization in this kingdom, and even fliews the neceflity of fuch an expedient; unlefs the peo- ple are more confined to the country, and have a more general ufe of the lands. If it be not by one or the other of thefe means, the fources of population in this kingdom are cut off; you have a conftant drain of people from the coun- try, who are all loft in the towns, and many more abroad, while they are expelled from the land, and have no way to recruit from the ufe of it; to which laft the increafe of all mankind feems to be owing. Many indeed are apt to conclude, that the people muft increafe, fmce the towns are fo much enlarged ; but that is rather a lign of a conftant lofs of people in Eng- land ; whence the great increafe of the towns muft ruin them and the whole nation, for want both of people and of neceflaries, unlefs the country is improved and increafed with them ; which there is little or no hope to exped from the prefent ftate of agriculture in the kingdom. If we attend to the fources of population, it will appear that mankind are propagated on the D 2 earth If^ilM ill m r so ] farth like trees, according as thev have rnon. to grow, and nouriftment to fupport them P"e anothe , and can never thrive, till thev are Sn':t:1 rT"''' ■' '- -hich reafon fo VtiMy are obliged to remove to the colonics i . athot Tr"";-''^'?,*^3' are deprived of fcrveX f7''^''^*r'/'fai« nation would pre- Jcrve the few people fte has. and keep them rom migrating to the colonics Ae ftou Id I^ native loii. And this is the more to be reeard- ed, as an increale of people in North AmericI would be as prejudicial to the intereft rf ,h' na .on, as a )ofs of them at home f „ce tt colonies not only increafe very faft, but their plantations are already by far too f^^l o /„ .blethem ^ fubfirt by .(dependance on°hei; nothc-r country, which an increafe of peon e would render more impraflicable ^ ^ ' Now this inerenfe of the colonies is owing to a free ufe and general diftribution of thrLndl and the want of people in Britain to the et grofln,g of them i 7to gives every one a fhar^ Pf he , u, ts of the earth, and thcieby prefoves m)d nuiitiphes tl.e race of mankind, wMeh^ both ftarves and extirpates them /which hi patter of no fmall conliquence to .Ms n til IrehnH '^' P^^P'" °^ Great Britain and JrcUnd wcie to be employed in hufbandry as Vhej^ ■AM bave rootrt ort them ; nd deftroy 1 they are 1 reafon fo olonies, 'wi nece/Taries ^prived of ''ould pre- eep thern fhould let ^heir own e regard - America '(^ of the fince the but their ill to en- on their f people 3wing to le land?, the en- i a fhare >referves ^ile this lich is a nation, increafc ain and dry, as thcj^ [ ^1 ] they are In the colonies, thefe kingdoms would be much more populous than we can ever ex- pert the colonies to be. Were all the people jn thele healthful and fruitful iflands to be em- ployed in agriculture, which the lands would ndmit of for a much greater number, they might foon people all America from their own ftock • and would have people enough left at home, to fupply them all j were not the poor to be ftarv- ^r Kr^/f "^^' ^""^ ^° ^^ deprived of the means ot lubfiftence, from the engrofTing of the lands An increafe of a fourth part, which is a mil^ lion and a half every year, that this nation might get by employing its people in hufbandry, with the multiplied increafe again of thefe, if it were only a twentieth part every year, as in thecolo. nieb, would loon over/lock this ifland; and the people would be obliged to migrate, like a Avarm Dt bees, were they to be provided for, as they might be, from the fertility of the land. Were all the landlords in this kingdom to provide tor the people on their eftates, or only to allow thein as much land as would produce the ne- cefTaries of life, wh: jh is but a very little they would have no reafon to complain of the want of hands, .s they lately did, from a few being taken from the plough, to man their fleets! l^ut •. theyfuffer the lands to be en^rofTed, or to Jie uncultivated in grafs, for the br^eeding and maintaining of horfes and other beafts inftead of men^, it is^to be feared, they will never hav^ any to i^jare ror luch emergencies. |t IHI h^i\M [ 22 ] It is to their agriculture, poor as it is, that the increafe of our colonics is owing j and we need not be furprifed that they double their numbers every twenty years, as many of them appear to do J, fincc that is but a fourth or fifth part of the natural cncreafe of mankind in England, where they follow the occupation of hufbandmen, as they all do in the colonies. If they do not encreafe fo faft as they would in England, by the fame manner of Jiving, it is owing to a mone barren land, an intemperate climate, and the unhealthful fituation of many; which will ever keep thofe colonies from be- coming fo populous, as to be a terror to their mother Country, unlefs (he thus extirpates her people at home, while they encreafe abroad. Notwithrtanding their fuppofed great extent, all our colonies in North America, from New- England to South Carolina inclufive, are no % The moft certain account of the increafe of our co- lonies, that we have met with, is from the number of peo- ple in Virginia, which was taken by the government at the beginning of the war in the year 1703, when their number was 60,000 J but by a like account, taken in the fame manner by the government, at the commencement of the warm 1755, they had increafed to 300,000; and by the laft accounts received from thence in 1765, their number was then 500,000 : by which they appear to have doubled their numbers every twenty years, as nigh as may be; although we cannot expea a like increafe now, when the country is grown more populous, and every thing is faid to become /f<3r« and dear, as it is in England; the bad efFeas of which are felt in the number of people, more perhaps than in any thing elfc. larger t 23 ] larger than Great Britain and Ireland, and would not maintain a fourth part of the num- ber of people *. Thus we need not be alarmed about * From their furveys they contain about 102,000 fquare Thll^^r ^"" »"»«•» «"d Ireland 105,000-Of this, the two Carolinas are as large as all the other fix, but arc for the moft part a barren fand, and produce little or no- thing but in the unhealthful fwampa and marflies, whici, 1m7 "'r^ P'°P^' /^'." '^'y ^'^ P^'^^P^ worth:~.The « fh fh!^ '°^,*^^° *=^lon'",^e in a great ineafure worn out Ze\t "'^^/'"^'"g weed—And the four northern col^ em relv unfi. t!f "T'^^^'^X ^«"'^d ^^ Britain, and arc entirely unfit to produce any, on account of the climate, with the long and hard winters. ' ricI^witVlhnf °i% •".^^T'P^ing the lands in North Amc rica with thofe of England, we fiiould allow not lefs than four for one, both on account of the greater poverty of thS ^ndl" f ^' '''^l °^ ''^^ ^^"'J^' «^ uncultivated rock^ and mountains, with the quantity of land that muft be keS in woods for the necelTary ufes of plantations, in fire-w^f fencing lumber, houfe and fliip-building, &c. Now « hefe colonies are about as large as GreafBritain and Ire and, and may contain a fourth part of the people f about two millions and a half, or three millions at S), he lafi IS four times more populous; but as the lands are not bv a ourth fo fruitful in the colonies, the one is as poDulous^as the other With regard to their produce; and thefe coK^niL "" "« TJ^ Jfve merely by ?heir agdcultu e, t by "he male ng of ftaple commodities for Britain as .11 miL- fhould and would do. if they we e ab^e rhfn I T could in Britain itfelf. AcLZglyf Ih'e tds^ ^ ^G^ fSthlme '"^ P'^1"" ""''^ "'°'^ ^- exportation, thaa O. thfi** lanr? C tarill .. . IJ /lit ri /- altiply, at the rate thev 'd_ „.... nd I f indi 'g f 24 3 about the power of the colonics ; the only danger is, from their want of remittances to Britain, ifldigo, hemp and flax (which require the very beft corn and grafs grounds, and all the manure that the earth afFords, on which the people fliould fubfift) although thefe are al- ftioft all that they make for Britain. If it is allcdged, that a greater number of people will make more, it fliculd likevi^ife be confidered, that they vill confume more j and their confumption is already fo great, that they require for their own ufe, almoft every thini tha their poor lands will yield Hence corn and provifions are alreadybecomc morevaluabletomake, than any thing elfe for exportation, which is a certain fign, that they muft extend the:r fettlements. ,f we would have them to dep/nd on Britain. Although they may keep up their exports for Britain at pre- fenr yet they diminiOivafily in proportion to the number Of people. Three millions do not make much more than two millions ufed to do.-AU that they make for Britain does not amount to above five or fix flilllings a head per ««««m.-If they double their numbers in twenty years, and come to be hx millions, they will make nothing hardly for Britain, uniels they extend their fetilements beyond the mountains which confine them to thefe narrow bounds.— It IS not a tenth part of thefe plantations that produces any thing tor Bntain, and the chief part of that is worn out.-. 1 hus they have hardly any lands at all to anfwer the pur- pofes of colonies, in fupplying the nation with fuch com- modities as it wants, and to purchafe their r.cefTaries from Britain by that rncans.~-l^|,ey may indeed have lands enough to fupply themfdves and their manufadurers with their own neceflaries, that is, to render them inde- pendent of their mother country, after all the fums fhe hai expended upon them ; which is the plain tendency, and muft be the unavoidable confequence, of all the late pro- ceedings concerning them ; which are therefore likely to be he ruin of this nation—If Britain has expended eighty millions of money for no other purpofe but to be involved man additional charcc of 7co.nnn/. ^er Gi •.iti^ H!i|l i [ 25 ] Britain, and the means of fubfiftlng by a depen-' dance upon hcrj which muft make them more dependant on other powcis for the vent of their produdts, that are not wanted in Britain. The vaft advantages of a general and exten- sive agriculture, efpecially in population, may be learnt from the example of all nations who purfue it. Jt is by giving due attention to that, before all other employments, that in C/6/W they have many more people than are in all Europe (by their accounts not lefs than three or four times as many) arid maintain them all iti plenty and affluence without any foreign trade, which proceeds from the great encouragement they give to agriculture j the Emperor himfelf, the greateft Potentate on earth, fets the exam- ple with his own hands i and takes care, in per- son, to fee the lands duely diftributed among the people, and rightly cultivated, in corn, and not in grafs, for the fupport of men, inftead of beails, which lafl we feem to prefer in Eng- m be the b 1? ^/^^'-.^^'^T to the bargain, which muft be the rcfult of the.r prefent fituation,^the confequence rnay be m.ich worfe than is apprehended.-This there is no TI aT I ^' ^y <=^tending their fettlenients to thof. uWh\1 terntories on the Miffiffippi, and Ohio, for uh.ch the nation engaged in fuch an expenfive war, if (he K •. rr* •^^'' ^' "^'^ about—No other part of all th« D^nlnrf ."•^'°'" ?""'"' ""' to live in that ftate of de- ptndance on their mother country, &c. ■•%\ .1. i?t| ■^\ E Th( ;i r 26 ] The like efFe(5ls of a proper care of agricul- ture may be feen in Jatarit where the lands are carefully fqrveyed ancf diftributed every year j and are cultivated almoft entirely in corn, with little or no grafs at all, even for cattle, and much lefs for horfcs, as the people are bound by their' religion to eat no flefh meat; by which means, although the country is deemed very barren, rocky, and mountainous, yet it is, by all ac- counts, the moil populous fpot of any upon eaith, and maintains all its inhabitants, nume- rous as they are, without any foreign trade at all, on which we feem chiefly to rely in Bri- tain -f-. From ■f- From this Inftance in Japan we may fee, how much they are miftakcn who imagine, that mankind could not be fupported on the fruits of the earth, or a mere vegetable diet, without animal food, of which we confume fuch vaft quantities in England, and thereby very much increafe the expence of living, and the dearth of provifions. An acre of land will produce much more than ten buihels of corn, which will maintain a man for a twelvemonth} but three or four acres will hardly fupply him both with vegetable and animal food, cloathing, horfes, &c. How the Japanefe fubfift in fuch numbers entirely upon vegetable food, and in fuch a barren land, would be as curious, as it is interefting, to relate, had we roonk for it here. Their Gokof, or neceflaries of life, they reckon five, rice, wheat, barley, b^aclc and white Japan beans; which laft are highly worthy of notice, as they chief!/ maintain fuch a number of people, in fuch a poor foil. Thcfe are both of the kidney- bean (Phafedus) kind, which al! grow on the pcoreft foil of any thing perhaps that the earth p'oduccs. of lual fubftance and nourifhment. They are more nouriihinig than any fort of grain or pulfe, and yet r 27 ] From thefe and the like inftances, as well as from the nature of things, it abundantly appears, that Agriculture is the chief fource of popu- lation, yet will grow and thrive on a mere barren fand. It h by means of thefe, and Indian corn, that the people live on their poor fandy lands in America, where they have up- wards of thirty forts of thefe beans, fomc of which ripen ia fix week' '"rom fowing, would thrive very .veil in Encland, and be ♦,' reateft improvement for the poor fandy and un- cultivatf. ..nds. Another fort, known by the name of the Bulhc.-bean, from its producing a bufhel of beans on one vine, is perhaps the moft fubftantial food for hogs and hor- (es, of any thing that grows, and the chetpeft. But all thefe feem to be vaflly inferior to the Japan and Lima beans, which are as foft and fat as marrow, and the moft nourifliing of any thing that grows. It is from thefe white beans, of this quaJity. that the Japanefc have great part of their food, as well as fauce and feafonin^ fur it. They do not fo much as know the ufe of what we call but- ter, and yet are bett-r fupplyed with it, from their pooreft fandy lands, than we are from the jicheft paftures, and moft expenfive herds. This they make, whenever they want it, only by difTolving thefe white beans in boiling wa- ter with rice J with this they'feafon their food, which inuft be much more wholefome than our butter faucc. _ But as they want fome more favory condiment for ati infipid vegetable diet, they make that likewife, whi:h is the Japan Say, that we are fo fond of, from thefe beans ; by /bakmg th^-m in water, with an equal quantity of wheat and fait, and beating them well for a month or two, till they are diflblved ; in the fame manner as we mjke ketchup with mufhrooms, which cannot be fo whole- fome,— -And with their black beans, they feed their poor, liogs and horfe?, both in Japan and China. Fide Du Haldt HiJL China, Kempfr Hij}. Japan. Jmanltates exotica, tic. ho likewife m America the common people and labour- ers, white and black, all live on thefe fort of beans and In- _._.. -...,,, vri.sv.li Klu tncy icaion witn tne Deans, and thereby render it vaftly more favory and relifhin?, as ell Fa V as ^1 m t n .m I t 28 ] lation, and perhaps the only one, in all coun- tries ', and this is much more the cafe in Eng- land, 3S more nourifliing although that is the moft nutritious of all gra,n. With thefe the poor and negroes are fed upon lands, on which the very poor in England would ftarve. 1 his their bean is of the fame kind with the French Bari- cot wah which alone they make a much better foup and food, than the Engl.fh do with all their profufion of meat. J he BcuiI/oK which IS daily thrown away in England, with a few of thele beans or roots, would maintain the greaten part of the poor in the kingdom, as they do in France. By means of thefe and buckwheat, the French live on the poorelt lands, and enjoy plenty in the midft of poverty, when the poor in England ftarve in the midft of plenty. ihus the fcarcity in England is more owing to wafte ,than want j and of that we have another inftance iS manure. the greateft part of which is wafted on gardens and hot- beds and the earth is thereby robbed of its nouriihment. Butif you will afk what will make plenty in any country, it IS manure, as we may learn from China and Japan. Thev think very rightly, that every thing which is fed on the earth, fhould contribute to manure it, and for that reafon they take the grcatcft care to fave what we are at fo much pains to tlirow away; and thereby have provilions much cheaper in their many populous towns, than in thecheapeft part c England. Even the (havings of their beards are carefully preferved for this purpofe, as both hair and foao are the r.cneft manure of any, and the firft more particu- Jarjy for Rice, as it lafts, and is not wafned away, in water. iiehde thefe they frequently water their grounds with lime water, and convey ir even to the tops of the hills by means of a hmple machine, like a chain pump, and thereby pre- ferve the fertility oF ihe earth, and even enrich it, while It bears tne moft plentiful crops ; as lime water has been lately ,o.nd to be the greateft promoter of vegetation, al- though it ,s looked upon by our hiftorians to be only a rancy of fheChmefe. ^ Bv th.fe means they have the greateft plenty of rice, Vi/hirh ic thai.- ^V,'.„f f ' r_ r--! • it ' . •' . ' t. .-..., li i„,., ^n.;.. tuuu Hi i^nina ana japan, as it laves the cxpcncQ ■ ,.! [ 29 J land, where the very neceffarles of life, wit^ £very thing elfe, are become fo dear, that we cm exped: no increafe of people in towns, in whicl^ they, on the contrary, feem to decreafe. It is therefore of the utmofl confcqueiice to this na- tion, which wants nothing more than people, both at home and abroad, to attend to its a^/ri- culture, which feems to be in a very qnprofper- ous ftate in both -, and the more immediate ,cxpence both of grinding and baking; and of this they have a (orf, which is lb fat and Jufcious, that it is faid by thofe who eat it in the Indies, to be perfeaiy cloying, and the moft nourifliing of any grain; whereas the°two forts of rice which we have had frpm thence, are fo llender a diet, that labouring people can hardly Jive upon them. With their rice they likewife make all their fermented and fpirituous liquors, which are fo much more delicious than any others, that they h?ve no other beer, wine, bran- dy, rum, arrack, punch, &c. on which we are at fuch an mimenfe cxpence to foreigners, when we neglea the very beft of our own. 'Ihe Japan 5,7c /t/, or beer, and Cbi/a iutney both made of rice, are commended by all as the beft and moft delicious of fermented liquors. 'Jhefe they m^kc only by foaking the rice well in water for about a month ti i It is fofoft, that it will diffolve in boiling, and fermenc like malt; with which they likewife make the Goa arrack tor variety and a thinner liquor they have none but beer made of Indian corn, which is likewife drank by the Spa- ^iiards in all their colonies; whereas we are at tlie expence of 300,000/. a year for molafl'es, which with rum coft this nation not lc(s than half a million a year, and that chiefly fo' the very dregs of foreign plantations, when we could be much better fupplicd by our own produces. And this is tlic more to be regarded, as this nation lofes near half a million a year by this pernicious trade in fpirituous liquors, which are paul for chiefly in Britifli goods, and thereby occafio^ tns vai; dijuu vvhjvh the coiouics owe to Britain, &c. caufe^ rffl I f 30 ] fiflufes of this in England, which wc (hall next confider, are therefore the more to be regardc4 ^nd attended to. III. The heavy taxes, and efpecially thofe upon articles of daily confumption, afFed: the price not only of Provifions, but of every thing elfe in the kingdom j and as this effed increafes its own cauft^ by rendering every thing dearer from the high price of provifions, this feems to be another great fource of all the evils which are fo much complained of, from the dearth pf everything that the country produces. Articles of daily confumption are what the frugal Hufbandmen themfelves cannot difpenfe with, and as thefe are taxed, they muft lay that tax on the neceffaries of life, which are confumed by every one ; and thefe two raife the price of labor, of manufadlures, and of every thing in the kingdom. And as the lands are engrofTed by opulent Farmers, who confume moll of the fuperliuities of life, they raife the price of Provifions accord- ingly, and the poor are obliged to pay the du« ties on Wine, Tea, and Sugar, &c.' in their Bread. Thus we give a bounty upon the Corn that is exported to fupply our rivals in Trade an4 Manufadures, and lay a tax upon what we confume ourfelves, when its price is farther en- hanced by the exportation j which mufl: not pnly give them a fuperiority over us, but ad- vances the price of eVerV thino- m t]^f- Irlnrrrl^rr. which fhall ntxt B regardc4 ially thofe afFedt the very thing it increafes ing dearer is feems to I'ils which he dearth ces. what the )t difpenfe muA lay ;vhich are raife the 1 of every •y opulent iperjiuities DS accord- ly the du- . in their Corn that Frade and what we arther en- mufl: not s, but ad- 1^;, rHrvt which _ .nnrrlrvfvi iTkiis j;::, vj ■i^" i 5 3 J f 3* ] ivhich is already fo immoderate from the heavy taxes. IV. The number of horfes is fo much in- creafed among people of all ranks, that they appear to confume as much as would maintain the greateft part of the people in the kingdom, an, )ccafion a dearth and fcarcity both of Corn and all other Provifions, which appears to be the great caufe of this dearth that is fo much complained of. ^ The great increafe of horfes in England Is vifible to every one, and is taken notice of by all on the prefent occalion. The increafe of coach and faddle horfes, and particularly of poft horfes, fince the turnpike roads, is alone almoft fufficient to occafion the prefent dearth of Provifions ; which feems to have increafed in proportion to thefe roads, and the number of horfes kept upon them 5 and as if this expence were not fufficient at home, great numbers are bred for Mq abroad. But the moft general and extenfive evil is the great ufe that is made of horfes, inflead of oxen, in all affairs of Hufb^ndry, which not only con- fumes the produce, but enhances the price of Agriculture ; and that in fuch a manner, that this practice of the Farmers alone in keeping fo many fine horfes at fuch an expence, while they are afraid to make them work, left it fliould fpoil their fale, for which they are bred, is fufficient to caufe a dearth of Provifions. ^ -.ixulv ^^Aiiii^iy, UC iCiii luau IOO,UUO ilOI'lCS tllUS employed, 1^1 ''A\ I % /'I '% M i 1 employed, ii.flcad of oxen, which laft woulcf iupply the markets with the befl meat, after' they have furni(hed the nation with Corn, and both at a moderate price. Hence Plough^ iiorfes ihould not only be taxed, but prohibit- ed, as It IS well known that oxen will do the ^ufiners much better; and fuch a prohibition ieems to be the only way to reduce the num-' bpr oi horfes, which are bred and kept by the farmers for fale, and not for the plough; by which^ they deprive the nation both of Corn and all other Provifions. The number of horfes In £;/r/W Is very uncertain, but we may fee from the tax on coaches, how much they are increafed At* the time of the Spamjh Invafion in 1588, they could raife but 1700 horfes in Z^;.-/<;«, and there were laid- to be but 20,000 in all the kingdom • but the Coach- hor/ls alone are now above ico,oco; and as the Poft-horfes do not I aft above a year or two, there muft be three or four times as many kept, to fupply their daily lofs. Many reckon there may be a horfe for every houfe in the kingdom, or a million in all ; but Jt there js only half a million, they will be fuf- ficient to occafion all the dearth of Provifions that IS fo much complained of Having both leen and felt not only the confumption, but t^lie great wafte and deftrpc^jon. which hor- les occafion, we are well fatisfied from our own knowledge and experience, that they muft occafion a very great dearth and fcarcity. and particu-^ [ 33 ] particularly of Corn, the chief ftaple of £;;.- Imid, wherever they come to be numerous, ts we may learn both from the example of T^r- tary, and of our Colonies *. The * From the great numbers of horfes which the Tartars Keep, they have no Bread ^o eat, and hardly know the ufc 1 A 7' u ^^y "^^^ ^"'■" '''^ '"I's of grafs, which was niadefor the beafts of the field, fay they, and thefeTor fTom thJ' ""T" ''f u'''"S '^'y ''' °^''Sed 'o fubmit to CnmWK'?T^''°^*'°^^^'^''^^>' '^''-'^^P' Which defiroy the Corn both before ,t is reaped, and after it is made. Thus wanTof'corn " "'"^""^ ""^ ""^^ ^ ''"^^'^^' ^^^ ^ ^°^^I ti;Mri'/'''i''r '^' ^reateft impropriety in this nation, pa t of t.e world, to keep fuch a number of horfes ; which TnhrA °? "°' ^"'^ ^ "^'"''^ ^"^ '■^^-i^y> but confume fecdfnf °f J'^V^"^^ «'^ J^^P^ in Arafs for the breeding and mav L f'^/' ^°:"^">' '''' -i^ng'and, the .Tation ^ed tol ; °'' T °" '^"^'^--^'^«>' ^^ ^he 7^;r;.,;are obJi- ged to do, from the numbers they keep. i h.s extravagance in horfes has likcwife crept into the tl^'thd 7' T' ^?'""" ^"' ^^^''^^>- --h -ore th n v.UhT A^ u ""^^ P"""^"'^' '^^ '^^ft f^"- e^PO. ration, not- w.thftandmg the much greater convenicncie they h ve for kcepmg them at fo much lefs expence than i/ Br^'^ twice or thnce as dear as it ufed to be; h^JLn Corn is ^t turee and four fh.ilings currency a hifhel, wher " he common price ufed to be a fl,ilhne, «nd wh re wc h 'e known .t made for fixpcnce ; and wheat h.s rofe to thr^ a^^d four rhilhngs fteriing a buftel, v.here it was neL fo d ior above two, and often under that price. In the iflani hones till .'u '' • -- ;;'"""o-r or ucujg iwirvca by ihetr iioncs, tul they were obliged to make a Jaw to set rid of them, and to al iow none to keep them under a very g great icnah^ .0, ttl ?1 Iflf." w m ;)■'«• !'"H [ 34 ] The expence of horfes to their owners i> well known, and they are much more exoenfiVQ and prejudicial to the public. They not only conrume fo much Corn, but they hinder the growing of as much more, and the raifing of all other Provifions, as well as the breeding of people. The very beft of the lands are kept in grafs for horfes, and the people are thereby de- prived of their chief employment in tillage- which affeds not only their fubfiftence, but their very exigence, as it is only by agriculture that people are both bred and maintained! Thus by the keeping of fo many horfes, the nation lofes many more people, for which no^ thing can be a fufficient recompcnfe, efneci- my m this nation which has fo few people, and fo many and great occafions for them. Horfes confume from two to three bufhels of Corn a week, that is from 104 to i c6 bufliels a year; whereas ten'Mfhels of corn a year maintain the people f . Oats indeed will not pen^alty, unlefs they were pofTefTed of a greater eftate than In populous countries, fuch as China, they feldom or never breed any horfes, and keep but very few ; the Cfc/i are lupphed w,th them from the defarts of Tariary, where they have fuch vaft tra^s of wafte and uncultivated lands, ^h,ch are only fit for the breeding of horfes, where we would have men. ■ + The quantity of Corn confumed by the people is a ver^V m^ereftmg fubjeft, which, h.s been very carefilly d.f- ^Ux.cu uy the ingenious author of the Traas on the Corn Trade ; [ .55 1 hot go fo far among men, as two bufhels of oats make but one of oatmeal, but they hinder the growing of an equal quantity of other Corn for the ufc of mankind, and are reckoned to exhaufl the land more than any other grain fown in England, Trade; who concludes from mtny differing accounts, that the people of England confume, one with another per an- num, eioht buflids of wheat, ornineofrye, eleven of bar- ley, and oats, which are more uncertain, he reckons may amount to twenty three bufhels a year, which make eleven bulhels and a half of oatmeal ; but oatmeal is more nourifh- jng than barley meal, as is generally obferved, and I have beeri fenfible of it by living on both, and having k^n others do the fame. This is a fubjefl well known in America, where they mamta.n their negroes entirely on Indian Coxn, of which they find twelve bufhels and aJialf at a medium will kc^r, them for a twelvemonth without any other food ; and as two bufhels of Indian Corn are found to be equal to three of oats, this quantity is equal to eighteen bufhels and three pecka ot their oats, wiuch are not nigh fo good as the Englijh ; the white people again do not confume much above half this quantity of Indian Corn, or about kv^n bufhels a year as It IS well known to be by far the moft nourifhing of any grami -x hence we may conclude, that eighteen bufhels of oats will maintain men, women and children, one with another, for a twelvemonth. And ten bufhels of corn take one fort with another, is a large allowance, where they have plenty of other food, as in England; whereas Ta^Ii°'. ^'^ ^^° ^"^^'^ ^ y^^'"' 2"^ either confume or obltrudt the growing of fo much for the fupport of the peo- ple. It is for this reafon, that in the colonies, where the horles are fo numerous. Corn is become fovery dear, al- though they do not eat above a third part of what they d,3 in tngUni, and they have fo much more land to arowit. i 11 F ' Siippofc I m r 36 ] Suppofe, horfes confume two buAels of Corn ^weck, or thirteen quarters a year, 500.000 «ould confume 6,500,000 quarters feLn„um, ;«'hereas all ,he people in Engia/d ufe bw /,50o, 000 quarters. Horfes again confume more In grafs and fod- der. We cannot fnppofe, that they require annually lefs than four acres of land to i^ain- tam them ,n grafs, fodder, and corn, and that of foch land as would produce four quarters of Corn to an acre, finre they would take more rate 500,000 horfes require two millions of acres of the beft lands, which would produce eight millions of quarters of Corn, half a mil- lion more than all the people ii. England cor^. lume. befides the ftock which might be raifed on fuch Corn lands.-If we fupptfe the num- ber of horfes to be a million, and that they take 5 or 6 acres to keep them, which is moft pro- bable, they obftrua the growing of twice as much Corn, as would maintain all the people in the Kingdom, the value of which is iiimenfe. 7 iie vaft expence of horfes may be feen irom the great quantities of oats confumed : the importation of which into the port of Lon- don has incieafed 52,000 quarters I year, fince the year ,752 f . And notwithftandina ,he quantities that are grown, yet in the year ,76, wc were obliged to import 219,3 ,0 Quarters f. m> 1 1 See the Trafls on the Corn Trade. valued [ n ] valued at as many pounds fterllng. and that .mportat,on is reckoned to have been as grea ' ever fince ; which e.pence the nation is af, to feed he dogs and horfes, when the people a e complaining of the want of bread ' By the keeping of fo many horfes the far- mers are obliged to lay their lands down ia grafs, inftead of cultivating them with Co.n and as a grafs farm does not require above a tenth part of the hands, as one in Corn, the people are thereby deprived of their employ- ment in agriculture, the greateft lofs that an» na .on can well fuftain. %s that bre ds a„J maintains more people than all other empC ments put together; and the opulem Si are thereby enabled to engrofs the land and monopolize the farms, which not ol's vet them a monopoly of the neceffaries of life ^but extirpates fo many people, ftarves the eft and occafions fuch a number of poor in fuch aa opulent country. ^ ^" It's this immoderate expence in horfes that ferns to occafion a» the dearth of provifions in England. The iirft rife of thei? price ;« thTcLf: ' nV'"r P^ '""^ """^"Vamong ine cattle ; and as the farmers then took tn ,h^ breeding of horfes, inflead of catde thev h v never repaired that lofs, on '^^^^^^^^^^^^ ftock h f r '"':,"''""?• "" ">*' l°fs i/ he ock ha occafioncd a real fcarcity both of ca tie, milk, butter and cheefe, on whid! tt ^ people »i r\\ '♦1 Rf [ 38 J people of England chiefly fubfift 5 and that dc-^ cafions a dearth of every thing. At the fame time every field about all the populous tovi^ns in E?igland, and many more in the country, are turned into graCs for the keeping of horfes ; the growing of Corn is thereby prevented, and that becomes fcarce, as well as all the other neceffarics of life. The land that is kept in grafs for horfes, with the manure that is laid upon it, about all the towns in England, and efpecially about this capital, would maintain a great part of the people, and thereby render provifions cheap throughout the whole kingdom j which is ftarved, in order to fupport the luxury of this Metropolis, and efpe- cially in horfes. Befides all the other expences of horfes, the grcateft perhaps is the lofs of manure. Horfes digeft what they eat, and turn it into nourifli- menti whereas in ruminating animals, as cattle and {heep, the greateft part of their food pafles off by the belly, and affords manure for all the food they require themfelves, and for the Corn which they do not eat. Hence cattle manure the grafs grounds on which they live, and even render them fit for mowing ; infomuch that it is the common praftice to mow them one year, and feed them another with cattle, which ren- ders them fit to mow again from year to year j and (heep are well known to manure the land in like manner for Corn, when fed with the lUwj.Jpj wi^OiA iv, vviiiViA VVVyUlU ULUCi VViiw CAIJUUit lands any more is for the f Corn is es fcarce, ife. The with the the towns is capital, :ople, and ghout the n order to , and efpe- orfes, the . Horfe? 3 nourifli- , as cattle bod pafles for all the the Corn !e manure and even Lich that it I one year, 'hich ren- r to year j e the land with the r. -..-1 n. ilw CAXiUUXl, I 39 ] lands more than the Corn itfelf : it is this that renders floclcs and herds Co profitable to farm- ers, as well as to the whole nation ; when hor- fes deftroy every thing, and will eat up the very roots of the graft they live upon. If they may afford a little manure, it requires as much ftraw for litter, as would maintain fo many cattle • when all the manure we have from horfes is only to ra.fe a few melons and cucumbers,' in place of bread and meat. Thus horfes impo- yer.fh the earth, and ftarve every thing upon K; when fJocks and herds give us plenty of every thmg, both of CornT Beef, Mutton Pork. Milk, Butter and Cheefe. Ukh are' the fupport of mankind. Befides cattle and fheep, the keepin- of hor- fes occafions as great a fcarcity of hogs,' which are reckoned to be the leaft ex'penfive of all ani- rna s and are the cheapeft meat that is raifed, as they will hve upon any thing, except the graft wh,ch we keep for horfes. Hence'^L aU well cultivated countries, hogs are the chief fupport of the people, and efpeciall^ of the farmers themfelves, as they require no Jaft grounds which are the richeft of any. and^are tW 'r?^h' "^''■'''•S'^" Plentj of eve;; hing. But by keeping the beft of the lands m graft for the maintenance of horfes on which the farmers chiefly fpend their t'me and labour, we can never have'plenty eithe of J-orn, or any other provifions. Th^ h„„o „„. fy tnat means ;:arved and extirpated, a? well as ; 4. i. "lit "* j ti'ii) m r 40 ] as th.- people themfelves; bacon is raifed to the enormous price of a (hilling a pound, and pork IS not to be had, wunout which we can never have provtdonc rhc np The price of provifions IS perl -^Ds always in proportion to the plenty of ftogs; r, thc7 are kept, the bed of the lands, n.ai they do not require, are culti^ vatcd Hi Corn, and we have plenty of that, which, with bacon and pork, lowers the price of all otner provifions. Accordingly, the price of provifions in £/?^/W has always been rifing, fmce the great confumption of hogs by the navy , in the two laft wars ; which feems to have oc- cafioned a deficiency in the ftock of thefe, as well as the diflemper and mortality among the cattle. Were it not for hogs, the people of ^»?erica could hardly live upon all the land they have. Hogs live upon the ofl^als of the earth, and if they eat much, they repay it as ^ell in their growth. They require neither Corn, grafs, nor fodder, which arc the great expence of other ftock, and take up both the horres"" ""^^ ^^^ ^'''^^^' '"^ P'°''^'^' ^^' Hence if we would lower the price of pro- vifions, the firfl thing to be done, is, to dimi- Tiifli the number of horfes, and to increafe the ftock of hogs. Now both thtfe may be done, and another much greater advantage obtained at the lame time, by giving encouragement to the cultivation of the poor and mean larJs, in rye, bariev, oeas. he-im • - - J «*iia Lruc».WliCUl, Oil which [ 41 ] ^hlch hogs afe fed, and horfes are not bred; and on this produce of fuch lands the peo- ple (hould chiefly live, if they would have provifions cheap. But inftead of thefe, the people of England live upon nothing, as we may fay, but the fat of the earthy upon the produce of the beft and richeft lands in wheat and grafs, and all the reft are thereby l^h un- cultivated; which renders provifions twice as dear, as they might otherwife be raifed. This; method of living is incompatible with the keeping of {o many horfes ; the people of England t^i nothing hardly but the beft wheaten bread, and at the fame time export whoat, when they confume great quantities of flefh meats, all which require the richeft lands ; the beft of which muft be kept in grafs for horfes, which thereby cut off the very fubfiftence of the people who live in this manner. And as fheep are chiefly kept and fed by the farmers, in order to manure their lands for Corn, the keep- ing of them in grafs for horfes prevents the breedinfg of fheep, and muft deprive the nation of its only ftaple both of Corn and Wool ; which laft is become as dear as every thing clfe in the kingdom. If this nation will export Corn, fhe cannot export horfes with it, and at the fame time keep fuch a number at home. Either of thefe feems to be a lofs to the nation, and both to- gether may be the ruin of it. If the lands are kept in grafs for horfes, the nation may lofe both the Corn Trade, and Woollen Manufac- ^^ ture?. ■ -m 1 1 m\ if' f 42 j tures, without which it could not exift, as m mdependcnt ftate. This praaice of turning arable Lnds into grafs, has always been fo common in Emhf^, that the laws provide againft it, and diffnnull any compacfl imde by a landlord with his tenant not to break up and plow grafs grounds; but as that law .s evaded, by laying a fine upon the tenants for all grafs grounds they (hall break up, arabh lands are as fcarce as ever 3 wh^n it would appear, from this law itfelf, as well as tro.n the fmall quantity of land that is tilled in the kingdom, that they have always been wanted ; and the late improvements in hufhand- ry, which turn them into grafs, by the fowing of grafs feeds, or the -laying of them down in grals, m order to fave the expence of tillage, render arable lands ftJll fcarcer. This method of hufbandry proceeds from the great quantities of flefli meats which are eonfumed by the people, which makes a grep^ demand for grafs grounds; and the keeping of lo many horks, farther enhances their value, and threatens to ruin the agriculture of the king- dom, or the growing of Corn, as much as the dearnels ot provifions tlieieby occafioned en- dangers its trade and manufadtures. It is well known, that an acre of good grafs tor mowing is worth three pounds, when it would not lett for above ten or twelve /hillings in arable land. The difference is generally reckonea to b^- ns rhlrfy to ^- o- c,.^ r_ -^ 7 take ill r 43 ] take all the lands in Great Britain one with another. This is therefore a great inducement to make this ufe of the land, or to turn it into grafs, inftead of Corn, even if it fliould flarve the people, and ruin the Corn Trade, the great fupport of the nation. And it is to reap this advantage from their lands, that the farm- ers keep fuch a number of horfes, and turn ihcu farms into grafs for that purpofe. Their lands indeed are their own, and they may think, as EngUJhmen do, that they may do what they will with them j but lands are a. public utility, and cannot be mifapplied, with- out hurting the whole community, and ruining the ftate. The ufe of lands is intended by na« ture itfelf to be very general, if not in conrt^non ; and they who would engrofs them, or let them lie uncultivated, in grafs for their beafts, in- ftead of corn for men, forbid the iirfl com- mand given to mankind, increafe and multiply^ and repknipo the earth. They tell us indeed, that they have plowed too much, and made too much Corr, fince the bounty upon it; but that is impoffible, fo long as- they can have a vent for it, which they have always had. We can never make too much Corn in England, till people ceafe to eat it. The ftaple of a country, as Corn is in England^ fhould not be made dear, otherwife you will never prefer ve the trade in it, when it may be made in all other parts of the world. This opinion of the farmers, therefore, that they ri l:'tli G 2 have y m f 44 ] have made Corn too cheap. Is contrary to their Pwn .ntereft, and is rather^he opiniorof the Sellers than the Buyers. Could they make Porn at two fl. i„gs a buftel, it would L more for thur intereft, by fecuring a monopoly in i^ four mnT "°"k «" """' '>y'' '^-- ^ b/evnoT' '""^'' gf^^er quantities would beexpoited, a greater number of people em- ployed by n, and the Farmers themfelverwouTj nnd their account in the cheapnefs of Corn! by lowering the price of evekr thine thej ?^ , '"'nT'°" ''°"> °f 'he Corn Trade and Woollen Manufaflure. as appears fVom thet C ifftrf H^'^f"'' ''^^ --^ ^°Ss they Jiave nftituted for that purpofe. Thev farmer!^ SSv 'and flT^^''"'' -^4 -^^^-^ -S^ot tney lay and they are in hopes of doine the cZ T1 '■ °' '^ "^''^ '"^^ds will no? produce Corn to advantage, they will at leaft mltain fteep J and a, they fee fhefe are the two h e« deorlvp Kpr ^Tu u 7 ^^^ endeavouring to pear, from the exceffive price of everv thmn- f hereby cccafioned, that J cannot Sl^!^ Th eir fary to their lion of the they make jid be more ppoly in it, it, than at ities would 3eopIe em- Ives would 5 of Corn, hing they ►portion to the Frenck ars to de- Frade ancj rom theic ieties they r formerly ith Corn, ioing th^ t produce maintain •wo great curing to conquer 'the force :hey may kingdom fo many made fo ery thing in fl^^rvi f 45 3 Their fentiments and words on this occafion are highly worthy of notice. They would flat- ter themftlves, that England rather lofes than pins by her Trade ; that the balance is againft her ; and that flie has no income but from her Corn. ' Can there be a more noble Manufac- ture, therefore, or a richer branch of Trade , found out, than the Manufadlure and Trade of Corn ? % they. Is it not evidently true, that It .s this Manufaaure, and this branch of Trade, that have aftually fupported England, ' and have been the fource both of its power ■ and Its ftrengtb, ever lince we have been fo mtatuated as to deprive ourfelves of it ? The ' State, which abounds moftin Corn, abounds ^ moft ,n ftrength and power.— We ought not c !^-V? °i^ " moment's time in recSverinz this Manufaaure and Trade in Corn from the t^ngbfi, which, as I have faid more than once ^ they never could have availed themfelves of . 'LTA ''"'',K=^".^'f= enough to have availed ourfelves of it, m the manner we might and ftould have done This would be infinite- < ZZ°'''t'^\'°^"S'''"'^ ''^^'n 'he lofs of ten battles * ; from which let Eni^land take warning. P« ejl & ab hojte docerL i'rom thefe motives, and by thefe encou- ragements, the French now export r'-n quin- n^esofCorn, when the f„qLnt?,ohibTions (aid upon it here, of which there have been fix Silho, 'nqteh View of England, p, 203. m ' ''1 t Th eir m an the lafl: nine years, open the markets to them, and may deprive this nation of the trade. Thus if £;«^/^«^fhould lofc the Corn Trade, France would gain it, which might be a double lofs to Britain 'y and this lofs would be the greater, as Corn is the only flaple commodity of any great confequence that the land produces for exportation, to pay for the many foreign produdions of the earth which arc imported into this kingdom. Corn, which in all other countries is looked upon only as a necefTary of life, and an article of confumption, is in £«rg-- land the chief article both of confumption and of commerce, and the grand ftaplc commodity that pays the great balance of Trade, which is againft this nation in moft parts of the world. Hence Corn is to England, what wine and oil are to Francs and Spain^ or fugar and tobacco to our colonies, their chief (laple commodities. Thus nature has diflributed her bounties to all, and every one has their fhare, if thej did not covet more. But notwithflanding the Corn Trade is of fuch confequence to this nat'on, it is in danger of being lofl from three feveral caufes j firft, from the engroffing of the lands and farms, which occafions a want of people to cultivate them J fecondly, from the laying of the lands down^ in grafs, or fowing them with grafs feeds, inftead of corn, in order to maintain fuch a number of hories ; and thirdly, from the heavy taxes on the fubje^, efpecially in articles %m f 47 ] of My confumpiion, which muftafFea the Agrf- culture of the kingdom, as well as its Tra^e and Manufadures. The firft of thefe is not indeed complained of by the Farmers, who reap the profits of this monopoly, however it is by the poor, and by the people in general j but thefe fame Farmers complain much of the want of hands, to culti- vate their lands, and to get in their harvefts : of which they themfelv^es are the caufe, by en- groffing the lands, and extirpating the people Hence they are not able to cultivate the lands' or to make fuch crops as they would otherwife yield i which both enhances the value of their produce to the public, and depreciates the value of lands to the owners, much more than the '^"^A^LfK ^'°"^" ^°' P°°' Farmers, Labourers, and Workmen, would coft them. It is furprifing, that the proprietors of lands lliould endeavour to raife their value, by pul- Img down their houfes, and expelling the peo- pie from them. As the riches of every ftate proceed from the number of people, fo every individual eftate is more or lefs valuable accord- ing to the number of people upon it. If a few cannot pay their rents, they fhould get more to help them , for people live by one another, the tarmer by the tradelman, and the lad upon the produce of the lands. Where lands have no people upon them, they are worth nothing. And though a few opulent farmers m.v of fi^ Sive a high rent for lands, yet they are foon obliged ; •.»« !• * J, m I a t 48 ] obliged to lower It for want of hands, wUfi the labourers are gone 3 and for Want of thb confumption which they occafion. The farmers are then obhged to lay their lands down in grafs, inftead of cultivating thert in Corn ; which pradice has become fo com- mon, efjiecially among thofe who have large farms, which they can hardly manage, and among others who ftudy improvements, as many have done of late, that they Wl o are at- quainted with the agriculture of the kingdom, have forefeen and foretold the prefent dearth and fcarcity of provifions from this caufe aloric, many years before it happened j and Are of opinion, that this muft occafion a fcarcity of Corn the chief fiaple of the land, as Well as ot all other provifions. Thefe and the hkt improvements in hufbandry, arc, indeed, ha^ neltly intended to improve the land to the bcfl advantage, and thereby to prevent a fcarcity' were not all the fruits of their labor deftroyed by fo many horfes. And as a much greater quantity both of grafs and fodder has been pro- duced by the late improvements in hufbandry notwithlianding which the price of provifions dnily riiec, this is a plain proof, that the pro- duce of the grafs grounds is confumed by hor- fes, which occafions a dearth of butchers meat." while the laying of the lands down In grafs for horles at the fame time obilruds the growinp- of Corn, and thereby renders all forts of pro- vifions dear. It lay their bating theiA ne fo coiK- iiave large mage, and imeiitSj as ho are zd- kingdom, ent dearth aufe aloric, nd Are of fcarcify of as v^ell as 1 the Yikt deed, ho^- :o the bcfl I fcarcity, deftroyed, :h greater been pro- lufbandry, provifions : the pro- d by bor- ers meat.;- grafs for growing ) of pro- [ 49 J It IS for chefe reafons, that fuch vafl: quan- tities of land in England lye uncultivated for want of hands, which nothing but an eXtenfive cultivation and tillage will cither breed or main- tain. It is not above one half of the lands in this kingdom, that can be faid to be cultivated. All the forefts, commons, heaths, downs, &c. are fo many waftc lands ; great part of the reft lyes in a bare fwade for pafturage j and the; very beft of the lands arc kept in grafs for hor- fes, as we may fee about all the towns, and other parts of the kingdom. The chief of the lands that are cultivated in England, are only fuch as will bear good grafs, and wheat, which require the very beft and richcft lands; thcfe are engroffed by a few, who endeavour to fupply the markets with the produce of them at as dear a rate as poffible ; and all the reft of the lands, which would p'-Q^- duce good crops of almoft any thing elfe, lye uncultivated. It is for this reafon, that the nation has fo few people, that the few we have feem to decreafe, and are maintamed at fodear a rate. This proceeds from th^ want of tillage, and that occafions a Icarcity of huibandmen and labourers to cultivate the land, and to fup- port the great variety of other employments in the kingdom, which its extenfive trade creates. Having thus confidered the caufes of this dearth, they may perhaps faggeft fome remedy for fuch a rivettcd and confirmed evi). IS, to prohibit the exportation of Corn 3 which i-j i 'A V 1 ,. But however ne«ffi,.r'"u">' ?""« wre may be in the „, ^"^ "=«"ary fuch a mea- ;;«'^. '^eveVt'ThTtTeS ^ "'I! ^r' ""' 'i^'ng. which has prevS ?or ;""" °^ ''"y on the contrary thi, 17^- ° """"y y=ars , only endeavour to oreLfh ""'' °^^''''<^h ^^ The caufe of thifde " h '""P°"^y ^ff^^^- ^antofamore gl„erarci-''''P'''' '° ''^ the "ot be promoted bu tlT""".'."^^'"^ ^i" P-lohihiein'g the e'pona ion of T °''*".^^''' "^ ;«"ft prevents the grow i?./- °"' "^^^ hlce- •fwrer : And by iTfZ^ "' "'"^ ^^"^ers it ^vhich there h'ave beet tm P™'''.'!''""^. of few years, the nation ml lr\"^ """''■" thefc and ^onfpire with °ts e^.^ °'^ "'^^"^ Trade, culture of the 1 Idn "'f '° ^"''" the Aari! land. ^ '""«''°°'' and only ftaple of the •'°7;5Larth'l'°s;;^^^^^^^^ «:i>.ch we would pr vent n JT "'"'"= ^''^^ Farmers to grow Co " ,., ^ ^^?""g'"g the and enhancethe Drke 'l t '"'^'' " f^arcer. [ 51 1 from five to four (hillings a bufhel. Therefore, if the exportation were prohibited, as many feem to defire, there is all reafon to believe, that Corn would always be at its prefent high price, as it was for a hundred years together, before the exportation was encouraged. Nay, it is high- ly probable, that Corn would be much dearer now, than it was in former days, fince the price of every thing elfe in the kingdom, and confe- quently of Agriculture, is fo much advanced. And by prohibiting the exportation, the nation would be deprived of that ftore of Corn, which fupplies it in times of fcarcity, fuch as the pre- fent ; and might again be reduced to that ruin- ous ftate of purchafmg Corn in every fcarce year; which was formerly fo great a burden and drain to the nation, that we are told by Sir Walter Raleigh, in his letters to King James, Corn had m fome years cofl: England upwards of tivo millions fterling * : This was the cafe, till the export- * A dearth in England^ and other places, is truely ob- ferved to ennch Holland fbven years j for example, the laft dearth, fix years paft, the Hamburghers, Embdeners, and Hollanders, out of" their ftorehoufes, furnifhed this king- dom j and from Southampton, Exeter, and Brijlol, in a year and a half, they carried away near 2CO,ooo /. from thefe parts only : then what great quantity of coin was tranfported round about your kingdom from every port town; and from your city of London, and other cities, cannot be ettimated fo little as two millions, to the great de- cay of your kingdom, and impoverifliing vour people: dif- .,, ^„c tuuipaiiy Of mercnants, ana diilionour to the land that any nation that have no Corn in theix own coun- H 2 try i r, < • Til i, ■'4 ii^V' f ^2 ] exportation, wh'irh moo • nation, fo far from r,„„ h!7 ' 7^^^ " ^'"«'' 'he ported great qua,ui.ies 11"^, ^u'"' ^'' «' enjoyed the ben fi 0/ ^t \'^^ f^"><= tlm^ f"mption at home "'^ ^''"P^^ «"- ge^e'.^prat:^c:r'''''-^°5 Corn, think that the ftm/ " •'^'^ P"*^^ o^ «nade for the hom^i r "J^^n'^y «'ouid be niade both for .CnT^^^P''""' «'' ''' "o^ -erp,„, which'" „t;X°-'^"^ that the f ome to marlcet, and ZrebvT ' T "'^ ''» thercanthe/affidtStbel^^"""'"-'- lage, or to employ ,he ut ^^^P^nceof eil- .the Icingdom. unlef they foTth^- ""^ ^°" "^ Corn cheap, the Farmers ftoXen'c^u^^td ^^'•^^, Vol. ii. p. I,-. '"^^^- -S-zr Walter RaJeighV his'vilw'lf^'i^ ?''^ arguinent ufed by Mr '.iil IV. So ?il IV. So if V S6 j Corn, which renders every thing dear. ^ V. But above all, though thi people mur mur at the exportation ofloro, tretyinTo'f any reftramt upon it will obftiift the^Sllage eln^' '°""*'^' ^^P"'« 'hem of thllr Sf employment, and the nation of fo many to- pie. wuo are already by far too fev^ 'and Thus by endeavouring to remove the f^m -urattfd''' ''"'"• "'^ -°y '--fe tt ■ c me, and render it more or lefs perpetual in JeWdom, which is otherwifeto^ b? ap^! Trfde'^^f''^ endeavouring to preferre the Corn Self Til"'". ^^'" ^~^''''°"' ^"loyment be tcm-, feafe the )etual m ' appre- fsveral le Corn d every (e other whfch c> allow r rivals m our- mentai fource Is and rry on works [ 57 ] Works of every kind, vvhich are the riches and flrength of every nation, and which we firength- en our enemies which threatens to continue, as it has for many years, unlefs fome fuch feafonabb relief is afforded. If it be not by fuch an expe- dient, it will be very difficult, if not impradi» cable, to render Corn and Provifions cheap in this kingdom, where all other things are fo dear j and if thefe are dear, nothing can be cheap. If vve would lower the price of our Manufactures, and all other articles of trade and conlumption, it can only be done, by reducing the price of Corn and Provifions in the fiiifc place, by a bounty upon our own confumption, tW^' •f*l as Wcii ab; ii pon tnat o» our iiv.iis. Now r#ft .&. • • |S» *>l%' giving i as J r^, '''' "P"" '^°r'"«' "nd L(bi d tour r^iT" "^^ S°'" "'«*^ turersi and by "akZ Iff .k'" """^ ''"'"°^<=- two WOU d cut off all tU^ C . "^ "^"^ The caufes of this dearth as w. I,, ftewn, are ,. a monopoly of th- I.Lc\ ° fall upon the'^huft"ni' ^^''7^ *'^« ^'^'^h "pon 5,e^:ccVS rf ir • tr rcT^T'l,^ on fh^r''''*" expedient will take ( .f !ie taxe, on thefe neceiTary articles, which are ,!>H h every one, and by the nieaneft LT / '''^ mechanic, as wcl a h^T r ^'^^'^''^ o-" well as by the farmers, r'bich - en!tance5 >pofed to (cs, and n that {$ lanufac- ipon £he irc ufed ftituting Thefe icfe ge- >f every feafable e have )y opu- )f huf- r value )f hor- which [ucntly which, either 3d bv in or 'bich ances C 59 ] enhances the price of their labor in every thing, and even of the neceffaries of hfe ; and this laft increafes the evil, and renders every thin? dear that the country produces. II. A tax on horfes, and a bounty on Corn, will both equally contribute to render Corn more valuable to the farmers, and encourage them to grow It for the fupport of the people, inCead of grafs for horfes. JII. And as they are enabled to monoiiolize the farms from the fuperior value of grafs above arable lands, the laying of a tax upon the firft in horfes, and giving a bounty upon the laft in Corn, would prevent the many ruinous effedls of that monopoly, which both flarves and ex- tirpates the people ; and thereby deprives the nation of hufbandmen fufficient to fupply the markets, as well as of people for all other em- ployments. Thus the propofcd tax on horfes would be o far from being a new and additional tax upon the Ajb)e-dsm^yattthc woollen ,. -- niifuftureirora us, and the /Ww^uhat of filk. [ 6i ] by mean? of Englijh Corn. Yet it muft be owned, that the Corn Trade is a very great ad- vantage to this nation, and we fliould endea- vour to preferve both, both that and our ma- nufadtufes. Among the other advantages of the trade and exportation of Corn, the greateft perhaps is, that it ferves the nation for a public granary; it is only the bounty and exportarion, that en- courages the farmer to grovjr more Corn than is confumed, and thereby to provide the nation with fuch a ftore, which fupplies it in time of want. Thus the exportation of Corn is a c^ra- nary, which fupplies the nation in time of ^ar- city, and for that reafon fliould be carefully hufbanded and preferved in times of plenty. And as an article of trade. Corn is perhaps more valuable than any one in the kingdom. Thefe benefits the nation has reaped from the exportation of Corn, and the bounty upon it has no doubt very much contributed to thefe national advantages. Since that bounty was granted, the price of Corn, which was for 100 years before at i /. i8i. a quarter, or as, 9^. a bufhel, has been reduced to i /. 13 /r 2d. a quarter, upon an average of the laft fixty- eight years ; and for twenty years paft it has been, communibiis minis, at 1 /. n s. H d. a. quarter, not quite four Shillings a buihel. But although we cannot altogether attribute this abatement in the price to the bounty on Corn, as mi f. I II :s«t r 62 ] a« many do », but to the more general ufe «d greater confumption of Corn^n former .days * It is without difpute a matter of fa^ th., r> u been cheaper in £«.W fmce »h. h ' . ^°''" ^^ ed on the exportation th^n.^r^^ u r ""^^^ ^"^^ S""*"'- attributed entirely o^heboumrhf'' ' '^''' ^'l^^' ^° ''^ opinion, for .he LlolgTafois "' """"^^ ^' °' ''^^^ ^u^hrpTct; tf If/rl ^h" 'T''y '^ ^-^ "^ and as they were much worfrFarm '" r'^ ^° '' P"^^"» • other Provifion, ZZ^i'liT^-''* ^"'^ ^'^ ^"^' ^"^ worth but 30 or 40 S gs^X^^^^^ »hen the reign of Edward IV )«,hlnr 16 "iilhngs in mer days. 1 he fame manner of Jivinff whirh r^lJl e mer y to have been upnpr,! *v, ""'"&' wnich feems for* of living. ^ ' "'''' """« 'Wenfive vfay II. The greater cheapnefs of Corn proceeds fmm ,%. rTrZ's ^2l!hJ '" "■'• "^""8 "f Graf, Seeds "„d ™,T f ,""\.'''= g'"' improvements ihat liave betn howev. th?^ f'^l""'' '"'^ "°' ^^ ^*'^ bounty on Corn however tha: might have encouraged the Farmers To fl about there .approvements, when tlfey come to bTknown in. The days^than the prefent, to the many improve^ ments which have been made in Agriculture fined nc"U!;!,±?^t,°f t "P""'''™ °f Corn arifes from with its tZu. atS ■ . ^^^ "^''°" would be enlarged to maintain our own „fol^ all nations , but it (hould be bounty i, necelfarL^h^ ' r"°- "H' ""mi"— If a our own, ZZZ ,"fo ' ^T^" """*" "^ g'«" 'o fl'ould put then, UDonaS ' ^°.'''"'": " « leaft we as well astrX-Th/L ,^'"' A''™">''<> "«<"«. e' '"""<■- TorsJetir-"™-''^^^^^^^^^^^^^ a bo^n y ,i o" own rT" "PP^"> '''^' '( "= do not gi^ !en " e price fiicreof is (( at f 64 ] fince that bounty was granted ; and to the advancement of Trade and Manufadures, which have openeJ a much better market for Corn than any we have abroad j yet it muft be owned, that the bounty is a very great encou- 1 VlTllv '" '^'' '^^"?'^«'"»*' w'^'^^h was then deemed IhXff ^ IT ' '*"*''"' ^^"^ ^^"^ ' b"^ "o^» when the bounty .slefs proper or needful, that is a very /./>* prue and fuch as .s complained of by the poor, who raifed the late tumults as foon as Wheat came to that prict, as JiZrhl '" 'P'^l J" '''^'' ''^"^^"^^ ^° prevent the like difturbarices for the future, as well as to encourage our Manufaaures, no bounty fhould be granted on Wheat, after the pnce exceeds 40 (hillings a quarter, and none Jhould be exported, after it comes to 48 fhillinKs.-The average price was made the rule for the bounty, when it was granted, and the fame fliould take place now. The price then was 38 fhiUings a quarter, and the bounty was granted till it came to 48 fhillings, which was ten (hillings above the average price; and 40 (hillings is the fame now, when the average pnce, for forty years pa(l, has beea 1/. 10 s. gd. a quarter, or 3 s. 10 d. a bu(hel. And as it fcems to have been unreafonable, at iir(*, to have given a bounty on Wheat, when it was ten (hillings above the ave- rage prtce, It IS fliU more unreafonable to continue it now at the fame rate, as that exceeds the average or common price by 18 (hillings a quarter* nigh two thirds of the whole value.-lf this (hould be thought a difcouragement to Agriculture, which we would rather promote; there leems to be no way to prevent the many inconveniencies attending the bounty on fuch a high price, but to give a ii-ke bounty on other Corn to our Workmen, in order to enjoy this exportation of Wheat; or at leaft, if Wheat is exported at this price, the exportation of other Grain (hould be reftramed, if not prohibited, for the reafons hereaftet given, in times of dearth, the price of every thing rifes, artd IS never again lowered, till the Manufadurls and 1 rad&of the kingdom will be ruined. ragement [ 65 ] i'agcment to the growing of Corn, and fuppiica the nation with it in that plenty, which it can avail itfelf of in times of fcarcity, if it does noC render Corn cheaper at aH times. Now if thefe advantages have been received from the bounty upon the exportation of Corn how much greater might we not expect from alike bounty on the home confumption, with which the quantity exported is not to be com- pared. It h to the improvements of Hufban- dry, and the advancement of Trade and Manu- fadures, that the greater cheapnefs of Corn in the prefent than informer days is to be attributed^ and a promotion of thefe at home, rather than abroad, would be a much greater encourage^ ment to Agriculture, and the growing of Corn, than all that is exported j which is not a third part, if a fourth part of the feed that is fown.' The quantity of Corn taken from us by fo- reigners is but a mere trifle, in comparifon of- what IS confumed at home i the firft, upon an average of the laft 68 years, amounts but to 422,352 quarters, the laft to 14 millions of quarters, of which feven millions and an half are confumed in food. Thus the export is but one thirty-fixth part of the Corn that is grown *, lo that a bounty on that is but a very inconfiderable encouragement to Agriculture which is loaded with all the heavy taxes of th' J kingdom. ♦ See the Trafls on the Corn Trade, p. 144. K A bounty ^■''' J 1 j f 66 J _ A bounty therefore on tlie home confump- .on would be, a much greater encouragerent «o the growing of Corn, in order to fup;i7the m.,on wu], it at a cheaper rate, than ever^ht be^ In'n T?""'"'" ^"^ ^"PP°'"^'^ '° have lfT'^1 u' encouragement to the growing of It. With he abatement of the prici by the bounty would be an effefiual and certain means of rendering Corn cheap, particularly to the poor, and to Labourers and Workmen, who receive the benefit of the bounty. Such a bounty would likewife be a relief to the landed .ntereft, and Farmers, on whom a). the heavy taxes M the kingdom chiefly fall. As land IS the fountain of every thing, fo it bears the btjrden of all, and Hiould be relieved m the firft place, if we would have plenty from It, or the produce of it cheap. The great en- couragements wanted by tlic Land-ov?ners and rarmers are, fj' hU'.^T^^^ ^^'."^ ^° ^""P "P ^"^ repair the habitations and dwellings of the Poor. which are otherwife fuch a burden on theii- eltates, that the many evils above-mentioned chiefly proceed from this caufe. It is from the expence of repairs, that the poor are expelled from the lands, which are by that means en- groffed by the rich 3 the farms are monopo- iized, and the people extirpated, for the en- richment of a few opulent Farmers, rather than • the maintamance of a numerous race of poorer and better fubjeds, who are both the ftienoth 3Dd riches of every flatCi and as this is the bufi- 5 nch [ 67 ] nefs of the public, rather than of any private perfons, feme public encouragement ought to be given to fuch a general and national concern, without which this nation may want people, either to cultivate the lands, to carry on its Trade and Manufadlures, or even to fecure and defend thf kingdom. II. The greateft improvement of the landed eftates would be the taking in and cultivating of the poorer and meaner lands, which now produce little or nothing, and that would, at the lame time, be as great a benefit to the pub- lic. It is only by that means, that this nation can extend its Agriculture, in proportion to its extenfive Trade and Manufactures, or maintain people at a reafonable rate to fupport thet. both. So long as the people live upon nothing but the fat of the earth, and confume only the produce of the beft and richeft lands, this nation will never have fo many people as it wants, nor will they ever have Provifions cheap. It is only upon the produce of the poorer lands, which moftly lie uncultivated, that we can exped: to maintain the poor, who are fo numerous in the kingdom. But as the upholding of h- -es for them, and the improvements of poorer lands, are more chargeable than what they may pro- duce is worth, we cannot perhaps expedt to fee cither of thefe done, without fome public en- couragement, or a bounty upon the produce of fuch poor and uncultivated lands. Thus the propofed bounty on Corn is chiefly Wiinteu ior lucn as is, anu may ue, couiunicu K 2 hj 'it ■ ■' ^Si^Ji IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) V /^./ O ^ «> .v^ C <^ fe'- / t/ X? 1.0 I.I Hi 1^ 1.25 !i 2.5 22 1.8 i-4 IIIIM.6 <^ 7X /. '<5. % ^^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 J' J. ? V &?- ^^ m ^ [ 68 J or ^^^fe^.^^:" ;&ri;^;;''''/'''''. i'""'. Wheat, on which th.L'^ ''''''P'^ '*''''' given, 'and wWch ,he pJS f T '^'f' only make in any p e„tv T, - ' "' '"'°'' thai the very poor 1^^;./ J' '°'!^"f '''^°"' men LabouLs and w ¥""''' "'"'' ''"= ^"""^ n>oft but rLfttEX'arari r"i'''- and LabourWrhS trothJ^rrofT ''"^^ 7«<3'/W« Corn- infill: P'mattom, on No\y in'^'K:^ tfovT^'slT ^'°''^^°»•'" ^ Corn in cold no,(hern cL», ^" " "'""•" ">' "^H in the fou.hi o" which wrh,' '"'' °" P™' '■"'"')' '=■«'» It will grow on the poorefttV "7- """'"'"• *'^'"<'- ft.«l»ig it with its procumhem hr,n C ,1 """'"g Md the >ir and dews bv it? oX„ ' "''r,' *'"' "('^"'"S i« 'o might have a food c o „?,h '^' ',-, '''"= '"»■ Thus you I k, ^^^'' t «9 ] -Now as theie forts of grain are much cheaper than wheat, it would be a Vdft faving to the nation I. if likewife the chcspeft food of an), both for hoes and h;,,res. and would very much reduce the price b?th of tZ;jf "'"•f Pro''ifi-»>». by feeding horf-f, andTncre^! f "ed :;t -: rt f ^ectof ?^ j-fi! grain between wheat and barley, and ferm for hnlh ;t S;ii J *^["5P'^*-^- ,in the fouthern pans of Eureve it in Who cahed It by way of eminence Z^^, j. e. Gr^/- tk:* nefe, which is one of the five forts that thp Fmil r J.n • J ^°'" .1^^^*^» ^^^^^y «"d oats. It thrives fo well in northern climates, that (he a/«./. colonies which ^nd • f r^ the northern parts of 7artary, in a ver^coM fhei/ 3;''^'" ''•'"'^'' ^^"^ "° other'cornVbu^ 'his Ih. yl?^ -^'""V ""^ """^^^ 2s we are informed bv t^^f^Mffionartes who furveyed that country; * buTwhaN ^ ever may be ,ts true name, fay they, it is of a vervTood whfch llr'"^ P^°bably grow in fome parts of i/r,t th^k that fo'/at "nS r ?'l^ ^"'"'' '^'"^ ^^fl^ou'S injnic, tnat iprat and buckwheat would be a v^r., rro«j .mp-ement in S^Uani, where .hey havVhar2^°:' ?„Iw '"k^"' 1"^' ;' «"" "^ '■" ">' """I'ern parts "^ XJ^' ^''^.'''JS" of fowing this, which is ihe Fr,mh MeuU, proceeds from an obfervation in hot and dfv d . mate,, wh.c ,, ,h„ ;„ j ^^^ ^J clr- b.tXhr.^[s':!i,T^t;roir.^^^^^^ [ 70 ] ration, to maintain the people with them, and. much nore than the whole exportation of corn amounts it is fown in England, is not fo certain ; neither is the cli- mate (o fubjeft to drought as to make a dearth of wheat. We (hould think, thit J'prat would be more fuitable to this climate, and majlin in North Jmerica, as they both thrive on poorer land and a dryer fandy foil, than wheat. — Of this grain there are three different forts, one refembling barley, with a (ingle or double cheft j and the other more like wheat, called wheat with ears of barley. (Triticum Spica Hordeiy R^j.^ The lirft is known in England by the name of Sprat-Barley^ and we may call the other Sprat- fVheat (Zeo-Pyrum,) as it is by the Botanifts. But both of thefe are very different from any fort of true wheat or barley. The ecir is flat, and not round; although in all other refpedls the plant refembl&s v/heat, and like th45 ftands the winter. This Corn would be more particularly ufeful, in our colo- nies in North America, which lye exaftly in the fame climate with the part of Tartary here mentioned, and have no fort of Corn that agrees with their fingular and peculiar climate. No European grain, indeed, pgrees perfe. times feven, has a fweetnefs in it like Indian Corn, and i» as much coveted, whether green or dry, by beafts of every kind. Having mowed it for feveral years, I am well af- fured, it is the befl fodder that grows, except the blades of Indian Corn. The grain is likewife as agreeable, F. Hen' nepin livej upon it, and found it »'' better and more whole- ** fome than rice," to ufe his words. The grain indeed is but flender, as it grows wild, although \'Qfy long, and fraooth f! I 1,- 1/ , .o r ?2 ] of wheal ; fo that if the people of Enghnd^ who conlume 7,500,000 quarters of Corn a year, fmootli lika cleaned rice ; but there is no fuch Corn grov^^ •ng wild in any other part of the world, that we have feetl or heard of; the beft forts of Corn were but grafs, and not to be compared to this, before they were improved bv cul- jure. Were this duely cultivated like rice, as it grows iit Jike manner m water, it would be as ufeful ; and we might have rice from our northern, as well as fouthern colonL* It grows all over North Jmerica, as far north as Hndfon'^ ^ay, in the coldeft climates of any grain. The nativia of Mudfin s Bay, and Lake Superior, have no other Corn.— JBehdes this, there is a fpecies of BarUy peculiar lo the Jouthern parts of North America, where the common Bar- tey will not thrive. -Were that continent explored. It would be found, that we might have both Corn, Wine, Uu, msl, Suk, Hemp, Flax, and many other valuable commodities, all of the native growth of North America t and thefe are the more to be regarded, as no others will thrive in the climate ; they arc likewife totally different from any thing that Britain produces, and might by that ireans keep the colonies from interfering with their motbec country, &c. ° _„;, This Corn might be as proper for all thclow, wet and boggy grounds in Great Britain, and Ireland, which are fo ex - lenfive. and produce nothing. And fuch a Corn might prove as ferviceable a.' potatoes have been, which were in like man- ner brought from America. Thefe common potatoes are the Fapaj^ of Peru, where they grow naturally, and were the only bread Corn that the natives had upon their cold mountains, or have to this day. They likewife grind them to meal and make a bread of it, called Chunno, which is famouJ m hiftory ; with this the Indians fupplyed the mines of Po^ tojt, and grew richer by the trade than the Miners. Th» i^pamards hkewife make a great variety ofdifhes with them, unknown to us, and live upon them like the common people m/r^/tf«^.-.Thcy were Rrfi bwught to Europe by t' iTi'J- n?t'' .^" *''^^^»"^" ^^o'n the expedition fothe S^amjb Wejl hdtes m 1586. He then brought the colony of 4ii .';j'l; [ 73 ] year, worth at leafl: eight millions fterllng. wese to live on thefe, and the like mention- ed below, they would fave three or four mil- lions a year, which would foon reduce the price of provifions. The price of Wheat is 4 s, of of Virginia home with him, and among the reft the famous mathematician Mr. Thomas Herioty who was fent thither by Sir Walter Raleigh to explore the produi^ions of the coun- try, and brought thefe roots with him ; he gave them to Gerard the botanift, who firft planted them in London, and fent them to Clu^^us in Holland^ who planted them in Bur- gundy^ and fent them to Italy, as appears from the works of thefe and feveral other authors. It was from this their introdu(aion into Europi, that they are faid by moft of our writers to have been natives of Virginia, where they will hardly grow, and do not thrive, unlefs they are planted in the following manner. They fliould be planted in trenches like Celeri, and earthed up to the top of the ftalk in like manner, till they come to be in bloflbm ; by that means they fpread and grow to a great fize under ground, as I learnt from my late worthy friend Don Pedro Maldonado, F. R. S. governor of the province of Emeraldos, and a native of ^ho, who reckoned our potatoes but very indifferent, in comparifon of what they daily eat, and live upon, by this method of culture in Peru. They are cultivated in this manner, in order to prevent the plant from running into ftalk and feed, which robs the root of its nouriflbment. But in Britain, the feed never ripens, as in America,^\\\c]\ abundantly fhewsthat they are exotics. Upon this account it is not altogether fo necef- fary here to earth them up as they grow, although it may be as proper. This method of cultivating potatoes is neceffary on an- other account, in order to divert them of the rank and poifonous quality of the Solanum, of which they are a fpe- cies. This is fo ftrong in them, where they grow on the furface of the ground expofed to the fun in hot climates, that the very hogs will not tafte them i and I have known L people ^llii ^M PF [ 74 J of other Grain but 2 s. id.z bufhd, one with another j and of Oatmeal but i s. 8 d. This is likewife the only way to encourage a large exportation of wheat, and at the fame time to enjoy a cheaper confumption of Corn at home. If the people of England will eat their wheat, they cannot export it. If they woold maiie the moft of their Corn, they fhould ex- port their wheat and malt, and keep their bar- ley (exported) rye and oats, for their own con- fumption J but inftead of that, they eat their wheat, drink their barley, and buy oats to feed the dogs and horfes ; of which they keep great people who could nof fet at table where they were, for this their poifonous fcent, of which the hogs are more fen- fible than we are. Even when kept on hard meat on board of {hip, I have feen hogs refufe thefe potatoes grown in a hot climate. They there grow hard and knotty when ex- pofed to the fun, inftead of foft and mealy, and have this rank flavor to fuch a degree, that many people cannot taHe them It was for this rcafon, that when they were firft planted in Burgundy, the ufe of them was condemned by law, for occafioning a fevere diftemper, they imagined. But in thefe cold climates, which are more natural to them, or by thus covering them up from the fun, they are fo di- verted of this rank and noxious flavor, that we are not fen- fible of it ; no more than the hogs whofe fcent is fo acute But from thefe their qualities, the ufe of potatoes has been chiefly confined to the Briti/h ides, to which they werefirff brought; and here the general ufe that is made of them feems to have been owing to an accident in Ireland^ in the time of the civil wars, when the armies deftroycd the fields of Corn j but fome fields of potatoes, we are told, throve very well gfter they were trampled by them, and fuppiied the want of Corn, as they have done ever fince. But thefe are not to be compared to the Spanijh potatoes, as they are called, which are a very difi^erent root and plant, and much more delicious and wholefome. numbers. [ 7$ ] numbere, and at ithe iame jfeime confume grea^ quaniaties of flefli meats, eat Wheaten bread, and eiJtport Wheat j which are Lhe only caufcs of a dearth and fcarcity, that need to be appre- hended in fuch a fruitful land as this, or of a dearnefs of labor from the want of provifions. Thus if there is any real fcarcity in England, it is owing to extravagance, and not to want. The people eat nothing but the beft wheaten bread, confunae ^reat quantities of flefh meats* and at the fame time keep great numbers of horifis, all whix;h require the very beft Corn lands, and render Corn as dear again, as it otherwife would be. Were it not for this ex.* travagance, the neceffaries of life and labor might (be as cheap again as they are, and much morcGowi might at the fame time be exported* The quantity and value of the Corn exported, upon an average of 19 years preceding 1765! is as follows, according to the accounts laid before the Parliament, andpreferved inthe.in- cftimable Trafts on the Corn Tra^e. Exported* Wheat Malt Barley Rye Oatmeal Qrs. Price Qr^ 2S7y^S >C- I II 8 251,437 I I JO 66,741 18 3 49>45' I I I 3'53<5 13 8 tal 729,060 Aver. I i 31. From this "it appears, that the expcrtatlon of barley, rye and oatmeal, is but of liitle confe- L ^ quence. I'll 11 i '1'' I. Ir- I I '■im. 4Mft [ 76 ] quence, and is not to be put in any fort of com- petition with our trade and manufadiurcs j thcfe forts of grain arc but infignificant articles of commerce, although they ferve as well for confumption as wheat. The export of wheat and malt Amount to 609,000 quarters a year, when we export only 52,000 quarters of rye and oatmeal, which are likewife much cheaper. For this reafon the exportation of thefe laft might be prohibited altogether, if not of barley likewife, and the growing of them encouraged by a bounty on the home confumption, which Is only given for that purpofe on the exportation. Such a bounty to our own people, would be a much greater encburagement to the growing of Corn, and to the agriculture of the kingdom, as well as to its trade and mftnufadlures at the fame time. It is upon thefe cheaper forts of grain, that labourers and workmen live in all parts of the World, except England-, and for thefe reafons we would encourage the ufe of them here, not only to reduce the prefent high price of provifions, but at all times to render the maintenance of labourers and workmen fo much cheaper. The chief caufe of this difference in the price of thefe feveral forts of grain is, that wheat re- quires a ftrong loamy foil, and fuch as has more or lefs of a natural moifture in it, which is the proper land for grafs j and as grafs grounds are fo much more valuable in England than any others, wheat is by that means much dearer than any other grain, befides its fuperior intrinfic [ 77 ] mtrinfic worth. It not only requires the befl: land, but occupies the ground for a twelve- month j when barley, oats, and buckwheat, are not above fix montho on the ground, and allow time for fome other crop in the courfe of the year. At the fame time moft lands will yield a third more of thcfe forts of grain, par- ticularly of barley, than of wheat. Thefe, and rye or fprat, will grow on poorer lands, and fuch as are light, dry and fandy, of which many large trads in the kingdom lie uncul- tivated, becaufe the people do not confume what Ihey would produce, which it is propofed to encourage by a bounty. By fuch a regulation the agriculture of the kingdom might be vaftly enlarged, and arable lands, which are fo much wanted, rendered much more plentiful ; the poorer lands, which produce little or nothing, might be taken in and cultivated ; the fowing of rye, barley or buckwheat, vould fave the grafs lands, which thefe forts of grain do not require, as wheat does; this would afford a greater plenty of cattle, as well as of corn ; and by having a va- riety of different forts of Corn, if one fails, wc might have plenty of the other, as often hap- pens; and thereby likewife prevent the uproars and tumults which fo frequently happen, from the leaft failure in the fmgle crop of wheat. To fum up all the advantages of fuch a bounty on Corn confumed, of a redudion of the taxes on the neceffaries of life, and of a tax on horfes, they are the following : I. Such a! if . rl i (I t n i'ihii f: 'Mil M n I 3 1:1' 1 > •'%¥, I , t 78 ] I. Such a regulation would reduce the prke of Provifions, as well as of thofc articles of daily confumption, which render every thin? dear, and even the mofl: abfoiute neccffarics of lire themfclves, II. It would relieve our Trade and Maau- laetures, which are otherwife likely to be rained. III. It would provide for the poor, and lef- fc. their numbers ; and the tax would be faved both in the Poors rates and the price of labc ur. IV. The confuming of Rye, Oats, Barleyj and Buckwheat among the poor, and among the Labourers and Workmen, would ir*crcafe the export of Wheat, which may otherwife be loft, from this dearth, and the frequent pre- hibitions of it. ^ V. Thefe forts of Grain would be proper crops for the poor and uncultivated lands, and bring them into culture, which the bounty would encourage, yi. And an enlargement of Agriculture, by thefe means, would increafe the number of people, who appear'to be only bred in the coun^ try, and fo decreafe in the towns, to which they refort, for wantof fuch employmer.ts in Huf- bandry. If by thefe means the poor of the kingdom could be maintained, and the number of peow pie increafed, the advantage would be much ET^l *han any that has been mentioned. Whether that could be done or not, it appears to be paft doubt, that there is no way to keep the poor from being a public charge, but to give [ .79 ] give them lands to cultivate. They are poor for want of the nccciTarics of life, and they caa only get thcfc fiora the produce and culture of lands. If. is chiefly from the monopoly of the iarnos by thofc of better circumftancss, wlio endeavour to faye the expence of tillage, and thereby deprive the poor of their labour, that they come to be fo numerous. Therefore, il' they were to be provided with farms propor- tioned to their circumftances, or to cultivate the commons and wafte lands, it would un- doubteHIy very much reduce their numbers. The commons in England feem to be fct apart for that purpolc, and as they are now incloled, if the poor were to be fet about the cultivation of them, they might no doubt get a living by it, and free the public from a great part of that heavy charge. Upon thefe they might raife Peas, Beans, Buckwheat, Potatoes, htd fwine *, &;c. and thereby both maintain themfclves, and help to fupply the markets j which would very much reduce the price of Provifions. The poor of England are reckoned to be an eighth part of the people, or 700,000, who do no- thing but eat at the public expence, confume the * The proper food for hogs, and what they are fondeft of, are Jerufalem "rtichokes ; which may be planted by the poore[>, as Potatoes arc, and upon the meiDeft lands, which might be much improved and brought into culture by them. Plant a pir'« of ground with thefe, as you do Potatoes e;:her in Sp.mg or Autumn, and the next Autumn or Win- ter turn hogs upon it, they will till it much better than a plough, or a fallowing, by which it will bear any fort of Corn. I never knew the experiment tried but once, but it was with very great fuccefs. A piece of poor fandy land, that \" ,11 |:| in ir I ':iii 11 [ So ] the Provlfions which they have no hand in making, and thereby very much increafe their price. But if they were to be let about tlie cultivation of lands, inftead of Manufadures in Workhoufes, they might foon lower the price of Provifions, and bring the poor and wafte lands into culture and tillage ; to which the propofed bounty on their produce would be a very great encouragement: And if the num- bers of poor, with their increafe, were to be employed in this manner, they might foon cul- tivate ai: the wafte boJs in the kingdom. Such an enlargement of the Agriculture of the nation, whether it is done by the poor, or by the encouragement of a bounty, would, moreover, make lafting improvements, and fhew our enemies, how much they are niiftaken concerning our refources. They imagine, the improvements of the lands, the chief fupport of all nations, are carried to the greateft height they are capable of in this king- dom i whereas ours, fay they, are but begin- that would hardly bear any thing, was planted with thefe roots, and the hogs being put upon it, they turned it up to the very bottom, and made it like a hog-Jfye; by that means it bore good tobacco, which requires the richeft land of any thing that grows, and better than any fort of Corn. If fuch a pradtice could be brought into ufe, like the fow- mg of Turneps for Sheep, it might be as great an improve- ment, as that is well known to have been, if not a greater, as hogs both manure and till the ground. By that means you might increafe your flock both of Hogs and Corn, which vvould render all other Provifions cheap; and tkefe roots would maintain the poor as well as Potatoes, which might annver the fame purpofe. ;M 1 tiing. and will foon give us a fuperiority over inem . But the improvements of this kinsr- dom arefo far from being exhaufted, that they are hardly yet begun ; they are as few as wheat and grafs are to the other produdls of the earth, or as the produce of uncultivated lands is, to what they would yield by culture. Were all the lands m Great Britain and Ireland duely cultivated, they would maintain as many peo- ple as the greateft part of 'i<>^;^f , , which we may conclude from the Corn and grafs they produce f.^ And if this nation were to exeit itfelf in agriculture, both at home and abroad, as well as m trade and navigation, and to pIvo but a very fmall moiety of that encouragement I ?11' ^'T" ^' P^^^'"^^-- View of England, ' &c; and Graffir r"'" ^^^!^''^ ^^"^^' ^"'^ ^^"^ by the Corn and Grafs It produces, which are the fruits of fhe earth - *nd,n which no part of the world that we have feen e I foil, and moift climate, equally contribute to produce iZ greneft plenty of theC, neceffaries of life, wWch a" he dS ThifiT '"/'."^/ andon^hich allmhers adanS . wl ^'^T^t **^" ^"'•' ^^^^ 's more peculiarly reaf^n wnil^;^ '" ^^'^ the/'r J.for tha^ rvn»A.. r '^^.""^e^^es very :iiuch miftalcen in their p!fdlT °^g«^!fg/^°'" England. There is but one ' eZL 7' '"k" ^'"''"^ but there are many fuch in Snfl h '" 'Y P°°''" '"^ ^^"'^y J^"d^ \n England frequently have a loamy fand at bottom, and as oood as countries. To let fuch lands, therefore, lie uncultivated Iand%Stu°/,^ ^-^^'^ -^ fcarcit/infuch'a'Sl i^l^h r!Li: ^1!::^?- _n,ifmanageme„t or Aame to the people." "''" "'' F«"k our, ana is a M to mi [ S2 ] ^o the one, which (he lays out upon the other,' file might make the arts of peace as great a ter- ror to her enemies as the late war ; and defend herlelf from daily infuUs by thefe, as well as by Iier fleets, which the income from her lands would fiipport. You may fee by their Fiew of Ejiglatidy that they dread the Corn Trade alone, more than all the other refources of this nation; and that is certainly not carried to half the ex- tent it is capable of, or that might be expefted from an additional bounty. It is well known, how much the bounty on the exportation of Corn has improved the agriculture of this king- dom, but the prqpofed bounty on the home confumption would exceed that as fixteen to one, as we fliall hereafter fhew. Now if all thefe advantages may be obtained from a tax on dogs and horfes, which would moreover, be a fignal benefit in itfelf, it certainly ought not to be delayed. Such a tax indeed ap- pears to be abfolutely necefTary, not only to anfwer all^ thefe purpofes, to reduce the price of pro- vjiions, and thereby lo five the trade and ma- mifadures of the kingdom, but likewife to pre- ferye the Corn Trade and agriculture of the nation ; which they are moft interefled in, who will be moft affeded Dy this tax; and it will therefore be for their benefit, who will have the only reafon to complain of it, meaning the farmers and country gentlemen who keep fuch numbers of horfes, and who are perhaps only entitled to fuch a ruinous nrivilepe m V T »- CI J C told. { 83 ] told, that there have not been Icfs than fix prohibitions laid on the exportation of Corn within thefe nine years, fince horfes have be- come fo numerous ; whereas before that, when there was not half the number in the kingdom, we had but three fuch prohibitions in fixty-eight years *, fince the bounty was firft granted. If this is duely confidered, there cannot be a better argument given, nor a greater nccefiiry (hewed, for a tax on horfes. From this it appears, that horfes are a prohibition of the ex- portation of Cor?!, the chief ftaple of the land, on which the profperity and welfare of the na- tion fo much depends j in which the landed intereft is fo much concerned ; and without which the farmers think they could not live, nor pay their rents. They all complain loudly of thefe prohibitions, which they themfelves occafion, by keeping fuch a number of horfes ; for however they may find their intereil in fuch a mal-pradice, and think they may convert their lands to any ufe they pleafe, the people will and muft have bread before th'ir beafts.— If they may think themfelves. aggrieved, by * See the Tradls on the Corn Trade. Thefe three prohibitions were in 1698, when the Corn i rade was hardly eftabHfhed, and in 1709 and 1740, after the two hard winters. As for the prohibitions fince the year 1756, it is well known there have been Several, when there were no fuchcaufes for them ; altfough we have not had time to examine the exadl number, and muft take that upon truft ; but one of the four mentioned by our more accurate author, here quoted, was in 17575 within the nine years here mentioned. 1: ! M 2 be ng i4 In/r 7 fF'^ '° P''''^ °"' 'heir large farm and to let the people have the ufe of^he C; iMO, on which hey were bred and born • if .1... cl„B= which^ ™ *:°" Cjrff t' pofes many would haup o .„,. r 2 ""'" head laid upon horfes b„f fi r^-'" P°""''= * twenty killings upt'horfesK"^'' ^Y' ""'^ and ten ftillinis ufon Khf h*^ f" ^^'fT' fliillintrca K»nl V '"^?"S"t horfes, with five o aZer^h. T f^'' 'H^' ^°"''' ^e fufficient tl a fil fo" tha°t ' r""^ P'" ""'' f- lower fhf" ,^r; '"[^ "^g^er. And in order to Se of CL rerr'"r'' "'^'^'^ ^"^l' '^ will be arneceffa V to ^° ,"«™°derate. it -,. . 1 "^^^"^7 to give a bounty on thpf^ n4ftthe:frnt-5:''L^^"^"°f'Vby neceflkfies of life' ^"-^ '""^county on the What I 8j J H.5^ • ' ^^f * *''l'"'8'" ^""S '■". can only be determined from the number of horfes, which is very uncertain Suppofe their number is 500 coo or one for every twelve pei fons in he kmgdom, and that one half of th.f" , 2 kept for pleafure; twenty (hillings on thef^ a.id ten upon the reft, would clear ^r.ooo / T 1. number of dogs again cannot befeft th^^^^l for every houfe, or a million in ali, which con! fume a great part of the bread of the poor : a tav of five fh,ll,ngs a head on thefe would fetch 250,000/. and the two amount to 62 c 000/ t'T7' "^^'"^ " "'■§'' fi^« times the bounty on the Corn exported *, and might verv well ing to the followjng accounts. With this it is propofed to lay a bounty of ,j a quarter on rye orfpraf, 2s. 6d, on barky, 2] 'ol oats • and i . 8 ^. on S.ckwbeat , or any other like bounty that may be thought proper! The particular manner of colleding fuch a bounti^ a. well as the payment of it, 'are fubmitted t'o • be ter judges. But as it is propofed to be given only on what ,s confumed in food, or ground to meal It is prefumed, the quantity milht be eafiy afcerta,ned at the mills, and asM.efe forts of meal are only ufed by the poor, or by the Labourers and Workmen, for whofe ufe the bounty ,s nnended, it would be fubjed to fewer frauds from the claim of others. ^^J", J*!! ^^^^^l "" ^^ Corn exported, on an average of fince it iirft commenced. periinnum,and but 89,102!. The ii!' Ill Ml ■U: \ •ill M r S6 ] The remainder of this tax is propofed as a iubflitute for the taxes on thefe or other arti- cles of daily confumption, as the late additional tax on heer, candles,foap,Jalt, leather, and coah^ which are ufed by all, and by the very poor. It is thefe taxes on the necelTaries of life, that render them fo dear ; and if we would afford any real relief in the prefent general com- plaint of a dearth of every thing, we fhould at lea ft take off thefe taxes on labour and articles of general confumption, which ren- der every thing dear that the country pro- duces • and have always been juftly com- plained of, and much more in thefe times of dearth. And there can be no more fea- fonable nor proper time to obtain thefe great and defired ends, by a tax on horfes, than when every one feels the bad effeds of what they deftroy and confume. If any may think thefe taxes too high, the only alternative feems to be, to oblige them to part with their horfes altogether, and to fend them out of the country, as they were lately obliged to do in Bermudas, rather than to ftarve the people, and to ruin the Trade and Manu- fadures of the kingdom. Thefe muft be the unavoidable confequences of the prefent dearth, if it continues, which there appears to be no effedual way to prevent, fo as ever to bring Provifions to a moderate price in this kingdom, where every thing is fo dear, unlefs you reduce the number of horfes, for which the tax upon them [ 8? ] them IS intended ; and which would by that means nd great numbers of a needlefs exoence and perhaps prevent their ruin, as well as that of the natmn. It is only to vye with one an- other in fliew and expence, that every one muft keep coaches and horfes, whether they can afford it, or not ; and as fumptuary laws are highly wanted in this kingdom on ma^v accounts, let them be begun Jk horfes, wh cT are the moft expenfive of all, and affeft the It is true, a folid and fubftantial expence of afford T^r 1' '°""';y' ^y '^°^'' ^J^o "a ment to I " " "J '"^T'^S^ "'^" » detri- ment to a nation ; but that advantage a-fes from the maintaining of fo many people, and not of horfes; from the feeding of the poor by their labour, and not from tl^e ftarvingCd expulfion of the people by hearts. Th?s\ an expence. whch is fo far from employi^^ the people, that it totally obflruds it, and depVes them of their livelihood. Horfes not only ren- der the neceffaries of life fo dear, that thjpoor cannot purd^afe them, nor can othes afford to employ them, but they obftruft the AsrU P ODle ttan rt^ '"'' '"'P^°y'"'S of more people, hanall other occupations put together w. 1 ma,nta,n, while no ot/iers can ?h,iveS. °"'„±',i.''?« ."?'S expence i„ horfes is the ^-"'■" ""' """ ""° nation, which wants no- e, can well fuftain. To fave thm^ io much as peopi 7«i It I!, I: '%r' 1^' r 88 ] fave theexpence of horfes to their owners, they are kept on Grafs, but that renders them much more expenfive, and peifedly ruinous, to the liation J the Grafs grounds of England are more than half the country, fmall as it is, and half the people are theroby deprived of a fubfi/1- ence by Agriculture, without which no nation will ever thrive or profper. The maintaining of horfes in that manner is a certain expulfion of the people, as it deprives them of their Jabour, and affords them no fubfiftence. It appears from \yhat we fliall fliew in the Appendix, that this nation has not land enough to maintain as many people as it wants, and much lefs fuch a number of horfes with them j they therefore ought to be extirpated, that we may have peo- ple in place of them, efpecially when their ufes may be fo eafily difpenfed with* The ufe of horfes is in the firft place for races, which might certainly be difpenfed with, to fave the Trade and Manufadures of the kingdom, and to keep the poor from ftarving. Now, as thefe are the moft ufelefs, but the mod expenfive of any, we can fee no harm in faving the bread of the poor, which they confume, by abolifliing this cuftom of racing, with the Bear-gardens, which are both fo peculiar to the E?jglifi nation *. Coach and Saddle-horfes are * The public encouragement given to races feems to render the number of horfes much greater than is needful, and to make every one fond of keeping them, rathe* for fport and diverfion, than for any utility, public or private. This 1 1 [ 89 I are indeed more ufcful upon occafions j but as thefe are kept more for pleafure than for profit, they who can afford to keep them, may afford to pay the propofed tax upon them j and we This cuflom, and the public encouragement given" to if, feem to have been introduced, or at leaft to have fo much prevailed, from the want of horfes in the icingdom, at the time of the Spanijh Invafion ; but if any fuch encourage- ment or inducement to the breeding of horfos was then wanted, it has had its fulleffeS:, and feemii to be as im- proper now, as it might then have been wanted. This is one of the great expences of the Englijh nation, both at hohie and abroad, and if they would abridge their expences, which the circumftances of the nation fo much require, this is the firft that might well be difpenfed v/ith. If it is alledged, that this may hurt the breed, cannot an encouragement be given to the breeding of horfes for ufe and profit, rather than for a mere expence and certain lofs I The ufe that is made of this breed is, to export great num- bers of them, and thereby to ruinourfelves at home, in order to fuppiy our enemies with Englijh horfes j which are in great requeft among them, fince oui cavalry gained fuch reputation in the late wars, and for that reafon fuch num* bers have ever fmce been bred for this national ufe. But formerly, in the greateft profperity of this nation, horfej were imported from Flanders i and an ox, which will now fell fronfi twelve to twenty pounds, was not then worth above four or five, notwithftanding there was then more money in the kingdom than there is at prefent. It is (hewn by Dr, Davenant, that at the time of the Revolution, there were eighteen millions and an half of coin in England ; but now it is reckoned toTje reduced to one half. It is there- fore a mere vulgar error, to attribute the dearnefs of every thing in the kingdom to the plenty of money. The dear- nefs of every thing elfe proceeds from the high price of Provifions, which is chiefly occafioned by the number of ftorfcs^ If N doubt ::ii :i3i ! ' 'fh- id m doubt i 90 ] not, but they would be very wllline to be of fuch a hgnalfervice to their country ? to tu'reTofThf'",' '" "''=\''"''= '"^ Man'u^k ! tures of the nat.on. on which its very beine depends ; and to extend their humanity and chanty to the poor, by maintaining the greateft part of them as well as the Tradefmfn and Workmen who fupply them with neceffaries. fn7 r T^ ?""'"S= " y^'- 'hey would \T '^^'^ fi^l'""« 'hat fum in the price of labour, and the Poors rates. '^ The moft neceflary horfes are fuch as are ufed m Carts and Waggons, and if thefe could be freed from the tax, without including twice or thnce as many more, it might be very proper. As for Plough-horfes, which many feem^o hZ^d "ti, 7' V^^y.*""''' "'her be pro- hib.ted The dearth of Provifions feems to be owmg to the ufe of thefe among the Farmers more than to any other caufe. They are at fuch an expence m breeding and keeping fuch fine horfes as you may fee in their team!, that it U .mpoffible they (hould raife a ftock of cattle with them J and as they are only bred for fale, thev are afraid to fpoil them with plowing. Were they to be at fuch an expence i'n horfes, mere W lor the plough, they would foon leave them off for oxen * J and thereby fupply the markets with Pro- eve* ,WeS'',haf" ''"""'' ^'"^t "Perienceofallwhohave Mli, cUier m a plough or cart, than hotfts. But by the pre- ^^"■ [ 91 ] Provlfions, which the others confume. It is from this cuftom of breeding horfes by Plough- men, that the beft part of the lands in J.ngland lies in grafs, and the greatefl: part of the reft is uncultivated. If any of the Farmers may be prepofterous method of yoking them ufed in England, with a chain between two, they only draw with one fide, and cannot exert above half their f^rength, while they conftant- \y baulk one another; although even in this manner their draught is much more fteady than that of horfes — But the right way is to put them in harnf fs like a horfe, either with a collar and hems about the neck and fhoulders, on which the whole weight of their body falls, as well as their muf- cular ftrength ; or the traces fhould be faflencd to a board hung over their horns, and upon their forehead, on which they exert the force of their neck, in which the ftrength of an ox lies, as that of a horfe does in his heels, The one feems to be made for running, and the other for drawing by the neck and horns. But we (hould think, that both thefeways of harnelTing oxen fhould be joined together; or a pair of traces fhould be fet on about their neck and fhouN ders, and another from thefe to their hnrns or forehead, on which they might exert both the weight of their body, and ftrength of their neck at the fame time, and relieve the one by exerting the other. 1 he laft way of yoking them by the horns, as it is called, is praflifed with good fu cpefs in moft parts of Europe \ and the firft method of harneffino- them, like a horfe, has been long prasStifed by a Gent'eman of great knowledge and experience, who has made very great improvements by it. — By that means you may trench the ground three feet deep, as they do in gardens, and thereby have a new mould in every ploughing ; which, it you would do in the deep loamy foil of England, it would yield Corn in the greateft plenty,— If the roots of Corn or Grafs, or even of an Onion, or little Rcmuuculus^ have a good depth of mould, they will penetrate two and three feet deep; it is for this reafon, that we are atfuch pains to trench the ground for Flowers, but ncglc^ it for Corn= N a aggrii ;ved I ' .ill! m m r 92 ] aggrieved by a tax on horfes, they would be abundantly repaid by the additional bounty on Corn, and by faving the pr^fent bounty on From the propofed bounty on Corn con-i fumed at home, paid by this tax on horfes, there will be leis occaiion for reducing the bounty on the exportation of Wheat, which will otherwife foon become necefTary, if it is not already ; or at leaft will foon be deemed proper, and clamoured for by the people, for th(» reafons given above * If a bounty on Corn is not given to our own Workmen and Manufac- turers, as well as to Foreigners, it feems to be neceflary, in fuch a general dearth of every thing to reduce the bounty on exportation; which, if It may be an encouragement to the growing of Corn, is certainly a tax upon the home confumption. U this may be a difcou- ragement to Agriculture, there feems to be no alternative, but to allow a like bounty to our own Workmen and Poor. If the Corn and Frovifions of this kingdom are exported, when they are either fo fcarce, or fo dear, that the people cannot afford to carry on their Trades and Manufaaures with them, they will be un- able to purchafe them at any rate j the Land- owners and Farmers will lofe the vent of their commodities, by endeavouring to fecure a good price for them 5 and the nation will run a NoC'j p. 64. rifque #' [93 ] r'lfque of lofing nine or ten millions a year, in Trade and Manufactures, by endeavouring to gain 650,000/. by Corn, as we have ibcwn above. It is therefore abfolutely neceflary, cither to reduce the bounty on the exportation of Corn, or to allow a like bounty on the home confumption, as we have fo often (hewn. Un- lefs fome fuc'i expedient is thought of, this ruinous dearth will be fo hr from ceafing, that it is daily increafing, as we may fee from what has happened for many years paftj all the caufes of it daily grow more prevalent, and jncreafe one another ; the decline of Trade pbdruds Agriculture, and the decay of this ruins Trade, till the nation will be unable to fupport either. It ought to be ferloufly confidered, and at- tended to, what we have fo often inculcated, that fo long as this dearth of every thing con- tinues, as it is likely to do, the very refources of this nation may be cut off, both in its Trade and Manufai3:ures; we may purchafe foreign commodities by Trade, in order to fjpport the reigning luxury, but cannot GxpcCt, that they will take ours at fuch prices, to pay for them. The balance of Trade, which is already fufpedied .0 be againfl BritaWj will then be fuch a drain, that the nation may foon have no money left. This there appears to he no way to prevent, b .t to reduce the immc .erate price of all the neceflaries of life by fome means or other. If that c?nnot be done by lome other expedient, • II ?^* yh: f n-' f 94 J It will foon occaflon a general outcry for a repeal exportation with it. as it feems already to have fta with" tv K •''"/''^ '■S''"« '''^ ^"i"0" NotwiAftiH^ " /'""^ '° ''= threatened. PJotwithftanding any advantages that have been. Corn The onrri-^^""" 'Reexportation of «le nflh ? ^ "'^Z" "' '"""intain the peo- the exportation is only allowed for that pnrpofe in order to fupply ourfelves better and cheape by means of it, but if it once comes to be fo dea., that it interferes with the home confnmp- t,on and with Trade and Manufaftures, it fhould be prohibited. The exportation is only allowed to encourage the Farmers to grow Corn, and to render it cheap ; which if it does for ,L °'r'' ';'S"''"°" 'R°"''l f"^ raade Z„ut r,''P°'^- ^" "^"'"S. this, equal care t^ Iw r'^'" "°' '° .^""'^°"='g'= the\^armers to grow Corn, nor to hurt the people by the price. Now to obtain both thefe ends, if the bounty on the exportation of wheat is reduced exZ^7'° fo"r (hillings a quarter, and the exportation pnce from forcy-eight to forty fliil- lings, tor the realons above-mentioned ; * that ih.ll,ng deduced from the bounty on the ex- portation, /hould be given as a bounty on the home confumption, either of that or any other grain, which may be more profitable for the * Ibidem* farmers [ 95 ] farmers to grow, and for the nation to confume^ --Itfhould always be confidered, that it is only the exportation of wheat and malt that are of any great fervice to this nation ; the exportatioa therefore of other forts of grain (hould be pro- hibited m order to fupply the home confump. tion with them, and to increafe the exportatioa of wheat and malt, which is fo much more corifiderable and more valuable. Such a pro- hibition 01 barley, rye and oatmeal may at leaft be proper, till the nation is fupplied with a fuf- ficient quantity of them foi a general confump- tion at home, which it is not at prefent. ^ Now if this is done, if the bounty on wheat IS reduced from five to four (hillings, and the exportation of rye, barley and oatmeal, is pro- hibited. It will make a faving of 35,77//. ^ year in the bounty now paid on exportation ; which may be added to the tax on dogs and hor- Jes, and given for a bounty on the home con- umpticn oi Corn ; cither to the grower, or to the confumer whichever may be thought moft expedient Whether the one or the other re- ceives it, they will both reap the benefit of it From this ftate of the whole, the propofed tax anc bounty may be dated and accounted for in fome fuch manner as the following, accord- ing to the rate that may be deemed moft proper; and that fl-om the known quantities of Corn confumed for food in £;.^/W, which have 'r",?!^^'^ii^^^_"^r^^^ by our praifed author ^- y.^ v,v..u iiaue, as tiiey are here ftated, leaving out the odd numbers. To I; i !l m ^^fi I * [ 96 ] To ftate this tax and bounty at the lowed rate, it feems to be the following. Dr. Bounty on Corn confumed. Qrs. Rye 1,000,000 at 2 s. 6 d. Barley 1,000,000 2 s. Gats 1,700,000 1 s. 8 d. Total 3,700,00a Per Contra Cr. Tax on 250,000 coach and faddle horfcs at 1 1. 250,00a 250,000 draught horfes at 10 s. . 125,000 1,000,000 dogs at 5 s. 250,000 £■ 125,000 100,000 141,666 366,666 Bounty on Corn deduft 625,000 366,666 Remains for taxes on necefTary articles 258,334 ^ But as this tax on horfes would not be fuffi- dent to reduce their numbers, for which it is moft wanted and intended, it fliould be raifed at leaft to forty (hillings a head on horfes kept for pleafure ; unlefs fome higher tax may be deemed neceffary for that purpofe, as it feems to be : and that would afford a greater bounty on Corn, ifrequifitej which we cannot think it will be, as the bounty here propofed is equal to that on exportation, and is 1 5 per cent, on the value*. At * The bounty on rye exported is three flilllings and fiX- pence a quarter j barley two Ihilhnffs and fixDcnce : oat- jneal r L 97 J At this rate the tax and bounty will ftand as follows. Rye Barley Oats Dr. Bounty on Corn confumed, Qrs. 1,000,000 at 3 s. 1,000,000 2S. 6d. 1,700,000 2S I' 150,000 i:|| Hi; I r 98 I But as plough horfes appear to be highly prejudicial, they fhouM be taxed as high a$ thofe kept for pleafure, if not higher, after the farmers have had time allowed to provide oxen, which might be in three or four years ; now if we fuppofe there are ipo,coo of thefe, at 40 J. a head, they would raife the tax 150,000/. J which would ferve for other pur- pofes, befides thofe propofed, as it would allow a faving of 615,000 /. per annum, after paying a bounty on half the Corn confumed in the kingdom. How far this would anfwer the other end propofed in taking off the taxes on the mcejfary articles of daily confiimption, as well as in allow- ing a bounty on Corn, will appear from the following accounts of them. Ihe fums here mentioned, as far as we can diftinguilh them in the accounts of the revenue, from the other articles with which they are blended, feem to exceed the duties on the neceffary and daily confumption ^ and are more than twice or thrice bounty on fprat fhould be equal to that on rye, as they are both winter grains, and occupy the ground for the year; but barley and oats only for half a year. But althougk that will probably be fown, when it comes to be known, we have made no allowance for it, as it is not confumed, no more than buckwheat-, which if they come to be ufed, would only lower the confumption of the others, on which a bounty is here accounted for ; that is, for the whole con- fumption of the nation for all forts of Corn, except wheat ; which is fufficiently encouraged by the bounty on export- ^•UlpViC. as i t 99 r fes hluch ds the taxes on what is confumed by the labourers, tradefmen, and poor, who are chiefly to be regarded * Duty on Salt — Candles Soap Leather • Coals Beer, fuppofe } 160,000 140,000 40,oco 90,000 60, coo 50,000 540,000 615,000 75,000 Saving of tax on dogs and horfes Remains for the intereft of the unfunded Debts, or other ufes — This is upon a fuppofition, that the plough horfes would be 100,000; bat as their r:um- ber, it is hoped, would be reduced by the tax, fo the number of horfes may be many more than we have computed them, and are daily increafingj as they are likely to do, not- Withftanding fuch a tax ; many reckon there are not lefs than a million in the kingdom, a tax on which would raife a million and a half a year, exempting thofe which are neceflary. Now if that or any fuch thing could be done, of what fervice might it not be to this nation, both in paying the intereft on the unfunded and other public debts, and in lowering the duties and impofitions on trade, as well as the necef* faries of life. In a trading nation like this, nothing what- O 2 of a >■■ " ( I ! i-ili- mi [ loo ] oj luxury, or perfonal and aSiual tropertf, when that becomes peceffary. To lay duties on trade, or taxes on the necefTaries of life. ^'^f^^'^'^^fc^ it, particularly the moft profitable branches of trade, the InufaSlures of the kingdom, is to tax your property before you get ,t, which >s the way never to have it! To iee taxes laid on fuch neceffary articles of life as thofe here mentioned, when fuch pre- judicial articles of pleafure as horfes go free is a reproach to any trading nation, and may' be the ruin of this. By thefe mea„s it is to be fufpeacd, that this nation, whofe very being depends upon trade, may be a lofer by if and .hat the vaft balance which is againft BH^t m moft parts of the world, with 1,300,000 " a year conftantly going out of it for norhing, may drain the nation of all the treafure ithas.^ To obtain fo many and fignal advantages, if It were only to take off thefe taxes on the Le- ceffary articles of daily confumption, which are ufed by every one, and are neceffary even for the pooreft ; which raife the price of labor enhance the value of all its produce, render ou^ manufaaures fo dear that we cannot vend thenri, and occafion a dearth even of the moft abfohue neceffaries of life, as well as of every thing m the kingdom ; to be relieved from fuch a heavy and daily burden, we fay, to preferve he trade and manufadures of the kingdom, to lave the nation from ruin by that means, ;nd to m f loi } to keep thoufands from flarving, who woulJ fcruple to pay a tax on their dogs and hoffes > The other and principal end propofed hv this tax and bounty was. to relieve the diftre/Tes of the poor, and to fupply the labourers, tradef- men and manufaaurers. at a cheaper rate • and how far they may anfwer this e dalfo, will cS^w^h ''' """"' °' ''' ^-"'"y °f foojvir''"' °^ ^''Sl'""i ^r^m% confume in Wheat _ Rye _ __~ ~ Barley . ___ Oats _ TmaUwhich is ^ bulhel, a head per annnm^ Paid a bounty on , Qrs. 3>750'Ooo ',ooo,oco i>ooo,ooo J ,700,000 7>450>ooo 3>725)OOo 3? 700,000 nnl ."/ ur^''' P''°P°''^'' "'°"'d pay a bountv Za tu""'"' ''?"'"'""='^ '" the kingdom, and as that bounty is 2.. 6* part of the vvorlu, in which this is fo well known, or may be fo well determined by ample experience. Q.2 * as V V^- I % I! Ill ii6 PART ir. computation of four acres for every perfon, in- cJutiiug the wafte lands, England would not as in China -y where many clrcumftanLCs, neceflary to de- termine the quantity of land that every perfon in a country requires, are to be met with, but not in any other country we know. For, i. that country has been aauaily fur- veyed ; 2. the people were aftually numbered after the Tar^ tar conqueft; 3. they have no foreign trade, but muft fub- flit upon the produce of their lands, which they have cul- tivated to as great a heighth as the art of man fuggefts, and far beyond any thing that is to be feen in Europe, by all accounts i 4. the country has for many centuries con- tamed as many people as it will well maintain, infomucli that many are ftraitned for a fubfiftence, and whole nations are obliged to live on the waters, and have not fo much as a habitation on the hnd. Now, upon the numeration of the people there were found to be 60 millions of fencible men between twenty and fixty years of age, which cannot be above a fifth part of the people, efpecially as great num- bers of Literati, Mandarins, Bonzes, foldiers, the nations who live on the water, were all exempted out of this Luf- trum, and are vaftly numerous ,v.the number of people muft therefore be at leaft ,00 miiliolis, as ihey are commonly reckoned : and from the furveys of the country it appear* to contain about 800 millions of acres ; which make t^o acres and two thirds for each perfon. Now if we confider the greater fertility of the foil and climate j the many na- tural productions unknown in Europe, which hxso. for food ; the much greater improvement of agriculture ; the more frugal way of living ; and that they keep few or no horfes, gardens, parks 'orefis, or even a hedge-row, and eat their dogs, &c. this quantity of two acres and two thirds muft appear to be equal to four acres in England, if not more. Yet « Chlia^ how vaftly extended and fruitful * !t may be, is yet infufficient to maintain its inhabitants. * in order for the Chlneje to be happy, it were neceffary that they pofUfTed a country four timci as large as their ' own.— A third part of them would efteem themfelves * happy ,t they had only ri. > enough to fubfift upofl.' rraveU of the Jefmts, Vol. 1. p. 8f. maintain »1 PART II. 117 maintain above 8 millions of people, as there are but 32 millions of acres in the kingdom at moft. This agrees with the computation of Dr. Brakenridgey who allows three acres for every perfon, and fuppofcs, that a fifth part of the country is wafte land, fo that there are but 25,300,000 acres fit to cultivate, which would maintain 8,430,0c o people * Now as the num- ber of people in England is nigh ^\yi millions, the whole country would not maintain above two millions, or two millions and an half, at mofl, more than it now contains. And as a great part of it is uncultivated, feemingly as much as would maintain that additional number of people, the lands in culture are not much more than fuflicient to maintain the prefent in- habitants, and not nigh fo many as the nat'on requires for its many concerns and extenfive ter- ritories both at home and abroad. Therefore, the keeping of fuch a number of horfes, which ftarve and extirpate the people, muft be much more prejudicial to this nation, than any feem to imagine, or than we have reprefented it. By that means, it will be impoffible for this nation ever to have as many people as it requires; more efpecially if they would at the fame time export Corn, which the people muft require for their own ufe. Accordingly, though the lands in England are cultivated with nothing but Corn, yet they do not produce above one * Philolbphical Traufaaions, Vol. xlix. p. 278. thirty- 1- '- I . ' »■. M ii8 PART If. M? 1 'i thirty-fixth part more than the people make and confumc; that being the proportion between the pxport and the growth, including the feed. From all thefe conliderations, it abundantly appears, how neceffary it is for this nation to extend its Agriculture, and to reduce the number of hor- fes ; and that horfes muft prohi6^t the expor- tation of Corn, as we have faid above. As for the other Britijh iiles ; the greatcft part of Scotland is fo barren, and the chmatefo rainy in the Weft Highlands, that Corn very often will not ripen in it, fo that it would main< lam but few people j it is reckoned, not much above two millions, or 2,200,000 f . Thus the ifland of Great Britain would not maintain above ten millions of people, or twelve at moftj about half as many more as are in it. But as Irelajtd is more fruitful, and contains about ,17,500,000 acres, allowing four for each per^ fon, as in England, fince the country is as fruit- ful, if not more fo, it would at that rate main- tain 4,400,000 people J and the whole Britifb jQes about fifteen millions, or fixteen at moft, nigh twice as many as they now contain. From this, as well as many other confiderations, it appears, how neceffary it is for X lation to jmprove Ireland, if Ihe would h ^ people to defend her many and extenfive dominions; that IS like the taking in of wafte and uncultivated Jautls, of which you are in the greateft want; t Id. ibid. that PART ir. ii^ (hat kingdom is not reckoned to contain above a million of people, whereas by improving that, and extending your Agriculture in England, yoa might maintain at leaft five or fix millions of people more than you have in thefc two king- doms alone. And this may be the more necef- fary, as France contains 88 millions of acres, and by their more frugal way of living on vege- table food, although the country is not fo fruit-^ ful as England, it would maintain not lefs thaft 22 millions of people, nigh half as many more as they have; although that is not. above fix millions more than the Bnfi//.^ ifles might Maintain, if they were duely cultivated, and that for the reafons given above *, ^ Now as England would not maintain above eight or nine millions of people, and a great part of it never was cultivated, it would plainly appear, that there never were eight millions in it, according to the common computation: and from this likewife it appears, that the number of people cannot be greater than we have made them. This likewife increafes the doubt, whe- ther there were feven millions of people in Eng- land at the Revolution. From this fome will be apt to infer, that we cannot have loft a mil- lion and an half or two millions of people in the country, as we have faid -, but it would rather appear, that we cannot have loft lefs, fince that number at leaft is maintained by Trade and the Plantations, and not by the produce of the land ; that *Note, p. 8f. 4 which I20 PART II. 'ri W-J which for that reafon does not maintain above four millions of people, and but half as many r- it is capable of doing. This leads us to confider the next queftion, if the people of Britain arc fo few, how may they be increafed ? For this there are two' ample fields, both by improvements at home, and in the many plantations of which the na- tion is poflefTed abroad. As for the firft, you will find, that, notwithftanding all the advan- tages of trade, many more people are to be maintained by agriculture. To live by trade, is to live upon others, and to take a part of their fubfiftence which they want themfelves, or to fupply them with Manufaftures which they may make. Hence to gain wealth by trade, you fliould have wealthy people to deal with, otherwife you can get no riches from them. The great fund for impiovement, and for maintaining of people, is therefore upon your own native land, which you fecm to negled: for others. It may be obferved, that all countries are more or lefs opulent, according to the fertility of the foil, which is the great fund for maintaining the people both in neceflaries and fuperfluitics, or riches. Our writers on trade, indeed, who feem to be unacquainted with agriculture, tell us the direa contrary, and that all countries are more or lefs opulent, in proportion to their trade, as may be feen by Ho/land and Fe?2ice, fay they : but we do not take thefe to be coun- tnesy they are only ports to others, and that to ail PART II. I2.I all the moH: fruitful countries in Europe^ from which the riches and fubfiftence of thefe trad- ing ftates proceed ; and for that reafon they are as precarious, as the policy of the ftates on which they rely. Were it not for the great territorial polTeflions ot the Dutch in the JVcJi- Indies, their income woald be as inconfiderable as their country. Thus the only way to main- tain a number of people is by the produce of the land, and agriculture is the great fource, both of population, wealth and power. The greateft potentates on earth are under an eternal fubjedlion to the plough, and they are mofl: powerful, who make the mod and bed ufe of it, '■^Digna manet dh'mi gloria ruris. tr. It is juftly faid by a very great judge, '■ Such as our employment is for people, fo many will our people be * -,'* but agriculture maintains more people than all other employments put together, and none can be maintained without it. It likewife breeds people at the f-ime time that it affords them a fubfiftence ; and as thefe want a maintenance from the land, agriculture improves itfelf, by the people whom it breeds, crefcitque eundo. And this is the more to be re- garded in E?2gland, as it appears from the ob- fervation above-mentioned 4* > which is therc- * Chiid on Trade, iPage 15. B. iOTQi :.»? m 122 PART ir. fore of the ntmoft confequence to this nation and ought to be carefully attended to, that there are no people bred in the kingdom but by agri- culture; by which, however, they increafe fq faft, that in a fliort time the land would neither hol'i nor maintain them, were they to be rightly employed in hufbandry. Thus there would be no want of people either in Britain, or Ireland, were they to follow the occupation of hufbmdmen, and to cultivate their lands in Con for men, indead of grafs for beafls. Without that ufe of ine lands, which is fo per- verted to fupport the luxury of a very few, this nation will never be able to breed or maintain lialf the people it wants. The Romain them- felves never Hood in fuch need of a lex agraria, as the Englijb. If you would have people in Britain, you Hiould follow the example of 7^- /W7, which is exadily in the fame fituation, confined to narrow bounds by the fea, and in want of land to maintain a number of people ; where, * among many excellent laws, which' ? relate to ngriculture, they have one, by vir- * tue of which, whoever doth not cultivate his * ground for the term of one year, forfeits his * title and poflcfiion -J-j' and they are at as great care to cultivate their lands entirely in Corn, and have liitlc or no grafs at all, by which they maintain five or fix times as many people as are jn the three Britijh ifles, although the three iiles oi japan are not io large, nor nigh fo f Krrrqfif^ lliQvQt'iji oi Jupaiii Vol.1, p. 121. fruitful. t A R T II. 123 fruitful. This number of people they are able to maintain, by improvements in agriculture which are unknown in Europe, however great We reckon ours to be ; and by living almoft en- tirely on vegetable food ; whereas in Eiiglatid we breed fo many bealls, that we extirpate the people by them. Thus there is nothing wanted to procure a fufficient number of people in Britain, and that very foon, but to employ them in a proper manner; which woiiM render the naturoliza- tion of foreigners totally unnecefT^^ry, although that is otherwife deemed to be much wnnted. For this purpoie the land fliould be appropri- ated only to fuch ufes, as contribute to the fuD- port of mankind. Corn fliould be the chief and almoft only produce of the count y. This is likewife the proper improvement io': h eland, and the way to increaie the number of people. By that means alfo the nation might prcferve the Corn Trade, which is otherv/ife likely to be loft ; and would be as great a prejudice, as many reckon it to be a benefit to the nation, were we to have as many people in it as are wanted. It would be impoffible for this na- tion to maintain nigh as many people as it re- quires, and at the lame time to export Corn* That only becomes an advantage from tlie want of people to confume it, which we can never have without plenty of Corn, nor even without the employing of people to raife it. But the breeding and fupporting of a number of people R 2 by ;i ; ■"I 11 rjfii.>»k .; /:« T2'4 PART IL by that means would be a much greater advar>^ tage to the nation, and particularly to the landed intereft, than the exportation of Corn. A number of people would render Corn and land much more valuable than they are. The ex- portation therefore is only allowed as a tempo- rary expedient, in order to encourage agricul^ ture, till the people come to be fo numerous by it, that they may confume all the Corn that the country produces. They would then find, that a fupply from Irelajtd, which it is very capable of producing, would be the greateft advantage to this nation ; and is indeed ab- folutely necefTary to maintain half the people that are wanted in England, For this reafoa we ihould encourage the Corn Trade in Ireland, m order to promote the agriculture of the country, as much and rather more than in England. That may be the only way to keep the trade from falling into the hands oi France^ when there are fuch frequent prohibitions of it in Englcnd. It is a fure maxim in trade, fays a very good judge *, all covets all lofe. This feems to be the proper improvement for Ire- land, which i^ fuitable both to the foil and cli- mate, and neceflary for the welfare and fupport ©f the whole nation, if it would rtudy to have as many people as it wants and requires. But ini]er.d of that, they there alfo turn the beft Corn lands into grafs, and ftarve and extirpate the people with cattle, as they do in England * s ir 'jofmh Child* with. PART IX. 12^ with horfes. By that means the people are de- prived of the benefit of their labor in agricul- ture; they thereby become fo poor and mi- ferable ; the country is depopulated, and does not contain a fourth part of the people that it is capable of maintaining. Another caufe of the want of people in Ire* land IS the fowing of Hemp and Flax j which is lookt upon as a great improvement, as it may no doubt be in fuch a foil and climate, where the people are fo few ; but fo long as they convert their lands to that ufe, they will never have any number of people. Hemp and Flax deftroy the beft Corn lands, and deprive the people of bread, wherever they are fowed. It is for this reafon, that they arc obliged to live upon potatoes, as the very beft Corn lands are not only occupied, but totally exhaufted, by Hemp and Flax ; and they buy Corn for fo few people in fuch a fruitful country. By fuch a method of agriculture you will never maintain people, but extirpate them, as much as by keeping of cattle and horfes inftead of them. It is to thefe two caufes that the depopulation of Ireland feems to be chiefly owing. This we may learn from the example of the Ukraitty and parts adjacent, ihofe rich and fruitful countries, which for- merly overran all Europe, when the people made nothing but Corn j but by the planting of fuch quantities of Hemp and Flax, as they now XAoXx Uiwy Ilavw iiSiuiV aiA l;v.vpiv la iii-^iHy 3 and ^ fff ' 1 ■1 * 1 ! 1 '»■■! * 4 IS'il i' 126 I* A R T II. and can never maintain any number upon thefe poifonous weeds, which deprive them of Corn to eat. Jt is for this reafon, that moft of the landlords in Englmd will notfuffcr their lands to be /own with Hemp or Flax, under a pe- nalty of five pounds an acre. However this nation may want thofe commodities, and not- withllanding the foil ?nd climate are both fit to produce them, yet Britah is obliged to expend great fums for them, and can never have them of her own growth, without a much greater lofs in people, than they are worth. For the fame reafon thefe iflands will never produce any quantities of Timber, Iron, Pitch, Tar, PoL (ifi, and many other valuable and necefiary commodities. Thefe the nation is deprived of for want of land, and of many others by the climate. Thus, befides people, Britain wants many of the moft valuable and neceffary commodities'. Not to mention Wine and Oil, fhe has neither Hemp, Flax, Silk nor Cotton, the manufac^ tures of which are reckoned to be equal to the woollen. — She has not even Wcol, to carry on that great branch of her Trade and manufac- tures. — She is ;yithout that neceffary article of Iron, and is obliged to import two or three and thirty thoufand tons a year, when (lie makes but fourteen thoufand of her own — And not- withflanding the great occafion the nation has for trade and navigation, yet Britain produces neitaer materials for jUp-building, jiur na^ual Jlores ; upon thefe n of Corn ^ofl of the their lands ider a pc- vever this ^nd net- both fit to to expend lave them :h greater For the 3duce any fl/r, Pot- necelTary prived of rs by the Its manv modifies. IS neither nanufac^ iai to the carrv on nanafac- article of hree and 2 makes ^nd not- ition has produces Jlores ; PART II. 127 Jlores \ but is obliged to import great quantities of thefe from foreign countries, at the Hmie time that moll of her fliips are built in the plantations, and large fupplies of naval (lores come from thence. — It is upon thefe aiul ihe like commodities, that this nation expends its treafure to the amount of four or five millions a year, which might be all faved by getting them from the plantations j befides all the ad- vantages of the navigation, which are equal to half their value. Thus Britain is a country of manufa as eafily obtained from the colonies *. Let thofe therefore who would fay, that the colonies muft be the roiri of this nation, confider its condition and fitu- * See Gee on ITraf?^. ation i I? J3<^ P A R T IL ation J if they are, it can only be by their tn\C^ management. From this we may fee both the ufe of colo- nies, and the defign and Intent of fc'ttlrng thtmi which is, to fupply the nation with fuch com- tnodities as (he has not of her own, stnd fo purchafe their neceffaries from Bntaifi by thai means. They jfhould fupply their mother country with the materials, of which fhe has few or none of her own, and get thcrr f^nii-. fadures for them. By that means they wmU aid and affift, and fupport one arrot^r ; theit^ conneaion and dependance woiild bfc tilulua* and reciprocal, and confeqnently laftlh* and fecure. It is by fuch an eftablJQiment, and by that alone, that Britain can either reap the be- nefit, op prefer ve the allegiance of her colonies, ©r that they can fubfift by a dfcpendancc upon- her. If they were to be eftablifhed on fuch ^ footing, their allegiance and dependence Woiiltf be as fecure and lading, as the advantages reaped by k would be great and beneficial. When the colonies make fuch commodities as are wanted in Britain^ of which there ard many, they depend upon her for the vent of thefe their produds, on which they rely for their daily fubfiftence ; and ad Britain is the beft market in the world for fuch commodities, that makes their dcpendancJe their interef!, and intereft rules the world. The colonics which make ftaple commodities for Britain, could not fnhfift- ^xrlthnnf li*»r . »ViaT.^ .>mUi^: j.„1x_ -__. * caanot PART 11. 131 cannot live by her. This is therefore the way both to govern the colonics, to fecure their alle- giance and dependance, and to reap the benefit of them. Many indeed think of nothing but keeping them in fubjedion by the rules and power of government ; but the firft thing to be confidered in governing any people what- ever, is, how they are to fubfift under that government, without which it will be very difficult to keep them either in awe or order. A few ftaple commodities would govern the colonies, much better than all the laws or re- gulations that were ever thought of, and none can be effedual without them. So long as they produce nothing wanted in Britain, they can never live under her government, without great complaints on both fides j they cannot then vend ti.cir produds in Britain^ on which they rely for a fubfiftence, and muft depend on other powers for the chief part of their fupport, as we have fa id above. But notwithftanding the many colonies which this nation has, very few people in Britain feem to know what a colony is, or ihould be, and are Aill lefs acquainted with thofe in North America, Colonies fhould live merely by their Agriculture^ without either Manufa<5ures, or Trade, but what is confined to their Mother Country ; a way of living of which there are no inftances in any part of the world, and which for that reafon is fo little underftood. To maintain a num- ber of people in that manner, merely by the produce of lands, requires ten times more S 2 land 4 1 ^ 4 ill ' li ^3^ PART ir. Jand than many would allow them, while the colonies in Nortb America have not above 3 tenth part of what many people imagine. Thev are limited both on the North and Weft by chains of barren mountains, one beyond an- other which confine them to a very narrow flip of land along the fea coaft. Within thefe bounds M our colonies make but three diiFerent and diftma countries, and thofe of no great extent. 1 iie four northern colonies are exaaiy fuch an- other country as Scotland, and of the fame di- menhons j the foil is as poor, and the climate ^uch worfe. — The two Tobacco colonies, rtrgtma and Maryland, adjacent to thefe are ^bout rs large as one hz\i oi England, and not lo arge z^ Ireland.-^^Tht two Southern or Rirc polonies. North and South Carolina, are a little larger than England, but as barren and un- liealthful, as this is the reverfe of both.— Thus the Brttipj Plantations in North America make ^4-?., '!fc' T"''^"'' 'h^ Northern, tha Middle, and Southern colonies, which may be pompared to the three Britijh ifles at home, and are ^bout as large *.— Of this it is but a very * From a careful examination of their feveral furveys apd a comi.irifon of them with the obfervations of the lon- gitude and latitgde, top long to be hereinferted, it appears, Jhat New-Ergland and New-York, which are one and the fame country, divided only by a row of trees marked in the Foods, or a little brook, make about three degrees of lonei- jude, and two of latitude, or about i6,oco fquare miles; pciow tne Darren mountams which furround them both in ^he North and Wpft -, and if we take all the mountains out - ef PART II. 133 very fmall fpot, that produces any thing for Britain j not much more than a few Tobacco plantations which have been lately fettled in the middle colonies (the reft being worn out with that exhaufting weed) and the Rice Grounds or Swamps of Carolina, which are fo unhealthfui, that they deftroy more people than they are per- haps worth, efpecially to this nation, which wants nothing more than people, both at home and abroad.-.The climate in the Northern, and the of this, which are fo fearren that they are quite bald on top, and hardly produce a tree or a bufh, both from the nature of the foil and chmate, it would reduce them to a much nar- rower compafs. Neivjerfey, and the inhabited parts of Pennfylvama^ b^low the mountains, which are likewife one and the fame country, make two degrees of latitude, and two of longi- tude, or about 11,000 fquare miles } this makes 7,000 fquare miles for the four Northern colonies i and Zcotknd^ by TempUmanh Survey, contains 27,794. Virginia and Maryland again make one country, lying on Lhefapeak Bay, which, with the many large rivers that fall into It, are at leaft a third part of the country for a great diftance from the fea, and if we dedudt tliefe, the whole con- tains about 24,ocQ fquare miles.— Bv the accurate furveys of Lord Fairfax^ territories in the middle of the country it IS but 115 miles broad from Chefapeak Bay to the mountains m a Itraight line ; and it cannot be more, fince they reckon but 140 miles on a crooked road. North and South Carolina are as large as all the other iix taken together, below the mountains, and contain about 51,000 fquare miles, with the beft part o( Georgia. This makes 102,000 fquare miles for all the eight colonies. If we allow them 105,000, which is the dimenfions of ^r^tsjritam and Ireland, it is as much as they contain, and of that a great pan is perfeaiy barren. Thp ■..,r »34 PART II. ii ' the barrennefs of the foil in the Southern, render them unfit to produce any thing of confequence, that this nation wants from them, that is, for BritiJJ:) colonies.—It is only from the 41ft to the :.i6th degree of latitude, or from the town of New-Tor k to the middle of North CarolinHy that we meet with a tolerable good foil and climate in ah that Continent, on this fide of the mountains whitli furround them j and of that it is not one half that produces any thing for Britain. If we go beyond this, either to the North or South, the lands grow worfe, till thef end in, bare rocks, covered with fnow, in the one, or barren fands, fcorched with the fun, in the other; if it be not here and there in a fpot upon the fide of a river, no broader than a handkerchief.— No part of that Continent is fit for Agriculture^ to the northward of the 43d degree of latitude, as would eppear from a due account of it[ and even there it does not produce Corn to eaty in the beft part of it, for the few people who are already in it.--.The Southern parts agaif^ are The Brittjh dominions in N/>rth America^ from the North Pole to the Gulf of Mexico, contain about i,6oo,oco fquarc miles at moftj of which one half is conAantly frozen, and does not produce fo much as a tree, or a bufh, or a blade of grafs; two thirds are uni.ihabitable for the fame reafon; and three fourths of thefe territories will not produce the necefiaries of life, at leaft by Agriculture. It is only the remaining fourth part that is fit to cultivate, and of that our colonies poiFefs but a fourth part, or a fixteemh part of the whole ; and cannot well extend their fettlements, fo as to keep up a corrcfpondence with Britain^ till they oafs the Biountains which furround them, 3nd fettk on the Mtfpffjppi, rather PART ir. i^s ratkr woife, as they dcrtroy more peopk thart they are worth to this nation j and human nitiitt is not fit to undergo the Jlavery of' Pianters, m fuch intemperate anc^ unhealthful climes, and fituations, if we knew what either of them Were. ' This 13 in general a view of the tiritifi colo- nies in North America, which mud he knoWi*^ to all who are acqaaintcd with them, as many pretend to be. To give a particular acccAinf of any one of (hem, Would require a treatife of it- felf, a^ we know by experience. A due account of thfe climate of Not'th AmeHca alone would require a miich longer treatife than the one w M ■\ n ■!i'f •Ij; 136 PART II. world i it is fo difficult, that it is abfolutely im^ pradicable in many of them ; while thefe are thecnly people in the world who are obliged to iubfift in that manner. To live by planting, as it 18 called, 01- by the making of their prefent ftaple commodities for Britain, it is found from daily experience in the Tobacco colonies, where they have hitherto fubilded in that manner, that a f lamer fhould haveforty or fifty acres of land for every Labourer ; where they are reduced to lefs, they are foon obliged to leave oiFthat manner of living } that quantity of land is required not only to produce their ftaple commodities, and tofupply them with frefh lands as they wear out, but to afford a large range for their ftock, which fhould in a manner maintain themfclves, while thepeopic beftow their time and labour upon their jftaple commodities for Britain^ otherwife they cannot live by them : But it appears, from a particular inquiry into the number of people and quantity of land, that in many of thefe colonies they have but ten or twelve acres a head ; in others not above twenty j and not a fufficient quantity in any of them, to Wwt merely bv making Tobacco, Hemp or Flax, if it be not i theSouthern or Rice colonies, where the land will neither breed peo- ple, nor produce any thing. But if the colo- nies thus want land to fubfift by their Agricul- ture at prefent, that is, to live by a dependance on their Mother Country, what can we expecl frora them in twenty or thirty years, which foon come about in a nation, when their nnmbfrc may be dguble ! It will then be aj impradlicabie fojr e- ,i'jii I--' Pa R t It. 137 for them to purchafe their Manufadtures from Britain^ or to live in that ftate of dependance oa their Mother Country, as it would be for Britain to purchafe all theManufadures (he ufes, without making or felling any. We have faid above, that the people oi Britain would require four acres of land a head to maintain them, and in North Ame^ rica ten or twelve would not be fufficient to fub- fift in the fame manner, for the reafons before mentioned. It would therefore make one fmile» to fee *« a queftion of importance propofed to the ** public," in which it is alledged*. that thefe colonies might live on an acre and an half of land for each perfon, as the Romans^ Sa- bines, and we know not who, did in the days of yore, it is pretended (probably on rapine and plunder) ; and that thefe colonies may fpoil the manufadurcs of Britain by purchafing too many of them ! But all our late accounts of the colonies feem to be of a piece with this, to be as wide of the truth, and as diredly con- trary to the intereft and welfare of this nation. To confine them even to their prefent bounds, is to oblige them to become independant of their mother country, whether they will or not. And this is the more to be regarded, efpecially in Britain, as the people in the co- lonies muft increafe and multiply much fafter, than they do here; fince they live aimofl; en- tirely by their agriculture, the only fource of population, perhaps, in any part of the world ; which we have been fo particular in explaining for that reafon. T All , » mill '38 PART 11. t\ ' .1 All this would abundantly appear froixi a due account of the colonies, of the foil and climate of North America^ and of what they produce, or may be fit to yield for the benefit of the nation ; of which we can only here give a general view j the particulars muft be refervcd for an account of the property and in* terejl oJ'Qiq^x Britain in North America, and a particular defcription of that Continent, com- pared with the other parts of the world, by which we may be able to form a better judge- ment concerning it. We can here only give a general view of their ftaple commodities, on vi^hich the in,tereft of the nation more imme- diately depends; from which it will appear, thai thefe colonies can never purchafe their necCiTaries from Britain, or fubfift by that dependance upon her, by the prefent ftate of their Agriculture. — It is expeded, they Ihould do this by means of Tobacco, Indigo, Hemp and Flax, which are the mod unfuitable to their foil, and the two laft to the climate, of any thing almoft that grows; and it is imprac- ticable to make thefe or any other produdions of the earth, which neither agree with the foil nor climate, the llaple of any country what- ever. — Thefe commodities require the veiy bed: and richefl lands, whereas their lands are very poor and mean. — Tobacco is one of thofe rank and poifonous weeds, which only grow on rotten loils and dunghills, fuch as frefli wood lands, ai^l will not th v*1«Ti!^ ^%r% t^ •-% w U^, — To make Tobacco, Indigo, Hemp or Flax, efpecially PART II. 139 efpccially on their lands, requires more manure than thofe vile commodities are worth, and more than can poffibly be had for them in the foil and climate of North America y which pro- duce fo little or no grafs. — The length and fe- verity of the winters in the Northern colonies, and the badnefs of the pafturage in the Southern, render it impradlicable to maintain flocks of cattle fufficient to manure lands for thcfe com- modities, which their lands will not produce, without great quantities of manure. — In the northern colonies they are obliged to expend their manure on their Corn and gr^fs grounds, and have none to fpare for Hemp and Flax ; in the tobacco colonies that weed would require more manure than any country affords, and more than all the cattle and horfes in England yield ; and in the fouthern colonies their fcorching fands in a hot climate will not take manure, by which they are good for nothing, and much lefs to -produce fuch commodities as thefe, which many think (hould be their ftaple.— Thefe and the like commodities rob the earth of all the nou- rifhment in it, and all the manure upon it, while they afford no fuftenance to any thin^^ ; and thereby ftarve both man and bealt, as our Planters complain every day, while we are lay- ing taxes upon them here. — At the lame time they are obliged to plant Indian Corn, which, by its great fubftance and large fpreading root, exhaufts the fubftance of the earth, as much as thefe their ftaple commodities j and both together deprive the people of the very necef- T 2 laries 140 PART II. ; «>At'' rii'li ''-• kl l\ Ml fanes of life, inftead of affording them a fub- Mence, by purchafing their neceffaries from Brttatn, as many, who appear to be totally un- acquainted with thofe things, imagine they ihould. ' By thefe means their lands are fo exhaufted, that they do not produce above a third part of what they ufed to do. Formerly they made three and four hogfheads of tobacco a fhare, that IS, for every labourer, where they cannot now make onej and they ufed to have fifty and fixty buOiels of Corn to an acre of land, where they now reckon twenty a good crop. Thus their lands do not produce above a third part of • what they did formerly, when they were fre(h and fertile, while the people are twice or thrice as numerous, and require the produce of their lands for their own ufe; inftead of being able to pay taxes, or even to purchafe abfoluteneceflaries. It is by ihefe means, that Corn is three or four times as dear as it was only twenty years ago i it is as dear in the colonies as in kw- land, and will foon be much dearer, if the people increafe and multiply at the rate they do and exhauft their lands by planting thefe and the hke commodities. The confequence of this is. It not only renders them unable to plant any thing for Britain, before the neceffaries of life J but as Tobacco, Hemp and Flax exhauft their Corn and Grafs grounds, they hinder the people to raife Hocks of cattle, either for their lubfiftence, or *o rmnpr« fi,-:- i-.__'- r_-. .» /- 5 _ri ,v>! .ija,,uiv- ijjv.ii iuijua iur ineie frops, and obhge them to keep flocks of flieep 5 thereby PART II. . ,41 thereby fupplying them with the ilteterials both of their hempen, linen, and woollen ma- nufadures, while they cbftrud the growing of other commodities to purchafe thcfe their ne. ceflanes from Br/V^w.— But none feem to con- fider the neceflaries pf life in the colonies ; the firft thing to be confidered in all countries, and more efpecially on plantations, where they have no markets for provifions ; thefe every one is obliged to make for their own ufe, and thereby wafte and confume twice or thrice as much as they do in other countries, where they fell the produce of their farms, ^nd fupply themfelves at markets. Thefe colonies have hitherto fubfifted upon ' the gleanings of the woods, and the fertility of the frefli wood lands, which is very great at firft ; it is only thefe that produce any quantity of Tobacco, Hemp, or Flax, or any plenty of the neceflaries of life; thefe they are at firft obliged to plant with fuch crops, in oider to ex- hauft the luxuriant fertility of frefh wood lands, and bring them into culture and tillage ; but as foon as that is worn out, which is in three or four years at moft, they are under as great a neceffity of leaving off that method of planting and makmg thefe ftaple commodities for Bn- tatn. It is for thefe reafons, that moft of our Planters have been obliged to leave off planting altogether, inftead of making improvements in Jt, with fuch commodities as Hem d and Flax Moft of our and turned into up. Tobacco plantations Failure Ground which lit.' ii ? II! 142 PART II. which produce nothing but Corn, Cattle, and Wool, the ftapk of Britain-, which will foon become the only ftaple of all thcfe colonies, without fome other methods of Agriculture | and that ftate wc only haften and precipitate them into, by planting Hemp and Flax. This ftate of the colonies is more to be re- garded, as their paftures will not maintain large cattle, and are only fit to feed (heep and goats, on which they muft fubfift, as people do in the like foil md climate in all parts of the world. Their Wool is likewife better than the Englijh, at leaft in the Southern colonies 5 it is of the fame kind with the S^anijh Wool, or curled and frizzled like rfiat, and might be rendered as fine by the fame management. Sheep likewife maintain themfelves, in thefe Southern Colonies, throughout the whole year, without coft or trouble. Thus by the ftep which the colonies have lately taken, to raife all the fheep they can, they will foon have plenty of Wool. With this they have already made Cloth worth twelve findings a yard, which is as good as any that is made of Englijh Wool. Some of their Wool has been fent to England, where it fold for the price of the beft 5 although this was from a common Tobacco plantation, where no care had been taken of it, fince America has been fettled. This may perhaps be looked upon by feme as a lofs to England; but if (he would ftudy to make a right and proper ufe of her colonies, this might be of more fervice to her, than any one thing they are capable of pro- ducingt ittle, and will foon colonies, iculture | recipitatc be re- ain large nd goats, io in the e world. Englijh^ s of the r curled tdered as ' likewife ITolonies, coft or colonies hey can, Vith this 1 twelve ly that is :ir Wool I for the from a no care las been upon by e would of her : to her, of pro- ducing. PART 11; 14^ ducing. If the Spaniards fucceed in their at- tempt to manufaaure their Wool, England m^iy want It from the colonies, more than any other commodities, as it is well known, there is not a fingle piece of fine Cloth made in En7land without Spanijh Wool.— Were we to confider the proper improvements for the colonies in North America, Wool (hould ')e the very firfl: of them. They have already Wool enough which is as fit for their ufe, a<. if i, were finer' and the only way to hinder them to manufac- ture it, is, to improve it fo as to make it fit to fend to England^ in order to purchaic- their Manufadures, inftead of making them, and to fupply the place of Spanijh Wool; and if that were rightly fet about, it might be eafily done. ^ In order to prevent this flate of the colonies, and to fupply them with a proper ftaple com- modity for Britain, nothing feems to be thought of but Hemp and Flax i but it fhews a great want of knowledge to endeavour to improve lands with Hemp and Flax, which are worn out with Indian Corn and Tobacco, or would never bear them. They are ob- liged to leave off planting tobacco, becaufe It requires manure once in three or four years, but Hemp and Flax require it every year, and that here in Europe^, and much I + Both Hemp and Flax are fo great impovcrifhers of !?i.'~\7' "T' " 'vviu.iwB uuwgiiig arcer eacn years cryp: nor Should either of them be fown two years toaether on the lame ground. Dh Hameh HuJI^an.lry, p. 330. mors-- I iWi mil -m |-4t> h' If ■'. ^1 'I i 144 PART JI. more in North America » It is contrary bdlli id reafon and experience, to expeft to get Hemp and Flax, which require a ftrong rich ancJ moift foil in a cool climate, from the light fandy and parched foil of North America, which has a barren drynefs in it, that renders it the moil unfit to produce thefe commodities, of any thing that grows. We might as well expciS to get them, inftead of wine and oil, from Spain and Portugal, where both the foil and climate are more fuitable to them. They arc as improper for thefe Angular and peculiai' climates, as for the foil. The proper climate for Hemp and Flax is from the middle of France to the middle of Rujia, that is, from the 45th to the 60th degree of latitude, which in North America extends from Montreal io the northern parts of Hudfons Bay, where we have neither foil nor climate fit to produce any thing. If we would plant Hemp and Flax to the fouthward of this latitude, in which all our colonies lie, they fhould be fown in winter, like wheat, that they may in like man- ner get ftrength and fubftance before the heats of fummer come onj this is the ^ radlice in fowing Hemp and Flax from the fouthern parts of France to Egypt; but in North America this cannot be done on account of the long and hard winters, and late and backward fprings 5 which hinder thefe crops to be fown, till late in the fpring, when they are burnt up by the heats of fummer which immediately enfue, before they come to their full growth, and 6 before PART II. 145 before they acquire that ftrength and toughnefs, for which the commodity is only valuable. Hemp and Flax cannot be fovvn in the proper feafon for them, any where in North America to the northward of Carolinat where the poor fandy foil is the moft improper for thefe crops, of any thing that the earth produces. For this reafon, they few Hemp and Flax in their fwamps, the greateft part of which are only the wafhings of the fand-banks which furround them, and are no:hing but fand and water ; in which Hemp will (hoot up to a great height, it Is true, but it is as weak as the water it grows in. The proper foil for Hemp and Flax is fuch as a white oak fwamps which has a ftrong clayie bottom J or the low grounds upon the fides of a fwamp or brook, and not in them ; upon thefe they grow fome which is very good, but it is not fo much as they require for their own ufe, nor can we expe(ft thofe countries to pro- duce much more. They are obliged to im- port great quantities of Hemp, and pay a double freight for it from Rujjia and from England, inftead of making it to lupply the nation. Thus the prefent bounty on Hemp and Flax will only ferve, as the late one did, to fet the colonies about growing thefe commodities, in order to manufadlure them, inftead of fup- plying the nation with them. They have made many hundred tons, but have been obliged to manufadure it all, if it be not a fi uiiiuic ur two. It is not a Duunti liiUl iC\ St I u want, 146 PART II. k' ■•-^ ,i want, but a proper foil and climate, fuch If thofe upon the Mf//i/i/>i and Ohio. They lately had a bounty of twclv.? ., ,M, a ton granted for Hemp fent to Brl^aiu by the province of New^Torl^, which expired without any effca ; and after the bounty was granted in Queen A^nes time, people were fent to hW^Pj^and to induce that colony toplant it, which thcy^have never been able to do, as it exhaufts both their t.orn Lands and manure, they tell us f. They have had a bounty on Hemp and Flax in ^ort/j America tvzi fince the year 1663, which has been renewed from time to time, and they have as often tried to make thefe commodities, but could never produce fuch quantities, as tq lerve tor a ftaple commoditv to fend to Britain and to purchafe their neceffaries by that means! and where that is the cafe, they are obliged to convert the produce of their lands to their owa ule, and to make thofe neceffaries which thev cannot purchafe. * Since their lands will not produce thofe com- modities which require a rich and fertile foil, it IS propofed to plant them with CotWi ; which grows in the greateft plenty and perfedion in t Hemp requires fuch very ftrong land to produce It that ,t wouKI confume all our dung to raife it in any la; quanmles, fo that we (hould not be'able to raife Lread C^rn therefore, how inviting foevcr the trade Is, and how great foeverthe encouragem^ms have been, both from home and by ou^own governments, we have not as yet eneaeed in |hat affair, tlm^, m^-Bn^l,ni HuJband.]lT^r all PART tl. 147 hll oiir colonics from Maryland to South Carolina and Georgia^ and might even be made in the northern colonies, as it is in Ruffia, if they had the right fort. Cotton is us common, and as generally manufadlured in many of them, as wool is in England. I have made fevcral tnanufaflures of it, which were the beft of the kind I have feen. They likewife mix their Cotton with Wool, and make a cloth of it^ which is the beft wear they have in their cli- mate. Thus it is as neceffary to get Cotton from thcfe colonies, to prevent theii manufac- tures, as to fupply thofc of England. The Cotton I have ufed there grew in the latitude of Smyrna^ arid parts adjacent, from which the Turkey Cotton is brought to England ; it is of the fame kind with that, but is of a much better and longer ftaplc, if it is rightly culti- vated ; the ftaple indeed is not fo long as the pf^eji India Cotton, but it is whiter, and wears whitei when the other turns yellow, as I have found by experiencci with rriany others. Some of this Cotton from Virginia was fent to Man- chefter in the year 1746, where it fold for eighteen pence a pound, the price of the beft at that time j and the workmen who had it for a tryal, reported to the merchants who fent it to them, it was as good as any they had, and that they would take any quantities of it. Upon this, fevcal tryals were made of planting Cotton both there and in Carolinay as a ftaple coiiiuiOuity to iCuu to iitfttiun-f uut notwiin- U 2 llandi.'ig /■■. 148 PART II. ^t- Ml coft and turned ,0 no account , al.houghThc od Tobacco grounds on which this was planted, arc the beft lands for Cotton of Tnv other'' r °^ -'^^ "'°^''^' - P"'"P >n a"J other. Cotton .s a commodity of lerv fmaU value, and a poor ftaple for any one co Lnv and much more for fo n.any/althoueh the yT,:T ;^'ir'°°° "^* of Cotn 90,000/; and ,1 they were to make it inanv quantities, .t would foon fall to its ufu price t'Z7'T ""' rr'*^ "°' ^'"^ 'hem Zl for'nn , ; ^'"'1 "^'^"^'^ '' ""' ''^P«« =• head to all the people in MrlA Anerica. I, ,s for tlS'c:;" "'^^"^°^%'=d tomanuft t'll they have many other commodities Z\ .nay enable them t^ live, and purch b the r bodfconLr'M ""'"'^^;^7 ".%ht the!: male in o / »"y other colonies, fuch ^.FLrida ■n order to make Coiton, is to obli.^e all the eft to manufaaure it, which would ZZ them to make both that and many o her commod,;,es of more value. ^ ot t.Kie colonies is Lukgo, which tiirives but very P A R T 11. i4(^ very indlfFerently cither in the foil or climate. Indigo is one of thofe rank weeds, HI.<^ i'o .)acco, which not only exhauft the faLftinc/ of the earth, but require the verybeft and 'cact lands, and fuch as have a natural moiuure i them ; whereas the lands in our Souther - .unico are extreamly poor and fandy, and ^iave a bar- ren drinefs in them, which renders them very unfit to produce fuch a crop as this to ?.ny manner of advantage. This is planted by the French on the frefli wood-laiids of St. Do- mingo, whicli are too rich and moifl even for fugar, and is intended toexhauft their luxuriant fertility, as we do with Tobf *■ :i :'^ iilii EL'' 1 1':' 11.' ■ a- s ■' i; ' 't , .' ^' I -, jayj ' ^ •■ (i ■M ii^ P A R t It them to keep up their plantations, by mafcifici a fmall quantity of Indigo with their Rice ; and on fome few fpots of better lands it turns to more account. ^ From this brief acctiunt of thcfc commodities it muft appear, that they can never be the sene- ral and lafting ftaple of any colony we have in ail Nortb America -, which would be ftiU much more evident, if at the fame time we confider the ftate of their Agriculture in other more neccffary and effential articles, the neceffaries of life. \/herever they have planted thefe com- modities, their lands are fo exhaufted by them, that they will hardly produce the bare necef- laries of life, and much lefs fuch cxhauftinff weeds as thefe. The earth was made to pro- duce Corn and Grafs, or the neceffaries of life^ for the fupport of mankind, and not fuch poi- fonous weeds as Tobacco, Indigo, Hemp, and Flax, which ftarve every thing upon it, inftead of fupplying them with all their neceffaries, as many expea they fhould. It is for this reafon, that the Farmers and Landlords in England will not let any fuch weeds come upon their lands, if they can avoid it. But thefe are ftili more improper for the light fandy and Hiallow foil in North America, which, compared to the lands in England, is v^k ^and compared to clay, efpecially in all our Southern colonies, which alone pro- duce thefe or any thing elfe for Britain. Thefe their lands are the fooneft exhaufted by culture of any that are to be feen, while nothing could exhauft PART II. 151 (Bxhauft them fooncr than thcfe weeds, and Indian Corn. A field planted with Tobacco, and then with Indian Corn, is as bare as a fandy defert, and hardly produces a blade of grafs, although it has much more manure laid upon it, than for any thing that grows. It is for this reafon, that moft of our Tobacco plantations are broke up ; the people have been obliged to quit them many years ago, after all their charges and improvements upon them 3 and to retire to the mountains, where they findfome frefh lands fit to produce that commodity, which are the fup- port of the Tobacco Trade : but thefe will in a ihort time be worn out, as the reit have been, and when that happens, there muft he an end pt the Tobacco Trade, without a fupply of frcdi lands, fit to produce that exhaulling wed, as well as to maintain cattle to manure them, with convenient ports and an inland navigation to /hip off fuch a grofs and bulky commodity; of which there are none ia all the [iritijh domi- nions in North America^ but thofe rich lands on the Mijjijjippi and Ohio ; whoever are poflelied of thefe mjft foon command the Tobacco Trade, the onlyconfiderabic branch of Trade in all North America, and the only one that this nation has left. By that means we may lofe the Tobacco Trade, as we did that of Sugar, after the treaty of Utrecht, If we were to know the fituation of thefe polonies in other refpeds, and to confider only the Cqrn and Grafs they bear, we would never 5 cxped: I'm 1' tfl1 i;^1! 1,1, m 52 PART II. expefl them to live by the planting of fuch commodities as thefe. Such light and fandy lands, in hot climateu, never bear good Grafs, and much lefs in JVortb America-, where they are generally covered with Pines, which deflroy what little Grafs the earth might otherwife produce, and render every thing that grows upon it fo four, that nothing will tafle it, unlefs they are reduced to their laft ftiift. In a Fine, barren, there is not a blade of Grafs to be it^u, nor any thing elfe that is green * and it is at the beft but very fcarce in all our fouthern co- lonies. A blade of EngUpo Grajs, as they call it, * Thefe Pines, with which all our Southern colonies are covered, for 100 or 150 miles from the Tea coaft, and in fome all over tS-m, are the moft pernicious of all weedsj they not only deftroy every thing upon the face of the earth,' but the very land they grow upon ; infomuch that nothin<» will grow among them, and hardly any thing after themt It IS a general obfervation, that the lands are not only bar- ren, on which they grow naturally, but if they happen to come up on other lands, they fpoil them, and render them more or lefs barren. Having often examined what this could be owing to, J could not attribute it altogether to their large Spreading roots, which fpread all over the fiirface of the eaith like a mat, and exhauft its fub- ftance; but chic-Hy to the ftrong acid juice of their leaves which diilills from them in the fpring of the year, like oil of turpentine, and poifons both the earth, and every thing upon it ; as it is well known, that all arida a^e a poifon to vegetables, and all alkalies a rich manure. But whatever may be the caufe, the matter of fact ib cer- tain, that nothing will grow among Fines in America, and Mr. Du H.ancl makes the fame obfervation in France, The whole f.,.f,.cc of the earth is covered with their acid leaves i they o\eriop and deliroy every thing j and if a little Grafs Part ir. ^53 It, that Is, any Ibrt that is green, is as great a rarity there, as the moft curious of their plants are here. Their paiiures are covered with a tall rank weed, more like Bm than pafiure Grafs fhould happen to come up amonrr them, where they grow th.r. ; it IS fo fcarcc, yellow, and four, that to fee any bealt feed upon it, is a c.rtain %n of the miferabie povcrt/ of a country j where they are reduced to the Jafi extremity. Yet thefe are the only p iftures they have in many of out* colonies, and efpecially in M /^^, if it be not in the miry and deltrudive fwamps and nurflii s. What, is worfe, thefe pernicious weeds are not to be extirpated ; they have a wing ro their feed, which difperfes It every where with the wmdo like thirties, and in two or three years forms a pine ihi.ket, which hothing can pa/a through, nor live in. Thus the land becomes a pertea: defert, inftead ot a profitable palture, in a few years after it IS cleared — Corn upon fuch lands looks as yel'ow as the turpentme wi;h which it is fed, and v^rafs will not grow Without which neither man nor hcafl can fubfifh— gut in all our fpeculations about the colonies, we fcem never to confider the neceflaries of life, or Corn and Grafs, other- wife we (hould never th.nk of planting colonies in countries which produce neither.— Upon fuch poor and mean lands, all that the poor people can do, is only to get the bare ne- cehanes of life, every one for thtmfcives, without ary reg.rd to the public, or benefit to the nation, ;. we may lec in all the colonies we have. They can only get the necefTaries f>f jf« in nny of thefe Southern part^of North Anurlca bv mea,.: of Rice, and are daily obliged to run the rifque of their live, in clearing the Ueltructive fwamps, in order tog.,-^ Rice to fupply the place of Wheat, and to have paltu.'^e ::. fhe lo • grounds, nei- ther of which the uplands aff.r'^,, . hi was the occafi ui o^ planting R,ce in CaroUnct, wh.- theyalread)- :nakc more ilian they can weil vend, as it is a 'onui.odity not wanted 'H Britai:i i and to lettlc any more fuch colonics, ab FUrida, 54- PART II. grafs ; whicli is as dry as a ftick, and as yellow as llraw, infomuch that nothing will tafte it. This their common pafture grafs is fo rank, hard and dry, that they make their brooms of it, as they do here with heath or birchen rods, and know it by no other name in moft of the colonies but Brooju-flraw. Such is the produce of their /Irongeft and beft lands j as for the poor and fandy foils, which make nine tenths of the whole in our fouthern colonies, they are thinly covered with a fmall fort of this grafs, if it may be fo called, like Bent^ and do not afford a bite for a beaft for miles together. Such is the produce of that " fertile continent," as it is called *, which (hews the very picture of poverty in every beaft upon it. Their low grounds and marfhes again are covered with isonlyto interfere with the others,, to depreciate their flaple, and to oblige them all to enter into Manufa6lures. — Where they have not Rice, their only dependance is upon Indian Corn r>nd SpaniJI) Potatoes, which are but a coarfe food, and bad diet, in thefc intemperate and fickly climates, and add to the mortality which otherwife reigni in them. Neither can they cure provifions, fo as to keep for any time ; but without fait provifions it is impoflible to live on plantations, where they have no markets, and frtfh pro- vifions will not keep for rcur and twenty hours, from the heat and moiftureof the cli;i)ate, which is the cafe in all our Southern colonies in fuminer. — Hence the Spaniards never had the bare nece, aries of life, in 170 years that they were polfelTcd oi Florida, but were obliged to purchafe them from our colonies, at the nublic expence of the nation, and not from the produce c 'le laiid^, as we are likewife obliged to do. * Regulation:; oi the Colonies. nothing: PART II. r'^5 nothing but Reeds, Pjifies, and Flags, which are their meadow grounds that Ihould fupply the want of grafs on their uplands. The hay they mow is nothing but the three fqmre rufi, unlefs it is raifed by art, at a greater expence than it is worth. The richts of England proceed from the plenty of grafs, and the po- verty of the colonies from the want of that original fource both of plenty and wealth. A foil and climate which produce fo little grafs, can never abound in Corn, which is but another fort of grafs, and requires the fame foil. Lands which abound with one, are always fruitful in the other, ^ vice verfa. Such Lands are as improper for wheat, which requires a flrong ioamy foil, that is fomjwhat moift, as they are for Hemp and Flax, t^^Q^ cially ' .. .. hot climate. Wheat thrives in this part c ?h world from Egypt to the middle of RtiJJiay .jv thirty degrees of latitude; v/hcreas in North America its growth is chietiy confined to feven degrees, and it cannot be fiid to thrive well but within four degrees, from New-Tork to the fouthern parts oi Virginia, or from tht fortv- firil to the thirty-fevenrh degree oi latiti;de ''•". "jt was but very lately, iince they have endeavoured to fow fome wheat in the inland parts of South Caroltna^ with uncertain fuccefs, that they ever had * To give a dueaccountof fl':e Corn and Grafs gI North America, would require a treatiie of itfelf. './n account of the long and hard winters, and backward -pring' , Wheat X 2 docs r f:r^-- t>* 'I' . 'i.l ;ii: ■■| ' tit.i : m ^ 'fl' , ,^ '^*< •^T. . ■ s; * - j|||l *(■ ' I f ^: t "lip 156 P A R T II. had a grain to the fotnhward of the middle of Non'/j Ciirclind ; and to the northward of Nc 'TX^' docs net grow tlH thr cxcrOlvc heats of fumirer come on, by which ir is drawn up before it has a n.ot and i:i,i on One fide, and of Firgin'-a on the other W'bicn is the center both of the beft toil and climate for Wheat :cr come on. PART ir. 157 New-England y they have none but the French Bled marfais, as we have faid. In the north- ern pirts wheat is conftantly fubjedt to a blafl, or fmut, and in the fouthern to the ruft. At the bed, the grain is lo Imall, that it yields very little, at leuft a third lefs than the lands do in England, Thirty buflicis to an acre here, is as ufual as twenty there. T()e Fortugucfe who buy the wheat of thi^ norrhcrn colonies c-il it PaWlas, cboit Jii'aw ; by which ihcy nunin a fmall fort of wheat, like the odc here 'men- tioned that grows in Canada, which is fcill worfe than the reft. IF it .vere not for hulian Corn, which exhaufts lann>s much more than any other gniin, theie colonies would not have Corn to eat. Their Barley is bur a poor hungry grain, and oats are lean and chaify. Tlnis we feem not to confider, what it is to live in coun- tries which produce fo li tie or no gr fs, and where no fort of Corn agrees with the clim.,te, if it be not one which exhaulls their lands* more than they will bear; a thina which none in Eigland feem to have the leaft idea of, and for that reafon they are fo little acquainted with Wheat of any In that Continent ; and as the Tobacco plantations arc now irokcup, they produce great quan.ties nf good W hear, with which they fupply the reft of the co'o- n.es both on ihe Continent and the IHands, and expo-t great quantities to Europe ; which is better than what ufld to be exported from the Northern colonies, and will be mi>ch more confulcrable, nnlcfs they are otherwiie employed by .';me fuch nietiinds as are hereafier propofed. ' the .,.] : |l| I 15^ PART ir. the condition and circumftances of the colonies in the moft material points. It is for this rea- fon, that they are obliged to quit their planta- tions, as fad as they wear out, and to fpread over a whole country and continent, in ord^r to get a few patches of tobacco, or fields of India?! Corn. And it is for thefe reafons, that Corn has become fo dear in the colonies, and more valuable to make than any thin^ for Bri- tain ; which is a certain fign, that they either want to extend their fettlements, or to alter their flaple commodities, if not both. So foon as they come to be confined in their fettlements,, as they already are bv the moun- tains which furround them, and 'by the pro- clamatiori of OSIober 7th, 1763, they muft leave off planting any of thefe their flaple com- modities for Britan j in order to get Corn to eat, for the daily incrcafe of people. When they double their numbers, as they will foon do, and thefe countries come to be populous, they muft purchafe all thofe commodities that we have mentioned, which require a rich and fruitful fcil, and many others which they ftand in need of This they will have no way to do, but by their manufacti'res, which will render a trade in them abfulutely neceffary, nnlefs they increafe their ftaple commodities, and the prcduce of their landi-. Unlefs they do that, their ftaple will be the fame wiih that of Britain, as we have faid, and nothing but Corn, Ca:iie, Wool, and lilL, which *;hey cannot PART II. 159 cannot fend to Bnfain, and muft vend in fo- reign countries. But the fupplying of them- felves wi'^h their own neceflaries, independ- ent of Grecif Britain 'y a trade in their own manufadures J and the relying upon other powers for the vent of their produds, it is to be feared, will occafion a, breach between them and their mother country j unlefs it is prevented in time, and before their manufactures are eftabhflied, as they foon will be, if they are not already. So fjon as this happens, the manu- facturers will confume the produce of the lands, and cut off all their returns to Britain-, and the colonies will neceflarily be obliged to interfere with her both in agriculture, ma- nufactures, trade and navigation, and the fifh- ery of Newfoundland^ all the moft material and e/Tential employments of the nation at home ; and may thereby become rather a prejudice, than any benefit to their mother country. — We feem not to conlider, or to forefee, the power of numbers in the colonies, and the daily in- creafe of the people 3 or at leaft to make' any proyifion for fuch an additional number of Britifi fubjeCts, which might otherwife be the greatcfl advantage to the nation, if they were rightly employed for its benefit. In order to prevent this threatening and alarming itate of the colonies, it is propofed to take a yearly account of their Manufactures ; which can only add farther confufion to the late difturbances, unkfs at the fame time we pay I ■» :#■ 160 4i iS tx'. ill ■' mi- ' ■;;■ '1 .IllS.li PART ir. pay due regard to their ftaple commodities, and fee that they make the nccelTary impruve- ments in thefe j by which alone they can ei- ther purchafe their Manufadures from Britaijt, or fubfift without them. In the climate of North America people cannot go without cloaths, neither can they get the neceffaries of life without tools j of which two alone their whole income would not purchafe, from Bri- tain, even a fourth part of what they want, not to mention any other articles. Thefe they can never purchafe, and muft make for their own ufe, without ftaple commodities from the pro- duce of their lands ; by which likewife they fupply the nation with thofe commodities, of which it is. in the greateft want. It fignifies nothing to fay, they cannot, or fhall not, make their own Manufactures ^ they neceffarily muft do it, fo long as they have nothing to purchafe them, or peri fh for want of them. Their whole income would not purchafe a fixth part of their neceflaries from Britain, as appears from a particular account of both, and may be feen by nil. It is this flate of the colonies, which alarms every one in Britain, makes them imagine, they muft become independant of their Mother Country, and may prove the ruin of it For this reafon many feem to have fet themfelves againft the colonics j but that is the way to make matters much worfe, and the breach unavoidable. We ought rather to confider what PART II. t6t what this their ftate proceeds from, and how it may be amended in time, now when it may be done* Unlefs this is done, the nation haS been at the expence of feventy or eighty mil- lions of money, for no other purpofe but to lofe the benefit of her colonics, and to ruin herfelf i which, it is to be feared, may be the refult of all the late proceeding's concerning them. Many indeed imagine, that thefe proceedings have ali bsen for the benefit of Britairiy and that the colonics have oppofed themfelves to her intereftj but if the matter is duely confii red, and rightly undcrftood, the dired: contr^uy of thefe fuggeftions muft appear to every one, who is in the leaft acquainted with them j and that we have done every thing in our power to ruin our own intereft in North America, after the im* menfe fums it has coft ; and to oblige the colo- nics to become independant in the end, whether they will or not. * We would therefore humbly recommend * it to fuch Gentlemen as are the guardians of * the Trade of the nation,' fays a very good judge *, * that our own intereft is not miftaken * fcr that of the planters ; for every reftraint * and difficulty, put upon our Trade with * them, makes them have recourfe to their own * products which they manufacture -, a thing ' of great confequence to us, and ought to be * guarded againft :* And we would as humbly Gt€ on Trade, p. 152. ',»:.>I rccom- ^y^'^r.^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET {MT-3) 1.0 I.I 1.25 1^ 12.8 mwm m 140 1.4 12.5 1.6 6" V] vQ /: e] e-l ■'// /A 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY. 14580 (716) 872-4503 •y I M .'fl 162 PART IL recommend it to the colonies, that they would not miftake their intereft, for what they think to be intended only for the benefit of others. If they would both confult their own intereft, which one would think might be no difficult matter to make any people do, were it not for luch feuds and animofities, and preconceived opinions and prejudices, which are diredly con- trary to the welfire of the whole nation both at home and abroad, the intereft oi Great Britain and her colonies would be mutual and infepar- able, and confequently kfting and perpetual j and it is the defjgn of this difcourfe to point out the ways of eftablifliing both on fuch a footing. The intereft of Britain in the colonies depends upon their ftaple com- modities, or the produce of their lands, as that of the colonies does likewife i and as Bri^ tain is the beft market in the world for fuch commodities, it will always be their intereft to depend upon their Mother Country, before any other Powers ; not to mention her mild and aufpicious government, of which they could not poffibly have fuch another upon a Continent. However neceflary Manufadures are to the colonies in their prefent fituation, yet Agriculture would turn to much more account. Manufac- tures are the refult of labor, which is both fcarce and dear among them -, but Oaple commodities are the produce of lands, which are both cheap and in plenty; and for that reafon it will always be more prohtable to apply to the laft than the iirf^, providing they are allowed to make ufe of the P A R T II. 1-63 the vaft plenty of lands in that Continent. They may likewife fell the produce of their lands, and gain wealth by them, which they will not be allowed to do with Manufadures. And the more they make, the more we get from them, which is both their interefl and ours. How can you cxpedt to get any thing by a Trade with people who have nothing ? Now as the intereft of the colonies and of their Mother Country is thus naturally conned:- ed, let us fee what it is that divides them, and makes them thus at variance with one another, or likely to be difunited. This may be fummed up in one word j it proceeds from the want of ftaple commodities to fend to Britain, which their lands will not produce, and for that reafon they are neceffarily obliged to enter iiito Manu- fadures; they thereby interfere with their Mother Country, and their intereft becomes oppofite. Now if the caufeof this is confider- ed, it proceeds entirely from the want of lands, or a proper foil and climate, fit to produce fuch commodities as Britain wants, and will take from them. The greateft par^ ot their lands will produce nothing but whac Britain itfelf does, and on which (he relies, as Corn, Cattle, and Wool; bj^ which means the colonies inter- fere with their Mother Country in Agriculture^ as well as in Manufadures, and their interdl will become fo oppofite by both, that it may occafion a breach between them, unlefs due ■eare is taken to prevent it, before the Manu- y Z la<5.turcs ..■^»',- -4 a^M m tl I 164 PART TL fadurcs of the colonies are thoroughly efta- blilhed. Now there is no poffible way to do this, but by fupplying them with fuch lands as will produce ftaple commodities for Britain, for which the nation engaged in fo expenfive a war. — This ftate of the colonies has been fore- feen for many years, by all who were in the leaft acquainted with them, and for that rea- ion it was neceffary to extend their fettlements to fuch lands, of which there are few or none in all the Briiijh dominions but thofc on the Mijpjipi and Ohio, No other part of all that continent, beyond the bounds of our prcfent plantations, will ever be, of any fervice to this nation, or en- able thole colonies to fubfift by a dependance on their mother country without this, at leaft as they increafe and multiply. But we were no fooner pofleffed of thofe territories, for which the nation chiefly engaged in the war, than the colonies were excluded from them by the proclamation of Odiober 7th, 1763, by which they are limited to the fame bounds at the Apalachean mountains, which the Frejich prefcribed to them before the war ; and are obliged to enter into manufactures, for want of thofe lands which alone will ever enable the greateft part of them to purchafe their necef- faries from Britain, Since the acquifuions of Canada and Florida, indeed, the Britifii dominions are fo much en- larged, that no one fcems to imagine, and others will not believe, that thefe colonies can want land 5 and yet it is very certain, if we have any regard PART II. X65 regard to the inter^fl of Great Britain in them. They have juft lands enough to fupply them- felves and their manufadurers, but they hardly produce any thing that will ferve to purchafe their manufadures from Britain* By that mc^ns Britain confines her colonies to bounds, in which they muft neceflarily interfere with her, and excludes them from all thofe terri- tories, which might be of fervice to her, and would keep the colonies from falling into the ftate that we have reprefented. This is a mat- ter of the lail confequence to this nation, and ought to be ferioufly confidered, and attended to, as it will be found upon due inquiry, that the who! intereft of Great Britain in North America, on which ihe has expended fuch im- menfe fums, entirely depends upon it. Al- though thefe colonies may go on for feme time, upon the lands they poffefs, as they have hitherto done, which is but badly, yet in a few years, when their numbers wi 1 be double, they will hardly be able to take any thing from Britain, or to fend any thing to her, at leaft the materials of manufactures which are chiefly wanted from them. This muft certainly appear to all who are acquainted with the countries which our colonies poffefs in North America, with the nature of the foil and climate, and what they produce, or with their agriculture, and ftaple commodities ; but as thefe are fo little underlbod, they require a more particular confideration, cipecially in the Southern colonics ,; where every thing muft be mt ^•mnwr i;ii .i i 166 PART II. made that this nation wants from Nortb Ame- nca. Now all the colonies on the continent make three different countries, as we have faid, the ftate of which with regard to their ftaplc commodities is in brief as follows. I. The iiorthern colonies produce nothing wanted in Bnfaifjy and are entirely unfit for that purpofe, as appears not only from the na- ture and reafon of things, but from 150 years experience— Neither the foil nor climate will admit of any fuch improvements, and there is nothing to be done againft nature. — The length and feverity of the winters, the late and back- ward fprings, and (hortnefs of the fummer fea- fon, are unavoidable obftacles to all fuch im- provements in agriculture. — Were they to make any thing but the neceffaries of life, m their fhort fummers, they would all perifh in their long and hard winters. — The winters laft for five or fix months, and longer in the north- ern parts ; the fnow lies four or five feet deep ; and the cold is twenty degrees greater, even at the town <>^ T^w-Tork on the warmer fea coaft, than the mo^c intenfe cold felt in England during the hard winter 1739-40*. — In the • By the obfervations made in January 1765, by the maftcrs of the college at New-York, Fahrenheit's thermo- meter fell 6 degrees below 0, which is 21 degrees below 15, the greateft cold in E no land. -^V^zicr then froze in- ftantly, and even ftrong liquors in a veryfliort time And we are t(A6, it is not unufual there, to fee a glafs of water fet upon the table, in a warm room, freeze before you can (dnnk ir, &c, inland M PART If. i(,j inland parts again the cold is much more intenfe- and they have frofts the whole year, even in the middle of fummer ; which have been ob- ferved by many in the month of July, upon the mountains in the moft fouthern parts of Penfyhania, and even on the mountains of Fir- ^;W^, although they are but very low. This ftate of thefe colonies proceeds from the climate, which is much worfe than is generally apprehended. Thefe fevere colds are occa- fioned by the -Molent north-vi^eit winds, blow- ing from the frozen regions of Hudfon's Bay, which rage with fuch fury all over that con^ tinent, that they bring the climate oi Hudfon'% Bay even to Virginia and Carolina by one blaft ; and as thefe winds blow with great vi- olence about the vernal and autumnal equi- noxes, they occafion a fecond winter, as it is called, at that time of year, when we fliould exped a warm fpring in the latitude of thefe northern colonies, which lie between 40 and 43 degrees ; this protrads the feafon of winter to the middle almoft of fummer 5 and the fame winds bring on winter again in the middle ot autumn 5 by which they have a very unfavour- able feafon hoth in fpring and autumn, in feed time and harvefl, as would abundantly appear ^ from a due account of the particulars, of which we can here only give a general view. In the town of Philadelphia, which lies in the 40th degree of latitude, to the fouthward of Naples and Madrid, I faw the winter fet in with a 7 violent m ,.T' m V L-f^i i6g PART II. violent north^weft wind, a hard froft, and ice ot a confiderable thicknefs, on the lolh of Sefh- temher. In Canada and Nova Scotia again the fnow \\t^ftxfeet deep iorjix months in the year ! and as they have hard frofts and fnows for a month or fix weeks before this fcvcre feafon, which they call winter, their winters are eight or nine months long j they have little or no fpring or autumn fealon j the fpring does not begin before the nrionth of June-y and even in that month our people who refided at Ofwegpi in the moft fouthern part of all Canada^ obferved hard frofts which deftroyed every thing at that time of year j and the like frofts in the month of 'June lire fonr^etimes felt on the warmer fea coafts of New-England, to the fouthward of that. Thefe fofts continue all o^er Cmada during the whole iummer ; " it is no rare thing there, to fee a «' fro ft at night after a very hot day in fum- « mer * j" and *• 1 have feen as hard frofts «' there on the firft of Augufi^' fays the beft hiftorian of Canada, ** as you will fee in «« trance at All-faints -f-," &,c J. — When they have • Chaf1«voix Hift. N. France, T©m. v, p. 246. f La Potherie Hift. de rAmerique Septentrionale^ Tom. i. p. 281. X '* The winter commonly fets in before the Slips fail fof France, and heoins with a violence which aftonifhcs all wha are rwt atcuftomed to it. The firft frofts fill the rivers with ice in a lew tlay'. and immediately the earth is covered With faow, whieh lafts fix nunths, and always rifcs to the heighib PART II. ,6g have not thcfe frofts, they are fubjea to more pernicious cold winter fogs, which deftroy the fruits of the earth, in the middle of fummer, particularly about the great lakes, and in Nova Scotia, which is only the fca coaft of Cana4ai and they are not entirely free from them in a great height of fix feet, where the wind will fuffer it to lie.— The cold becomes extreme, and encroaches upon the beft part of the fpring.— It is then a melancholy thing not to be able to go out of doors, unlefs you are muiBed up with furs like the bears.— There is no longer any difference between land and water ; the very trees are covered with hoar frofts, and are loaded with fuch icicles, that it is dan- gerous to be nigh them — What can any one think, where the very bears dare not Jhew their face to the weather for fix months in the year ! where icicles a foot long hang to the horfes beards f and where I never knew a winter pafs, but fome or other were brought to the hofpital to have their legs and arms cut off, which were mortified with the froft ! If the weather is clear, there blows fuch a wind from the Weft, that it cuts the face like a razor ; and if it veers about to the S >uth or Eaft, there falls fuch a fnow, that you cannot fee ten fteps before you at noon-day. — Thefe colds are much more intenfe there, than they were in France during the hard winter 1709. — The inconveniencies of thefe long and fevere colds are not to be remedied. The firft is, the charge of maintaining cattle, which cannot get the leaft morfel in the fields during the whole winter. To avoid the expence of keeping them, they are obliged to kill them in O^ober^znd keep their meat frozen fromthatto May, &c." Charlevoix Hifi. N. France, tom. v. p. 242 iS feq, Thefe extream colds, which are felt more or lefs all over North Amertca, proceed from the northern ftiowy moun- tains, which fpread all over that continent, from Baffins 3ay to New-England, and render the climate unfit for any purpofe, but to produce a few Furs, which are exhaufted.— Thefe mountains are covered with fnow throughout the whole year, and occafion frofts even in the middle of fum- mer— Hence all the continent north of ^ebec, and the "" fiver . 4 i I! ;> 'ill 170 PART II. great part of New-England and New-Tork Hence they can neither plow, fow, nor reap in the proper feafon for either 5 but are oblig.^ to plow their lands in Au^ujl or September, and cannot river St. Laurence below it, are uninhabitab!e-ft One cannot fee a more favage country, and no part of the ^« earth IS more uninhabitable," hysCharlevoix^^^ Thefe are mere defarts, on both f.des of theriv<:r St. Uurence, uninhabited by beaft or bird," fays Ch.n^plain, cc ' « account of the fevere colds which reign there."^Tbus pebec IS the firft part of North America that js inhabirablp, from which we may form an opinion of it.— *' The fnovj lies 15 feet deep in the town; the ice is 10 fept tt^ick ; your eyelids are frozen in walking the ftreets ; and peo- ple are foun^dead with the cold about the town';'' WUh many other marks of tbe moft inhofpitable climate recorded Upon thefe accpunts |)oth Canada and No-^q ^cot'ia are uninhabitable, without good accommodations, and fre(h provifions as appeared for nigh a century at the firft f^ttie- ment of thefe countries. Hence we are at all this expence both of men and money, to keep pp accommodations for fJl-T7' ^nd thereby enable tl^erp to hok! the country, which they could not otherwife do. We.e they pyacuatii the pl.mate would « defend, protea and (ecur^ thpm," much better than our forts and garrifons, uhich put the nation to fuch an expence, and have created fuch difturb- ances both at home and abroad. But if Canada were eva- cuated, It would be of lefs confequence than we' fee Cabe Breton aud Loujjburg are ; which were of more importance, but are now of none by being difmantled. The whole of &^^^, Uom ^jebec to Mcntreah is not above ,50 miles m length, and about fix broad, in' a nltrlL ''•^!I, > "]''''' ^^^W fquare miles, not fo much as a iT»iddIe-iized county \vi England, fucb as mx, 9nd ,s certainly not worth poflefTing in fuch a climate. The rn^r'%"°\"^ ^"^ ^'■•'"" '^^«' ^f°wned moraffes, ?i3^ -'!»^j' plains, fit only for the habitation of Beavers j ' P^ PART II. 171 canftot fow them till the month oi iviay me next year^ when they muil be very unfit to re- ceive feed.—" Properly fpeaking, they have *' but two feafons in the year, winter and '* autumn." m bare rocks and mountains covered with fnow throughout the whole year. ^ tanuda^^^ only apJace of arms for France, or a faflory fof the l< ur-trade ; ! ut Britain has no manner of ufe or oc- cafion for either. -Our other colonies are ntore convenient to the Fur-trade by a thoufand miles than Canada ; which can only interfere with them in it, and deprive them of r«. tarns to Bntain^ of which they have no other. It hafs indeed been given out, with every thing elfe, that t««^^^fupplyed the French iflands; but fo far from that, it confurned their fupplies, which for that reafon they were ObUged to get from our colonies, and may now have from France. It was a ccnftant compraint in France, that Ca- nada and Lape Breton confurned thfeir provifTbns which thev wanted at home; and it appears frohi the remonftrance of the ftates of Bourdeaux to the king on Jan. 7th, ,7^) ,., that this hngle town fupplyed them with great quantities of flour and other provifions, although St. Mdlo, Havre, Dieppe, Jrc. had the chief part of that trade. But now when the^ have both Ireland and all our colonies to fupply them, thev pretend to export Corn. New-England does the fame, but imports four times as much. But as our fubjed is Agriculture, for which thefe frozen deferts are unfit and confequently for colonies which fhould live merely by their agriculture, we can pive no far- ther account of them here. All that they can be faid to produce, IS only a diminutive fpecies of Cor'n, which is not worth fowing any where elle : and even this, if they could make any quantities Of it, would only interfere with the agriculture of ^7/^,,/, and that in the moft material part of It, the fupply.ng of the fifhery. It is furprifing, that any Aould reckon this an advantage to Britain, when Corn has become a moft the only ftaple of all our colonies on the con- t.nent.~Were it not for the fifhery, none could live in thefe northern parts of ^/«.r/V^-Hence they are obliged to fced^ both man and beaft \n Canada WMh frozen eels. Which are the manna of the land," fav the Frer, ;<•/;. *-l d. ihc \h' ' ;3' 172 PART II. " autumn *."— Thus they have neither fjjrlng norfummer, after the hard winter; «* which " is very long, and the cold intenfe. If you ftif out in the froft, you are in danger of perifli- ing in a quarter of an hour; and the fnow fails fo heavy, that it frequently lies four feet deep in four and twenty hours i" f mean- ing in Si. Johns Ifland on the warmer fea- coaft. Such countries muft be very unfit for Agriculture, and confequently for colonies^ which fhould live merely by their Agriculture, or become a prejudice to ^heir Mother Country; which thcfe muft undoubtedly be, as would abundantly appear from a due account of them, which we cdnnot pretend to give in the narrow « The whole income oi' Canada was but 650,000 livres a year (about 30,000 /. fterling) which is far from being fufficient to fupply 30,00© people with their necefTaries from France— Hence the greateft part are naked (la plus * part vont-ils tout nuds) others are co^-ered with deer fkint ' like the favages j and oth; rs pick old clothes to pieces to fpin with flax— The produce of their lands will not main- tain them, fo that they live by hunting. Many gentle- men have no other way to live at their cafe — The king maintains a great part of the country, by penfions. 400,000 crowns a year which his majefty fends to Canada are a great refoi::ce — The king expends there 300,000 livres a year ; the furs come to 280,000 ; oil and other fmall articles to 20,000 ; and the penfions and revenues of the clergy in Frame amount to 50,000; which makes 650,000 livres a year, the whole ir ome of Canada: Charlevoix^ Tom. iv. p. 131, &c. LaPotherie, i. 367.— Thus the whole produce of the country was but 300,000 livres a year, not 14,000/. fterling — and '-y fettling the country we deftroy the furs, and din inifh thus .ts produce, fmall as it is. * Letters on Cape Breton and St. John's ifland, p. 7. f Id. ibidt p. 96. 4 bounds 1 ■; liiiiifl P A H T n. ,-| bounds of a pamphlet ; that muft h2 refcrved for fome oiher opportunity. Befides the climate, the befl: and frefti lands in all our North'irn colonies, which fliould produce their ftaple commodities for Britain, are worn out by culture. Had they been able to have made any fuch thing, they v/ould have done it at firft, as in the other colonies, when their lands were frefh anc' fertile, and fit for the purpofe, which they are not in any part of North America, after they have been exhauft- td. They arc obliged to expend their manure on their Corn and Grafs grounds j their planta- tions are .^.oo fmall to make Jiaple commodities ; and thty have many populous ^towns, which take off and confume the produce of the lands, that £!iould be ient to Britain, Hence the produce of thefe colonies is only the overolus of the Corn and Provifions, which they make for their own ufe, which is not a great deal ; and in a {hurt time will be little or none at all, as the people increafe and multiply. There are nigh a million and an half of people in thefe Northern colonies, in a country no larger than Ireland, and not by a fourth part fo fruitful. What then » an they poffibly have to raife fterling cajh to pay taxes, when they have nei- ther ftaple commodities from their Agriculture, Manufadures, nor a Trade in them ? Or hov/ can it be fuppofed, that they can ever purchafe their necelTaries from Britain ? Their only de- pendance is upon a Trade to the Weji-Indies, or the Fur-trade ; the laft of which is very incon- fiderable. NSi* "^H ll- "*».•;■ Ml $i ! Hi ■ r, m:X3- '" "i 174. PART IL fidcf able, and daily declines ; the firft has bttri long ago inlufficient to maintain fuch 2 nurrrbtr of people? and is reduced to little dt nothing by the great increafe of the people, the additibn df more Northern colomjes, arid by the So'ithern engaging in it. If thefe things are confidet-ed, it will be Jmpoffible for theie colon ie? to take altnoft any thing from Britdifi, or to have any connection with her, when they become more populous, unlefs they extend their fettlements to the Southward. For this every one blames the colonies 5 but it is not their fault, it is their very great misfortune j this their flate proceeds from a barren land and inhofpitable climate, for which they are to be pitied and afliftcd, and not blamed and opprefled. The fault lies at their door, who fettle colonics in fuch coun- tries, which will produce nothing; and will ftiil fettle more fuch to interfere both with them and their Mother Country *. ^, ^, ^ If. The * V e cannot enter into particulars hefe, but from thefe hints nny, who are acquainted with the olonics, may perceive, I. That it can never be for the intereft of Britain to have any more northern cohmis--Thcy can never fubfift by a depcndance on her without ftaple commoditres, to remit to Britain, which none of thefe Northern parts of America will ever produce. To fettle any more, therefore, fuch as Canada and Nova Scotia, is to be at the expence both of men and money, to raife colonies which cannot fubfift by a d "pendance on their Mother Country, and to add to the num- ber and ftreij^ih of thofe which are already in that fituation. II. The chief ftaple and fupport of thefe Northern colo- nies, for which they were all fettled, was the Fur Trade, but tijc a urs^are now in a njanner cxhauftcd, with the Iridiatis who got ihemi th' whole Fur Trade docp not exceed 4O3OOO /. as bfeth ling by itibn c/f )'rfherri idefed, to take ave any e more ements blames is their •oeeeds ilimate, 2d, and lies at I cotm- id will fi them I. The om thefe ies, may n to have sfift by a rtmk to America , fuch as '■■ both of bfift by a the num- ntuation. ern colo- "rade, but le Iruilans )t exceed 40j000 /. PART IL „5 II. Thp Tobacco colonies enjoy a befter foil and climate, apd l^ave by that means hitherto ha^ a good ftaple comm-dity, which has beea of more iervice tq the nation than all the other prpdudts of North America put together, fo long as their lands \ypre frefli ^pd fertile ; but moft 40,000/. a year, which is not fufficient to m.In(a.n any one o\ thefe colonies, and is nothing for fuch a nu.nber of people, as ,s ,n them all. This is properly rh, ftaple of M..-n.^, wuhout which they can make few remitt.uLs S fnT''^' \" '^'f ""^"'^ ^'" ""'y ^^'•ve ^'' d^Pr^ve them of, their mI'-^V'^'"' '"^ ^''P^^^ themfelves indcpcndant of tneir M' tner Country. in So the ftaple of New-En^hnd, and fource of all their remittances to Bruaxn is th« fifhery, in which Nova Scotia niuft interrcre With thole populous and powerful colonies; and by bc.ng fo iriMch mpre convenient to it. that colony IJ^r^ '"^ ■■"'" ^^^'^ ^""^ °^ ^^^^"'^ '^^'"^ ^"l thl^iJi '''' ^''" ^u"? ^g^/^'^^^ked by Sir J.ftah Child, that fettJements on thefe coafts, adjacent to the filhery. oni; ferve .0 hurt the fiihery of Bntain, of which we have a thirty fail of Enghjh fh.ps a year ufed to fi(h on that coaft, before »t was fettled, but fince that we have not had a S fi h,ng ft.p there for many years. By thefe means th fil! ery of Bntatn has been reduced from 250 fail of fliios in a year to 70 or 80, and the nation is likel^y to lofe thTg eat fource o her maritime power, by creating new rivalfin pbce of thole wh.ch we have been at fuel, an expend o expell : and th,s is the more to be regarded, as the fiflie y finceThev'r "^7^' '""^ T" ^^ ^'''' '^ '^at of BritJl lince they fupply more than four times as many peoole Thefnl ^'T\°7.^"d the other Cathoh-cks in^£4.: Jfhl. fl '^^""^ ^^P''^^^ °^ fettlements on thef^ nome, ready UDon all pmpr«»r.^:». ...um. ,..^ ,. in fk.^ .. j' 'f , ■." a- "•>-' a F"" "I ni'"'"^ ' 1 I PIIH ^ilfl; j, 11 '' i:;, ^H^^^H 1 1 n ''■♦J • tm '}%M Jl'!! jiif ; 176 PART II. moft of them are worn out with that exhaufl:^ ing weed, and will no longer bear it 5 they are then turned into Corn and Pafture grounds, which produce nothing but Corn, Cattle, and Wool, as in the Northern colonies ) and we fhall foon want a fupply of lands for Tobacco, as much as for any thing that North America will produce. Thefe colonies likewife want fome other ftaple, as much as all the reft, if not more. They have hitherto depended en- tirely upon Tobacco, and when that fails, they are in a worfe fituation than the reft. There are about 800,000 people in thefe two colo- nies, who do not make above 300,000 /. a year by their Tobacco, which is but feven fhillings and fix-pence a head per annum. This is far from being fufficient to maintain fuch a num- ber of people, however it might have fupported a few. Formerly they made three hogfheads of Tobacco a head, where they cannot now make one, while the people are four times as numerous, as we have faid. Take all the peo- &c. which are the great advantages of the fifhery — Thus Britain may be a lofer, and France a gaint^r, by depriving her of colonies which are rather a lofs and detriment than any benefit to their Mother Country — The only objeft in all thefe Northern parts of America is the fifhery, and unlefs we have that, we get nothing by the country, but the cow to keep, and have her to maintain, while others get the milk — As for a fecurity for the fifhery, thefe fettlements about it will require ten times more prote^ion tl.an they can give, and may be a ready way to lofe the fifhery, as happened at St. John's in Newfoundland-— Britain muft fecureher dominions both at home and abroad by her fleets, which thefe fettlements will weaken, and thereby deprive the natipn of that ftcurity which they are intended to give. pie exhaufl:^ i they are grounds, attle, and and we Tobacco, America r'ife want le reft, if inded en- lils, they There wo colo- • /. a year {hillings lis is far a num- "upported ogfheads not now times as the peo- ery — Thus ^ depriving iment than y objeft in and unlefs ut the cow ers get the fettlements tLan they fiflicry, as itain muft herfipets, by deprive ;d to give. pie P A R T It. .i;7 pie together in thefo colonies, they .do not make above half an hog(head a head ; there are 180,000 tythable people in them, who make at moft but 90,000 hogfheads of Tobacco a year. Thus they muft neceflarily turn their lands into Corn and Pafture grounds, or get fome other ftaple for them. It is commonly alledged, and we fee in all our hiftories of Virginia^ that their lands are extremely rich and fertile, infomuch that 'it is imagined they will bear Tobacco, or Hemp, and Flax for ever: but although their lands, par-* ticularly in Maryland^ and the Northern parts of Virginia^ are by far the beft of any in North America, on this fide of the Apalachean moun- tains, they are far from being rich ; the foil is in general very light, and fo (hallow, that it is foon worn out by culture, efpecially with fuch ex* haufting crops as Indian Corn and Tobacco. It is for this reafon, that tiiey are now obliged to fow Wheat, and exported fifty or fixty (hip- loads the laft year. — One third of the country may be faid to be a good and fruitful foil j a third part is but indifferent ; and the remaining third is very poor and mean, although not quite barren — The Southern parts oi Virginia are very poor and fandy, like Carolina^ and all the Conti- nent to the Southward, whence they will hardly bear Tobacco of any value. — Thefe plantations are indeed capable of many improvements, and more than any of our other colonies, but they have never vet mgdt: anv ? and if ever thev do» they muft be fome others than Hemp and Flax A a fo^ »■ :,. ■^f^, I i/S PART II. for fuch lands, which are worn out with Mian Corn and Tobacco. What thefe fliould be, we ill all hereafter confider. III. The next divifion contains the Southern or Rice colonies, which make the great extent of the Bntijb dominions on this fide of the j4pa/a- r/jr^« mountains ; but it is the great misfortune of the nation, that this extenfive part of her dominions, which lies in a climate, that might otherwife produce every thing we want frctn A'orth America, is as barren, as it is unhealthful, and unfit either to raife any confiderable colonies, or to make any thing of confequence in them ; and fur that reafon thefe countries will require a' more paitic\ilar confideration, as the whole interell: of the nation lies in thefe fouth- ern parts of that Continent. Both North and Sciith Carolitia are a low, flat, fandy country, like a fandy defart, for a great diflance from the fca-coaft, and the farther South we go to Geor- gia or Florida, it grows fo much worfe. It is faid by the late Mr. Catejby +, who was fent to America on purpofe to explore thefe Southern parts of the Continent, that a third part oiCaro- hia is -.x pine-barren, or a fandy defart ; and he, with many others, from whom we have had particular accounts of all thefe Southern parts of North America, have aflured us, that the greatell: part of the reft was little better. In the inland parts indeed^ as he fays, the country IS more high and hiIlyX;but t he hills are nothing hardly but banks of fan d, rocks, oi' flones, % Natural Hiftorv ol" Carolina and Florida. with t ."f V ^//,.v .%^. ^_- .,1 / ;^^ 'K'^''^'^^//7%JA.^a^9-~Q.m'-.iy. P A R T IL 179 with a few Savamtast or low meadow grounds which afford good pafturage in the vallies, which are called rich lands in Carolipia §. It was for this reafon, that although there were 800 people landed by the Lords Proprietors at once, on the 8th of il/r/y, 1663, in order to fettle that country, more than ever were fent to. any of our colonies, yet the greateft part of them foon abandoned it ; their fertiement at Cape Fear was broke up, and the Proprietor?, after being at great expences, were at lafl: glad to give up their advantageous and honourable charter. The people could not fo much as fubfift in the country ; and for that reafon de- ferted it (as they have fince done in Georgia and Florida), till they got a bag of Seed Rice from Mr. AJhby in 1692, which has ever fince been their only fupport, and ftaple of the country. For this purpofe they quitted North Carolina, (which was firft intended to be planted, but hardly has been to this day, if it be not by run- aways and deferters from the other colonies), and fettled from Charles-Town to P(,rt Royal; where the country is very low and flat, with great numbers of fmall rivers and creeks, and fwamps and marfhes on their borders, which are their Rice grounds, and only fruitful lands in the country. But the deep and richer fwamps on the fides of the large rivers are too expenfive to clear and drain, as they are found to be ia Virginia, § Id, ibid, append, pag. iii, iv. A a 2 wm- wm_ \Wj •V ,1* : ■ i > i. p I Th us 'f'm ijll 180 PART II. Thus all thefc extenfive Southern parts of North America produce little or noihin?, and the lands are hardly worth cultivating, if it be not in the unhealthful and deftruaive fwamps and marlLes j Which they are obliged to be at theimmenfe toil and fatigue of clearing, drain- ing, and cultivating, at the rifque of their lives ^'\ ^f^er ^o g<^t Rice to fupply the place of Wheat, and to have padurage on the low grounds, neither of which the uplands afford +, as we have faid. Whatever any country may produce, the firft thing mult be Corn an4 Grafs ; and it is to get thefe, that they plant Kice in Carolina, which is otherwifc not fo pro^ per lor a .BW///Z). colony, as it is but another lort of Corn, not wanted in Britain. Out of an hundred and odd thoufand barrels of Rice which they niake in a year, Britain confumes but four thoufand ; hence they want markets for this, as all our other colonies do for their other forts of Corn, which is become the chief produce of them all; they thereby interfere with one another, depreciate their ftapie, can- not vend any quantities of ir, and are on thefe accounts unable to make remittances to Britain,^ to pay their debts, or to purchafe their necef- farics from hcncej which obliges them to enter into Manufadures, and to fupply themfelves, independant of their Mother "Country. We have known Rice fo low in Carolina, that it; + c ec a clcfcription ai South Carolina in i;io. was PART II. i8i was not worth making. To fettle any more fuch colonies then, as Florida, is only to ruin thefe, and the intereft of Britain in them j unlefs you could get fome other ftaple for them, which the country will hardly admit of, if it be not filk, and that requires more hands than thefe unhealthful fea-coafts will breed. They are even glad to fupply the French with Rice, in order to enable them to eftablifh a colony at Cayenne, to rival and outdo them, as they there make \.sno crops of Rice in a year ; and we have been told by fome who have refided in Surinam^ that they can even make three, by which thefe two may Toon undo Carolina, Many of our Rice plantations would have been brr':e up before this time, like the Tobacco plantations, if it had not been for the afliftance of Indigo, which has fupported them. This may be perceived by all who remember the ftate they were in, when the bounty on Indigo was granted j befor^^ which we knew fome people who were obliged to fell their Rice at a (hlling a hundred weight, in the late warj and if they had gone on to make as much as they could, without any other commodity or produd: of their lands, it would hardly have been worth more. The Rice grounds in North America are more numerous and plentiful than in any part of tile world, which is their great misfortune. The whole CfipiT- nf ISJfivfh Jlm^,-:^^ f-^r- Pelaware Bay or New Jerfey to the Gulf of MexicOf i; ili I i t ■ * J Jl ItJ l_. I' I' p 182 • PART II. Mexico, in all the parts of that Continent which can ever produce any thing for Britain, is al- moftone continued trad of fwamps and mnrflies, or Rice grounds, with barren fands between them, as in Carolina, The fwamps of Virginia a!one would produce much more Rice than all Europe and America confume ; and the Rice, that we have feen grow upon them, was nigh as large again as what is made on the poor grounds in Carolina j the greateft part of which are only the wafhings of the fand banks which furround them, and as poor, for low grounds, as the reft of the country: but in Virginia, Marylandy and the Delaware counties, or ter- ritories of Pcnfyhania, where the uplands are fertile, the fwamps or Rice grounds are ex- tremely rich ; and if they could get the large and rich forts of Rice above-mentioned to plant upon them, it might help to bring thofe fertile fpots into culture and tillage, to make them lit for other crops, fuch as Hemp and Flax, and to drain the country, and render it more healthful. But to clear and drain the fwamps in Virginia, would require all the people in the country to do nothing e]k, and would kill one half of them. It is found, from daily experience, that the working in the miry fwamps in thefe hot climates is very unhealthful, and even dan- gerous; for which reafon none of them are touched, where they have other lands fit to cul- tivate. It is only the want of other fruitful laiids in Carolina^ j:'lorida^ and ail the Southern parts P A R T 11. 183 parts of North America, that obliges them to enter into thefc difmals, as tliey are called, which infedl all the country round them, and render it very unhcalthful, even at a diftance, and much more on thefe pernicious pools them- felves. This fituation of the Southern colonies it will be very neccflary to attend to, if ever we would promote or preferve the intereft of Britain in North America, All our colonies on that Con- tinent are divided into the Northern and South- ern, of u^hich the firft will produce nothing that this nation wants from them ; it is only in the Southern parts of North America, that the colonies can either make thofe commodities which are fo much wanted by the nation, or fublift by a dependance on their Mother Coun- try by that means. The intereft of the nation therefore lies in the Southern parts of that Con- tinent, and it is only by cultivating thefe, that Britain will be able to keep her colonies in a ftate of dependance upon her, or reap any great advantages by them. But notwithftanding^they are of fuch confequence and importance,^ thefe Southern parts of the Continent have been neg- leded, and we have but very few people in them to this day. The great numbers of peo- ple we have in North America are in the North- ern colonies, where they can make nothing that turns to any account, either to them or to the nation, while thefe Southern parts, which are much more extenfive, lie unpeopled and uncul- tivated J Pi )>*<«!{ ' '!*& -^X m^ 184 PART JI. tivated j which is the true caufe of the bad ftate of the colonies. It was for this reafon an enquiry for many years at the Bonrd of Trade, Why we have lb few people in our Southern colonies, where the intereft of the nation lies ? What anfwer they may have received to that important quef- tion, we know not, but it certainly proceeds from the barrennefs of the land, and unhealth- ful fituation of the country. The whole fea- coaft of North Americoy from the Bay of New- Tork to the Gulf of Mexico, is a low, flat, fan- dy beach ; the foil for a great diftance from it ^ is fandy ar^d barren j the climate is very rainy, and as thefe rains have no drain from the land, but ftagnate all over a low flat country, they form innumerable fwamps and marfhes, which render it very unhealthful. It is a common opinion, that all this part of the Continent, which ftretches into the ocean at a confiderable diftance from the reft, has been recovered from the fea, and that it is nothing but a drained marfh or fand-bank, which indeed i: very much refembks, and in nothing more than its per- nicious influence on mankind. Accordingly, in all this fpace, nothing is to be found, either on the furface, or in the bowels of the earth, but beds of fea-fliells, in place of ftones, metals and other minerals, and the earth is as barren in thefe, as in other produdions. Many caufes like wife confpire to render all thefe Southern coafts of North America unhealthful, and as they F» A R t II. i2i they ^rc barren withal, and the heats (6 fultry, that people are not able to undergo the toils of ^^lanters in them, they are abandoned altnbfl by all. It has likewife been obferved, that many tnore people are buried than are boi'n upon thefe coafts, whence they can never be popu- lous, but are a perpetual drain of people to the nation. To people the Southern parts of Nortb America from the unhealthful fea-coafts, would be as difficult as to people England from Ront" n^y marfli.— Thefe Southern colonies are from 150 to 200 miles broad, between the fea and inountains, of Which about one half is thus low, flat, and unhealthful on the coall, and the inland parts the reverfe. They can likewife only be cultivated to any purpofe by ncgfoes^ which the produce of the poor and barren lands will neither purchafe, nor maintain. For this reafon they ai'e obliged to lay fuch a duty upon the importation of negroes into South Carolina, that it amounts in a manner to a prohibition. - It is for thefe reafons, that we have fo few people in our Southern colonies, and are never likely to have atiy numbers by our prefent pro- ceedings, nctwithftanding the whole intereftof the nation in Ntirth America depends upon it. We think of nothing but extending our fct- tlements fl:ill farther on thefe peftifcrous fca- coaOs, even to. the funken lagunes of Eafl^ Florida, and the barren fands of Mobile and Bb the t86 PART II. the many we already have ; by which means we are never likely to have any number of peo- ple in the Souihern parts of North America, if this nation (hould be ruined by it, as it is very likely to be. The only ufe of new fettlcments m North America is for the people in the Northern and other colonies, who want lands to make ftaple commodities for Britain, to remove to them j but none of thefe will ever go to Florida, or thrive in a, more than they have done in Carolina and Georgia-, the cli- mate of Florida is more intemperate, the lands more barren, and the fituation much worfe ifl every rcfped:. For thefe reafons, if we en- deavour to raifc colonics there, it will be much more impradicable, without a perpetual lofs of people, than in any of our other Southern colonies. None of the Southern parts of thajt Cofitjnent can ever be planted, without. a very •great lofs of people, but at the diftance of a .Jiwidrcd or a hundred and fifty miles from the fea-coaft. Whatever any of thefe maritime parts of Florida may be, it is certain, they will not l^reed people to reap their produds, if ever they produce ;. lingj rsy it appears from fufficient expeiiSQcj, that they would not fo much as maintain the few people who have been in them. Thefe are fads which k \k for themfelves : Flo: 'da has been fettled ever fince the year 1586, much longer than 3^7 part of North America ; but notwithflanding we %" PART ir. 1B7 we fee the people incrcafc and multiply {0 faft in all other parts of that continent, they never increafcd in Florida^ as they have done iri all pther parts of America, both north and fouth. The few people who were maintained there at a public expence, who were moftly for^adoi or ponvidls bani(hed to a forlorn defert, were not able to get the bare neceflaries of life, but were fupplyed by our colonies, the Havannahy or other Spanijh fcttlements, as is well known in pur colonies which fupplied them *. There- fore, whatever any may fay about the health- fulnefs or fruitfulnefs of Florida, it muft ap- pear to be a mere conjecture, contrary to 170 years experience. Had it been either a health- ful or fruitfuLcountry, we fliould at leaft have fecn fome people in it, in fo long a time. If a few might have been bred there at a public ex-» pence,' they all delerted the country, as all have done who ever went to it ; and none will ftay in a country which does not produce the necef- faries of life, or corn and grafs. Ibefe they can only get from the fwamps and marfiies, which none would ever cultivate, till they arc reduced to the laft extremity, and can live no- where elfe. If you may force a few negroes to * ' All their fupply of bread, cloathing and money, * comes from the Havannah and Pvrto Be'li^ and it was go- * inpj on of three years fmce they had a veflel from any place * whatfoever, which made their wants very great,' as Vft are told by a good judge on the fpot. Didnnfea's voyage to Florida, p. m, 97. B b 2 ckar IS- t f V , r 1 ',*■■ ■■ 'U I PART II. ^ clear and cultivate thefe di/malsy as they are * called, white people are not fit for the bufinefs in that climate, and will never apply to it, if they can poflibly live any where elfe. But ex-r Cept thefe difmal fwamps, it appears from all accounts, that they have no other Corn or grafs grounds in Florida^ fit to maintain any number of people. It is as contrary to all reafon and experience, to call Florida healthful. There never was a healthful country known upon the fea coafis cf America^ whether north or fouth, from New-Tor k, or at leaft from Virginia, to Peru-, all the Britijh and Spanijh colonies in thefe cli- mates are well known to be very unhealthful, on the low flat and mar{hy fea coafts -, and Florida lies in the very midft and worft fituation of them all. If it is healthful, it muft alter the very nature of things. It is a low flat and marfliy fea coafl:, fcorched with burning fands, in a hot climate, and clofe woody country, and flooded with exceflive heavy rains, which have no drain from the land, but ftagnate all over a low flat country, and form thofe fwamps and marflies of which it is full; which become per- fectly pefliferous, whei ^ the waters ftagnate and corrupt in fuch a hot climate. There is not a hill in the whole country to drain it from fhe heavy rains, either in eaft or weft Florida -, from which alone any one might perceive, they can never be healthful. In thefe refpedls they f cicUiuiv o-ii lut uixjiL uiiiicuiuijui pares or ouf colonies. cs or ouF PART II. 189 colonies, and of all other parts of the world, and the climate is more intemperate. We ought not therefore to be deluded with ftories about the healthfulnefs of fuch a country, when all the world (hews it to be the reverfe. All our colonies, and Weji-Florida^ were very healthful, till they were found to be otherwife; as they muft appear to be to every good judge, from their fituation on or nigh the , fea coafts, which are well known to be very unhealth- ful *. The complexions of the people, the fureft * The fituation of all the maritime parts of North jJmerica in the fouth is ; I. T'ley are a low, flat and clofe woody country, which can neither be well aired nor ventilated. II. The coaft for fome diftance is low, flat and marfliv; the marfhes fmell as bad as any common fewers, and infect the whole country round them. III. The foil is in general a fcorching fand in a hot cli- mate, which with the clofe woods render the heats fo infuf- ferable, that people fomctunes drop down dead with them, efpecialiy at hard labor in the fields. IV. They lye in a narrow vale between the fea and mountains, and are flooded with rains from both thefe four- ces, both from fea and land winds. The quantity of rain that falls by thefe means is vaftly great, from 50 to 65 inches in a year. In the moil rainy feafon we have known in England^ there fell 9 inches of rain in two months, but at Charles-Town Dr. Lining meafured 9 inches of rain in one Ihower, which lafted 36 hours. The greatett part of this rain falls in the months of July^ Auguji and September, and renders them very fickly, by ftagnating all over a low flat country, which forms fo many fwamps and marflies. In Florida again they have a third fource of rain from the gulph of MexicQi fo that it rains almoft every day in fum- iDcr. i ' **ii! ^.■' '11 -4'f K" I ; ' '''filler 19^ PART II. furcfl: fign of the flate of health in any country, their pale and fallow looks, and emaciated ha- bits, abundantly fhew the unhealthfulnefs of thcif V. AH this happens in the dimate of North America^ which IS fubjea to great and fudderi changes from heat tq cold, efpecially m the long nights in the fouLhern parrs, to which their unhealthfulnefs is chiefly owing. You arq melted with fweat at night, and tremble in vour bed with cold before mcrmng. Bine ill which rife up here and there in the midft of tiiefe fwamps or banks of the river. " Thefe are the '*' beftCorn lands,'* fays our author, and the only lands th ;t the natives cultivated, for which they are rendered fi*: hybe^ng covered with (hells, like many part of North America, buch fpots are certainly not worth poll' iiing in fuch a defert. The lo V grounds on the river fide, which are the only other f uttful lands, are hut 2 or 300 yards broad, and about 50 i' iles in length. f There is not perhaps a river in the world, of the *'ame extent with th's, that as fo little or rather no good land oa it. Even in iVe/f l-hridn barren as it is on the Tea coafts, if you afcend the rivrr<5 for 100 or 150 miles, you meet with a high drv and fruitful <.ouniry, in a more temperate climate and healthfu' ittuat'on ; but. this muddy canal in Eaji Florida is barreii ar its niouih, nd ends in fuch inarfties at its head, that they are net fir to inhabit in that climate. This and all the other little flreams in the coun- try proceed from fuch fources, and run lome north, fome fouth, in contrary diredlions to one another, like ftagnant and muddy canals, rather than running waters which pro- ceed from the natural fources of rivers in hils and moun- tains; of which there are none m all Flo'ida, whether eaft or weff, nigh the co.tft. Yet they would praife even thefe muddy canals, which they call rivers, as well as the marfhes upon them, which thty would call rich lands, fince there are no others. But if any would fee a true account both of futh rivers and lands, which fmell as bad as any common ft'wers, and are only to be paralleled by the Campanlfi of Roine^ let ihetn confuit Lattcifidi noxiis paiudum effiuviis. Dd 2 Suppofe !i ffii ij 204 P A R T 11. Supp^fe they were a mile broad, and 100 miles in length, which will contain all the beft of the fands in the country, they would make but 100 fquare miles, which is but the fize of the tenth part of a county in England. Even if we allow all the little Ipots that may be found fit to cultivate in the whole country, to make 1000 fquare miles, the fize of a county in England, can they be worth poflefiing in fuch a defert ? or can fuch fpots be worth 100,000 /. a year ! — All the lands of any value in Canada make but 900 fquare miles, and thofe in Flo- rida not 100 ; the two together are no larger than a county in England^ and ?re faid to cofi: near half a million a year, which is nigh half as much as all the lands in North America pro- duce for faie. As for the produce of fuch a country, we may be fure it cannot be much, if any thing. The firft thing to be confidered in all countries, and efpecially on plantations where they have no markets for provifions, are the neceflaries of life, or Corn and Grafs, which Florida will not produce for any number of people, or a colony. Neither Wheat, Barley, Rye, nor Oats, will grow in the foil or climate. A poor and fcorching fandy foil is as improper for thefe, as a miry mar(h, efpecially in fuch a climate. The winters likewile are tpo fhort and fultry to cure provifions, at leaft to keep for the year ; without which it is impofllble to live on plantations : ^'^^ as the ^ 4.#.^.. J ^ J "liUCU With froics. r iO as 1 100 miles he beft of make but fize of the Even if J be found , to make county in ig in fuch 100,000/. in Canada )fe in Flo- no larger lid to coll nigh half erica pro- mtry, we my thing, countries, ihey have effaries of k will not a colony. )ats, will poor and thefe, as late. The ry to cure without mtations : froils, fo as PART II. 205 as to render the country unfit to produce fugar, it labors under all the difadvantages of a fouth- crn fituation, without any of the advantages ; and they may be as unable to purchafe their provifions, as to raife or cure them. Nothing that "North America produces, will enable a co- lony to purchafe their provifions. It was for this reafon, that the Spaniards never had the neceflaries of life in 170 years that they were pofifefiled of Florida j and every one deferts the country, as faft as they go to it, unlefs they are maintained at a public expence. The many projedlors we have in all our colonies, never confider how their labourers are to be main- tained, and for that reafon their projeds all mis- carry, as they certainly muft do in Florida^ You can only maintain a colony there by means of Rice, and to clear, drain and culti- vate the difmal fwamps of America for that, in which half the labourers are loft, is more than any white people can or will do ; and to pur- chafe negroes at their prefent price will never turn to account for that, or any thing elfe that Florida will produce. They find it fo difiicult to maintain negroes in Carolina, that they have in a manner prohibited them. At the beft, Flo- rida can on^y be a barren appendage of the other Rice colonies, which already produce more Rice than they can well vend, or at leaft they and the other colonics have ten times more land than would fervc for that purpofe^ fo that the fettling of a colony licre can only fei ve to oblige , ' y 206 PART II, oblige the reft to fet their negroes about manu- fadures, as we have faid *. For thefe reafons, they would make a fugar colony of Florida ; a whim with which the nation has been deluded, with al! others that could be thought of. A pooi fa dy foil is as unfit to produce fugar, as the cane is to grow in froft and fnow. They muft be little ac- quainted with the climate of North America, who expedt to make lugar in any part of that continent. At Charles-Town in South Carolina the cold has been obferved to be greater, than * We have already had an account of what Florida will produce, by a good judye on the fpot. Mr. Bartram tells us, the richer fwamps may produce Rice ; the narrow flip oflandy low grounds on the border;; of thefe might bear Jndigo ; and the fandy uplands, which are in a manner the Whole country, would produce Indian Corn, Potatoes, and Cotton, «' by the help of dung, and good cultivation," fays he; and fo would a:,y land, if you could get manure for It i but that IS as fcarce in a Tandy defer t, as a clayey foundation is for fuch a foil, which we «re told might ma- nure it— The proper manure for fuch lands is marl, which will not quit coft for any thing that North America produces. If It were to be found.— As for dung, many of our Planters in the bouthern parts of North America are of ooinion, that It fpoils fuch fandy foils. It is prefently exhkled by the heat of the fcorching fands, fo as to yield little or nothing, and renders them fo light, that both the foil and manure blow away with the wind like dull, and leaves them poorer than ever.— Thus all the propofals for the planting ot J'loTida are no better than to make fugar in frofts '—To make both fugar and wine in one and^he fame country, which IS certainly very unfit for either !— To make fiik where there are no people ! or to fupport a colony by the planting of Cotton ! «^ / / the lut manu« :e a fugar hich the thers that foil is as 5 to grow : littie ac- America, rt of that Carolina ter, than Florida will uriram tells narrow flip might bear manner the •tatoes, and ultivation," get manure as a clayey might ma- larl, which a produces, ur Planters )iniorj, that lied by the )r nothing, nd manure aves them he planting ofts l~To le country, make fiik, ony by the the PART II. 207 the moft intenfe cold felt in England during the hard winter 1739-40*. So in the French fettlements on the MiJJifippr, they have both froft and fnow, and fuc'i fevere colds, that water thrown up in the air freezes before it falls to the ground -f ; at which times no part of Florida can be free from frofts. And we have feen very credible people who have felt the like cold at Penfacota, where water froze as it fell on the (hip's deck, and they had ice of a confiderable thitkncfs Thefe colds are occafioned by vioknt north- weft winds, and if we knew their fury, we cannot fuppofe, that their current can be ftopr by the low and flat point of Ea/l Florida. We have had but three accounts 'of a winter there, which were all at- tended with fevere frofts The firft V by Soto^ who t?ells us, ' the Indinns going naked (which * they were uled to) ar.d in irons, during the « hitter cold of winter, were almoft all ftarved ? t« depth X' This was in the fomhern parts of the Peninfula-y and both he and the French call the northern parts of Eaji Florida « a very cold country." In like manner an Englijh fhip being caft away not far from the cape of Florida^ and the crew being ftript by the Indians, feven of them were frozen to death, and when they arrived at St. Augujiine, ! on the i6;h of November^ we had ice half * See a defcription of South Carolina bv + Du frutz^ Hift. Louifiana. \ ' J Voyage to /7- £14 PART II. Ionics, which is their great and daily increafe ; and for which unlcfs we make provifion in time, they can never fubfift by a dependence on Britain. We have above given an inftance of a colony doubling its number every twenty years, and the like has been (hewn in others ; which is ib far from being incredible, as many imagine^ that it is furprifing, they do not in- creafe much fafter, fince that is not above a fourth part of the natural increafe of mankind in England, as we have fliewn. This increafe of the colonies is owing to their occupation of huibandaien, which is the fole bufinefs of planters ; and to a cufcom which prevails in them, of dividing the lands among their chil- dren, by which they are all provided with a fubfiftence, and a maintenance for a family, frona the produce of their lands. Where this is the pradticc. any country will foon be full of people, if it w'\\\ produce the neceffaries of life. Mankind is propagated on the earth, like trees, as we have faid, according as they have room to grow, and can find a fubfiftence. There- fore, as Britain is a limited and confined coun- try, and the lands are engroffed by a few, it can never be very populous, nor the people numerous, unlefs the fources of population are better attended to, and the lands are more equally diftributed. But altho' the colonies we pofTefs in North America are not above a fourth part as fruitful as England, vet if they have fnch a general and free ufe of t! e lands, while they are en^rofTed by a few here, they may foon beconie PART n. 215 become more populous than tbeii mother coun- try. There are at prefent nigh three millions of people in them *, who may in twenty or * The number of ppople in the colonics is computed by two different methoO^. The fi.-R is from the militia, to which they add one third of their number for exempts, which they reckon gives the number of males between fix- teen and fixty, which is a fourth part of the people; but in fome of the colonies, in which we have an account both of the militia, and number of r 'es of that age, this compu- tation appears to be deficient about one eighth. The other and moft comi. . way is, from the lifts of tythables, or taxable people, and polls j but as thefe lifts are made out by every one, in order to tax themfelves, they are always deficient, in the fame manner as the land-tax is in England; and it is but a fmall allowance for this defici- ency, to fuppofe it to be one eighth. Now, from thefe lifts the number of white people in North Jmejica was computed to be 1,600,000, in the year 1755, when the mcft exa£l account of their number was taken, before the commencement of the war ; to which if we add one eighth, their number at that time muft have been 1,800,000, and perhaps not much Icfs than two mWr lions, befides 3 or 400,000 negroes. It was from this com- putation, that the number of people in the colonies has been reckoned two millions ; and they appear even to have ex- ceeded that number in 1755; to which if we add their increafe fince that time, they cannot now be much ftiort of three miljions, including the negroes, of which many are daily purchafcd. Since this appears to be the prefent number of people in the colonies, and they have hitherto doubled their numbers in 20 years, the queftion is, whether will the prefent num- ber continue to increafe at that rate > It is no doubt more difficult to double three millions than one; but as the coun- try is more cleared, open, and healthful, the lands are more fit for tillage, and the people apply more to theraifing ofthenecefTaries of life, they increafe faftcr than formerly; fo that their number will foon be very great, aiiJ we ouaht in time to fee how they are to fubfift'by a dependence^on Brltainj which it 1. the defign of th.^ difcourfe to point out. th irr' - ** i,w;fjf* iti6 P A R t li. thirty years increafe to fix millions, as mafty as there arc in England : And as they have room m that continent to extend their bounds, they ivill foon come to be very numerous; although they are never likely to be fuch great and mighty Empires, as many imagine, in the barren and inhofpitable foil and climate, which make by far the greateft part of that continent. It is therefore of the utmoft confequence to this nation to attend to her agriculture and po-* pulation both at home and abroad. The increafe of three millions of people will foon render them very confiderable. It will indeed be very difficult for the people in the colonies to fubfift, or to become very numerous, in the countries they now pofTefs j but it will be as difficult, if not impradicable, to confine them to thofe bounds. So foon as planters want land, they ftarve ; and to avoid that, people will do any thing. It is for this reafon, that although they are confined in their bounds by the proclamation of OMer 7th, 1763, yet we are told, they pay no re- gard to it. To confine them to thofe bounds, is to ftarve many of them, and to oblige the reft to enter into manufactures, and a foreign trade 5 the confequences of which we would rather prevent than foretell. Thcfe fliould be left to people of judgment to difcern and forefee. The great concern of this nation is, not only to render fuch a number of Deoole of ufe to her, and to enable them to fupport the people at home, by which they may likewife increafe and as many as have room )unds, they 3; although and mighty barren and :h make by t. fequence to ire and po-^ rhe increafe bon render eed be very js to fubfift, untries they cult, if not Die bounds, ftarve ; and ling. It is ire confined of OBober pay no re- ofe bounds, oblige the d a foreign we would icfe fhould difcern and s, not only 1 of ufe to the people ife increafe and P A R T IL 217 and multiply, but at the fame time to fee, that they can fubfill: by a dependence on their mo- ther country. This they are only enabled to do by the produce of their lands that are wanted in Britain ; without thefe they can only fubfift by manufad:ures, and fupplying themfelves in- dependent of her. Thus the general diftribu- tion of the lands in the colonies, by which every one has a portion to cultivate, in fuch things as they fend to Britain, is as much for her intereft, as for the benefit of the people who poffefs them; and this nation Should never let any in the colonies be without lands for this reafon. When they come to want lands to cultivate, which many already do, they have no way to fubfift but by manufac- tures. Thus the ufe the nation has for new fettlements and acquifitions in "North America^ is, for the great increafe of the people who are already there, and to enable them to fubfift by a dependence upon her; which they can never do, unlefs they extend their fettlements. The teft therefore of all our acquifitions is, whether will the people in the colonies, who want lands to make flaple commodities for Britain, remove to them ? It is only by thi^ . rule, that we can judge of the utility of any ac- quifitions or new fettlements to Britain. More than one half of all the plantations in North America would never produce any thing that the nation wants; great part of the reft is Vvorn out ; and the people are daily increafing. Ff a^4 2l8 PART II 'SU and mufl: have new fettlements, or fupply themfeives independent of Britain. Thus many fcem not to know, what it is that we want new fettlements or acquifitions for, and fen that reafon they can be no judges of their utihty. ' It is not to drain the nation of people at home, of which it is in fuch want, nor even to get foreigners to fettle any new co- lonies in North .America, that acquifirions are wanted -, but to enable the people we already h^ve there, and their da-iy iricreafe, to make remittances io Britain., to 'pay thur deht^, to purchafe their nccelTcuies from hence, and to live in that ftate of dependence on their mother Country, as ail the colonies fhould and would do, if thty could. Now as this is the life for which lands in North America are wanted, the fending of any more people there, to occupy thofe lands, mull: be the greateft lofs and pre- judice to this nation, and is the ceriain way to render the colonies independant, whether they will or not. The lands they at prefent polTefs will produce little or nothing for Britain^ and if they have no others, what are they to do, unlefs they extend their fettlements? It was for this purpofe, that the nation wanted to enlarge her poffeffions in North America, and not to fettle new colonies to interfere with the old, and to drain the nation of people at home. We Jiave already by far too many people in North America, for all that thry do or can make upon the lands they poiTefs, not to mention their 219 or Tupply what it is acquilitions ; no judges le nation of fuch want, ny new co- lifirions are we already 'e, to make r deht^, to nee, and to leir mother and wouldi the ufe for vanted, the to occupy ^fs and pre- tain way to hether they iknt polTefs 'ritain^ and they to do, ? It was for i to enlarge and not to th the old, home. We )le in North can make to mention their PART 11. their dally increafe s and to fend any more there, is only to render th.m all independent oglther. Thus a colony of Greeks, or any others, would be the greateft detriment to his nation, \^ Florida were ever fo fit to mamtam them We have already by far too many (ucti colonies as either Canada Nova f ^^1^; f ;^';; W^. Ball or W^d Florida ; and to fettle any lore fuch, is tt.e greateft foUv that this nation could well commit. Befides the expence, and the lofs both of men and money, they can only ferve to render all the reft independent. We already have colonies enough that produce no- thing, and this nation will foon find that (l)e has too many fuch, as we have faid. Now as tLs is the ufe of all new fettlements Of acquifitions in North America we may from that ludee of their utility and advantage U h Jeople *^n the colonies, who want lands to make ftaple commodities for Britain^ will re- Tove to any fuch acquifitions for that fnirpofe T^^^l a benefit to the nation, othawitc hey will prove a lofs and dctrnnent. But will ai7lnt^ we have in North A'ncrtca. remove eitLr to Canada or Florida^ H it not obvious • to every one, that inch a removal wou d be ^.l^dtowo.e,ifitmaynatf.rha^^^^^ get a Ric. plantation or two - - -J ^ ^^^^ fvvamps anci m.ii flics? \% t ai. ouy 00 n anv fuch poor .m\ barren Uuids, and in- Hp" bfc cUau^S -d thcfe arc -^f^^ ,1,.,, what wc had beiorc, and lo baa that «e ]W,. m m. -m I i; y 520 PART IT. can make no ufe of them. The Planters in al! the colonies we have, are every day looking out for lands J they petitioned for thofe on the Ohio and Mijjiftppi, even before the war, and many have defired to fettle them fince, but not one of them will think either of Canada or Florida, Planters who nnderftand the bufinefs would think it contrary to reafon and experience, to fend them to fuch deferts as thefe to make llaple commodities for Britain, and to live mtrely by their agriculture, where they could hardly get the neceffaries of life ! It is to fup- ply the deficiency of the poor and barren lands we already poffefs, that new fettlements or ae- quilitions are wanted in the colonies j and not to acquire any more fuch, which are much worfe than thofe we had before, and of which we already have too many. — ^Thus we have loft what we wanted, by being excluded from the Ohio and Mijjifippi, and are burdened with the charge of fupporting what we had no manner of ufe nor occafion for, in Canada and Florida, The only advantage of thefe acquifitions proceeds from the expulfion of our enemies from them, and not from the fettling of colo- nies in them, for which they are totally unfit. By the redudion o^ Canada and Florida the co- lonies have fuch a fecurity, from the enemy by which they were before furrounded, that they may extend their fettlements with fafety, and cultivate thofe lands which may both enrich s^jcwi kiUu liit Vviiuic iiuiiuii j uiit or iucQ lanos there jji inters in all looking out Dfe on the e war, and :e, but not Canada or he bufinefs experience, :fe to make nd to live they could t is to fup- arren lands lents or ae- s ; and not are much i of which ve have loft d from the :d with the no manner id Florida. icquifitions Jr enemies ig of colo- 3taUy unfit. ida 'he co- ; enemy by , that they fafety, and )oth enrich iutfi lanas there PART IL 1421 there are nohe either in Canada or Florida ; and to exclude the colonies from all others, for the fake of thefe deferts, is to deprive the nation of all the advantages which might otherwife be reaped from the redudion of them, and of the very objedt for which the nation engaged in fuch an expenfive war. There are but two objedts in all America, lands that will produce ftaple commodities for Britain, and the fifhery of New-Foundlandy ^f which we {hall get nei- ther, if we are excluded from the Ohio and Mijifippi. It was not for the acquifition either of Canada or Florida, that the nation engaged in the war, but for lands that would enable the colonies, and their daily increafe, to fubfift by a dependence on Britain, of which there are certainly none in thefe deferts ; although fuch lands are the only objed to this nation. All others are a prejudice and detriment to her, and the fetdement of them is the diredt way to ruin the intereft of Britain in North America, after all it has coft her *. It * I. There could not well be a more ruinous fcheme pro- pofed, than to fettle all the Northern parts of America. The people in them can never fubfift by their Agriculture, and muft therefore rely on manufaftures ; with which they muft fupply the Southern colonies, and get the materials from them, as they could have few of their own. In their long winters, when they can do no work in the fields for half the year, they can only fubfift by manufaftures within doors, and can make nothing to purchafe them. Hence manu- I 1 _a-Li;/i i r-jn. I 1 _a-i.i;/i 1 :„ /•■•^-...j^. and hai I J.'! i^l Z12 PART II. It is well known from 150 years experience^ befides the reafons which we have given above, that no part of North America will produce any thing for Britain, to the northward of Maryland, in or about the latitude 39°, 30', North of that the climate is fuch, that it will produce have been publickly told, as an advantage of that acqui- fition, that the Southern colonies are fupplicd with hoes, axes, &c. from thence, contrary to law, and the manifeft intereft of Britain. II. Any other fettlemcnts in the North can only inter- fere with our prefent Northern colonies, and leflen their re- turns to Britain^ which are already fo inconfiderable. Ca- nada muft interfere with thim in the Fur Trade ; Nova Scotia in the Fiftiery i and Florida, with Carolina, in Rice; which are the great fources of all their remittances to Britain. HI. In order to fupport Canada and Nova Scotia, the Northern colonies muft be enlarged and confined to lands which can never produce any thing for Britain-, and to peo- ple and fupport Florida, the Southern colonies muft be con- fined to their barren and unhealthful fea-coafts ; the ruinous confequence^ of which muft appear to all, who ar? in the leaft acquainted with the concerns of this nation in North America. We (hall by that means be cut oft" irom all the fruitful parts of the Continent; and thefe ruinous acqui- litions wii! not only de;;reciate the prefent Itaple of the colonies, but hinder them to get any others. IV. Thcfe acquifitions are fo far from being any ftrength or fecurity to the nation, that iiicy deprive it of that fecu- rity which it would otherwife enjoy — They are like two wings feparated from an aimy at fuch a dlftance, that they cannot join ir, and are liable to be cut oft" on every attack: — They are at fuch a diflancc from our ot;.er colones, that they can neither fupport them, nor be fupportcd bv them — Thcv divide our force, and thereby wN-aken it~-They are extended over a wide fca-c-jiift, ,5 or 400 lea-ues in extent, belh experience^ ;iven above, ill produce rthward of e 39°, 30', that it will produce of that acqui- icd with hoes, d the manifefl can only inter- leflen their re- iderable. Ca- Trade ; Nova "olina, in Rice ; remittances to ova Scotia, the nfined to lands '«i andtopeo- s muft be con- ts ; the ruinous A'ho arp in the latiori in North >ft' irom all the ruinous acqui- ; Itaple of the ng anyftrength it of that fecu- ;v are liice two ance, that they on every attack: :r coion'Cs, that ted bv them — , it,=^'rhey are ^ues in extent, beih P A R T II. 223 produce nothing, but what Britain itfelf abounds with in much greater plenty and per- fedion J and it is high time, that this (liould be duely known and attended to, if we would pay any regard to the intereft of this nation in North Amt^rica^ on which Inch immenfe fums have both in Nova Scotia and Florida, on which there is but here and there a fpot fit to fettle ; and thefe are at fuch diftances from one another, that they can neither fupport, nor be fupported by each other, while they are expofed to every fifhing veficl — Hence they can be only fo many fnares to involve liie nation in a new war — When the French fee fuch advantatres, uith the intereft they will always have among the eltablifhed Catholics in Canada, it is not in their nature, we may fay in their power, to ne3,le6t them, when they have fo fair an opportunity to diftfeli this nation. v. We need lay noching of what thefe accjuifitions cofl, fince that is but too well known, it was to " defend, « protect and fecure //j.v?2," that the nadon has been put in fuch a flame both at home and abroad ; the colonies and their mother country have been fct at variance ; and fuch difturbances have been raifed, that they are more to be dreaded than our worft enemies. Thefe expences, we were told, as a reafon for fuch proceedings amount to ycOjOCO /. a year, more than all our colonies ever coft, or ever need to coft, v;ithout thefe burdens. This is added to the expences of the war, for no other purpofe but to deprive the nation of the benefit of her other colo- nies ; the ruinous conftquences of which three mufl cer- tainly appear to all — -But neither Canada, Nova Scotia, Ceoigia, Eaji or JVeJl Fliriday for which all thefe expences are incurred, are able to fupport their own civil eftablifh- ments, and how are they to fupport any part of this nation ! — Notwithftanding Canada has been fettled 160 years, and had all the encouragement of France, k cannot yet fupport its own government ! which is a certain fign, that it is worth .-'.othinK — Wuhdraw ou-- men and money, Canada could not fubfitt, ■/. . SI m Vi* I '«' Ml ■ 4 224 PART II. have been expended. So we cannot expe(fl to make any thing of confequence to the fouth- ward of the 3 2d degree of latitude, or at Icaft of 31'' 30' J the whole continent to the fouth* ward of that being a mere fandy defert, if it be not in a fpot or two upon the Mijijippi, and about fubfift, and there would be no people in Florida — Such colo- nies certainly were never before thought to be worth poflefs- ing — If at the fame time we confider, that they deprive the nation of all the more fruitful parts of the Continent, which alone can be of any fcrvice \o her, or enable the colonies to fubfift by a dependence on their Mother Country, what can any one think of thcfe deferts I — If we are at this pains to expofc their ruinous confequences, it is from a thorough convidVion, that they muft prove the ruin of this nation, if we make this ufe of them. It is for this reafon, thr we could no longer be filent about a matter which is of fuch confequence and importance to the w? le nation, although we can perhaps expedl nothing but blame and ceofure for our pains. Obfcqw.um amicoSt Veritas odium parti, Thefe acquifitions, indeed, would be no fuch prejudice and lofs to the nation, if we were to fettle the other fruit- ful parts of the Continent with them j which, it is to be feared, we fliall never do, fo long as we are at fuch an cxpence both of men and money upon thefe. We have pot people enough for both ; fo that we throw away our men and money upon thefe unprofitable and ruinous deferts, in order to deprive ourfelves of all the ufefuland valuable parts of that Continent! — Every one cries out. We have already colonies enough, with all the new added to the oldj which is fo true, that we have by far too many fuch as thefe. For this reafon we give up all the territories that could be of any fervice to the nation, for Canada and Flo- rida ! — The nation engaged in the war to put her colonies in a condition of depending upon her ; but now, when it »o mmp i-Q rhp rrific- urp fppm tn hp tirpH aid o'wp fVipm ijn! ,.. ^^^...^ « . — .--. ^ - - - - - ^^ . — - _. J- ^stry thing that is, or has been done, is all done for tbejir, wher\ ■I u t cxpe(5l to • the fouth- or at lead I the fouth* brt, if it be :, and about a — Such colo- worth poflefs- ey deprive the itinent, which e the colonies 'ountry, what e at this pains >m a thorough :his nation, if afon, th" we ich is of fuch tion, although nd ceofure for uch prejudice le other fruit- h, it is to be ire at fuch an e. We have 'ow away our jinous deferts, land valuable ut. We have ed to the old j many fuch as erritories that nada and Flo- t her colonies low, when it ffivp fVifm iin! D ■ -r - lone for tbetn; wher\ teift. t» A R T it 225 ibout St. Marys river in Georgia. Thus the ^hole of the Britijh dominions, that Will pro- duce any thing the nation wants, is reduced to eight degrees of latitude, or 480 miles in. length, which is no more tiian the extent of the ifland oi Britain from north to fouth. The breadth again of this part of the Britijh domi- nions is 620 miles in the north, and 500 in the fouth J at a medium we may call it 550 miles in breadth from the Atlantic ocean to ^^e >/, and 500 miles at moft from norti. 1»rhenit i? abfolutely neceflary both to promote and to pre- ferve the intereft of Britain in them ; the confequence of which proceedings muft be, you will lofe the benefit of them, and precipitate them into that (late, which you {o inuch appt'ehend ; of which we need no more certain proof than what we have feen, and may be feen by every one from their ftate and condition. If we confider the charges of the army, navy, ordnance, and civil governments, iince the firft fettlement of Georgia and Neva Scotia^ which coft 600,000 /. at firft, and not Ic; j than a million in all, thefe two, with Canada^ Eajl and IVeJt Florida^ cannot have coft much Icfs than three millions; which is certainly too much for this nation, in its pr(.s fent circumftances, to expend in contriving its ov/n ruin. — We ought not therefore to be ruled by a little local Unovp- ledge, or other attachment to thefe barren and inhofpitable deferts, when all the great and important concerns of this nation may be ruined by them ; and the nation is put to fuch an expence, forno other purpofe but to ruin her own intereft^ and to force her colonies to become independent, after the immenfe fums they have qoft — All that we can ever expert from Canada or Florida^ befides thefe ruinousr • Jofles, is only to fend thofe brave men, who fignalized themfelves fo much in the defence of their country, to feuJvy at .%iebec. G g If I Iffpm 6 PART II. 22 to fouth, which tnakcs 275,000 fquare mile^ This is the whole of what Britain has to de- pend upon in North America, cither to fupply her with the commodities which the nation wants, or to enable her colonies by that means to fubfift by a dependence upon her. Now this is but a little larger than the kingdom of Poland, which contains 222,000 fquare miles; and one half of this, which is the only valuablt part of all the Britijh dominions in Nort& Ame- rica, is a barren mountainous or fandy defert. The yf/>^/<7<;/j^/2« mountains run through the coun- try, and extend nigh 300 miles from caft to weft, which with the barren lands on the coaft make at leaft one half of thefe territories. Thus the whole that is fit for culture, contains but 1 37,000 fquare miles, which is the fize of Franof. if we al- low it to contain 150,000, it is but three times as large as Efigland, which is all the fertile land that we can depend upon in North America, for producing any thing that Britain wants * j and I * Every one fcems to take the Continent of North Ami- rica by the lump, 'j^jthout knowing «ny thing more about it. They conflder only the quantity of land, without any regard to the quality, which is a certain way to be deceived about it. It is this that deceives every one about the extea- five Tea coaft we poflefs, from the river St. Laurence to the MJpJftppi^ which they think muft be fufficient for all pur- pofes. But tne fea coaft of North America is the moft unprofitable part of it, and is little better thafia nuifauceto the nation, almoft from one end to the other. In the xT.-tV.^^.. ^r.^tm ;» Jo f\nK' •'h'* '•o^^ Wfi»lf »Kaf ia r\( ani/ fpr- vice, on account of the fiihery, in which the colonics interfere are mile'^ has to de- to fupply he nation hat means er. Now ngdom of are miles; y valuable orth Ame- idy defcrt. ithecoun- afttowcft, ifl make at the whole )oo fquare if we al- iree times ertile land America^ wants * J and ■v.- North Ami' more about without any be deceived jt the exten- urence to the : for all pur- is the moft \ nuifauceto ler. In the a €\( ant/ (eXm — / — Lhe colonics interfere PART II. '227 and if we confider the quantity of land that people require to live merely by their Agricul- ture, and to purchafe all their ncccffaries by the produce of it, this will be found to be abfolutcly neceffary for that purpofc. Were the colonies in North America to purchafe all their neceflaries from Britain, without any Manufactures of their own, they would require the greateft part of the land here mention- ed, which will be abfolutely neceffary for their interfere with Britain i and in the Southern parts, t^e fca coaft, which makes two thirds of the whole, is a perfea: nuifance to the whole nation, both at home and abroad. Were it not for the ports upon it, this whole coaft is only ^t to be abandoned, as great part of it muft be. But ports are of no confqquence without commodities to (hip at them, which the lands will not produce. The whole coaft of North America produces nothing but a little Rice in the deftrudlive marlhes. It is only in the inland and fruitful part' of the country, that we can either raife colonies, or make any thing in them. This we may learn from the long experience of the Spaniards, whofe dominions are equally barren and unhealthful on the fea coafts ; and for that rea- fon their colonies are all fettled in the remote inland parts, both of North and South America, at a ten times greater diftance from any navigation than the territories of the Ohio and MiJJiffippi, By that means likewife they are free from thofe invafions, to which they would be expofed on an open fea coaft. So that if colonies are more remote from Britain in thefe inland countries of North America, which are at no great diftance from the ocean, and are all convenient to navigation, they are more fecure from the •harge of defending and protcfling them ; in which Ca^ nadoy Nova Scotia, and Florida will ever involve the nation. There are but a few ftraggling fpots in them that can be fettled, which are expofed to every invader, whi^e they can neither fupport; one another, nor be fupportw by the relt» as we have fai,d. , ., Gg3 daily i ■•• ii ' h' s: i M 'i -'ill §%t PART U. daily and great incrcafe, if we would have therti to depend upon Britain, This part of the Britijh dominions is divided into three different countries by the mountains, which run through the middfe of them from North to South J and from their Southern extremity they run Weft to the MiJ/iJippi^ forming two ridges in {hape of the letter L. On the Eaft fide of thefe mountains lie the territories poflefled by our Southern colonies j on the Well are the Territcries rfthe Ohio ; and on the South are what we call the Territories of the Mijjijftppi\ the two laft being divided from one ^riother by the Wejiern or Chicafaw moun- tains, which run through them from Carolina to the MiJJiffippi, Thus thefe fruitful parts of the Britijh dortiinions are divided into three, vvhich we may call the Eaft, Weft, and South diviiionsj each of which contains, at moft, about 50,000 fquare miles of good and fertile lands, and forms a country about the fixe of f.ngiaiidy in climates that arie fit to producp every thing the nation wants. If the barren fands and mountains, which make one half of lihefe cOuptries, may hereafter be improved, it js certain, they will not admit of it at prefent, till we have a fuffieieht force in the country for that purpofe, which can only be raifed upon fhe more fruitful lands. Now, it is this Southern divifion which we ought to fettle in the firft place. This extends and vc them } divided )un*ains, :m frotn Douthcra letter L. I lie the nies ; on ; and oa iesof the Tom one moun- Carolina parts of :o three, id South at moft, id fertile e fixe of produce le barren J half of roved, it prefent, untry for jd upon hich we 5 extends and PART ». 229 ;ftnd Is bounded on the North by the Weftcrn ot Chieafdw mountains, and on the South by the Gulif of Mexico ; the whole of this country is about 500 miles in length from Eaft to Weft, and four degrees of latitude or 240 miles broad 5 this maices iao,ooo fquare miles, of which one half on the fea coaft is the barren defert of plorida aboVe defcribed j the reft is the fruitful part of the country, which we would propofe to fettle. This makes about 60,000 fquarc miles, of which we poffefs about 10,000 in Georgia and Carolina^ and have 50,000 to fet- tle from that to the MiJJiJpppi, This country may be divided into two parts, the Eaftern divifion in Carolina and Georgia^ and the Weftern on the Mijjijjtppi ; which would make two good colonies, and they are hardly fit for more, efpeciaily on thefe frontiers. The laft of thefe, known by the name of the country of the Nauches on the Miffijfippit which extends from the Ifland of New-Orleans to the Chicafaw mountains, is well known to be by far the beft and moft fruitful country in all thefe Southern parts of North America ; and extends from the MiJJiJJippi to the river Couffa^ which falls into the Bay of Mobile j making a rich and fertile country about 200 miles fquarc, which would perhaps produce more than all thefe Southern parts of the Continent put toge- ther, from that to Virginia, In all that diftancc wc do not meet with a good and fruitful coun- try of any extent, if it be not in the inland parts I % :\ mJ^r/ I i fc3b t A R t It pLvts of North Carolina, which is but very nat^ row, and has neither a convenient water-car^ riage from it* nor a good port belonging to it. The only other fruitful country in thefe South*- crn parts of the Continent is in the inland parts of Georgia, on the heads of the rivers Alatct*- tnaha and St, Marfs, with Flint river adjoin- ing J which is recommended by the Spaniards as the moft proper place for a fettlement, after they had fearched the whole country from the Cape of Florida to the MiJjiJJippi * ; and fome people who i Ive in the country, at the forks of !' i * " That was a pleafant Country, fruitful, and watered with a great many rivers. It produces but little underwood (a fign of good land) but hiccories and mulberry-trees in abundance — It was thought fit by all, that we fliould peo- ple this place ; which was fo advantageoufly fituated-r- that the country was exceeding good, and that it might afford a good trade and confidcrable profit." Soti^s Foyc^e ta Florida, ch 14. This was the old country of the Creek Indians, which they left in the year 1715. At a fmall diftance to the Southward of this is the country of the Apalachees, on the head of the river St, Morfs j which ire the fruitful parts of Gesrgia, but they are of no great extent— Weft of •hefe is Flint river, which has been furveyed, and found to be a good and fruitful country, as well as the river Chata- toothe adjoining, on which the lower Creeh dwell. There are many fruitful fpots on thefe rivers, but with pine-barrens between them, as in ail the reft of Carolina. This country has four large navigable rivers running through it, fo as to be the i loft convenient of all the inland parts of Carolina; and if it were annexed to that government, it might make South Carolina a good and refpedlabie colony upon thefe oui; ftxjutncrn ironucro. thf : very nai'** ivater-car-^ ging to it. :fe South* [land parts 5rs Alata*- er adjoin- Spaniards sent, after ' from the and fome le forks of ^nd watered : underwood erry-trees in (hould peo- y fituated-T- lat it might Sottas Foyage Uans, which a nee to the heesy on the 'ruitful parts t-Weft of and found to river Chata- ^ell. There I pim-barrem Fhis country 1 it, fo as to of Carolina ; might make )on tbefe out tht P A R T II. 231 the Alaiamahay have given us the fame account of it, and of the countries adjacent. Nov^r, if this country in Georgia w^ere an- nexed to South Carolina^ as far as the rivcf Cbatahooche^ it v^ould foon be fettled, and would make that a very refpedable colony on our Southern frontiers, which would foon join tp the other on the Miffiffippiy and they might thereby fuppoi one another without any charge to the nation *. It is well known, that Geor^ gia * The only obflacle to this jun£lion of Carolina with the MiJpJJippi proceeds from the Creek and Cha^aw Indiam^ who lie in the way ; but as they are now at war with one another, that obftacle might be removed by proper ma- nagement. It was by a like incident, that we got poflef- fion of Carolina, by two powerful nations of Indians who held it engaging in war with one another ; in which the greateft part of them were extirpated, and the reft after- wards fled to the Peninfula of Florida. If thefe Indians were fettled there again, they might be out of the way both of harm and mifchief, which they will ever be in, where they are. A great part of them left that country only iri the year 1715 ; where they might get their living by fifli- ing aqd hunting, better than where they are, or nigh our plantations, which extirpate them. If thefe and all the other Indians in the Briti/b dominions were at the fame time deprived of fire-arms, we might be rid of all future trouble from them; and that might eafily be done, now when they have none to fupply theni. It is only by that means, that their infurredliofis are to be pre- vented, and with more humanity than by endeavouring to extirpate them. By depriving them of fire-arms, we might fave the few remains of them, and render them of fome fervice to the nation. If ever Florida is peopled and culti- Tated, it will only bj by the Indians, who are a vaft advan- tage m ■;■ ' ■ ■ ' 1 i i'i 5 I %n •ai zM^ ^ t |, ,.,;, t%± PART It. gia was only feparated from Carolina^ to plcaife the Indians, who would not fiifiisr the Cara- tage to Spaittf and might be rendered as fervjceable to-5r/- itf/w, inftead of a perpetual annoyance. For this purpofe yre have on!y to fupply (hem with implements of hufban- *lrya in place of fire-arips. So long as an Inditfti an get ft gun, he will never mind ^ny thing elfc, and is n^ver to Iw k^pt out of mifchief. Another caufe of thefe infurrcftions of the Indians pro- ceeds from the banditti of Indiait Traders, who go anM)ng them, and are worfe than the Indians themfelvcs. They are there out of reach of the law, and obferve no one law of civil fociety. The fending of fuch people among the Indians begets that familiarity, which gives them a contempt of the whole nation ; t)ut by keeping them more in awe, and at a diftance, without fuch parlies and tglh with them, they would have a greater refped for it. — For thefe reafons, none of them ihojild ever he fyffered tp go among the Jndians—Thtir trade ibould b« confined to oni? or two places, where juftipe might be done, and good order pre- ferved. For this pyrpoie, O/wegs m the North, and Ju- gujia in the South, woyld be fuJ$cient iox all the Man trade in North Avmm \ if it be not w)jat Nm>- England has fo well eftabliflvfd apd r?gulal^d in the Eaft by the fame means. If (their trade were confined to thefe two places, the Northern Indians wpuld be drawn to Canada^ 9nd the great lakes, where the fwrs are to be had, and where they could only find a vent fpr them; and the Southern hdians would find it as convenient to fettle in their former country of Florida i by which the nation would reap the benefit of both there acquifitions, much better than by any other means, or by being at fuch an cxpence both of men and money, to fettle and protedt themj and the Indians would at the fame time leave all the fruitful parts of the Continent, here mentioned, for us to cultivate— This is the plan, which we would humbly propofe for the fettling and fecuring of North America ; to keep the Indians upon thefe frontiers both in the North and South, for which they are only fit ; and to unite our force in the center, where all the fruitful lands lie, that will ever produce any thing for liritain. I liniapj P A R t II. 23J knians to fettle to the Southward of the river Savannah, after their quarrel with them in the year 171 5 5 but that is now rather a reafon for enlarging and ftrengthening that colony, which in 100 years is hardly able to defend itfelf againft its inteftine foes, negroes, and Indians. This ftate it has been reduced to, by difmembering it, and erecting a feparate colony, which has no people hardly in it to this day, and is not able to fupport its own government, notwithftanding the vaft charges it has coft, amounting to 200,000 /. at leaft, more than was ever before expended on all the colonies we have. This is a certain lign, that Georgia is not fit for a feparate colony and governrnent. The whole is but a fmall fpot, and the fruitful lands in it would not make more than one or two good counties. We cannot therefore fee the propri- ety of putting the public to the expence of maintaining fuch petty governments on thefe our naked and defencelefs frontiers, which they weaken more and more, by dividing their force. For thefe reafons, it is propofed to annex Georgia to South Carciina, to which it properly belongs j and which it might ftrengthen : And in lieu of thi?, Nofth Carolina fhould be extended to Wineau, as that is the only port to all the inland and fruitful parts of that country, which hardly produces any ihixyr for want of fuch a port, although, in point ot fertility, it is perhaps of more value than all H h the i 234 PART II. the reft of both the Carolinas and Georgia put together *. Now, if this were done, and all the ftraggling and unprofitable fettlements of Canada, Nova Scotia, Eafl and Wefl Florida, were united in one on the Mijijippi, the nation might be rid of this enormous expence in " defending, pro- tecting, and fecuring them j" they would fecure thefe more valuable parts of the Britijh domini- ons, and by being united together might be able to defend themfelves j the nation would thereby havw' lands for all the Planters we have, inftead of obliging them to enter into Manufadtures for want of lands to cultivate ; and we fhould thus have two good and profitable colonies in the • There are few or no good lands in North America, but upon the fides of rivers ; it is by means of the many large rivers in Virginia and Maryland, that they have fome fruit- ful lands on their banks \ and there are five large rivers which rife in the inland parts of North Carolina, the banks of which are rich and fertile, although the hills between them fiill partake of the barrennefs of Carolina^ as we are well informed by feveral, whom we have recommended to fettle in the country. This feems to be the moft improveable part of all the BritiJJ) dominions on this fide of the MiJJif- fippi i but as it fies in the narrow compafs of a degree and an half of latitude, the beft lands are taken up, and are a very fmall fpot fur fo many people as we have in North America. They have likewife no navigation nor ports to the more f.uitful parts of the country, if it be not by the river Pedec, which runs through all this inland part of North Carolina, and falls into the fea at Wtneau, which now belongs to South Carolina ; zuu for that reafon it is negiecrcu and never ufed by the other, which poiTeiTes the fruitful lands belonging to this port. 2 Southern eorgia put ■ draggling ada^ Nova I united in ght be rid ding, pro- 3uld fecure fh domini- ght be able lid thereby iQ, inflead nufadtures we (hould }nies in the America, but e many large ^e fome fruit- large rivers a^ the banics )etween them I we are well nded to fettle improveable )f the Mijftf- a degree and p, and are a ive in North nor ports to 36 not by the land part of \neau, which t reafon it is I poiTeiTes the Southern PART II. 235 Southern parts of America, which might ^upply the nation with' the many valuable commodi- ties that are fo much wanted, and would pro- duce more for Britain than all our cobnies in North America put together. Had Carolina been a fruitful and healthful country, it would long ago have been the moft confiderable and profitable colony the nation has -, and the only way to render both that covintry and Florida of that fervice to the nation, is, to fettle the in- land and weftern parts, which are as fruitful and healthful, as the eaftern and maritime parts, to which we are confined, are the reverfe of both : and when thefe are peopled and fecured, it will be eafy to extend their fettlements up the Mijtfippiy and acrofs both the Apalachean and Chicafaw mountains to the territories of the Ohio, by which we may fecure, people and cultivate every part of the Britijh dominions, that can be of any fervice to the nation. By that means we might have lands for all the peo- ple in North America to live by their Agricul- ture, as all colonies fhould do; they would here likewife have room to enlarge their plan- tations, as they wear out ; whereas by confining them to fuch pitiful fpots, as the fandy point of Eaji Florida, they would exhauft it in a very few years, if it were much richer than any would alledge *. * By thus ftrengthening Carolina we might havoa ftrong and powerful colony, which might be able to defend iilet, Hh 2 on \ '^Lf ^H m : 1 i ^^^1 ■^H't Pl ^36 PART II. It is by thcfe means, and by thefe alone, that the nation can reap the advantages of the late peace, or indemnify herfelf for the charges c?f the war. Nay the territories here mentioned V^ere the very objedt and occa(ion of the war. It was in order to enlarge their plantations of 'ftaple commodities for Britain^ and to find lands for that purpofe, that the colonies ex- tended their fcrttlements beyond the mountains, Xp the river Ohio ; from which the French ex- pelled them, which was the.immediate occafion of the war. Thefe territories are the only ob- jed in all North America to this nation, and by cultivating thcfe (he might have fome recom- pence for the many millions that have been ex- pended, which there is no other way to obtain. The pofTcffion of Canada and Florida will only on our fouthern frontiers, as Ntijo - England is in the north ; and thefe two might fave all the expences of thofe five new governments, which would coft njgh half a million a year to fecure them, and after all, can only expofe the nation to perpetual infults and invafion?. If thefe colonies may become too large or po- pulous, which there is no reafon to apprehend in fuch a foil and climate, it is time enough to divide them, as they do the counties in the colonies, when they have a fufficient ;iumbcr of people in them, to defray the charge of a county, or government, and not before they have any, or are ever likely to have. By thus eftablilhingfo many little defence- lefs colonies and fettlements, we only expofe the natiori '^%^\r\ to infults and expences on their account. It was juftly faid by a French commander, that the fortifications of our colonies were towns and villages, and the people were the garrifons ; but now we eflablifh forts and garrifons, to protcc;. the people where there arc none, and where thcTy ftic never likely to be any, to defend them. deprive jfe alone, jes of the le charges nentione4 the war. itations of 1 to find lonies ex- lountains, ^rench ex- e occafion only ob- n, and by le recom- ; been ex- to obtain. will only d is in the expences of coft njgh d after all, infults and large or po- iii fuch a foil , ?s they do ; a fufficient of a county, or are ever ttje defence- s the natiori nt. It was tifications of people were garrifons, to where thcrp deprive PART II. 237 i3cprive the nation of thefe advantages, while they can be none in themfc Ves, but a perpetual burden an ' charge. We mud no doubt own, that the redud:ion of thefe countries \6 a very- great fervice to the nation, providing (he makes a right ufe of that advantage j by the expulfion of our enemies from thefe and their other en- croachments^ the colonies are at liberty to ex- tend their fettlements to the more fruitful parts of the continent, which they other wife could not do with fafety ; but if we exclude them from thefe, for the fake of Canada and Flo^ rida, we lofe all the advantages, which wc might otherwife obtain from the peace. W'here- fore, they who would magnify Canada and Florida as valuable and profitable colonies, to which we fhould be confined, deprive the na- tion of all the advantages which have been ac- quired by his majefty's arms, and render the peace ten times worfe than it is, or would be, it it were ever fo bad ; they render all the ac- quifitions obtained by it much worfe than no- thing, when they might otherwife be made the greateft advantage to the nation. We engaged in the war for thofe fruitful territories on the Ohio and Miffijippiy which we got by the peace 5 but by the regulations after it we are deprived of them, and thereby confpire with our ene- mies, to deprive ourfelves of thofe very advan- tages, which it was their aim to do by the war ; while we get no more by Canada and florida, than to relieve them of a burden and charge, ) ' I fi 4 ; 238 PART II. charge, and to faddle ourfelves with it ! It mud be apparent to every one, who are ac- quainted with the produdls of our colonies, that no part of that continent will produce any thing for Britain, but what lies between the 40th and 3 2d, or at moft the 31ft degrees of latitude, as we have faid j but by the proclama- tion fo often quoted, which regulates the bounds of our colonies, we are excluded from all thofe fruitful and valuable territories, which might be of any fervice to the nation 5 and are confined to the barren fands in the fouth, or frozen deferts in the north, which can be no- thing but a burden and charge, and a dired: way to ruin the whole nation. The confe- quence is, the colonies are in a much worfe fituation, after all the expences that have been incurred, and the acquifitions we have made, than they were before ; they are now involved in debt, and have no vifible way of paying their debts ; their Aaple commodities are failed, and they have no lands to increafe them ; they are unable to purchafe their neceffaries from Bri' tain, and are obliged toeftablifli manufactures; they are dra'.ricd of money ; are unable to com- ply with aCts of pailiament, &c. all which muft daily grow worfe, till they extend their fettiements to the territories h?i- mentioned ; and might have been prevented by that means, inftead of increaiing thof; evils by the contrary nicafures. If 1 it! It are ac- colonies, duce any veen the agrees of roclama- ates the led from ;, which and are buth, or n be no- I a dired: e confe- h worfe ave been e made, involved ing their led, and they are om Bri' fad:ures ; to com- II which :nd their ntioned ; t means, contrary If P A R T II. ^() If we would ufe any certain and effectual means to remedy this bad ftate of the colonies* br to prevent its evil confequences, we (hould give them lands that will produce ftaple com- modities to fend to Britain 't for which the colonies were fettled, and which is the only ufe of them. How neceflary fuch lands are, will appear from their ftate above defcribed. The northern colonies cannot produce any thing on account of the climate ; the middle colonies are moftly worn out j and the fouthern are fls bar- ren as they are unhealthful j this is the ifU^ caufe of their bad ftate, which muft daily grow worfe without an exteniion of their fetdements to more fruitful lands, and a more proper cli- mate. It was for fuch territories that the na- tion engaged in the war, if we yet know what we were about, but does not poflefs a foot of them. We are burdened with the charge of fupporting Canada and Florida, and are ex- cluded from the Ohio and MiJJifippi, which lall was all that we wanted. And although every one imagines, that we have land enough, as they call it, fince the redu6tion of Catiada and Florida, yet as thefe can only interfere with our other colonies, they make other lands more necelfary for them, than they were before. Every one indeed fecms to imagine, that fuch lands are only wanted for them, and for that reafon they pay no regard to themj in which t...^y xjv .-JW. l\j i2ii^\,ii a.3 uii vJVi •;.aiiVi lH\^li 'v/VVii intercfi:. The colonies have lands enough to fupply f ■ t»j«,. .. i-.rr* T ^1^1 > ^^1 I i-l 'M 240 PART 11. fupply thcmfelves with their own neceflarles and manufadures, but as they will produce little or nothing that is wanted in Britain^ and their produd:s are the fame with thofe of jBr/- tain itfelf, they muft interfere with her, and may thereby become rather a prejudice than any benefit to the nation at home. It is for this reafon, that many apprehend, the colonies muft become indep'jndent, and may ruin their mother country, and we may fee by what means. That can only happen for want of lands which will produce ftaple commodities for Brit^ain, from which Britain herfelf ex- cludes them ! But if (he would confult her own intereft, or confider in what it confifts, (he ihould confine her colonies to thofe territories alone, above mentioned, from which (he ex- cludes them ; and (hould exclude them from all other new fettlements, to which (he would confine them. If the colonies were po(re(red of thofe territories on the Ohio and MiJ/ifippi, their great and daily increafe would be the greateft advantage to this nation, inltead of a caufe of jealoufy and fufpicion. Every perfon in the North American colonies is worth twenty (hil- lings a year to Britai?h even in the poor and barren countries and inhofpitable climates they po(refs, and on the Ohio and Mijifippi they would be worth at leaft 40 s. a head per annum. But fuppofe they were to bring in cnly twenty /hillings a year, their numbers will foon be fix millions, and they would be worth fo many pounds leceflaries produce tairiy and b of jBr/- her, and prejudice ome. It lend, the and may ay fee by for want nmodities irfelf ex- t her own fifts, (he territories i ihe ex- em from lie would ofleffed of Ippi, their e greateft a caufe of )n in the enty fhil- poor and nates they Tippi they ^er annum* ily twenty 3Qn be fix fo many pounds PART II; 24! JDOunds fterling to this nation, which is certain^ ly an objedt worthy of confideration. It is by thefe mcanSj and by thefe alone, that the nation can indemnify herfelf for the expences of the war, or maintain her colonies in a ftate of de- pendence upon her. On the other hand, if they are excluded from thefe fruitful parts of the Continent, they may become a prejudice to the nation. The difference will not be lefs than five or fix millions a year, with the pro- bable lofs of the colonies at laft. This nation wants many of the moft necef- fary and valuable commodities, as we hav« faid, on which (he expends her treafure to the amount of four or five millions a year, which might be all faved by making them in the colo- nies. It was to fupply the nation with thefe commodities, that the colonies were planted % and there is no way for the nation at home td reap the benefit of them, or for them to fubfift in a (late of dependence for their fupplies, but by fuch produds of their lands, which the greateft part of them will not yield. Mofe than three- fourths or four-fifths of that Continent are not fit for Britijh colonieSj as they will produce nothing but what Britain herfelf does. The firft thing to be regarded is the foil and cli- mate, of which there are none to be met with^ fit to produce any thing that this nation wants,- if it be not iii the Southern parts of that Conti- nent, and there only in the three divifions above mentioned. It is only by fetding thefe^ that I i w« mm' I •s 242 PART n. we can ever have any number of people in the Southern parts of the Continent, where the whole intereft of the nation lies, as we have faid. If it was therefore au enquiry, why v^^e have fo few people in our Southern colonies, we may now fee the caufe of it j and the way to remedy that baneful ftate of the nation. The confining of the Northern colonies to their prefent bounds, according to the proclamation ifliied for that purpofe, is, no doubts a wife and falutary meafure, as they can have no lands beyond thofe limits, but what are much worfe and more unfit for Britifi colonies, than what they already poflefs * j but for that reafon it is abfolutely * The prefent Northern Cofomes may fubfift within t^emfelve?, and be of fervice to the nation, as they have hitherto been j but an enlargement of them would obftrucS both. When the people come to be numerous in acol'ony, theyftarveone another, without ftaple commodities, manu- factures, or ? trade in them — The very being of thefe colo- nies feems to depend upon their timber and (hip-building, by which they carry on their trade and filhery, the two great fources of their fubfiftence 1 but by fettling all the countries round them, they would foon deflroy their tim» ber, which is fo necelfary for their fupport. Thefe ought therefore to be kept in woods, both to fupply them, and our Sugar colonies. It is well known, that new fettlemenw make no other ufe of timber, but to deftroy it as fait as they can ; which indeed is neceflary to clear the land for Corn and Grafs j when thefe colonies are already obliged to make laws to preferve therr timber, and to fend fome hundred miles by fea for firewood. For thefe reafons, we are apt to think that New-England UC5 I!'>Jl \.i_riiiuii. :xvs \r rv II Itll\.l ' .il K, "7 ofirinnr tn Cptt\p vt.. .i.g, ••- the. territories of Sagadahck and St. Crgix j from which they are PART II. 243 abfolutely neceflary to extend our fettlements m ilv ,' A .h. There are not lefs than a million -v PC. jic in thefe Northern colonies, who c^n- ♦ u n.ake any one thing to fend to Bni at n^ anu w are they to live by a dependence upou ner r are already obliged even to get firewood. 1'/";"/^^^"^^^^^^^ on this account, to be very proper to annex hofeterntor.e, to New- England', but not to fettle them, and deftroy the timber; which is fo convenient to navigation-By making SemenTs there, they would not only ^.^^^ fit vtho but create new rivals to themlelves m the Jth^y. ^ho would be fo much more convenient to .t; ^-^ereas fettle- ments in the Southern parts of the Continent would help to fupport the Northern. The great thmgs wanted by the Northern colonies, which depend fo "^"^^^ upon trade, are commodities to trade in, and people to "^^c with both of which they might find, by making fettlements on the Mtf^ ^^LTfefm't think, that we may raife populous colo- nies fuJh as Ar.z.-E«,W on theje Northern coaftswh^^^ aoDears to be impraaicable; and happy it is for Briiatn ha't t sfo. All?hefecountric. North of the fetdement. in New-England, lie within the verge of the Northern LwymounLs on one hand, and the .(lands of ,ce on the othZ which render the climate unfit for Agriculture, on account of the perpetual frofts, or more pernicious cold ogs Thefe m^ountains run down to the fea coaft and leave but here and there a fpot fit to inhabit ; fo a ndge of thefe bare and barren mountains runs through the whole Peninfula of N.va Scotia. Hence there are but a few incon- fide able fpots fit to cultivate, and the land ;, covered wuh a cold fpongy mofs in place of Grafs, as all countries are, which are fo drenched with fnow. " The land is fo bar- « ren. that Corn does not come up well '"..t ; and though »' never fo much pains be taken to manure it ftiH he cop » will be very inconfiderable, and they are often obliged to - throw it up at laft. For this reafon they are obl..eH^to 1 1 2 — Mt ■ I ^44 PART IT. her ? Thefe people have been petitioning fot* lands for many years, and if you will not grant them any, what can they do but fupply them- felves with their own neceffaries and manufac- tures, independent of Britain ? Many of them have removed to the more inhofpitable climes ** few Corn on their marfhes." Relation de VAcadie^ p. m. 283. This IS the account which the French give of Nova Scotia^ from 100 years experiencfe ; and this has made it fo difH- cuU to people that country, which hardly produces either Corn or Grafs, if it be not in a few marfhes, and thefe are not fit for Corn in any part of the world. Yet we are told in the regulations of the ccionie<, ** by clearing away the wood, •' they will foftcn the rigour of the climate, and find themr ** felves richly overpaid in the itfcxhauji'ible fertility of the •' foil i" both of which are as contrary to truth, as any thing that could be imagined. The clearing of the woods would render thofe countries much more uninhabitable than they arc; as mufl appear to all who arc acquainted with the climate of Noi'th America ; and the land is not worth the charge of clearing, as it muft ail be grubbed y the foil is fo barren, that we fee, manure itfelf will hardly make it yield a crop, not even now, when it is frefh and fertile. The earth is fo chilled by the frofts, fnow, and perpetual cold fogs, both in winter and fumrner, that it feems not to have warmth enough in it to rot manure, and make it yield i^s rourifliment-— It is not in the nature or things, that any land, whatever it may be to appearance, can be fruitful in fuch climates— In fuch irozen regions, we never meet with a fruitful foil in any part (if the world, and much lefs in North America — 1 he fertility of the earth proceeds from its warmth, vvhich is not to be expecied in the frofts, fnows, and fogs of Canada and N..va Scci' ': — Such countries muft be very unfit to yield any thing for Britain; and if they do not, we cannot fee the ull' of maintaining colonies in them at fuch an txpei cc. And this is the c«fe of all Atmrica J^orth of Ktvu Ei:g!a>:d ; where colonics can only fubfifl by the filhiry, and mult ruin tl.iit of Biiiain, of ioning for not grant ply them- manufac- ly of them ble climes de VJcadie^ F Nova Scotioy dp it fo difH- roduces either and thefe are ive are told in 'ay the wood, nd find themr 'ertility of the truth, as any of the woods [labitablethan nted with the lot worth the the foil is (b make it yield fertile. The erpetual cold ns not to have ce it yield i^s iigs, that any be fruitful in \itt meet with much lefs in ceeds from its frofts, fnows, :ountries muft and if they do lonies in them )f all Arturica unly fubfift by of PART II. a45 of "Nova Scotia, or the deferts of New Jerjey, where they are loft to the nation, and find it fo difficult to fubfift in thefe deferts, that they are again obliged to return to their own country, we are told. They are now, and hi^e been for many years, petitioning for thofe lands on the Ohio and MiJJiffippi j which if they do not get, they have no refourc^ left, but to apply to Manufaduies, and to carry on a trade in them,t by which they will foon fupply the reft of America. There are not lefs than 2 or 300,000 people in North America, who are in this fitu- ation, and want lands to make ftaple commo- dities for Britain -, who would foon eftablifli a good and refpedable colony in any of the fruitful parts of the Continent here mentioned, but will never go either to Canada, Nova Sco- tia, or Florida, It is for thefe people that lands are wanted, but not either for Greeks or Britons, If a few foreigners, fuch as the Greeks , or any others, may be procured to join thefe people from the Northern and other colonies, as many may from all parts of Europe, in order to fecure the country at firft ; they may be of fome fervice in the countries we mention, but in any others they muft prove a prejudice to the nation, after all the charge 3 they will coft ; and even in thefe, a few would be fufficient, as thefe lands are wanted for the daily increafe of the colonies. If thefe countries are fetried, they wlii pro- duce many commodities, which may for ever keep I ■• I; 1; 11 f I ..^JL^L^ 246 PART II. keep the colonies from interfering with their Mother Country, and prove the greateft fervice to the whole nation both at home and abroad. In all the tliree divifions of the BritiJJo domi- nions here mentioned, both the foil and cli- mate are fo different from what they are in Britain, that their produds will never be the fame, as they are in moft of our other colonies. This will always make the producSts of che one v/anted by the other j and that keeps up the connexion and correfpondence between the colonies and Britain, which is what we call their fubfifting by a dependence upon her. It is by that means, and by no other, that this their dependence is to be prelerved, and rendered as beneficial to the one, as the other j and it is for want of fuch means of fubfifting, that we fee fuch differences between them, that they are at lafl likely to end in a feparation, unlefs their connection is preferved by the ties here mentioned. To give an account of the feveral commodi- ties which thefe countries, and our other colo- nies, might produce, and the proper foil and climates for thein, would require a treatife of itfelf, which was intended to be the chief part of this difcourfe ; but as the prefect part has drawn it to fuch a length, the other muft be defer ed to fonie other opportunity. In the mean timt it might be eafy to iliew many commodit\es of the greateft value, wliich might be mad;^ hi the territories of the Mfffijjippi and Ohio, .That whole with their teft fervice id abroad. 'tifi domi- l and cli- jey are in ver be the r colonies, of the one 2ps up the ween the It we call n her. It t this their endered as and it is ;, that we that they on, unlefs ; ties here commodi- )ther colo- ur foil and treatife of lief part of has drawn defer' ed to ;an timt it nodities of t madr' m i/vo. ,That whole PART 11. 247 whole country, from the ifland of New Orleans to the river Ohio and Illmoisy is the richefl: and mod fruitful of any in the Britijh dominions, and extends upwards of a thoufand miles, con- taining more fruitful lands than are in all our colonies put together. There are no good lands in all North America, but upon the fides of rivers, and as the Mijjijjippi is fo much larger than all the other rivers in that Continent, the lands upon it are as much more extenlive and fertile. This we are afiured of by thofe wha were fent from F/'rg/;;/^, in 1742, on purpofe to furvey thofe countries, who reported, ' the/ * faw more good land on the Mijjijjippi^ and its ' many large branches, than they judged was * in all the Englijh colonies, as far as they are * inhabited.* The fame is confirmed by the French, who tell us from experience of them, « the lands on both fides cf ths MiffilJippi are * excellent for culture, and produce Indian * Corn, Tobacco, Indigo^ &c. and all kinds of * provifions, with little or no care o. labour, * and almoft without cultuie -, the foil bf'ng a * black, mould of an excellent quality *.' More particularly, in the coui ty of the Njuches above-mentioned, we are told by a Plar ir of iixteen years experience in hat courriiv, the foil is a fertile mould three fee: d^ep on the hills, and five or fix feet deep in the vallies^ with a firong clayey foundation -f- ; vue like of * Du Mont Alemoires -'.' la L^'uifianti Tom. i. p. 16. \ Du Pra4z Hiit. Lmpana, I'ooii, i.- p. 263. 7 which *;. ■ t I f 248 PART ll. which is certainly not to be feen any where elfd in all thefe Southern parts of North Americai Even the hill fides are covered with canes^ which in our colonies only grow in the deepeft and richell fwamps. Such lands have a natural moifture in them^ which is the very foil that both Hemp^ Flax, and Indigo delight in; .and thefe are the three firft commodities that the nation wants from the colonies. Upon fuch lands Hemp and Flax might be made in quantities, as a ftaple com- modity to fend to Britain-, whereas on the poor lands in our colonies, and their fmall plantations, they can only make a litde for their own ufe. The one would be the great- eft fervice , when the other is a prejudice to the nation. The climate likewife is as fit for thefe commodities. H*^ . 'ley might fow Hemp and Flax in wint hich is the only proper feafon for them in any part of North America, as we have fhewn above. This would afford time for making another crop in fummer, which fhould be htdigo. Now a crop of Indigo, Hemp, and Flax, would be much more profitable, than any thing that America produces, whether on the Continent or the Ifiands. Every labourer might cultivate two acres or more in Hemp, and one or two in Indigo, the produce of which would be worth from 30 to 40 pounds a year. This would enable them to purchafe negroes, and to en- large the Britifi plantations, beyond what they are -V■^*^*^'W■ ivhere ejfci Americai ith canes^ le deepeft ! in them^ ^/>, Flax, the three 'ants from ) and Flax iple com- is on the leir fmall little for the great- yudice to 3 as fit for light fow the only of North 7e, This ?r crop in Now a would be hing that Continent t cultivate or two in be worth lis would id to en- what they are P A R T IL 249 ire othefwife capable of. Such plantation* would be more profitable than even Sugar co- lo^iies, and fupply the nation with more valu- able and neceffary articles. A hundred thou- fand labourers, which might be eafily found in all our colonies, taken together, would at this rate of 20 /. a head, make two millions a year 5 but fuppofe they make only one half of this, it is as much as all our colonies in North America now produce. — If we compare this with the barren deferts of Canada and FJorida, what a wide difference is there ! By thefe means the nation might get the trade both of Indigo, Hemp and Flax,^ and fupply all Europe with thefe commodities, as we now do with Tobacco j v^hichjaft thefe lands are as fit to produce, in much greater plenty and perfec- tion than any other part of North America, And when our Tobacco plantations are worn out, there are no lands to fupply their place in all the Britijh dominions, but thofe on the Miffifippi, There are three things neceflary for a Tobacco plantation ; to wit, rich and fertile lands; good pafturage for maintaining (locks of cattle \qx manure 5 and an inland navigation, with convenieiit ports, to (hip off fuch a grofs and blilky commodity from every plantation ; which three conveniehcies you will not find in any part of North America, but in the Tobacco planta- tions, and on the MiJJiJippi. Our Tobacco planters therefore may find others there, when their old plantations are v;orn out, as mod of K k them ! ■ 1 lit b F.!| ajo PART 11. them already are, and will all be in time. To thefe they may fend their negioes, as they lately did to the mountains, when they cannot main- tain them elfewhere. It was for this purpofe, that they petitioned for lands on the MiJJtfippi, and fome of them made fettlements not far from it, even before the war ; and many fet- tled on the heads of the Ohio j but the only port to all thefe inland parts of the continent, is at the mouth of the Mi/jyippi; which is more convenient than the mountains, on which moft of our Tobacco is now ;nade, however remote fome may reckon it, who are unacquainted with that continent. It is but 500 miles, in a ftraight line, from the fea ccaft of Carolina and Georgia, which is no great way to go for good lands in North America, efpecially in thefe barren fands. We remember in our days, when the mountains, which are now the center of our beft plantations, were reckoned to be more remote than the Mijfiftppi is now *. Thus * At prefent indeed it might not be fo proper to make Tobacco on the MijfiJJippl, fo long as our old plantations will produce it in fufficient quantities ; or at leaft till they have fome better and more profitable ftaple, which they fo much want, and might eafily get. If the colonies plant only one or two commodities, as they now do, and inter- fere with one another, it is the way to ruin them all, and the intereft of Britain in them. But the fettling of the Planters themfelves in thefe countries is not to interfere with them, but to fuppiy them wiih frefh lands, of which they are in want ; and it is only by that means, that they have hitherto kept up their Tobacco plantations, or will vvsr PART II. 251 Thus we fee, that the territories of the Ohio and Mijjifippi are very fit to produce Tobacco, Indigo,' Hemp and Flax, which are the grand ftaple commodities of North America-, and it is to produce thefe, that lands are wanted there. Thefe are likewife the proper crops for frefh wood ever be able to do it. Such commodities as either Tobacco, Indigo, Hemp, or Flax, can only be made to advantage, or in any quantities, on frefti wood lands, and in woody coun- tries, which afford plenty of maft and pafturage in the woods, and maintain their ftock, while the people bellow their time and labour on thefe their ftaple commodities ; it is by thefe means, that we have hitherto made fuch quanti- ties of Tobacco ; but as foon as thefe refources are ex- haufted, they are obliged to turn their lands into Corn and Failure grounds, in order to get the neceflaries of hte, which thefe exhaufting weeds rob them of. We Ihall therefore foon find a fupply of freOi lands on the Mijjijjippi, neceflliry to keep up our Tobacco plantations, if thty are not already. It is for want of fuch lands, that tnefe colo- nies are fo much in debt, and are obliged to eltablilh Manufaaures— They may perhaps think, as many have always done, that the making of more Tobacco may depre- ciate the value of it ; but many are of the contrary opinion, and think it is the only way to preferve ihe 1 rade. 1 he ftaple of a country, which may be made in fo many d.tter- ent parts of the world, fhould not be made dear, oiherwife you will lofe the Trade in it. It was only the plenty of good and fertile lands, that has hitherto given us the 1 o- bacco Trade ; but when thefe are exhaufted, we mult iole it, as we already have one half of it. The low price of our Tobacco does not proceed from the quantity we make, but from rivals in the Trade, and the Tobacco plantations in Europe, which now produce at leaft 100,000 hogftieads a year, more than we make in a.l America. Thus we do not make half the quantity ot 'iobacco that is confumed, and wanted ia the feveral mar- K k 2 kcts M ^ 1 ,352 P A R T II. wood lands, or new fettlements. Lands which will not produce thefe at firft, are not worth poflefling. In a few years they are worn out, and will hardly yield the ncceffaries of life. It is for this rearon,that on our poor planta- tions frefh lands will always be wanted for thefe kets of Europe. It is this that makes fc many competitors in the Trade, and threatens to ruin it. When our To- bacco bears a price, they immediately make fuch quantities in Europe^ that we have no vent for it ; but as our Tobacco is fo much better than theirs, if we were conftantly to make a fufficient quantity, as cheap as they can afford it, we might foon put dov.n their plantations, gain a monopoly of the Trade, and put our own price on Tobacco, which appears to be the only way to raife it j and this might cafily be done, by fuch plenty of rich and fruitful lands as are upon the M'ljjiffipp't and Ohio, Now, fuch a monopoly of the Tobacco Trade, or 100,000 hogfhcads, would be worth nigh a million a year to Britain, over and above what it now clears ; which is about 1,100,000 1, per ann, including the duty and all charges. Such frefti lands are more wanted for the making of Tobacco on another account. When the plantations came to be exhaufted, the Tobacco was fo bad, that it would hardly pay the freight and charges upon it ; for which rea- fon they were obliged to make a law, in i':33, to burn all that (hould be deemed bad by infpedors ; but this was no relief to the people, to burn whas their lands bore, when . they would produce no better. This obliged many to quit their plantations, and others to turn them into farms, or Corn and Paflure grounds, to fupply themfelves. Neither was this a way to preferve the Tobacco Trade, however convenient it may be on many accounts. They often burn better Tobacco than their rivals and competitors in the Trade can make, which has fo much increafed their planta- tions, to the ruin of ours. This, we remember, was foretold at the time when this law paflcii, and it h^th accordingly happened. com* •1 ; PART II. 253 commodities, which no other part of the 5rj- tijh dominions will produce. Here likewife they have the necefTaries of life with little or no coft or labor, which is as neceflary to make ftaple commodities for Britain, The paftures are covered with green grafs knee high, and as high as a man in the vallies, the like of which is not to be feen in any other part of North America -, fuch lands yield three and fourfcore bulhels of Corn to an acre ; and the cattle maintain themfelves the whole year without the charge of feeding them *. Hence the country abounds with wild kine, a large creature like an ox, with a fleece like a Iheep ; the wool, hides, and tallow of which are of great value ; but in our colonies the pafturage is fo poor, that there are none to be feen. How different is this from the barren fands of Florida^ which nei- ther produce Corn nor Grafs ! or even from our northern colonies, where many can hardly make Corn to eat, and they are obliged to fpend their whole year's labor on maintaining a few cattle in winter ! The very offals of a plan- tation here would yield more Corn and provi- fions, than they can make in our northern co- lonies, while it would produce thefe ftaple commodities for Britain at the fame time. Here then the colonies of New^England or others., which want Corn, might be fupplied both for their own ufe, and their trade ; and the iflands might by that means be fupplied at * See Dh Pratz, ibid, a cheaper k Ti 1"' 9: I p . 1 li o^ yU' ;.' 254 PART II. a cheaper rate. But by confining them in their fettlemcnts, Corn is become more valuable to make than any thing for Britain-, and they will foon have but little to fpare at that price. At the fame time thefe countries are as health- ful, as they are fruitful ; although v^'C are told by thofe who have only heard of New Orleam, that the Miffijtppi is very unhealthful, as all the maritime parts both of North and South Ame^ rica are. But the whole country from the ifland of New Orleans to the river Ohio is high, dry and hilly, refre(hed with cooling breezes from the adjacent mountains, which affuage the heat of the climate, and render it health- ful. The banks of the MiJJtfippi, on the eaft fide, are from 100 to 2 and 300 feet high, without a marfli near them. It is likewife ob- ferved, throughout all thefe countries on the Mijjifippi, that it feldom rains. The Apala- cbean mountains intercept the clouds brought up from the ocean, and render the feafons both dry and healthful. How different this, from the low flat and fandy, marfhy and rainy fea coafts of all our fouthern colonies, and of Flo- rida I If we would people thefe fouthern parts of America, where the whole intereft of the nation lies, it will only be in thefe countries, where it might be fo eafily done. And if the nation would expert any indemnity for her ex- pences in the war, it can only be obtained from fuch countries as thefe, which were the very objedsofthe war. When 1 ill their luable to and they It price. IS health- I are told I Orleans, as all the uth Ame" from the is high, y breezes 1 affuage t health- 1 the eaft "eet high, ewife obi- :s on the e Apala- J brought ifons both his, from rainy fea ^d ot F/o- bern parts ;fl: of the countries, \nd if the or her ex- ; obtained were the When PART II. 255 When thefe lands are cleared, and cxhauftcd with Tobacco, Indigo, Hemp and Flax, they will produce Silk, Cotton, Wine and Oil, for ever; which are the great commodities that this nation wants. It is fuch commodities as thefe that we fhould call acquifitions, Thefe are the proper produce of North Jmerica, and render colonies there (< beneficial to Britain, but of much lefs confequence either to France or Spain. They make thefe commodities at home, and would be lofers by making them in North America. Colonies there, whofe ftaple muft foon be Silk, Wine and Oil, could not depend upon France or Spain : Hence it is the greateft folly in them, to endeavour to raife co- lonies in North America. Such a falfe policy could only be equalled, by Britain confining her colonies to countries whofe ftaple is Corn and Wool. The ifland oiHifpaniola is of more fervice to France, than North America ; and if we are excluded from the MiJJifippi, Britain will lofe by her fuccefles, what France has gained by her defeats — profitable colonies in America. But befides thefe or the like new fettlements, the great thing wanted in tlie colonies is fome ftaple for our old plantations, which are worn out with thefe and the like crops, or would never produce them. The ftaple commodities which they have hitherto made to fend to Bri- tain, are only fuch as are proper for frefti wood lands, and when thefe are exhaufted, as the moft I JMH ,'. ' '- t I ^. IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1^ 1.0 I.I 1.25 12.8 M 2.2 ^ sis lllliM .8 1.4 IIIIII.6 ^ ^. <^ V] /a / o e). /^ Photographic Sciences Corporation ^v- -Xi WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (7i6) 872-4503 V MP. \ight into no longer They are grounds, id Wool J », the co- manufac- with their nd rnanu-^ efh iandsy ire both fo , whether )Ut, or for I improve* onies, ever le of them There is jencay but ; Of other, ontrary to moR: every they have it has '^'^en ifappoiiited w for 150 3 taken to ft obftruc- iifappoint- high time, ) the caufes fife defigns, I. Tlie PART a 257 L The lingular and peculiar climate of North America hardly agrees with any one thing that is commonly propofed to be planted in it, and the foil is as unfuitable to many others. Every one feems to imagine, that in the feveral cli- mates we poflefs from north to fouth, all the produiStions of Europe may be raifed in our co- lonies J but if the truth were known, there is hardly any one climate fuitable to them in all North America^ The produ<5lionp of Europe are there cither deftroyed by the long and in- tenfe colds in the north, or burnt up by the fun in the fouth, efpecially on their fcorching fands. Hence there is hardly any of them that will thrive in our colonies, as the ftaple of a country ought to do. Of this we have above given an Jnftance in Wheat, Hemp and Flax, and it is more vifible in many other things. The caufes of this would abundantly appear from a due account of the climate of North America ^ which we cannot pretend to give in the bounds of this difcourfe. It is commonly imagined, from mere guefs, that the climate of North America differs from that of Europe by tea de- grees c latitude j but from certain obfervations in both for thirty years together, we are well affured, that there is a difference of at leafl fourteen or fifteen degrees of latitude between the refpedive climates in thefe two continents : it being fo much colder there, than here*. Now * Thefe ftvere colds are commonly attributed to the woods with which that Continent i& covereJ, and it is L 1 imagined. \:\ '1 25S PART 11. Now this is as great a difFerenee af latitude a3 moft produaions of the earth will thrive in > eon- imagined, that the clearing of thefc will abate the rigor of the climate j which is as contrary Jo all reafon aird enp^rH cnce, as »U the other common opinions relating tp^ that Continent, and the colonies in it. Now, as thefe vulgar errors proceed from an ignorance of the climate, i»may be proper to give fomc account of it here, as far as our room will permit. This coldnefe of the cHmate, which i« fe^t all over North America^ appears to proceed, chieflj^ and principally, from the three following caufes, befi(ks others which confpire with them, particularly the nature of thefwh I. That Continent in all probability extends to the North Pole, as fao end coald ever be found to the land, although it has been fearched as fai .orth as the latitude So and 8? degrees. In thefe Northern parts^ America is as extenfivc from Eaft to Weft j both Greenland and Spitzbergen appear to be parts of thai Continent, or at leaft nighly join to itia thofe froi-en regions. Thus North America ej^tends over the greateft part of the frigid zone, and is by that meajis con- Ibntlv overwhelmed with fro-ft and fnow ; whereas Europe and /Jfia terminate in or about the 70th degree of latitude. Thus America extends farther North than any other part of the world, and by that means is fo much colder — Europe is funounded by the warmer ocean, which is always open ; JfiOy by an icy fea (the mare glaciale) ; znd America^ by a frozen Continent ; which occafions the diverfity of cli- mates in thefe three Continents. II. That Continent, which is thus extenfive in the Northern parts, is one entire groupe of high mountains, covered with fnow, or rather with ice, throughout the whole year. Thefe mountains rife in tSe moft Northern parts of the Continent that have been difcovered in Baffin's Bay, and fpread all over it to New- England. Hence " the *' coaft of Labrador is the higheft of any in the world, and « may he defcried at the diftance of 40 leagues ;" and in the Weftern parts Jifcovered by the Ruffians^ they tell us, the country had terrible high mountains covered with " fnow it ititude 33 irive in > con- P A R T II. 259 confequently, we cin exped; nothing to grow there as it does here. It is for this reafon, that the the rigor of ing to. that tbefe vulgar ', i»may be ts our room fhic\} isfett chiefly and fi(ks others sof thefcMK to the North d, although e So and ^Z as extenfivc ergen appear join to it in inds over the meajis con- ereas Europe z of latitude* ly other part der — Europe Iways open ; mtrica, by a jrfity of clI- nfive in the h mountains, roughout the oft Northern ed in Bo^n\ Hence " the le wor'd, and aes ;" and in they tell us, covered with *^« fnowr ** fnow in the month of July.'* This was in latitude 58 degrees, and the country to the Southward of that in 40 degrees, is by the Spaniards called fierrai nevados^ fnowy mountains, " So a ridge of mountains rife at Cape Tourmsnte by ^ebeCi and run four or five hundred leagues, tjprming the grcatefl: ridge of mountains in the univerfe," which fpread over all the Northern parts of that Continent. Thefe are what we call the Northern fnoivy mountains, which extend to the 43d degree of latitude, and render the whole Conti- nent unfit for Agriculture to the Northward of that. The river St. Laurence is only a large arm of the fea which runs up between thefe mountains, as Hudson's and Baffin's Biy do in the North, in order to carry oft the fnow waters. III. All the countries which lie within the verge of thefe mountains, or North of Ntw England, are perpetually involved in frofts, fnows, or thick fogs j and the colds which are felt in the South, proceed from thefe frozen regi- ons in the North by violent North-weft winds. Thefe are the peculiar winds of that Continent, and blow with a fury which no wind exceeds. It appears from many obferva- tions, that they blow quite acrofs the Jtlaritic Ocean to Europe. The great lakes of Canada, which are an inland fea extending North- weft for 12 or 13 hundred miles, give force and diredlion to thefe winds, which blow from the Northern frozen regions, and bring the climate of Hud/ott'9 Bay to the moft Southern parts of that Continenf, whenever they blow for any time. Northerly winds arc cdld in all countries, and as thefe blow with fuch violence, and from fuch frozen regions, they are fo much colder than other Every one may obferve, that the extreme colds in North America proceed from thefe winds, as I found by keeping a journal of the weather there for fifteen years ; whence a North-wejier and cold weather are in a manner fynonimous terms m all our colonies. Many imagine that thefe colds proceed from the fnows lying in the woods, but that is the effe^, and not the caufe^ L 1 2 of If 260 PART II. the nation is difappointed, and every one is /*d much deceived about North uimerica. Even the of the cold. The queftion is, What occafions fuch deej) i'nows in there Southern latitudes ? They, who attribute this to the woods, do not diUinguifh between wet and cold, or the damps of wood lands and frofts, which are very dif- ferent things ; fo different, that they deftroy one another, like a (bower of rain in a froft. I'hefe colds are {o far from being occafioned by the woods, that one half of that Continent, which is the coldeft, and from which they pro- ceed, has not a wood in it ; and is fo barren, that it does hot bear a tree or a bufh. It is from this want of woods in the Northern parts, and the great lakes, that thefe furious winds procteed ; which are very much abated by the woods. In the woods thefe cold winds may be endured, but in the open fif Ids they are infufFerable, either to man or beaft, and that even in our Southern colonics. We talk from expe- rience. — Hence, if all the woods in that Continent were cleared, Canada and Nova Scotia would be as uninhabitable as Hudfon's Bay ; our Northern colonies as cold as Canada; and the adjacent Southern colonies in the fituation of the Northern ; which would make a very great alteration in the affairs of this nation — Let us not deceive ourfelves, therefore, among other things, with the vain hopes of mending nature ; and abating the rigor of thefe inhofpitablc climes j that is not to be done, but by cutting off, at leafl', 20 degrees of that Continent in the North, and levelling the innumerable fnowy mountains i from which two caufcs thefe fevere colds proceed. No part of the world can be compared to this in point of climate, but the Eaftern parts of JJia, which are almoffc contiguous to America in the North, and are expofed to the like cold winds from this Continent. Hence it appears, from comparing many obfervations in both, that our colo- nies enjoy the fame climate with Eaji Tartary^ China, Corca, and J^p^n i the products of which are fo rich and valuable^ Here then we might have many of the mofl valuable commodities for the colonies 3 and as thefe are fo totally f 'I'l^J PART ir. 261 tlie knowledge which many have of it, only ferves to miflead them. For this rcafon many of our colonies muft either have more favour- able climates, or make nothing that the nation wants. In fuch lingular climates few or no produ f J\. #•* 268 PART II. them to make any improvements whatever* Thefe will produce Tobacco, Indigo, Hemp, and Flax, the planting of which they are ac- quainted with, and have no fuch difficulties to encounter in making new and unknown im- provements, which are more uncertain and precarious. It is not yet certain, whether they can make any others, and for that reafon, thele are more neceffary. It is to be feared, that all other improvements have been fo long negledt- ed, that they can now only fubfift by manufac- tu.e?, unlefs they enlarge their plantations, and thereby give room toothers to improve the old. When the people become numerous in a coun- try, it is very difficult to fubfift merely by their Agriculture, as colonies Ihould do. II. Eut tlie great thing wanted is, to im- prove our old plantations in ftaple commodities for Britain ; which is attended with much greater difficuKies, than moft people feem to imagine. The firft thing to be done, for that •pLirpofc, is to nzkt fiik and wine, which are the netefi ;ry foundation of all other improvements, Thele commodities are not only valuable in thcmlllves, but they are as 'necelfary to find conllant employment for labourers throughout the year, and thereby to enable them to fend their other produds to Britain, which may be made with thefe { neither of which are likely to turn to any account without the other. Hence w^ ffiould have begun with the encou- raafment f\^ fillc a« d wiue- before hemn or flax. I whatever* >, Hemp, ly are ac- iculties to lown im- rtain and ;ther they ifon, thele j, that all g negledt- manufac- tions, and /e the old. in a coun- ty by their is, to im- mmodities /ith much e feem to e, for that lich are the rovcments, aluable in ry to find hroughout mi to fend ich may be are likely the other, the encon- : hemo or flax, PART II. 26^ flax, or any other materials of manufadurcs *, ]Bat bcfides all the other difficulties above-men- tioned, • It was to fupply the nation with filk and wine, that OUT colonies were firft fettled, and no part of the world is perhaps more fit for that purpofe, after the woods are cleared. Although the foil and climate are very frngular^ with regard to other pr. luflions, yet mulberry trees and vines are, as it were, natural to them. That whole Con- tinent is covered over with both, as far North as Montreal^ and Jnnapolisy in Nova Scotia. We have Jeen fifteen dif- ferent forts of native grapes there, the like of which, grow- ing wild, are certainly not to be found in any part of the world. The ordinary forts of thefe in Hrgma }k]d a wine fo like the common Bourdeanx wine, that it is difficult to diftinguifh the one from the other ; and from another fort fome wine has been made, which was compared by good judges, both here and there, to the beft that is drank. Other forts yield wine exaflly like the Lisbon. But inftead of thefe, they have tranfplanted grapes from the hills of Normandy to the maritime parts of Virginia and Carolina, where no one could expeft them to thrive, nigh fo well as they do. They ripen there in the beginning and middle of Jugujf, when no one can expeft to make good wine j although they yield a very good wine for prefent drinking. But this is the moft improper for their climate of any grape that grows ; neither is it the true Burgundy grape, for which they got it. There are likewife three different forts of mulberry trees in North America, and a native filk-worm which fpins its cocons upon thefe and other trees ; which are as large, and weigh as much, as twenty of the common ; and the filk is much ftronger. This would afford a material for a manu- fadure, difi:'erent from any that is known.~It has been imagined, indeed, that the making of filk would turn to m account in the colonies i but it would certainly be much more profitable than tobacco, their mofl general ftaple. There afe nigh 800,000 people in the tobacco colonies, who midu niake at Icaii a pound of filk a head per annutn^i which i m 270 PART II. tioncd, mulberry orchards and vineyards require time to be brought to perfection, which the indigent circumftances of Planters will hardly admit of. They generally live from year to year, and cannot fo well afford, or at leaft do not attend to, the making of improvements which require eight or ten years, to turn to account. It is this that obftrudts the making of filk and wine in the colonies, more than any other dif- ficulty, and requires great induftry and applica- tion to be furmounted. If this were once done, many other commodities might be made with thefe, and the colonies might be conftantly employed in making ^hem all for Britain j whereas at prefent, all the commodities pro- pofed for them only ferve to eftablifli their manufactures, which will prove as great a lofs which would be worth 800,000 /., whereas they do not make above 300,000/. by tobacco ; and the one is made in fix weeks, the other requires a twelvemonth ; this is only to be made by flaves, when that is an employment which might be followed by women and children, and is fuitable to the condition of mankind in thefe intemperate climates, as well as the making of wine. Such employments are more neceflary, as the women, and other weakly people, who are not fit for labour in the fields, have no way to get their bread but by thefe, or manufactures ; and as they make three-fourths of the people, they muf'" neceflarily manufac- ture every thine; they can raife, particularly Flax, Cotton, and Wool. The great obftacle to the making of filk has hitherto been the want of hands, of which there are now a fufficient number in all our old plantations i but as filit .alone will not maintain them, they muft be otherwife em- ployed, till they have other crops which wiH not interfere with this. to PART II. 27X to them, as to the whole nation. Both the one and the other will thereby lofe the produce of their lands, while they can get nothing by their Uianufadtures, but bare neccfTaries. Nothing will ever turn to any account in the colonies, but their Agriculture ; and if their lands yield nothing, you can .xped as litde from them in Britain, The intereft of both depends on this iingle point, or the improvement of their Agri- culture. III. Since their lanfln produce fo little, every one is bent upon trade, and the colonies en- deavour to better their circumftances by that, ^ which they cannot do by any other means;* but their trade feems to be as little underftood, as every thing elfe relating to them. It is imagined, that they do or may make money by their trade to the Weji-lndies, but it rather ap- pears, that they lofe very confiderably by it. That trade indeed is carried on at fo many dif- ferent ports, in fmall veffels and cargoes, and in commodities which are, or have been, moftly fmuggled, that it is very difficult to get any exad account of it, for which reafon it feems to have been fo little underftood. In all the accounts we have had of their trade, we neither fee a ftate of their exports, nor imports; what the balance is, or how it is paid; without which it is impoffible to form any right judgement concerning trade. By the beft accounts of thefe that can well be got, either there or here, their imports appear to amount 2 at 27a !* A R T II. at lead to 800,000 /. a year, when their ex-^ ports do not exceed 300,000/.; the balance therefore againft them muft be 500,000/. per nnmm *. This balance arifes from the vAry nature * The quantity of fugar confunied in North America may %e computed from the confumption of Britain^ which is by the lad accounts of the Cxiftom-houfe 94,000 hogflieads a year, for feven and an half millions of people; and as m the colonics moft of their common liquors are fome beve- rage fweetened with fugar, they muft confume rather more in proportion j at which rate three millions of people will require 37,000 hogfheads. The common computation is * 30,000 hog(heads, valued at 300,000/. The quantity of molafles is computed to be 90,000 bogflieads, which at 3/. p^r head come to 270,000/. But in the account from which this computation is made, now before me, there is no allowance for the South- ern colonies, who make all their fmall beer of molaf- fes, and cannot confume lefs than 30,000 hogflieads a year, as that would not make above a quart of beer a day for half the people. The quantity of rum made in our iflands, is, by their computation, from 60 to 70,000 hogflieads a year, and as they import but 8 or 9,000 hogflieads into Britain^ the greateft part of the reft muft be confumed in North Ame- rica, It is computed, that they import 30,000 hogflieads ; but allowing it to be 20,000, or to the value of 200,000 /., the whole will amount to 770,000/. per annum, for rum, fugar, and molafles. To this if we add their wine, and other If^eJI-India goods, the imports into Njrth America cannot be lefs than bco.oro /. per annum. As for their exports, they are more uncertain; but it is computed by our iflands, that they take from North Ame* rica to the value of 80, coo/, p-r annum^ and they cannot be fuppofed to export much more to foreign colonies than to our c\v:: j buc allowing this laft to be 220j000<. j the wli '* M\\ amounts PART IL 273 nature of the trade j a cargo of Wejl-India goods is fo much more valuable thau one of North amounts but to 300,000 /. a year. If any may fuppofe, they export more, they may import as much more, fo that the balance againft them will be 500,000 /. per annum. At any rate, the balance appears to be againft the North Ame^ r'lcan colonies } although it is impofTible to afcertain the exar more f they Dmmo- F com- is thefe 5, they :rade is cans of 3ncy — evenue . ;ain lofs againft Britijh debt to a trade, ^— * ^ ^'■'*^ ^\ tiiwlXl Thefe PART II. a77 Thefe are the three fources of all the reriftif- tances the colonics can make to Britdirt, amf of the improvements which may be m^de kl them ; the firft we haire here coftfidered> as it is the foundation of aU the reft ; and the other two would each require as particular a difcuf- fion, to point out every thing ^hat might be proper to be done in them ; which our time at prefent, or the bounds of this difcourfe, will not admit of j thefe muft be deferred to another opportunity, when we may give a more par- ticular account of that continent, of the foil and climate, its produfts, and the improve- ments which may be made in it. Were thefd duely complied with, all the colonies from New^ England to South Carelina might have a proper ftaple for Britain^ which is the only medium oi their connexion and correfpondence with her, whereas all others are rather means of a fepara- tion. It is only by improving thefe fources of their remittances, that the colonies can ever purchafe their neceffaries from Britaw, or have money for any other purpofes, as will abun- dantly appear from their condition and circum- ftances ; of which we (hall next give a brief view, with the regulations ktely made concern- ing them. Thefe indeed are matters, which have been debated with fuch heat and ftrife, as if it were between declared enemies, that few would care to be concerned v/ith them, were it not from a than ^78 PART II. than their own intereft or quiet: There are (o m^ny '^-cjudices and preconceived opinions concerning every thing that relates to the co- lonies, that no one can declare his opinion about them, without being expofed to their cenfure and ill-wilK They feem not to fearch for the truth, but for arguments to fupport their own parties, and preconceived opinions, let them be right or wrong. It is therefore im- poffible to fatisfy many, even by the moft con- vincing proofs. But as the affairs of this nation in North America are in fuch a fituation, that they are likely to be ruined, after all the im- menfe fums which .have been expended upon them, it is to be hoped, every one will lay afide their prejudices, and (hew themfelves open to convidlion, in matters which are of fuch confequence and importance to the whole nation. For this purpofe they have only to confider the prefent ftate and circumftances of the colonies, to be convinced of many miftakes which have been committed concerning them. This is the more neceffary, as the regulations lately made concerning the colonies are fo far from improving the advantages of the peace, for which they were intended, that they can only burden the nation with an additional expence by that, and deprive her of what ihe enjoyed before the war j efpecially if we fhould lofe the benefit of our colonies by them, as we are very likely to do, unlefs thefe regulations are . _ii J«J . Cr\f nt\\\n\\ nnrnnfp \Kre. have W'Cii ailiClluv,u i iwi vviisvii Y^'i — - — drawn up the following brief account of them. I ^?9 ] PART iir. The State and Regulations of the Colonies. TO form a right judgment concerning the ftate of the colonies, we fhould in the firft place confidcr the produce of their Agricul- ture in enumerated commodities; which, with all their other produdls, fcnt to Britain, are well known, both from the accounts of the Cuftom-houfe, Merchants, and Planters; all which have been carefully examined for many years part, and from thefe it appears, that the value of all their enumerated commodities is but 767,000/. per annum, even the higheft computation does not bring it to 800,000/., meaning in net proceeds to the planters. Their value has indeed always been computed at 600,000/., till within thefe few years paft. But every one^ who is acquainted with the colonics, may fee, that their enumerated com- modities, are the chief part of their produce ; every thing they make indeed is for remittances to Britain, in order to purchafe their necef- faries, and to pay their debts ; whence we may be very certain, that their non-enumerated commodities, fold in other countries, are not fent to Britain, Accordingly, the fird are 7 computed m 28o T H R STATE .computed at 700,000/. a vear at moft 5 and if we were Co enter into the particulars, no one could well make them Amount to that fum. Thus the produce of all the colonies in North America amounts at moft to 1,500,000/. ^^r annum, above what they confume among themfelvcs ; ^nd we ihall fee .below, that it cannot well exceed i ,400,000 /. All that they import into Britain, both in enumerated com- modities, and what they purchafs with others, amounts at moft, by the rates at the Cuftom- houfe, but to 1,066,491 /. per annum. By the Cuftom*houfe accompts, from the year 1756 to 1761 inclufwe, the ftate of the trade between Great Britain and North Ame- rica, during thefe fix years of war, was as fgllows : Annual Exports frpm Britain to North America on an average Imports into Britain — Balance due to Britain £, 2,045,144 1,292,806 By the fame accompts from 1762 to 1764, both included, fmce the peace, that trade is thus ftated : Exports from Britain on an average £. 2,022,445 Imports into Britain — 1,066,491 Balance due to Britain — 955>954 Tn 7 •--•It * " 3 Cmrp fhp rnmmence- meatof the war, from 1756 101764 inclulive, the OF THE COLONIES. 2»I the following is the ftate of the whole on jm average : Exports from Britain — Imports into Britain — • Balance due to Britain Tottl Exports in thefc nine years Total Imports — ^. 2,037,577 857,056 .- 1,180,521 £, 18,338,199 7,713,50^ Total Balance due to Britain in 9 years 10,624,693 Now, as the colonics exported to the value of 18 millions, and owe five or fix millions to Britain, they cannot have paid more than 13 millions in thefe nine years, which is 1,444,000/. per annum; and as people who are fo much in debt, are obliged to pay their all, this muft be their annual income, and agrees with the above account of their produce. Now as their enumerated commodities amount to — The value of their non- enumerated commodities muft be — — 677,000 Total 1,444,000 But as the entries at the cuftom-houfe arc well known to exceed the real value of the ex- ports, this income of the colonies cannot be fo much as thefe accounts make it, and cannot ex- ceed 1 ,400,000 /. per annum. It is indeed im- poflible to bring fuch r counts to a rprtain pre- cifion 5 but from this ftate of them we may be Oo wc 11 a82 THE STATE well aflured, that the annual income of all the North American colonies cannot exceed a mil- lion and a half a year, and it is probably not lb much. From thefe accounts it appears, that the an- nual balance of trade agaiuft North America in favor oi Britain has been for the laft nine years 1,180,000/.; but as that balance was greater in the time of the war, it may be reck- oned now in time of peace about a million a year, fo long as they export to the value of twq millions from Britain. In the laft nine years this balance has amounted to ten millions, which is certainly more than they could pay, if we confider their income. This confirms the accounts of the merchants, who make the co- lonies io much indebted to them. By thefe aCr counts this balance has accumulated to a debt of five millions ; and as many accounts have not been received, it is computed, that the whole debt due to Britain in North America amounts at leaft to five millions and a half, if not fix millions. Befides this, they owe a public debt of 767,000 /. Thus their public and private debts amount to mere than i^)^ millions of money; the interefl oi which alone, at five per cent., comes to 350,000/; bn^ ' oi ihcm pay eight /cT cent.^ accordi..^ ^y, wic ci.ltom of the trade, the intereit of thcic ilebts may be reck- oned half a {Diijioii a year; ef:.eciailv if we add the lufs they fiiilaln in tho^ exchange by making remittances^ of all the ;d a mil- jly not iQ It the an-r * America laft nine ince was be reek- million a Lie of twq line years millions, lid pay, if ifirms the :e the co- ' thefe ac-: to a debt unts have that the > America a half, if ; debt of vate debts F money ; per cent., ilicm pay om of the ' be reck- if we add )y making imittances^ OF THE COLONIES. l%i remittances of money, which has of late been 30 and 40 per cent., and the id per cent, they pay on protefted bills, with 6 per cent, per an^ num till they are difcharged. If we add this, to the balance of trade they owe to Britain^ the two amount to their whole income. , If we dedudt this intereft of their debts, lofs of exchange, and protefted bills, from their income above-mentioned, their net income is but 900,000 /. a year ; which is the whole of what all the colonies in North America have to purchafe their necefiaries from Britain. This fum divided among three millions of people is but fix {hillings a head per an?jti?n. — Even if we allow their income to be a million and a half a year, it is but ten (hillings a head. Thus the colonies have to difcharge a debt of fix or feven millions j to pay an annual balance of nigh one million ; and to maintain three mil- hons of people, out of an income of a million and a half a year at moft, which is certainly impradticable. — If their whole income were to be appropriated to the payment of their debts alone, and they were to tike nothing either from Britain, or the f'Fefi Indie Sy it would not difcharge their debts, with intereft, in five y^ars. — It is commonly computed, that all tneir perfjnal eftates are not worth above fix millions ; that they would hardly pay their debts to Britain ; and that their current cafti would not pa ;hc intereli: of their debts alone for half a year. •—•How then dues it appear, " they can O o 2 " certainly ■MAm, I I 2S4 THESTATE ** certainly bear more, they ought to pay * more ?" as we are told by the author of the ate Regulations concerning the colonies. , If we allow thefe colonies to have ten (hillings ahc^d per awium to expend in Britain, it would not pu! chafe a fixth part of their neceflaries; and as their net income is but fix (hillings a head, it will not purchafe a tenth part of them. To fupply them with necefTaries from Britain, not to mention many other articles, would require at leaft three pounds a head, as appears from many particular eftimates. At this rate of 3 /. a head, three millions of people would fpend nine millions a year j but as their income is only a million and a half, the difference of feven millions and a half muft be looked upon as a national lofs j which we not only increafe, but render irreparable, by taxes, duties, confine- ment of their fetdements, &c. all which oblige them to fupply themfelves. By thefe proceed- ings we deprive the nation of fuch advantages, which might be reaped from the colonies, for the fake, or rather the impradicable attempt, of raifing 100,00c/., to maintain Cajiada and Florida. This bad ftate of the colonies is owing to three caufes ; the firil and chief is the wearing out of their lands, and great increafe of the peo- ple, who confume twice or thrice as much as they uk'd to do, while their lands do not pro- duce half as much, although that is the fource gf their whole fupporc. They now likewife require, to pay )r of the 1 {hillings it would ries; and 3 a head, m. To ain, not i require ars from te of 3 /. Id fpend le is only of feven pon as a afe, but confine- h oblige procecd- 'antages, lies, for attempt, ada and wing to wearing the peo- nuch as not pro- e fource like wife require, OF THE COLONIES. 285 require, for their own confumption, moft of the articles imported by their trade, which they ufed formerly to fell, and to make money by them, particularly Sugar, Now as thefe caufe^ are daily growing more prevalent, we may fee the neceffity of extending their fettlements, and improving their old plantations; without which this ftate of the colonies is never likely to be re- medied, but muft daily grow worfe. Their expences in the war have likewife invol- ved them in great part of this debt. It appears from the certificate of the commander in chief, that he had 20,000 provincial troops under his command, bcfides what they had in other fer- vices ; to pay thefe troops, they raifed about fix millions, and owe that fum to Britain. Hence they feem to have run in debt to Britain for all their expences in the war, and if they were to raife any more money, it could only be by the fame means, or by diminiihing their exports from Britain, In thefe circumftances it is imp jfTible, that they (hould have any money. The balance of trade they owe to Britain, would in one year drain them of all the money they have, were it five times more than it is — They have no way to get money but by a trade to the JVeJi Indies, the balance of which is againft them, fo that it is impollible to make money by it. By that trade they rather lofe than gain. — Hence in all thefe co- lonies you hardly meet with any thing but paper for money. This paper occafions a trade and cir- culation, it is true, butas the balance of that trade- is i '11 286 THE STATE I } is fo much agalnfl: them, it drains them of their current cafli, and leaves nothing but paper behind. Thus their trade and paper currency drain them of that money, which their agri- culture brings in. And when their cafh ia gone, fo that they have none to exchange their paper, it is no longer of any value, if it be not for an internal commerce among themfelves; this ruins their credit in Britain, and puts therr^ upon mapufadures. It is therefore more pre- judicial to the nation at home, than to the co- lonies, to drain them entirely of money, and to leave them no medium of trade with Britain, That only obliges them to make their own ne- ceffaries, inftead of purchafing them here ; and let any one judge, which is the greateft gainer by that alternative. They who imagine, that the colonies can have money, feem not to know what they arc, or fliould be. It is expeded, they (liould purchafe all their manufadures from Britaiity which alone is impolTible. If they were to purchafe one half of them, they could never have any money. The raw and unwrought materials, by which they fiiould purchafe their manufadures, if they could make them, are of fo much lefs value, that the one will never pay for the other. There are no people in the world who purchafe all their manufadures j or if they were to do it, they could never have money. The mere and unnjanufadured produce of lands will never purchafe manufadures. Suppole itg were :heni of ut paper :urrency sir agri- cafh ia ige their it be not mfelves ; uts then) lore pre- i the co- ley, and Britain, own iie- n here ; greateft nies can hat they y (liould BritaiHy were to lid never wrought lafe their n, are of lever pay he world )r if they : money. e of lands were I OF THE COLONIES. 2S7 were to make no manufadures in Britaitif how fliould we be fupplied with them ? It is by manufadures, that this nation gains its wealth ; and if you would have the colonies to get money, or pay taxes, they muft do the fame, and not only fupply themfelves, but vend their manufadures, in order to raife that o* ney ; which thefe proceedings will foon drive them to. Thus the very thought of raifing money in the colonies, is contrary to the firft principles of colonization, and to the intereftof Britain in them. It muft infallihiy make them her rivals both in trade and manufac- tures. But if this is the cafe of the moft fruitful countries, what can we everexpecft from North America! or fiom tiie produce of the poor and mean lands there, the gruiteft part of which will hardly yield the bare neceffaries of life ! What could any one ever exped: from a little Tobacco, Rice, Pitch and Tar, or Fifh, the chief produdls of North America, or any thing elfe it produces, to maintain two or three millions of people, and to raife money ! They who could exped this, muft be totally unac- quainted with the value of thefe commodities. If the colonies could purchafc half their necef- faries from J5r//^/«, it would bea veryr^nfiderable income, and worth four or five millions a year to Britain ; but on the lands they now polTefs, if they are confined to them, they will never be gblc to purchafc a fourth, if a tenth part of Xb^ necef- 288 THE STATE ■■> t. neceflarles they want. There are but two ways for any people to fubfift, to wit, by the pro- duce of lands, or of labour ; that is, by agricul- ture, or manufadures j and if they can make nothing by the firfl:, they muft necelTarily ap- ply to the other, which is the prefent ftate of the colon-es. They now confume the chief part of what their lands produce, and have no way to get manufadlures but by making them. — To thefe two refources many will add trade j but that can only be carried on in the produce of lands, or manufactures ; without which you lofe by trade, as the colonies do ; which will foon oblige them to trade in their own manu- fadures, if they depend on that, inftead of agriculture. The plenty which many perceive in the colonies proceeds from their land, and not from wealth i they are only rich in flocks and herds, like the Patriarchs of old, and not in money. If any may (hew a greater fign of opulence, it all proceeds from the labour of flaves ; who are fo chargeable, that they rather give their owners credit than wealth, till they are no longer able to pay their debts, which is their prefent condition. Hence they who go to the colonies, and fee figns of opulence in them, as they imagine, only deceive them- felves, and impofe upon the whole nation, when they pretend to be mighty well acquaints ed with them. two way* the pro- ' agricul- :an make rarily ap- tftate of ;he chief [ have no ng them, dd trade J ; produce hich you hich will n manu- [iftead of ; in the and not 3cks and d not in fign of abour of ly rather till they which i& who go ilence in e them- ; nation, icquaint^ t)f tHE COLONIES. 289 tJpon all thefe accounts, it mufl: appear to be abfolutely impradlicable ever to raife a re- Venue in the colonies, mjierling cajht in which they were to have paid their taxes. They pay their own taxes cither in ftaple commodities, or their paper currency j and no one can expe<5t to get money, where there is none. If they may have a little current cafh, it is not pro- perly theirs, but belongs to the Merchants of Britain y to whom it is due. This is a (lock of the nation in trade, left there by the Mer- chants, in order to improve it ; and to apply that to any other purpofe, is like a Merchant who lives upon his capital, inftead of improv- ing it by trade 3 which foon brings them both to an end. But if Britain thus ruins her trade, in order to tn2i\ni2im Jianding armies in time of peace, this muft become a very different nation from what it ever has been, or ceafe to be one. The advantages of the North American trade feem not to be confidered in a public light 5 their commodities are of fo fmall value, that they are very unprofitable either to make, or to trade in them, but they are on that account more profitable to the public ; if they are vile and cheap, it is becaufe they are grofs and bulky, by which they are fources of navigation, and fupport the maritime power of the nation* If you calculate the freight, commifllon, and charges, on the produfts of North America^ they amount to half their value ; which is all I gain to Britain^ but is fo much deduf^ed fromi P P the Ml >!' 290 THE STATE the income of the colonies. From a particular account of the whole trade oi North AmC' rica, too long to be here inferted, it appears, that the grofs proceeds, including freight and all charges, amount in value, to Britain^ to three millions a year, when the net proceeds to the Planters do not exceed a mil- lion and an half : And as thefe charges are all paid by the Planters, out of the firft produce of their commodities, this nation certainly does not enjoy any trade fo profitable as this — * If * we examine into the circumftances of the in- * habitants of our plantations, and our own,* fays a v'ery good judge *, * it will appear, that * not one fourth part of their produd: redounds * to their own profit.' Thus the colonies, which produce ftaplc commodities for Britm , are a much greater advantage to the nation than feems to be appre- hended. They pay, one with another, one half of all that they make, for tranfporting and vending the reft, which is all expended in Britain, By that means you get their all, and cannot poflibly have any more. Neither can it be expecfted, that any people can ever be worth money in fuch a fituation. Were they to have the profits only of tranfporting and vend- ing their own products, their income would be double of what it is j but as thefe are now all reaped by Britain, it is to rob the nation of its * Gee OP, Trade, p. 149. beft particular rtb Ame^ erted, it including value, to en the net sed a mil- ^es are all ft produce tainly does this— » If of the in- our own,* jpear, that t redounds uce ftaplc ch greater ) be appre- 3ther, one orting and pended in their all. Neither :an ever be 'ere they to and vend- e would be re now all ation of its beft OF THE COLONIES. 291 bcft income, to deprive it of this. This is the advantage of the colonies, and the tax which they pay for their protection j which muft appear to be a veiy confiderable one, as it amounts to one half of all that they make 5 and is much more advantageous to the nation than a petty revenue, which they cannot poflibly have money to pay, as that all centers in Britain, Befides this dedudion on their produds, and the heavy duties upon them, the colonies pay all the taxes of Britain on every thing they confume j as it is well known, all taxes fall on the confumers, whoever may firft pay them. Now, as thefe taxes on Britifl:) goods amount at leaft to 50 or 60 per cent.-, and the colonies pay fuch a great part of what they purchafe them with, is not this much more advantageous to the nation than a petty revenue ? Were they to pay 100,000/. in ta::es, they muft fupply themfelves with manufadlures to that value j this would eftablilh manufadures among them; the public would lofe the taxes and duties on thefe goods ; the Merchants their profits, and the nation the benefit of the trade and navigation ; which loffes would amount to twice or thrice as much as the tax. And this ^ofs would fall much heavier on the landed intereft than the mercantile ; the profits of the Merchants in the trade to North America are but fmall : they are r 'I'oned not to exceed lo per cent., but allowing them to be 25 per cent., the other 75 is expended on the manufadures of the P p 2 kingdom^ 292 THE STATE kingdom, and chiefly fuch as are made of Britip materials, which are all gain to tha land-owners. Let not the landed Gentlemen, therefore, expedt to relieve the burdens on their eftates, by taxes on the colonics; that is a certain way to entail their taxes on them and their pofterity for ever, and to render them unable to bear the burden. They muil ♦hen pay their taxes themfelves, inflead of having them paid by the colonies, who confume the produc'': of their lands, and employ their tradef-* men who are maintained on the land. But the greateft lofs that the nation would fuftain liy taxes on the colonies, feems not to be perceived, nor underftood. If we would have them to depend on Britain, they muft improve their lands in ftaple commodities that are wanted in Britain, which cannot be done without money; improvements on land re- quire time and expence to be brought to per* fedtion, which their needy circumftances will hardly admit of: they are and always have been fo poor, that they cannot afford to make thefe improvements, but inftead of them are obliged to fupply themfelves with the rewcfiaries of which they are in immediate want: where- fore, the taking of money from the colonies is to deprive the nation of all future hopes of receiving any benefit from them, and to oblige them to fupply themfelves independent ofBritainy whe- ther chey will or not. They likewife com- plain, that by fending their products to Bri- ■ ■' ' ' tain^ made of n to tho ntlemcn, s on their that is a hem and 3cr them nuil ♦hen •f having fume the :ir tradef^ Dn would ms not to VQ would :hey muft iities that t be done land re- It to per* ances will vays have J to make them are newelTaries t: where- ionies is to f receiving e them to '«/«, whe- vile com- ts to Bri- OF THE COLONIES. 293 tain, their property is in the hands of others ; and if the reft of their property is liable to be. taken from them, it will make them more averfc to have any dealings in Britain, or to improve their lands for her benefit ; and will put them upon fupplying themfelves, as the very at- tempt, with their neceflitous circumftances, have already done. « We would therefore « humbly recommend it to fuch gentlemen as < are guardians of the trade of the nation,' fays Mr. Gee above, * that our own intereft is not * miftaken for that of the planters* inftead of taking money from them, he, who was a very good judge, thinks it neceffary to lend them money, to improve their plantations for the benefit of Britain : •* The bufmefs is, fays he, «* to regulate all thofe undertakings, and to ♦* fend proper perfons to diredt them, and mo- «' ney to fupport them, which I think needs «* not be a great deal ; however, what is ex- <* pended on this occafion would be only a " little raifed by the nation, which would, I «' believe, in a (hort time be abundantly re- «« paid, and be the beft harveft that ever the " nation reaped} and I hope all thofe good «* things will be efFeded by our prefent moft *' gracious King and his Parliament *." With- out fuch improvements on their lands, which it was our chief defign to poir>t out, it will be impoflible for them to purchafe a tenth part of their manufactures from Britain, t:. * G^* on Trade, p. 2(i* From I 294 THE STATE From all thefe confiderations it muft appear, that the raifing of money in North America is abfolutcly impracflicable, as they neither have nor can have any ; which has, moreover, been confirmed by fuch undeniable evidence, that it can admit of no doubt. It muft likewifc ap- pear, that the taking of money from the co- lonies there would be as prejudicial to the in- tereft of Britain^ as it is impradicable. Were they voluntarily to fend money to Britain^ fhe ought to reprimand them for it, if fhe confulted her own intereft, and make them lay it out upon the improving of their lands for her bene- fit ; which would not only turn to ten times more account, but is abfolutcly neceifary to preferve their connedion, correfpondence and depend- ence on Britain, This muft certainly appear to all who will be at the pains to confider the condition and circumftances of thefe colonies, if not within themfelves, at leaft with regard to the intereft oi Great Britain in them. But in all the accounts and debates we have had on this fubje6l, numerous and fanguine as they have been, we have never once had the leaft account of their condition and circumftances, on which the whole merits of the caufe depend. Before we lay taxes on any people, it would ap- pear to be reafonable, that we fhould know their circumftances and abilities to pay them ; and before we make any regulations in trade, it is as proper, that we ftiould know the ftatc of that trade -, neither of which feem to have beeu appear, n eric a is ler have ;r, been , that it ivifc ap- the co- the in- Were ain, fhe onfulted y it out er bene- les more preferve depend- ^ appear fider the :olonies, 1 regard 1. But had on as they he leaft iftances, depend. Duld ap- 1 know them ; trade, it flatc of have beeu OF THE COLONIES. 295 been known or confidered *. It is only taken for granted ; '* of their ability there neither was nor is eny reafon to doubt -f ;" but how juft that is, will appear from the foregoing account of their circumftances, which may be eafily perceived by any one, by looking into the Cuftom-houfe accompts. If they might be able to pay a little Tobacco, Rice, Pitch and Tac , or Fi(h, and make their own cloathing for them, inflead of purchafing it from Britain with thefe commodities, it is certain, they are not able to raife jlcrling cajh at 5 s. 6 d. per ounce^ in which they were to have paid their taxes. It is not in the nature of things, that thefe colonies or any people on earth fhould be worth money, where they make fo little by their agriculture ; while they have no manu- fadlures, and the balance of trade againft them * Ail that we have met with on this fubjeft is, " the colonicG in North America^ near two millions of Briti/h fubjeflis, an opulent^ commercial, thriving people, and who have been enabled by the patronage of their mother coun- try to extend their trade and their cultivation over thatj^r- iile continent^ fupported by her wealth, prote(5ted by her power, and bleiled with her laws, &c." Regulations of the colonies, p. 57.— T'o which is added in the Confiderations on the trade and finances of this kingdom, *' their Teas are from all thefe caufes thronged with fhips, and their rivers floating with commerce :" But in all this we can fee no- thing but wards for things ; which is certainly a very im- proper way to regulate fuch important concerns, on which fo many millions have been expended, and to determine the future ruin or profperity of the whole nation. No one would care to fee thefe determined by a — f^ox ^ f.nsterea nihil, f The conduft of the laieminiftry examined, p. 12. 7* IS ' ''^ Hi :'lv 2<)6 THE STATE i§, fo great. Thefe are the only fources citficf ol* wealth or fubfiftence, of which they have? neitlier, that turns to any account. But we arc told, *• they do not plead po- verty, but privilege J :*' what their plea was, we know not, fince we have neither feen their remonftrances againft the ftamp-adt, before it paiTed, nor their petitions againft it, after it was paffcd J but this we know for certain, and it may be feen by many letters from the colonies, that their great objedion againft internal taxes was, the being taxed by thofe who were unac- quainted with their condition and circumftan- ces, arid the proper ways of levying fuch taxes among them, or the confequences of them * } but as this was not regarded, it put them upon making the plea of privilege. Be- % Id. ibid. p. 1 24. * From this we may fee the diiFerence between internal and external taxes, which many fay they cannot compre- hend. Every one may know the external trade of a coun- try, and the confequences of laying duties upon it, when they may be totally unacquainted with the internal circum- ftances and ftate of the country. Thus every one knows, that the colonies trade in Rum, Sugar and Molafles ; but no one feems to know what they make by them, or that they lofe money by them, and muft therefore be unable to pay any on fuch a lofing trade. — By duties on an external trade you raife the price of goods, which people are not obliged to buy, if they eannot aftbrd it, or do not like the price i which is certainly very different from obliging them to pay Jierling cajh^ by internal taxes, when they have none. :ces citlicf they have? plead po-' plea was, feen their before it ifter it was n, and it : colonies, rnal taxes ere unac-" cumftan- ing fuch jences of d, it put ;ge. Be- fen internal lot compre- 5 of a court- an it, when rnal circum- one knows, ;)]afles ; but ;m, or that )e unable to an external pic are not not like the liging them 1 they have fides I OF tHE COLONIES. 297 fides this, it is well khown, their conflant plea was, that the propofed taxes and regulations would be highly detrimental to the intereft of their mother country : and if they had made neither of thefe pleas^ they who were con- cerned for the intereft of the nation, either at home or abroad, p^ould have made both for them ', which would certainly have been much more expedient and prudent^ than to have forced them to make the plea they did, lince no other would be heard. But it is urged, * the whole fum expe<5led to * be raifed by the ftamp-duty was 100,000/. a * year j the repartition of this upon i, 5*00,000 * people, at which the lov/cft computation efti- * mates the prcfent inhabitants of that country, * would not draw from each perfon more than * half the value of a days labor in America -f-.* This price of labor in North America is made by every one a certain mark, they imagine, of the opulent circumftances of the people ; but this appears to be as little underftood, as every thing elfe relating to the colonies, and is not a tenth part of what this author and all others feem to imagine *. But + Id. ihifi p. 123. * We are told by the Author of //j* Re<:u'Uitions^ p. 61, ** they can earn thiee fliillings and fix-pence perdie/ihy *' their Agriculture ;" to wit, by making I'ubacco at a penny a pound, or Corn at two or three fhillinjs a buflid, and that in a foil .tnd climate which are unfit to produce either j by which, it ib certain, they do not earn as many pence a ' Q.'l ' day. h u = 1. M'> 298 THE STATE But if their circumftances are bad, it is al- leJged, * England has even furniflied them * with day. There are 600,000 labourers in North Jmerc'ia, who make by all their employments 1,500,000 /.a year, which is but 50J, a head per annum, and not two-pence a day. In the Tobacco colonies they make more by their Agriculture than in any others, and although they aie or have been all employed in it, yet 800,000 people make but about 300,000 /. a year by their Tobacco, which is but 75. td. a head per annum 3 and not above 10 or 12 j., including all the other branches of their Agriculture. The labourers, who are about a fifth or fixth part, make about 50^ a hezdper annum, or 3 /. at m< ft, which is but two-ptnce a day j and that appears to' be the value of labour on plantations in North jiinerka. They who eftimate the price of labour in the colonies, by the day, do not know what their labour is, and muc^ lefs the value of it. There is no fuch thing as day-labourers on plantations, and it is inconfiflent with the defign of them, to admit of any. Bay-labourers are only to be found in populous and well-improved countries, where they have a variety of employments which afford them a daily fubfifl- encej but as nothing will do that without manufaftures, they who would eflimate the price of labour in the colonies, by the day, muft of courfeadmitof manufadures. But on plantations every one is employed by the year, in order to make a Crop, which lafts for a twelvemonth. Now, the wages of fuch labourers are four or five pounds a year for men, and forty (hillings for women, who are the chief manufacturers ; this brings the price of labour at a medium to 3 /. a year, which is but two-pence a day, for every day in the year. Thedearnefsof day-labour in the colonies proceeds from two caufcs ; fix{\, the labourers vvho are thus employed by the ^ear, in order to make a crop of ibple commodities for Britain, and their provifions with it, may lofe their whole crop by neglecting it for a few days, and cannot fpare a day's work without loling ten times as much asit is worth, , It is ai- led them * with fmercia, who year, which e a day. In Agriculture ' have been e but about 3ut ys. bd. a udingall the ers, who are d per annum, f i and that 3ns in North ; colonies, by tid muc^ lefs ■labourers on ign of them» be found in : they have a daily fubfift- lanufaftures, the colonies, es. But on , in order to Now, the ds a year for ire the chief at a medium for every day roceeds from js employed commodities ay lofe their and canncc nmch as it is worth, OF THE COLONIES. 299 ' with refources to raife the revenue (he has * required; the bounties given to them on two * or three articles alone would enable them to * fupport worth, and perhaps t'leir whole year's fubfiftence ; which Js the true caufc of the dearnefs of day-labor in the plantations. Secondly, if there are any common lafonrers to be found, who are not engaged by the year, as there feldom are, they cannot find em^doyment for above a few days in a month perhaps ; and for that reafon, they miift have as much for two or three days worlc, as will maintain them for as manv weeks; but at the year's end they have not perhaps earned tv/o-pence a day, for all the wages they may get, which is generally a fhilling a day, meaning always Jierllng ca/lj. Thus the day-labourers of the colonies, if t'^ere are any, are only the vagrants, and not the labourers, of :he country; whoflroH from place to place without houfe or home, are cloathed in rags, and have not bare neceflaries, nolwith- ftanding the fuppofed high price of their labour. About populous towns the cafe is very different, and labour much dearer ; they do not there make the neceflaries of life, which enhances the price of labour ; they have like- wife a variety of employments, and a demand for labourers, who are employed on plantations in the country, and by that means are fcarce and dear. Thus we are not to efti- mate the price of labour from a few towns, as Bojioti, Neiv- Torky or Philadelphia, which we only hear of in Britain. Thefe are not plantations, but trading or manufafluring towns, which Jha'l not he inhabited "without Tradefmen and Artificers, fays the wife man ; whofe labour is f^ill dearer, becaufe Artifts are fcarce, and have not conftant employ- jnenf-, and fo much the better for Britain. It is for thefe and the like reafons, that the common opi- nions received and propagated in Britain, concerning the colonies, are no more than fo many vulgar errors, of which we have a lift that might make a volume; and particularly with regard to the foil, climate, agriculture, ftaple commo- dities, their trade, labour, and manufacburc^, the great t^QTi" cerns of the nation. By thefe means mcft people here feem not to know their own intereft in the cole os, and miftake Q,q 2 the m iM'll m l,:,. :\.- i i ' «-. I^Rm -? 4 s 300 THE STATE • fupport fhc new impofitions ^ which arc cftimated at a million a year -f- ! The boun- ties here meant are thole upon Hemp, Flax, and the one for the other. But they inuft certainly have good reafon to befatisfied, that al! the regulations, here mention- ed, are dire£Hy contrary to the intereft of Britain ; and that the colonies and all others have ihewn afincere zeal for the welfare of this nation in oppofing them, if they have been expofed to blame and cenfure for their pains. Among other things it is alledged, that the colonies can- not make manufaflures, on account of the dearnefs of labour ; v^^hen two-thirds or three-fourths of the people are clothed with manufactures of their own making ; which arc fo far* from being dear, that they coft little or nothing, but induftry, as we know by experience. They make them for their own ufe, and as thefe are fo much better than what are made for fale, it is an inducement for every one almoft to make them, as we have found with many others by experience. And if labour is now dear, manufa6ture.«j will make it cheap, by afrording conftant and daily em- ployment for labourers ; and fupplying them with clothing at a cheaper rate than they can have it from Britain^ which now comes dear to the poor \n America^ by pafEng through fo many hands before ^he confumers get it, and thereby enhances the price of their labour. But fiy the authors of our regulations concerning the colonies, they fiiall not eftablifh public manufadlories for fale J which we were at firft apt to believe would be con- trary to the interell of Rri'.ain, and for that reafon it is pro- pofed to lay an account of fuch manufaiftures before the public ; but upon confidering thefe things more carefully, we have the misfortune to differ from many about them, when we intend the fame thing. A itw people employed in manufaflures, would m ike as many as they all do, and the reft might be employed in cultivating their lands fpr Britain ; but fo long as tiie planters and others are all con- *»#»rnpd in rnnkincT their nwn mnnnfaAiirpQ- thptr nnt r»nlir _j _ J , ^ fupply • Id. ibid. i Cpnfiderations, p. 70. OF THE COLONIES. 301 and Timber, which were the great arguments for palliating the late regulations and taxes, but they have proved as ineffe(ftual as all others. fupply themfelves, but cut off all fupplies from the nation at home j which is the great caufe of the few returns they rnake, and confequently increafes their manufadures. There appears to be no way to prevent this ftate, into which the colonies have and muft fall, but by a number and va- riety of employments in planting, or making or ftaple comipodities fof Britain^ in order to purchafe their necefla- ries from hence, as is above propofed j^ that would reduce the wages of common or day-labourers for fuch employ- ments, inftead of manufaiSures, which they will otherwife make much cheaper than we can in Britain. The price of labor is always in proportion to the neceffaries of life, which their plenty of land renders cheap, and confequently labor; but here, where lands are fo fcarce, and the necef- faries of life fo dear, both labor and manufadlures are much dearer than in the colonies, when they are once acquainted with the way of making them. It is for this reafon, that we have been at this pains to compare the agriculture, la- bor and manufactures of both, as all the great and import- ant concerns of the nation depend on thefe refources. For thefe reafons we may be afiured, that the colonies fnuft have manufadures, and a trade in them, when they grow populous, unlefs that is prevented by the means above propofed. It is indeed here infmuated, that the number of people in them is but 1,500,000; but we would not have any one be pofitive about that ; the exaft num- ber of people in any country is indeed uncertain, but we may be well aflbred, it is much greater in the colonies, than the computations make it, for the reafons above given : and as foon as they eftablifli manufadlures, and have that refource of fubfifting, with their agriculture, they will incftafe fafler than they have hitherto done ; fo that for this reaion, as well as others, we ought to confider in time, how they are to fubfift by a dependence on Bri- tQirit \ ,f II;- ' ' ■ (., Timber 302 THE STATE L22gL_- Timber will not bear the charge of tranfporta- tion from North America^ and it is not certain, whether they could get it at the price it muft fell for there, to allow any profits on bringing it to Britain ; and if they make Hemp or Flax, it is only a linle for their own maiiufadtures, which will not furnifli them with Jierling cajh to pay taxes ; unlefs they vend their manufac- tures, which fuch an impolition muft have forced them to do *. It muft indeed be * This argument is ftlll farther urged, in the Conftdera- tions on the Trade of this Kingdom, p. 75, as a refource for enabling the colonies ' to pay their debt to this country ; * but the new duties are reprefented as depriving them of * the means of difcharging it : this complaint would bejuft' (as it certainly is) * if a revenue had been exafted from them « without furnifhing them with refources for raifing itj but * the peace, and the meafurei taken Jince for improving the * advantages ofit^ have done much more; for it would be * rating the ceffions made by France very low indeed, if « they were not altogether rated to the Americans alone, at * a fum much larger than the revenue expected from them.* But they tell us in the colonies thenifelves, where they ihould know beft, * our trade upon the whole has not been « benefited by our acquifitions one groat.' Otis' Rights of the Britijh cohnies, p. 64. On the contrary, thefe acquifi- tions mull interfere with the colonies, and deprive *hem of thofe refources, which it is alledged they will give. As for the meafures taken for improving the advantages of the peace, they are fo far frorh that, that they have de- prived the whole nation of the advantages, which might otherwife be reaped from it. We c?-^ expert no advantages from the peace, but by cultivating cne territories of the Ohio and Mijfifppi', from which we are excluded by thefe mea- fures; the worft part of them all, which feems not to be known, nor underftood ; and which for that reafon wc have been at fuch pains likewife to explain. OW ned. OF THE COLONIES. 303 owned, that the granting of this bounty was a very juft and commendable meafure, and in- tended for the benefit of the nation, as we be- lieve all the reft were thought to be ; but the misfortune is, this with all the others are more likely to prove a lofs and detriment, than any benefit either to Great Britairiy or the colonies. The bounty is a lofs to Britain, as we have fhewn, and only raifes the price of Hemp and Flax on them 5 which although it may be thought fome advantage to Britain in the other colonies, yet in New-England it is a difadvan- tage ; it obftrudts their trade and fifhery, the only fources of their remittances, which they will never make in Hemp or Flax j they want thefe for fifhing tackle, fail-cloth and cordage, and are obliged to buy great quantities for thefe ufes, which are for the fervice of Britain, Un- lefs they do this, they muft manufad:ure their Hemp and Flax. Thefe miftakes in the true intereft oi Britain proceed from the want of due knowledge of the foil and climate of North America^ and the ftate of agriculture in it, on which the whole intereft of the nation in the colonies depends ; and which we have for that reafon been at this pains to explain, however imperfedly that could be done in fuch a general viev/ of all thefe fundamental concerns of the nation. It is for want of a due knowledge of thefe, that fo many errors and miftakes are committed, and lo many difcording opinions are daily pro- pagated, that nothing, however untrue, can be 2 advanced ■ 1 I i 1; .; '"*^ 304 tHESTATE advanced concerning the colonic^, but it is ac-^ fended through ignorance, which is the cloak of all thefe regulations. It is for this reafon, that no one feems to know either the ftatc and circumftances of the colonies, or what refources are, or may be, proper to recruit their circum- ftances ; but on the contrary, take their lofles to be refourccs, and the very obftacles to the true intereft of the whole nation both at home and abroad, to be the means of promoting it ; of which we have the moft flagrant inftances in the late regulations *. Belides * Of this there are fo many inftances, that to relate them all, would make a volume. We need only refer to a colle6lion of thefe erroneous opinions, in the regulations lately made concerning the 'oloniesi which we have examined with the greateft care, ajid can fafely fay, we hardly find on" facSl of any confequence in the whole that is true, nor a fingle argument that is juft and conclufive. For this reafon thefe regulations no fooner appeared, than they were exclaimed againft by all concerned with them ; and were called mere exaggerations offancy^ the epithet given to them in the writings of the colonies. How then can we expedt, that any people will be fubmiffive to orders, on which every one put this conftrudion ? It is indeed given out, that thefe regulations were in- tended for the benefit of Britain j and as thefe colonies are at fuch a diftance, and fo little known, many know no better j and it is an eafy matter to make people believe what they are told is for their interell, when they do not know the contrary ; for which reaion we are at this pains to undeceive them. This may be eafily done, from a bare mention of thefe regulations ; which were Intended, I. To confine the colonies to their prcfent bounds, and to cut them cif tf oin all the more truittul parts of that con«- tinent, OF THE COLONIES. 305 Befides thefe pretended refources, it is ailed* ged, * the increafe of the cftablifliments there * furniOies tlnent, which would oroduce any thing for Britain^ or en- able the colonies to make remittances to her. II. To lay duties on many of the goods they have from Britain^ which fo enhanced their price, that the merchants CQu]d not deal in them j and at any rate fuch duties could only be an additional premium on the nianufadures of the colonies, which is already very great, from the dearnefs of Brttijh goods. Ilfi To reldrain their trade, which is already fo limited, that it will not maintain a tenth part of the people j and to lay new impofitions on that trade, by which they are already lofers, although many of the colonies have no other fource of remittances to Britain. IV. To levy money upon them, when they have none, even to pay their debts in Britain ; and to lay taxes on them, when they cannot even purchafe the abfolute necef- faries they want from Briiaiiu V. The duties laid upon goods were to have been paid by the merchants, who were to colled them, as they could, in the woods of America-y which was fo impradticable, that many of the merchants refufed to fend the goods commiffi- oned from them, and wrote to their correfpondents not to com- miflion any more j of which they gave fufficient teftimony. The refult and drifc therefore of all thefe regula- tions, and of the oppofition which the colonies have fliewn to them, are, whether fhall they purchafe their manufac- tures and oiher neceflaries fronj Great Britain^ go without them, or make them for themfelves ; which is a matter of no fmall confequence to this nation, if we confider the number of people in the colonies, and their daily increafe ; and muft concern the nation at home, much more than the colonies themfelves. The true intereft of both indeed is mutual and infeparable, and you cannot hurt the colonies without doing double damage to Great Britain ; notwith - ftanding the authors of thefe regulations and others would make them a feparate interelt, that the burdens which they R r would 3o6 T H E S T A T E * furniflies thcni with another fund, which * alone would more than balance the account ||.' But, would lay upon the colonies, for the Aipporting of their acquifuion:, may not be thought to fall on Great Britain^ as they have done with a double lofs. It is this that feta the colonies and their mother country at variance, to the lofs and detriment of both. Yet notwithftandint: all thefe regulations have beerv ex- ploded and repe.led, they are ftill defended j and we are told, in theCcndu^ cf the la'e miri'Jlry^ who exerted them- felves fo glorioufly in that fervice of their country, ' the ' pnncipiei and the intentions of the ftamp-adl, however they * might be treated in America^ deferve the approbation of * every inhabitant of Great Britain.* As for the principles on which tfiat adl was founded, they are well known to have been only a piece of chicanery; by wh.oh it is pre- tended, that the colonies are no other than corporations m England. Were they in England^ it is true, they would be upon the fame footing with the corporations herej but as they are at the diftanceof 30C0 miles, the difference be- tween them muft be as wide as that diftance. — The mem- bers of corporations here ad in a double capacity, they are both freemen of boroughs or counties, and members of their particular corporations ; by which they are entitled to and enjoy all the privileges of other Britijh fubjefts, and the ad' vantages of their corporations likewlfe; whereas the inha- bitants of the colonies enjoy neither of thefe privileges. The one may be both eleftors of reprefentatives in Parlia- n)f~it, and eledted, as they generally are; when the other can be neither. To put them therefore on the fame foot- ing, which was the princlfle of the (tamp-aft, and the only one on which it was founded, is an argjnient only fit for fome attorney tc advance in a court of NiJJ prius, and not to determine the rights of mankind, or privileges of Britijh fubjeits. — rhefe their undoubted privileges the -inhabitants of the colonies derive from their Birthright^ as Englijh- mcn i but it was the principle of the ftamp-ad to deprive \ Id. I hid. them OF THE COLONIES. 307 But, alas ! we fear, thcfe will rather put the balance on the wrong fide, and prove u preju- dicer them of thofe privileges, to which Nature herfclf, as well as the laws of the land, entitle them,— It is this happy conftitution, which the colonies derive from their mother country, that attaches them to her, an^ makes them wil- lingly and chearfully fubmitto that aufpicious government; but it was the principle of the ftamp-ad, to deprive them of their conftitution and form of government, and their mother country of that certain pledge and fecurity for their fidelity and allegiance. Befides this firft principle of right, there is another of juftice and equity, which the votaries of this aft feem never to have underftood, or at Icaft to nave regarded. The in- habitants of the colonies do not fo mucli as efijo/ the be- nefit and profits of their own labor j we are told above, by one of the befl judges we have had, " that not one-fourth ** part of their produce redounds to their own profit i" all the reft is reaped by the inhabitants of Britain^ who enjoy the profits both of theirown labor and induflry, and of the colonies likewife : To put them therefore on the fame foot- ing, and to make them pay taxes, is as contrary to reafon and juftice, as to their natural rights, and found policy. Before they can pay taxes, they muft reap all the profits of their own labor ; which is the certain way to deprive Great Britain of the advantages (he does and may receive from them. But if the inhabitants of Great Britain thus enjoy the profits of the labor of the people in the colonies, what can any juft and reafonable man think of the firft inipofing taxes on the laft, in order to relieve themfelves? — Such a mode of taxation is contrary to they?r// principles of liberty, and we meet with no inftances of it in any part of the world i all people are taxed either by themfelves, or their fovereign, and not by their fellow- fubjedb, to relieve them- felves. — This feems to be a power too great for mankind to be entruited with. R r 2 Wei« I'll? 1/ 308 THESTATE dice to the colonies, as v/cU as to Grc^t Eri^ tain, Thefe eflablilhmcnts are in Canada^ Nova- Were any of the fubje£ls cf Great Britain to fubmit to Aich a power, which is commonly ex'-cifed by a minifter-, they would only be fit tools to make flaves of all the reft. Thus the colonies, by defending their own, preferve the liberty of their mother country. The ftamp-auft was at- tended with general warrants, confinemcn: of members^ feizure of their papers, &c. as fubverfive of liberty at home, as abroad. — Such a power would be ftill 'c prejudicial to the inhabitants oi Great Britain, as it d only ferve to deprive them of the advantages which th / now receive from the labor of the people in the colonies ; by excrcifing fuch a power, the inhabitants of Great Britain would only rob themfelVes of their beft income, in order to render the colonies independent of them. They are now, and have always reckoned themfelves, one and the fame people; but it was the principle of the ftamp-adt, to divide them; deprive an Englifhman of the right of being taxed by jeprefentatives of his own choofing, he ceafes to be one, and will never reckon himfclf a member of the com- munity ; but if you will not allow them to be Englijh' TTeri, confider in time, what they are to be.— It was by depriving the people of their liberties and privileges, that Flandirs coft Spain three hundred millions of money, for no other purpofe but to lofe it at laft; and take care, that Britain does not fuftain the like lofs from North yimerica ; which will certainly be the cafe, fooner or later, if you de- prive the people of their liberties and privileges; whereas by letting them enjoy thefe their natural rights, you may reap all the benefits of them without any thing ir.ore to do, and have that for the moft certain pledge of their allegiance and dependence. Thus the ftamp-a^ was founded on principles, as ruinous to this nation, as the intentions of it appear to be. It was intended for no other purpofe, but to fupport thofe dcferts of Canada and Fhrida, which the authors and votaries of this ad would call valushls acg.ui/itions, becauftf they ga^e up fo many real and valuable acquiuiions for thcfei OF THE COLONIES. 309 Nova- Scotia t Georgia, Eajl and Weft Florida, with which the colonies have nothing to do. All that they can exped from tivfe new kt- tlements is, to intciicre with them, and cut off fo much of their rcfources in remittances to Britain, which muft prove equally prejudicial to both. thefe; which put the nation l all thefe expence?, and can- not fo much as defray their ovn charges. Unicfs they arc maintained at a public cxpence, Canada could not fubfift, and Florida would have no people in it ; but as thefe are all we have got for 80 millions of money, and for all the glorious fuccefles of the war, they muft be fupported, whe- ther they are worthy of it or not. But it is no doubt a very great hardftiip on Britain, to be at fuch a charge, without any manner of profit ; and for that reafon, it muft |)e thrown upon the colonies, right or wrong; whether they are able to bear it or not, and however ruinous it may be to the nation. For this reafon, the colonies muft be looked upon as a feparate intereft from their mother coun- try, left this burden fhould be thought to fall upon her; as it not only has done, but would have been attended with a double lofs to her, if it had been laid upon the colonies. This was the intention of the ftamp adl, and of all the re- gulations made with it ; which wer'. intended to make thefc appear to be valuable, and profitable acquifitions, contrary to nature itfelf. That is as impracticable, as the execution of the ftamp-a£l. Since the one therefore has been repeal- ed, and the meJlns of fupporting thefe deferts are found in- eftedlual, why (hould the nation be burdened with them ? There could not be a more eff^eftual way to ruin the inte- reft of Great Britain in North America^ as we have fhewn, 'J "he colonies therefore, in oppofing that aft, and the re- gulations made with it, have confulted the true inteicft of their mother country; and have only oppofed meafures, which were as unjult and imprafticable, as ruinous to the whole nation, Hencp /iff <( C( 310 THE STATE Hence it is a very fallacious argument to fay, " the expenditure was reftrained to that couri" try * j" becaufe it was ordered, that « all the produce of the American duties fhould be paid to the deputy pay-mafter in Ame- ricdy to defraythe fubfiftence of the troops || :" for thefe troops were kept in the new govern- ments or acquifitions here mentioned, Canada, Nova- Scotia, and Florida, and not in the co- lonies which were to have paid this money for their fubfiftence. All the money therefore j-aifed in the colonies, mull: have been drawn out of them, and fent to thefe hopeful acqui- fitions, for their lupport, and not for any benefit or advantage to that country, in which it was to have been paid. The money was to have been raifed by our feveral colonies from New-England to South Carolina, which are many hundred miles from thofe in which it is expended j fa that the colonies get as little by all thefe ex- pences which the nation is put to, as their mo- ther country. Hence they muft infallibly have been drained of their fpecie, in a year or two at moft, and to fuch a degree, that it muft have ruined their credit, depreciated their pa- per currency, and would have left them with^ out any medium of trade with Britain, to her very great lofs and detriment, as is above (hewn. It was piopofed to have raifed 100,000/. annually by the ftamps, and nigh as • The ConfiJerations, p. 74, much 'A.M OF THE COLONIES. 3it fwuch more by the cuftoms and duties on their trade, there and here together, which appears, by all accounts, to be as much money as is in all the North Ameruan colonies * 5 this they were .:: ^! * How much money may be in the colonies^ we believe 19 difficult to determine for certain j but we have known many computations made of it, on account of their paper currencies, both by the officers of the revenue who colleded it, and by the merchants to whom it was due ; who all agreed, that in the mod opulent colonies, and in their mofl flouriftiing circumftances, it never exceeded 80,000/. or 100,000 /. at moft : This was reckoned to be a fourth or fifth part of all the money on that continent, and it is now! well known not to be a third or fourth part of what it was then i infomuch that nothing hardly is to be met with but a paper currency, even in the colonies which never before had any, as Virginia^ which has a better flaple than any of the refl: to purchafe money. Their money is all fent to Britain, as faft as they can get any ; they either owe it here, or lodge it here, in order to purchafe negroes, whenever they can fave as much as will buy one. The money'd men in the colonies do not even keep their money there, but here, by which they could have gained 30 or /^oper cent,, at the time thefe regulations were made ; wherefore, if you would have coWe^ed Jier^ ^ig cajh from them, it (hould have been here in England^ where all they have is generally to be found. It is lodged here, to be laid out in negroes, in order to keep up and en- large their plantations of ftaple commodities for Britain^ oft which her intereft in the colonies entirely depends : This is the lad end of all the money in the colonies, which is all remitted to Britain, and for her benefit in the planta- tions. It is well known, that the African merchants will take none of the produiSls of the country for negroes, and nothing but money, or bills which are more valuable; fa that to drain them of money, by which alone they can pur- s:£u wuikt«a-.v th A — U- of 312 THE STATE fo fenfible of, that although we are told herev they did not plead poverty but privilege, yet it is well of Britain^ or have a medium of trade with her, muft bcperfeaiy ruinous to this nation. Now if this had bcea done for the falce of Canada and Florida, what can any one think of fuch acquifitiom, as the" are called ! or of fuch regulations made to fupport thefe . ;ferts, to the ruin of the intereft of the nation in all her other colonies I They who are in the Feaft acquainted with the colonies, muft have feen, that it was impoffible for them to have money, when thefe taxes were impofed upon them. Their money is imported by the northern colonies, who fend it to the fouthern for bills on Britain, which they give on their ftaf^le commodities, of which the northern colonies have none j but in the time of the war they !oft great part of their commodities, and could give no bills upon them : The money likewife was drawn out of the fouthern colo- nies, in order to pay the troops in the northern ; by which the firft are quite drained of fpecie ; and as the laft have no commodities to fend to Britain, they were obliged to remit their cafli i by which means they both loft their money, and have not as much left as vvill ferve for a medium of trade, which is complained of by all the Britijh merchants concerned with them. In making thefe remittances to Britain, the colonies loft a third part of their money by the exchange, which was from 30 to 40 per cent, againft them, particularly in Firg$-^ nia. This was occafioned by their debts in Britain, and the great demand for bills, which were granted to Britijh Merchants; for that reafon they lemitied cafl), and now when that is all gone, the exchange within this twelvemonth has "^allen 40 per cen!.; which is a iure fign, they have no money left to purchafc bills, when they ftiil have fuch a demand for them to pay their debts in Britain. — Their money is fo fcarce, that in Virginia, which is reckoned to be the richeft, they had npt as much as would difcharge their paper currency, whjm It became d\i^; but were obliged to keep it current to ferve fer a medium of trade, or rather of an internal commerce, V/e « w^ym m Id herev yet it h well her, muft had beea n anyone ir of fuch uin of the colonies, I to have n. Their ho fend it give on colonies at part of >n them : lern colo- by which I have no J to remit r money, ledium of nerchants onies loft hich was in Firg^ Britain, granted lemiticd excharii^c ; whicF) purchase m to pay J, that in they had cy, vvh;:n t to ferve xjiiriercc. We that the whole body of tnerchants concerned in the trade to the colo- nies, ufed their utmoft endeavours to have that adt, with the regulations attending it, repealed^ which was accordingly done, by thofe who deferve the thanks and applaufe of the whole nation for what they did, notwithftanding the invidious cenfure thrown upon them for their pains, which is as unjuft, as every thing clfe that is faid againft thofe tranfa(5tions *. The * We are told irt the ConduSf of the late mlnijiry, p. 1 1 ?, a regular fociety of American merchants in London^ was formed for this among other purpofes— and the counfels of the kingdom were guided, by the temporary and par- ** tial views of a junto of interefted traders held at a ta- ** vern." This fociety was formed by a general meeting of all the merchants trading to North America ; who, after taking into confideration the flate of their trade, and fitu- ation of iheir affairs, thou&ht it neceflary to appoint a com- mittee of their number, in order to reprefcnt themj they S r accoidinj^ly (C 'i ■ ■:: 1': ■ ii- I ¥■ 314 THE STATE The plaufible pretence indeed that is ufcd for all thefe meafures, is, that «' this cxpence ** is neceffary for their own defence and pro- ** tedion f i" and as that opinion has fo gene- accordingly met a* that tavern, where the general meeting was held, and which is the ufual place of meeting for the whole body of merchants concerned, either in the trade to North America, or the Wejl-lndies. This was as regular and ufual a way of tranfading all bufinefs of this kind, as it K a proper one. Many other.fuch locietics were formed in all the principal towns in the icingdom, who fent fome of the moft confiderable and refpedable of their body, to aft jn conjunaion witii the merchants of London, in order to get thefe, rumous ads and regulations repealed. Such a general reprefentation of the merchants of Great Britain does not, furely, deferve the name of a Junto. It IS only from fuch information, that even the people concerned in it can know the genera: ftate of fuch an ex- tenfive trade J and if others had been influenced by fuch in- formation. It would have been better for them, and the whole nation. They found, among other things, that the JS/ottbjfwencancolonlcs owed upwards of five millions of mo- ney to Great Britain ; which alone, confidering their circum- ftances, mufl appear to every impartial judge, not to deferve the name of a temporary and partial view, but that ferious regard which the legiflature thought fit to pay to that, and many other important concerns reprefented at the fame time ; on which the ** permanent and extenfive commercial intertfts" of this nation depend j although we are here told, ** the counfels of the kingdom were not guided by " fuch conliderations." ' Thefe things we mention, as this is a proper lefTon for others to take fuch information and advice concerning the affairs of the nation in America, which appear to be fo JittJe known, or underftood ; and as the ftamp-ad was repealed upon fuch good advice and information, it mull fatisfy every unprejudiced perfon of the propriety of that mcafure. t Idi an. P- 13- rail OF THE COLONIES. 3^5 ,>' ■■ «i t IS ufcd ; cxpence and pro- fo gene- al meeting ing for the he trade to as regular kind, as it ; formed in nt fome of >dy, to aft n order to • Such a mi Britain :he people ich an ex- )y fuch in- ) and the s, that the ons of mo- :ir circum- to deferve lat ferious that, and the fame )mmercia[ i are here guided by leflbn for :rning the 3e Co little s repealed Liit fatisfy mcafure. rally rally prevailed, it fhews how little people are acquainted with the colonies, or with their fafety and prote(5tion, as well as every thing elfe concerning them. Can it be fuppofed, that thefe colonies, which are now To much more populous and powerful than ever, and are entirely free from an enemy, by which they were before furrounded, can now want any fuch defence and protedion, which they never had before ? or that fuch an immoderate charge is now neceflary for their protedlion, when no fuch expence was ever before incurred for the moft necelTary fervices ? If it were, it abun- dantly appears, from the falfe and injurious afperlions which the defender and fuppofed au- thor of thefe meafures would injudicioufly and unjuftly throw upon the colonies, to the widen- ing of thefe differences between them and their mother country '^, that he at leaft has no fuch regard for them, as to be at this expence on their account. They never before had above four, or at moft fix, independent companies in all North America, and can they now want fifteen regiments, the number kept there, when they have no enemy to fear ; and are fo much more able to defend themfelves ? Surely, if fuch an expence is now neceflary for the pro- tection of our colonies, after the immenfe fums that have been expended to gain a compleat fe- curity for them^ and with all the fuccefs that * Idm, p. 137— 147» ^ alibi pajjim^ Sf 2 men \M ::i.! I i I' 316 THE STATE men could defire, they muft have made but a bad ufc both of that treafure of the nation, and of the fuccefles gained by it. Befides, the colonies are defended by their militia, which they are at great expence to raife and train ; every perfon in them, capable of the fervice, is obliged to bear arms, and to be provided with them at their own expence 5 which not only defends them, but it is uni- vcrfally allowed, that in all parts of the world, where the people are at fuch an expence, and are thus taken from their labour, and other occupations, to ferve in a militia, it is reckoned a very great hardfhip to burden them at the fame time with a ftanding army in time of peace : Efpeqially when they have been fo lately '^vhaufted, and involved in fuch a debt, by maintaining fo confiderable an army in the war ; the firft time the colonies were ever able to aim at fuch an expence, and which, it is to be feared, they will hardly be able to fuftain, without a total ruin of their credit in Britain -, which muft be more prejudicial to their Mother Country, than to them. And fuch an expence of a (landing army, with their militia, is the more grievous, as they have no manner of ufe nor occafion for it. They who would make that expence neceffary for their protediion, do not underftand what their fafety and fecurity confift in. The colonies muft defend themr felves with their hands, and not with their purfes. If you would expecft any fervice of this fUnd ifom ilicm, u muft be Aj^'viltufn in capttCr^ a perfonal OF THE COLONIES. 317 fi perfonal fervice, as it was called by our fore-r fathers in Britain; and not a pecuniary fervice, in Jierling cajh, when they bad none. — In the late war the colonies were repaid the money they expended in defending themfelves, and proteding his Majefty's dominions, as it was thought they could not well bear the burden of one or two hundred thoufand pounds ; but ijow, the Authors of the Stampradt and Regu- lations would exad: money from them, when they had raifed fix millions, and have quite cxhaufted themfelves by thefe pMblic fer- Vices.— In the late war they rai^ * but two or three thoufand men, for which they were repaid by Britain j but in the laft war they maintained 25,000, for which it is now expeded they Qiould pay, aftv^r they are in- volved in debt, drained of money, and their trade and credit are ruined by that fervice ; not to mention the heavy taxes they paid in the time pf the war, and AiH continue to pay *. The I' 11 H ♦ What thefe taxes are, which the colonies pay, feems never to have been confifJered, nor inquired intoj without which none can know what they can or fhould pay. We only know for certcin, that in New-England they paid a land-tax, amounting to fix fliillings and eight-pence in the pound ; a tax on all perfonal eftates with it, and even on ail trades and faculties; a poll-tax j imports on trade, &c.; as may be (qqxx by the printed accounts of their taxes, delivered to every one for their payment. Thefe fevcral taxes, we are well aflured by thofe who paid them, amount- ed to twelve and fourteen (hillings in the pound, at the time when thefe new taxes were to have been impofed on them in Bn^laml j befides all the taxes they pay on the BrWJh goodf ;,hs 318 THE STATE The proteaion of all the Britj/h dominions, both at home and abroad, depends upon the iJeets and maritime power of Great Britain j and not on a few troops difperfed up and down in the deferts of Canada and Florida, at fuch a diftance from all the colonies on that Conti- nent, as well as every other part of the King's dominions, that they can neither defend them, por be defended by them. This protcaion, goods they confume. A merchant of Bojioriy of undoubted credit, affured his correfpondents here, that he paid ^00 /. a year in taxes. ^ In Virginia again they were obh'ged, on account of the expences m the war, to fubmit to a land-tax ; which is a tax upon their tobacco, and other ftaple commodities that ftouid be fentto Britain, and .nore ruinous to their Mother Country, than to them. If this nation, either at home or abroad, would confult her trueintereft, fliefliould never fuf- fer a tax to be laid on the lands in America, fince it is only from the produce of them, that the colonies can make any returns to Britain ; but by a tax upon the lands there, with thq high duties upon the produce of them here, ihey are ren- dered fo unprofitable, that none can afford either to make them, or trade in them, it is for this reafon, among others, that many are obliged to leave off planting tobacco. Now, if we confider that the colonies bore all thefe bur- dens, in order to fecure the fifliery to Britain, which was the firft obje^: and occafion of the war, they would be very ill rewarded, to be deprived of their liberties and privileges for their pains ; and to be burdened with new taxes, which it is impofllble for them to pay j and that for fervices which are rather detrimental than beneficial to them ; or at lead are unneceffary, and of no ufe to the nation, either at home or abroad. For thefe fervices they raifcd fix millions of money ; and as they have to pay both principal and interelf, it is much more to them, than all the expe:ices of the war are to England, S VViJii-iJ OF THE COLONIES. 3ig which the colonies both want and get from their Mother Country, arifes from the Britijfj navy, which fecures them from invafionsj and that they both fupport and maintain, by the trade and navigation to them, and by paying the charges of all the Britijh (hips and mariners, numerous as they are, which are concerned in that trade : for this they pay at leaft one hah^of their whole income, as we have fhewn above, v-^hich is the tax they pay for their protedion ; and is as great a one, if not greater, than is paid by any Britijh fubjefts ; or whether or not, it is certainly as great a tax, as they can poflibly be fuppofed to be able to pay in their circumftances, and ten times more advan- tageous to this nation, than all the taxes that were impofed upon them could ever have been. By thefe means, the colonies not only pay for their own protection, but help to protedl all his Majcfty's dominions, in all parts of the world. It is upon this trade to the plantations, that the fafety of the whole nation depends^ and more particularly of Great Britain itfelf. It ought never to be forgot, for the fafety of Great Britai?i, what was fo very remarkable in the fpring of the year 1756, when England was threatened with an invafion, and could not man a fleet for fix weeks, on account of an eafterly wind which blew during the whole time of that imminent danger j at which the whole na- tion vjras in the utmoft confternation, till a wefterly wind brought our jfhips home from America ; 'm L^ 320 tHE STATE America-, after which our fleet was manned i'rt a week or two. This is a faft which was taken notice of, and recorded at the time it happened, when it was known to every one** To ruin this trade to the colonies, therefore, as it muft have been, for the fake of a petty reve- nue, which could neither be paid nor colledted> is the certain way to deprive the whole nation> both at home and abroad, of the only fafety and fecurity it enjoys, and that by the means we take to prefervc them. Of this we have another moft convincing proof, during the very ihort time that thefe regulations lafted in Ame- rica-, when we are told by a very good judge and credible eye^witnefs on the fpot, " twenty *• thoufand feamen and fifliermen are turned ** out of employ, and the fhipping they ufed to •* navigate and improve, are hauled up, and *' laid by as uielefs -f-." But 20,000 feamen would have been a much greater fecurity to the colonies, and to all the Britijh dominions, than ten times the number of foldiers, which thefe, or thrice as many more fuch taxes, would ever liave maintained j and the one gain wealth, to pay themfelves and others, when it may be wanted, whereas the others confume the iinews of war in time of peace. This lofs of trade by the late regulations is the more to be regarded, as they feem to have * See the Conteft in America. t Eflay on the Trade of the northern Colonies, ton* cm I/64, p. 26. been annc(J i'rt lich was time it y one *i efore, as tty reve- olledted> i nation> ly fafety le means we have the very in Ame- Dd judge * twenty ; turned / ufed to up, and feamen ty to the ns, than h thefe, uld ever :alth, to may be me the lations is to have lies. Lon* been OP THE COLONIES. 32i fcecn calculated, as much as if they had been contrived for the purpofc, to ruin the colonics of New England i which are, and always have been, the bulwark of all the Britijh dominions in America j to whom this nation owes both the fifliery of Newfoundland, and all her other pofleffions in the Northern parts of that Conti- nent. When King Charles II. gave Nova Scotia to the French, the people of New-Eng- land, knowing the confequences of it, if they were not known in Britain, would never let them have quiet pofleflion of that country; by which they were able to take it from them on the iirft opportunity that offered at the com- mencement of the war in 1690, and finally rooted them out of it in 17 10, which has ever fince fecured the fifliery. They did the fame by the taking of Louijburg, and breaking up all the French fifhery in Newfoundland, at the com- iftencement of the late war. And in the lafl war they beat the French on the frontiers of NeW'Tork with equal numbers, raifcd ten thoufand men immediately after it, and thereby covered all the ^nV//7; dominions from the immi- nent danger to which they were expofed, when we had not a man there for that purpofe ; and afterwards raifed and maintained the greated part of the army, to which our fuccefles in the war, and the falvation of this nation, were owing. It is in a word to New-E'^g'and, that we owe the expclfion of the French from North America \ all which fcrviceii tliey are only I' t- enabled 322 THE STATE enabled to perform by means of their trade and fifhcry, which arc, or would have been, thus ruined by the late regulations *. It is by their feamen * The great fupport of New-England, and the chief fource both of their fubfiftence, trade, and remittances to Britain, is the fifliery, which amounts to about 250,000/. per annum, including all the fpecies of cod, herring, mackarel and whale fishery ; great part of this fifh they are obliged to fell for molaflcs, as the French will let them have nothing elfe for it: But upon our laying a duty of three-pence a gallon on tneir molafles, they exadted 8 j. a quintal on our fifli, which is at leaft 40 per cent.\ and as the duty on molafles amounted to 40 per cent, more, there was a duty of ^0 per cent, on fuch an unprofitable trade as this in fl(h and molafles, and on fuch a poor employment as the fifh- cry ; which rather deferves a public encouragement, if wc confider its advantages to the nation. Befides, in New-England the fifliery is not only a fource of trade and wealth, and nurfcry of feamen, but it is a ne- ceflary of life, without which thefe colonies could not fub- fift. Jt is with their fifli, that they fupply the want of other provifions, and purchafe the Corn they eat, which the land will not produce; whence the duty of three-pence a gallon on molafles, which we are told by the authors of the Regidations in the Colonies^ ** is but three halfpence on a *' gallon of rum," is in Neiv-England more than 50 per cent, on the moft abfolute neceflaries of life, Corn and Fifll : And if any one will confider what fuch a tax is, in a coun- try which does not produce Corn to eat, nor any thing to purchafe it, it mull appear to be very grievous indeed. 'J'his was the caufe of the loud complaints of thefe people, who hardly ever have fo good a crop of Corn, as they have had in this year of fcarcity in England, notwithftanding the people he:e have complained fo much, and raifed fuch tu- mults on that account. Thefe and many other like cir- cumftancc?, we believe, were not known to many who impofcd thefe taxes and regulations ; and that I'bews the Jmproprie*-;' of laying taxes on people, whofe condition and circum- OF THE COLONIES. rade and :en, thus by their feamen 1 the chief nittances to : 250,000/. g, mackarel e obliged to ive nothing ree-pencc a quintal on Lhe duty on was a duty this in fi(h as the fifh- nent, if we ily a fource t it is a ne- lid not fub- he want of eat, which tliree-pence ! authors of fpence on a han 50 per n and Fifh : in acoun- ly thing to Dus indeed, lefe people, s they have tanding the ed fuch tu- :r like cir- many who ftiews the idition and circum- 323 feamen and firtiernien, whom rheir trade fup- ports, that the colonies are defended, and at the fame time proted the fi(hcry of Newfoundland ; the only thing in all North America that wants protedtion. How infufficient the troops kept in Nrth America are to protect the colonies, abundantly appeared upon the late infurredion of the /«- dians. The troops were difperfed in the de- ferts of Canada and Floridat from ^ebec to Penfacola^ Mobile and St. Aiigujii?ie, at fuch a diftance from the colonies, that they could give them no relief; they could not be drawn out- of garrifon there, -^ft thofe acquifitions (hould be left entirely dcf^ncelefs ; and by that means the cf onies, waitin;; for their affiftanje, which they could not give, were over-run and maffacred by a few Indians^ for a year or two together ; till feme volunteers from Pirginia and Penjyhama^ joined a fmall party of the troops, as is well known, and fubdued them ; This they might have done at firft, had they been ordered or allowed, and had not been in expectation of being proteded by the troops, circumftanccs we are unacquainted with ; this is the cafe with regard to all the colonies in America^ whofe trueftate and condition are but very little known here, notwith- ftanding the boafted knowledge of many, who pretend to be mighty well acquainted with them. The accounts we have of them, are from failors, fblJiers and merchants, who are totally unacquainted with agriculture, on which all countries chiefly depend, and more cfpecially colonies. T t 2 for 324 THE STATE for whom all thefe expences are incurred. Yet it is pretended, the colonies could not defend themfelves from the Indians * ; which they have Jone for 150 years, when they were ten times weaker, and the Indians as much flronger. Now, if the colonies fliould be invaded by a foreign enemy, what protedlion could they expe(5l from thefe troops, who could not de- fend them from a handful of Indians ? If upon any fuch invafion we were to draw the force out of our colonies, th y would be expofed ; and if \\q did not, thefe defencelefs acquifitions inuft fall a facrifice, and would require much more protedion, than all the troops in them can give. Thus the colonies would not only be burdened with thefe, or any other charge's that may be laid on them, to fupport thefe in- fignificant acquifitionb, but they will have them %Q proted: and defend after all 5 and mufl themfelves be expofed to danger, inftead of being defended by them, or by all thefe ex- pences which are incurred for their protedion, as is pretended. Suppofe, Canada, or Nova-' ^cofia were to be invaded, how would they ever be defended without the afliftance of New-' England and New-Tcrkf All the troops there would hardly be fufficient to guard the coun- try againfl its inteftine foes, the confirmed ca- tholics of Canada, So if Florida were to be in- N^ * lilem, p. 137. Confide»ations, p. 84, &c. va^edj Mi m OF THE COLONIES. 325 vaded, it could hardly have any relief, till wc get a force in the countries above-mentioned. From all thefe confiderations it muft appear, that this expence, which is fo burdenfome to the nation, is entirely needlefs. It u^as but a mere plaufible pretence to fay, that it w^as wanted, towards defraying the necejfary expences of defending, prote6iing andfecuring bis majejlys colonies and plantations in America y the pretext for which thefe fupplies were granted. By this defcription they only mean Canada and Florida, in which the troops paid by thefe fubfidies are kept. They are there kept to ftarve and pe^ rirfi, more to fupport and maintain thefe ufelefs and unprofitable fettlements, than to defend and protect any of the Britijh dominions. Withdiaw our troops out of Canada, as we have faid, it could not fubfift ; and there would be no people in Florida, unlefs they were maintained at this public expence. It is there- fore only to fupport thefe dcferts, that all thefe expences are incurred, and all thefe difturb- ances have been raifed ; which in two or three years have done this nation more harm, than the French could have done in twenty, if thej had continued in Canada, All the conquefts made by the glorious fucceffes of the war, amounting in value to fix or feven millions a year, were given up for thefe deferts of Cana- da and Florida-, and for that reafon they muft be fupported as valuable a* quifitions, although it is at this exoence. and *o the ru«n of the na- tion. 326 THE STATE tion. This was the defign, and only ufe, of tax- ing the colonies, or of keeping fuch a force in North America^ after our enemies had been drove out of it J and both Canada and Cape-Breton are reduced. But if the fir ft of thefe were difmantled and evacuitrd, for which it is only fit, as the other, which was of much greater confequence and importance, has been, we fhould be rid of all farther trouble and expences in defending, proteding, and fecuring of either ; with which we (hall otherwife for ever be faddled ; and the nation would be fecure from the many troubles, in which Canada muft otherwife involve it *. ' As Fi ♦ It was from the neft of French left in Nova Scotia^ after the Treaty of Utrecht^ that the nation was involved in the laft war, in order to prevent their feizing the whole f (hery ; and by leaving a like neft in Canada^ this nafion will for ever be expofed to the like troubles, till fhe roots out the one, as fhe was obhged to do the other. Since they have the Catholic religion eftabliflied among them, and are even allowed a Popifh Bifbop in the Britijh dominions, with the Frtnch language, cuftoms, &c., we cannot fuppofe that they will ever become Englijhmen, or true fubjeds of Britain. Under a Brit'Jh government they are deprived of thofe pofts and penfions, which were the fupport of Canada^ and of all the leading people in it j the lofs of v/hich will ever render them enemies to this nation, as we may already fee by their remonftrances. As for the poffeffion of thefe Northern frozen deferts, none of them were ever thought worthy of it. The Frtnch were only fufFered to fettle in Canada^ which was given to them again, after it was taken from theui in 1629, becaufc it was not worth pofTeffing. Even after Nova Scotia was reftored by the Treaty of Utrecht.^ none but a few indigent fifliermen would ever go nigh it j and it will certainly never be ■•^^^x OF THE COLONIES. 327 As for the defence and fecuxity of our colo- nies, it is well known, tiiat Crown Point and Niagara !,,-■■ 1 ';:.(■ be fettled, without a public charge and expcnce, much greater than it is worth. The only objedl in all thefe Northern parts of America is the fifliery, in which thefe fettlements muft interfere with Britain^ and that in fuch a rrianner, as to deprive her of that great fource of her maritime power, and of the very obje(3: which the nation engaged in the war to fecure. The Hfliery of the colonies is already much greater than that of Britain j the fifliery of New- England alone amounts to 250,000 or 260,000 /. a year, which is equal to the amount of the Britijh fifhery ; and although New England does not fo much interfere with Britain in the fifliery, as they fiflion the Southern banks. South of Cape Sabhy and the Ifland of Sable^ where the Britijb fliips never fifli, yet fettlements tc the Northward of that muft ruin the fifliery of both, by being fomuch more convenient to it. The colonies fhould cultivate the vaft trafts of land, of which the nation is pofi^efled, in order to promote the trade and navigation oi Britain ov that means ; and fliould leave the fifliery to the Britijh .men, who have to defend and protedl the whole : but in thefe Northern climes there are no lands fit to cultivate. This appears even on St. John's Ifland, which is reckoned to be the beft of all thefe North- ern parts of America, in order to oblige the inhabitants of that Ifland to cultivate their lands, and to make Corn, the French prohibited a part of them to be concerned in the fifliery ; by which they were fo far from fupplying others, that tbey were reduced to the utmoft mifery and diftrefs ; infomuch that the officer, who madea furvey of that Ifland in : 752, thought it neceflary for their fubfiftence, that they fiiould be allowed the fifliery again, as appears from his L iters on Cape Breton and St. John's IJland. If any one would form a right judgement concerning thefe countries, l^t them confider the climate j let them ex- amine matters of faiSt, and not depend upon opinions of inierefteJ peopk, who are perhaps not able to form a right judgment il!i,:' ! '; 1,1 . ii 1 j) m. i 328 THE STATE Niagara would have fecured them, both from the Indians and the French, even when they . were mti judgment cohcernihg a country, when they fee it. They* fhould take the advice of Cha?nplain concerning Nova Sco- tia ; * It is impoflible,' fays he, ♦ to know that country, * unlefsyou winter in it; for in fummer every thing appears * very agreeable on account of the woods, a fine country, * and good fifhery j but the winters are intolerable ; the « fnow which fell on the fixth of Ocfober, was never off of * the ground, but lay three or four feet deep, till the laft * of j4pril the next year.' This and many other like difmal accounts and efFefls of the climate may be feen in Cham-: plain's Journals^ publiftied at Paris in 1613 ; but in lh6 Hiftory which he afterwards wrote of the country in 1632, he leaves but all thefe accounts of the climate, both of Catnda and Nova Scotia, as that was made an obje6iion to the fettling of them ; and in all our other accounts of thefe countries, public or private, we fee the like omiffion, copied from this of Champlain. But if we evacuate Canada, the French will take it again,- fay they ; to which we may anfwer. The lofs would not be gitat, if they (hould ; on the contrary, if we are to be bur- dened with (uch a charge without any manner of profit, and to lofe all the fr-ntful parts of the Continent, which muff deprive the nation of the benefit of her other colonies, for the fake of thefe deferts, we had much better be without them. We had no fooner got them, than every one, who knew any thing about them, would have been glad to have been fairly rid of them. If the French ever attempt Canada again, it will only be to diftrefs Britain^ which they will be much more able to do by fettlements in the country, than without them. It appears from many inftances, that all thefe countries are uninhabitable, and can never be held, without good accommodations and frefh provifions.-— When Jacques Car- tt,r firit wintered at Montreal in 1535, he loft fo many of his men by the cold and fcurvy, that he deemed the country not fit to inhabit, and abanUoucd it on tiiat account. — He 1 and OF THE COLONIES. 329 were In pofleffion of Canada, and much more now when they are drove out of it ; but ^lebec and Montreal will do neither. Thefe, or Flo- rida, are no greater fecurity to our colonies, than a fort in the Orkneys would be to Eng^ land. On the contrary, the French may feize thefe, and thereby hold the country, in order to diftrefs our colonies, by means of the accommodations which we keep up for their reception, without which an army muft perifh. The fecurity we obtain is from the expulfion of our enemies, and not from maintaining them in the country, to put the nation again to all fi who and Mr. ^oi(?rWrnade afecond attempt in 1540 zt^jehec^ but foon abandoned it for the fame reafon. — The French never aftervvards attempted Canada, till the y«ar 1599, when Mr. Chauvln left fome people at Saguenay^ who all periihed with the cold, except a few who were faved by the Indians. —In 1604, Mr. de Monts loft otie ha'f of feventy hale and hearty men, and twenty more were at the point o^ death, by wintering at St. Croix in the moft Southern pans of Nova Scotia. — Champlainiuffcred the fame fate at ^ebec in 1608, when he bad but eight meii left alive, out of jtwenty-fix, and thofe fo benumbed with the cold, and crippled wrth the fcurvy, that they w.re unfit for any fervicci " notwithftanding they were all well cloathed, lay in good •*« beds, were kept warm, and well fed," fays he, in his fournah, p. 203 — So in the laft war^ a party of our troops lying out of doors only for one night, before they were aware of the approach of winter, every man of them was fo maimed with the cold, that not a fingle one was iit for fer- vice during all the reft of the war.— Such a country could never be held, without the accommodations which have been creiSled in it, at a much greater expence than they are worth J and which we are at a greater expence to uphold, only to enable an enemy to diftrefi the nation, and to hold the country, which they could not otherwife do. U u the m n 33' th THE STATE e ^xpences which have been fo lately incurred on their account. It is well known, that the French propofed to abandon Canada long ago, which they wo^ld certainly have done, had it not been ibr the hopei of gaining fome more valuable poflefllons with it f'. They entered into the war to get out of Canada, notwith- ftanding it wa? of fo much greater confequence to Frc'ice, who had no other colonies there, than it ever can be to Gfrat Britain, who has fo many, vvith which this only interferes.— r The on'y objea: in all thefe northern parts of America is the fiOiery, for which Canada is of no ufe nor fervice — Canada can be nothing but a fadlory for the Fur trade, and Nova ^cotia only a fifliing fettlement, of both which this nation already has too many. Whatever any of thcfe acquifitions may be, even if they were tp be as profitable, as their advocates would make them, it is paft doubt, they will never be worth the charges, which the nation is put to folely on their account. What that charge may be, is uncertain i we have called it nigh half a million, st^ we are told by one who feems to be in the fecret, « the * charge muft be between four and five hundred * thoufand pounds per annum *,' including all the ordinary and extraordinary charges; but in thefe laft no account is taken of the much + Vid. Charlevoix Hi ft. N. France. * Confiderations on the Trade and Finances of thi? Kincrdom. n. yy^ greater OF THE COLONIES. 331 greater expences the nation may be put to, and the wars in which it may and is likely to be in- volved, by thefe paltry and defencelefs fetde- ments, which were the occafion of the lad war. To fecuire the nation againft thefe, in Canada^ Nova Scotia^ and Florida, would require much more than half a million a yearj which mult bfe placed to the account of charges Incurred for the upholding of thefe fettlements. This is the more to be regarded, as all this cxpence muit fall on Great Britain, burdened and opprefTed as ihe already is with debts and taxes J and that for no other purpofe, as we have {hewn, but to ruin her own intereft iri North America, after all it has coft her. It has indeed been given out, with every thing elfe, that thefe taxes on the colonies were to re- lieve the fubje(5t at home ; who are fo unac- quainted even with their own intereft: in Jme- rica, that they fecm not to knov/ the contrary tb this day. But even if the colonies had paid their taxes, Britain Would have been involved in an additional debt, for the fupport of Cana^ da and llorida, over and above that aid. The vvhole of the intended taxes on the colonies they would niake to amount but to i6o,oco /. a year *, when the expence incurred is nigh 500,000/; wherefore. Great Britain vci)\^ M\ have been burdened with a charge of 300,000 /. * Id, ibid, p. 71. Condu but on the contrary, to the prejudice of both. Thus the nation is doubly indebted to the colo- nies, for faving her this needlefs and ruinous expence. If thefe taxes on the colonies had been paid, without any lofs to Britai?2y they would not have difcharged above a third part of the ex- pence of maintaining thefe acquilitionsj which OF THE COLONIES. 333 IS acknowledged by the authors of thefe mea- fures themfelves * ; and fince the whole now falls on Great Britain, why fhould rtie be bur- dened with fuch a needlefs ex pence ? Since the propofed means of fupporting thcfe acquifi- tions, by taxes on the colonies, are as inefFcdlual as thofe deferts are unprofitable, and prejudicial to the whole nation, why (hould they be any longer fupported? It muft appear to be the greateft impropriety, to be at fuch an expence in fupporting colonies, which produce nothing; when we have fo many others, which are in the fame fituation; and when they cofl: ten times more than they are worth, or than all our other colonies ever did, or ever would coft without thefe. The ufe of colonies to this na- tion is, to load her ihips, and to fupply them- felves with neceffaries from Britain ; but can any one imagine, that either of thefe can be done in fuch deferts as Canada or Florida ! If they cannot, of what ufe can it be to fupport them at fuch an expence ? By evacuating them> the nation would be free from this charge. li m * Condu£l of the late Miniftry, p. 13. We are here told by authority, that the colonies were to contributj about a third part of the expence, which was computed to be 160,000/. J from which computation the whole expence murt have been 480,000 /. ; fo that it may well be efti- jmated at half a million a year, as we have called it. If we make it lefs, the rifque we run by fuch a faving may make it twice or thrice as much. The nation may thereby lofe the fiftiery of Nfw/oundland, and have all her bufinefs to do which 34 THE STAt^ which is ten times more than fhe can ever ex- pert to get from them. We fee above, that the French never reckoned the produce of Ca- tiada to be above 14,000/. a year, which Was all that It yielded, when it fell into our hands ; and notwithftanding the great fums expended m It, Canada produces oil an average, by the Cuftom-houfe accompli, but 2i,c3oo/. a year, and Flortda — nothing ; which is nigh all that this nation gets for half a million a year, and for 80 millioiis expended in the war. Now, if the nation lofes the benefit of her other colo- nies, with thefe expences, which (he certainly mufl: do, hy negkaing all the fruitful parts of the continent foir thefe barren deferts, nothing could well be more ruinous. ^ There is no manner of doubt, that this na- tion will be tired of Canada, as foon as (he comes to know what it is, and to feel the bur- den of it, which we believe every one who knows any thing about it already is ; we ou^ht therefore to think of doing fomething with\ before the nation is put to any farther expence about it J and either to fecure it effeaually, fo as to bs free from ?.ny danger of being feized, or to evacuate it. The firft would certainly be a matter of difficulty, with fo many Frejtch as are in the country; and will cofl: much more, than we fear will ever be expended upon fuch an unprofitable fettlement. To lecure both Canada, Nova Scotia and Florida, fo as to ren- der tucm ires from infults, will be a much I greater m OF THE COLONIES. 33^ greater expence, than Britaifi will care to be at for anytime. But if they are not fecure from invafions, fuch defencelefs fettlements caa only be a trap to involve the nation .i^zm in a ntvr war. 1 he queftion therefore is, whether will they be Tecurc, or not ? If they arc not, they niuuld be eyacuated, and the climate would fecure them without any expence, which there is i\Ji Florida, there can be no luch obje(ftion to thefe laft ; but we fear, neither of ^hefe will ever be done, fo long as we are bur- dened witn Canada ar^d Florida for nothing. As for the making of a profitable polony of Canada and Nova Scotia, that is contrary to pature itfelf. They, who may be of that opi- nion, are totally unacquainted with the foil and climate of North America, as well as with the very defign and intent of fettling colonies. Un- lefs they live by their agriculture, they can be of no ufe nor fervice to this nation ; but that i$ certainly not to be expedcd, either in Canada, or Nova Scotia, Their agriculture would not ^ven maintain the colonies of New-England, which could not fubfift without the lilhery^ In thefe northern parts of America^ nature ha$ provided that plentiful foiirce of fubfiftence for mankind in the feas, which flie has denied to the land* We have heard fome people indeed allcdge. 'ill j; u imi '■3 "il ' ''A 33^ THE STATE alledge, that the" have a good and fruitful folt in fome p?'-r ..^ rather fmall and infignificant fpots of Cvad'/i but that appears to be im- poiTiblc in .-:) \ climate. Tht French tell us from 1 60 yea* u experience, * there is no part ♦ of the woi* in which the foil abounds more • with fana and flone *,' which is the word foil of any in the world ; and if to this we join the confideration of the climate, all thefe north- ern frozen deferts muft appear to be very unfit to maintain colonies by their agriculture, even in the necefTaries of life, and much more by flaple commodities for Britain, Notwith- ftanding thefe northern parts of America have been fettled and frequented longer than any part of that continent, they have never yet pro- duced pny one thing, that could be of the leaft fervice to this nation. All that can be faid for ^hem, is, that a few indigent people may make a ftiift to get the bare neceffaries of he in them;, but we cannot fee, of what fervice that can be to this nation. And as far as we can learn, they could not even do that in Canada, were it not for the plenty of Eels, which providence fends them about the beginning of winter. With thefe they are obliged to feed both man and bead, for want of Corn and Grafs ; than which nothing can (hew a more miferable po- verty in any country. This is the way of li- ving in the deferts of Tartary, to which the ♦ Charhvoix Hift, N, France^ Tom. v, p. 247. Jefuit$ OP THE COLONIES. 537 Jefuits oh the fpot juftly compare the defcrts of Canada. All this would abundantly appear from a due account and defcription of the con- tinent of North America^ and the feverai rolo-» niesin it, which the bounds of our difcourfe will not allow us to give any more particular account of at prefent j although it is frpm fuch a particular enquiry into the ftate of thefe coun- tries, the nature of the foil and climate, and what they produce, of which we have had io many accounts from the French and others, that we have given this opinion concerning themj which might be fupported by many more fatisfadory arguments. The only objed in all thefe northern parts of America^ as we have faid, is the fifhery, and unlefs we have that, we get nothing by thp fettling of the country, but a burden and charge, which they will not defray, There is not even the leaft profpedt, that any of thefe northern fettlements will ever be able to defend themfelves, and for that reafon they put the nation to fuch an eypence for their defence and protec- tion ; and muft expofe it to perpetual infults, if not to new wars and troubles on their account. It was by thefe means, that the nation was in- volved in the lafl war, and ought to confider the proper methods of preventing the like for the future. Now, all the world knows, that Great Britain Was led into the war on account of the difpute with France lihoxxl the limits of Nova Scotia; but i\\ ■-.•ifefciiCfci 33^ •tHE STATE ive feem not yet to know, or to confider, what were the objedts of that difpute, or of what fervice the country could be to either of the two nations. If it had been only for the polTeffion of the country, or for any thing that it is fit to produce, neither of the two could ever have ta- gaged in fuch an expenfive war on that ac- count. The only objedt in vie v was the fi(h- ery, and it was to fccure that great fource of her maritime power, and to prevent its falling into the hands of Francey that Great Britain engaged in the war. If the French had been pofTeffed of Nova Scotia^ with Canada and Cape Breton^ Newfoundland would have been an eafy €onque!ft 5 that muft have fallen next, and the whole fifhery with it. Had France by that means been poflefled of all the countries, which command the fifhery, as Great Britain now is, which was her aim, fhe would never have let the Englijh enjoy even fuch a fhare of the fifliery, as we have given to them. It is entirely by means of this fifhery, which was firfl given to them by K. Charles I., that the French have been able to raife a naval force, and to contend with Great Britain at fea, by means of her own refources. They had no fooner got poflelTion of this r/jrfery of ^eamcn, than they raifed a maritime power, which dif- puted the command of the feas, and confe- quently of Great Britain irfelf, againft the combined fleets both of England and Holland -y which has ever fince made all thofe, who con- fult the fafcty or profperity of Great Britain^ pay er, what of what * the two Doffeffion t is fit to have ta- that ac- the fiOi- fource of ts falling f Britain bad been and Cape n an eafy and the by that :ountries, t Britain e would n fuch t to them. 7y which f I., that val force, : fea, by ' had no ■ Teamen, hich dif- d confe* linft the Hollatid'y vho con- Britain^ pay OF THE COLONIES. 339 pay fiich a regard to this filhery, that they juilly think, the very being of this nation depends upon it. Thus the fifliery of Newfjundknd was not only the principal object of the laft war, but is the grounds of all the difputes with the French in North America, It was to fecure that, which the Fn'«^^ endeavoured to ufurp, that the nation engaged in the war -, and how that is to be done without fuch an expence after it, is the point in queftion, and what this nation has to confider. Many may perhaps think, that this may be done by fettlements in the country adjacent to the fifliery ; but we are of the contrary opinion, and are well fatisfied, that fuch fettlements are more likely to prove a means of lofing the fifh- €ry, as lately happened by the taking of St. Johns in Newfoundland, That is the oldeft fettlement in all North America, but is not yet able to defend itfelf againft two or three (hips ; and all the reft of thefe paltry fiftiing fettlements, North of Ncw-Englandy are, and are ever likely to be, in the fame defencelefs condition. We fhall never raife a force in thefe, or any other countries, fufficient to defend them, where the people cannot fubfift by their i^griculturej or rather have no foil or climate fit to cultivate. Yet, notwithftanding it is fo difficult to raife a force fufficient to defend and fecure thefe coun- tries, there are more ports and harbours fn them to be defended, than are perhaps in all Europe^ exclufive of Great-Britain and Ireland. The X X 2 whole ^-.r-3k■ 340 THE STATE \yhole coaft, both o^ Newfoundland and No'va Scotia, is one continued harbour, and expofed to every fiQiing velTel ; while there is but here and there a fpot fit for fettlers to inhabit, and thofe at fuch diftances from one another, that they can neither fupport, nor be fupported by, each other. It is for thefe reafons, that fuch fettlements can never be in a pofture of defence, although they are expofed to every invader 5 who may hold the country, and command the fi{h- ery by that means, which they could not other- ^ife do. Britain muft fecure both thefe and all her other dominions by her fleetS; which thefe fettlements will rather weaken, by inter- fering with the Britijlo fishery -, and muft there- by deprive the whole nation of that fecurity, which they are intended to give, if they do not again involve it in another war. All this, with many other difadvantages of thefe fifhing iettle- ments, have been fo fully (hewn by a very good judge *, that it is furprifing, they have never been attended to. Thus * Child on Trade, ch. 10. art. 10 The chief ar- guriiKj.. 5 ^or .iis opinion are, 1. " "ilfifhcrnien fettled in Newfoundland, a^id muc's snore in Nova Scotia, or other fiftiing fettlements, are iipplied with their own provifions, or from the other coio- V , and get great part of their cloathing, fifhing-tackle, ^iid ot ..T neceflarics, either from them, or from the Fr^rr/j; by whch means the labour, as ^'ell as the cloathing and 'e^^ding or fo many men, are loft to England." f TT 'I Th^r^ r^i^^^^pafe^it-:*!'. -^^^■^»^mm^m^ id Nova expofed >ut here bit, and ler, that irted by, lat fuch defence, ler 5 who the fifli- Dt other- befe and ; which 3y inter- ,ft there- fecurity, y do not tiis, with g iettle- ery good ve never Thus : chief ar- a'ld muc'. ntnts, are ither colo- ng-tackle, lhe.Frer':hi athincr and tj , ^« Thde OF THE GOLONIES. 341 Thus the only advantage the nation can |expe(5t from, the reduction of C^w^J^ and Gape Breton, II. *« Thefe fettlements only ferve to divert the fiflier- ijien from their laborious and induftrious calling, which they negleft in diforderly houfe:^ on fhore." III. " Thefe fifhing' fettlcjnents greatly obftruft the n..vigation of Great-Britain, If Newfounlhnd, fays he, fliould L.rme to be fettled, England would lofe that fifhery, 9$ file had already done (even in his drne, in the reign of Kmg Charles II.) thaton thecoaftof .?/-fM;-£w^/fl«^i vhich was formcirly carried on by 5r////Z> fhips, but has now fallen folely to the employment of the people fettled there." And if Nova Scotia^ot the whole coaft from New-England to the riv.r St. Laurence, were fettled, as is propofed. the Britifh ^ihery muft be totally ruined, as the fettlers could follow no other employment. ly. " Before there were Boat-keepers or Planters at Newfoundland, fifli was fold 40 per cent, cheaper, and con- fequently more vended ; but now they have enhanced the price of their fifti to fuch an excefs, '3 in efFe(St proves the giving away of that trade to the French, who by this our Impolitic management are able to underfell us ; and moft certain it is, tha't thofe who can fell cheapeft will have the trade." ' V. " It is the interefl of Great- Britain not only to ralfe as many feamen as fhe can, but to have them within call in time of danger j but in thefe fifting fettlements, both theit maintenance, and fervice upon emergencies, are loft to the nation." VI. « 'i AG Briii/h fiifhng-ihips are the only breeders of feamen, and enter many new V«ands ; but the Planters are alff^ady bred, follow no other bufinefs, and never increafe the i)umber of feamen." VII. « By the building, fitting, iftualling, and repair- ing of Briiijlj fhips, numben of Tradcfmen, Artificers, Owners of fhips and feamtn, in England, get their bread, which they lofe by the fhip-building in thele fifhing fettle- ments." l^i VTTXT ill. 1 r 342 THE STATE Bretony is a fecurity for the fifliery; and if that were rightly improved, it might, no doubt, be rendered a very great national benefit ; but by fettling thofe countries, it is to be feared, we fhall deprive the nation of all the advantages which might otherwife be reaped from them. They are widely miftaken about the very ob- jed: in all thefe northern parts of America, who expea: it from fettlements, or agriculture. Had we got an exclufive right to the fifhery, as was propofed, we are told, by that great and true patriot, to whofe condud: and fortitude the few advantages we haye obtained are owing, VIII. <« Ifitisalledged, that without fettlements, the country will always be expofed to the ^urprize of the Frencbt I anf*er, fays he ; « When we cannot preferve our colo- nies by our fhipping, or fo awe our neighbours by our fleets, and (hips of war, that they dare not attempt them, our cafe vill he fad, and our property will be loft, or in imminent danger, not only abroad, but at home likewife." IX. « All the fi(h that is killed at Newfoundland, in 9 fummer, is not fufficient to maintain f^rength enough on fliore to defend two fifliing harbours againft ten men of war ; whereas that country has more harbours to defend, than are to be found in Old- England-;' and there are ftill more in NovaScotiOi the coaft of which extends 3 or 400 leagues, with innumerable harbours on it, which can never be fecured hy the fettlemenis in the count. y. If a protediion is wanted by a fettlement in thefe coun- tries, it fhould be a place of ftrength, fuch as Louijburgh-, and e'-n ♦hat might be taken, as well as ^ebec, after all they will coft. If that, and the other charges of thefe fettle- ments, were laid out on the navy, and the keeping of a fleet there, they would be a much greater (ecurity to the v;hole natiop, both . 'lome and abroad. the bF THE COLONIES. 34 J the nation would have got its own again, what is juftly due to it, and what might have been fome compenfation for the expences incurred} but by the fettling of thefe countries we are only burdened with an additional charge ; and Britain may be a lofer, and France a gainer^ by depriving her of countries, which are rather a charge and detriment, than any benefit to th9 Nation. But it is not furprifing, that many feem not to know what the advantages of the peace are, or the ways of improving them, when they feem to be totally unacquainted with the grounds and occafion of the war. We are told every day, and it feems to be the general opinion in Englandy that the war was undertaken merely on account of the colonies j *' a war undertaken folely for their proteftion * j" ** by which they had profited fo much j whofe interefts, commerce and fecurity had been the firft objeds of the peace -f," fay they ! But furely, they, who are of this opinion, are as little ac- quainted with the grounds and occafion of the war, as with the proper methods of improving the advantages gained by it. The war was un-* dertaken for No*va Scotia^ and to fecure the fiftiery of Great Britain^ in which the colonies have no other ecncern, than to benefit their mother country, and to partake of thofe ad- « cc ^/ ^ .^^^^. / < Photographic Sciences Corporation w,- ^' V <\ LV A) •^ ^\ ;\ 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4503 r/. \ vV '^ 350 THE state! regarded. There are no fuch lands to be fouhci in all the Britijh dominions in North America, but on the 0^/oand Miffifippiy from which the colonics are excluded by thefe regulations. Before the war they were fettled on the river Ohioy Wood river, Holjion and Cumberland ri- vers, beyond tliQ Apalachean moxxninnsi but now they are confined within thefe mountains, by the proclamation ifTued for that purpofe. Thus if they were at fuch expences, or gained any advantages in the war, they have been de- prived of them fince the peace. This is the more to be regarded, as the colonies have no other way, either to be indemnified for their expences, to recruit their circumftances, or even to pay their debts in Britain, but by cultiva- ting fuch lands. But if they were even poflef- ied of them, they would not fo foon raife/^r- iing cajh, to pay taxes, which thefe authors cxpedt from the infignificant refources they would point out. The making of new fettle- ments is a matter of expence, and not of imme- diate benefit or profit j and the colonies fhould rather be relieved from taxes, and fupported with credit, to enable them to be at that ex- pence, than burdened with fuch impofitions to maintain Canada and Florida. They have for- merly been in debt to Britain, by the fettling of new plantations, which paid their debts; but now they are in debt for want of fuch fre(h lands, and have no way to pay even their juft debts, or to purchafe abfolute neceffaries; and mufl i OP THE COLONIES. 35r fnuft be utterly unable to pay fjch taxes, as thefe authors and many others would impofe upon them, efpecially from the refources they mention. There could not have been a more improper time pitched upon, to impofe thefe taxes and regulations on the colonies 5 when it is well known, they muft either enlarge their plantations, and improve them in flaple com- modities for Britain, or interfere with hei: both in Agriculture, trade and manufad:ures. The only refource of the colonies is in the improvement of their agriculture, which is a work of time ; bur as this is a matter of fuch eonfequence, it ought to be no longer negledted. It is oiily by their agriculture, that the colonies can make money to pay debts, taxes, or even to purchafe necelTaries ; if we would therefore enable them to do either of thefe, proper regu- lations fliould be thought of for this purpofe ; by which alone either Great Britain, or the colonies, can indemnify themfelves for their ex- pences in the war, or recruit their circumftan- ices after it. They feem not to know what co- lonies are, who worM think of any other re- fources in them. But inflead of thefe, r )thing feems to be thought of but trade, which at the beft is a very improper bufinefs for colonies, who fhould only trade with their mother coun- try ; and for want of commodities to trade in, which they can only have from their agriculture, the North American colonies are very con- fiderable lofcrs by their trade, as we have (liewn 2 above. 35^ THE STATE above. If they would gain any thing by their trade, they fhould fupply themfelves with their own ncceflaries from the produce of their lands, and (hould make their imports, which they nowconfume, articles of commerce j this is the firft regulation wanted in the colonies, and might very eafily be complied with. By that they might make, with their gains, and the faving of what they now expend, at leaft half a million a year ; and Greaf Britain might fave nigh as much in Canada and Florida j which, with the return of fo much from the colonies, are articles amounting to a million a year, and are highly worthy of confideration, in the pr©- ient cifcumftances of this nation. Next to thefe, the regulations mofi: wanted in the colonies are fuch as concern the improve- ments of their plantations in ftaple commoditie j for Britain, which are equally interefting to them, and to their mother country. Thefe arc regulations which fhould have been firft thought of, if we would either exped to get money from them, to prevent their eftablifliing of manufactures, or to reap any other advan- tages from them. It (hews the utmoft want of thought and confideration, to expedl to get money from colonies, which produce nothing to gain it. Thus in all the regulations con- cerning the colonies, this chief and fundamen- tal one feema not to have been regarded. If we would expe«3: any thing from them, we ihould fiift put them in a way of making it. This i Si % ft OF THE COLONIES. 353 This Is to be done by two ways, as we have faid, either by extending their fettlcments to new and frefli lands, and more favourable climates, or by improving their old plantations j the firft of which depends upon Great Britatn, and the laft is more particularly the bufinefs of the co- lonies i although there is little hope§, of feeing it done without the encouragemeirf and aflift- ance of their mother country. So long as the people in the colonies can get neceffaries, which the land produces, they think of nothing elfe, and the public thereby lofes the benefit of their labor, which might likewife turn to much more account to them. Their bufinefs there- fore is, to fet about the improvement of their lands, by fome public afts and encouragements ; and to tax themfelves for this purpofe, if they will not be taxed by others. A little laid out upon fuch an occafion would be the beft har- veft thev ever reaped. It would be like Seed Corn fown in a foil which yields a thoufand- fold. It is in this manner that the colonies fliould be taxed, both for their own benefit, and the interefl of the whole nation. Such taxes may be paid in the commodities pro- pofed, when they cannot poffibly pay others, till they are enabled by the produce of their lands. This would likewife enable them to pay their debts, and to purchafe their neceffa- ries from Britain ; whereas all other taxes de- prive them of the means ot both. They who would think of any othsr way of taxing the X z colonies, ill Nl 354 THE STATE colonies, do not know what they are, nor thd iniereft of the nation in them. r.'7^1 '' r^,^ """^^l "^^y '^^y ^^^« to '"<^em- Pify themfelves for their expences in the war, to pay their debts, or to recruit their circumftances ; and there is no other way to recoiTipenfe the nation, for the many miili- ons that have beep expended. This is there^ iare a debt, which they owe both to them- lelves, and to their mother country ; the dif- charging of which might retrieve their loft cre- dit, and be ample compenfation for their taxes, i^y fuch ftaple commqdities to fend to Briiam they would much more than compenfate the nation, fur the taxes from which they have been reheved, or are unable to pay j and fince they are free from the one, it would be a full fatisfadion to all who know what colonies are, or fhould be, and would appeafe the clamors ot many, to fee fuch improvements made in t^em, for the benefit of the whole nation; 1 his would render their connexion and de- pendence on Great Britain more lafting and lecu , than the mofl: abfolute government, and more advantageous to them, than a perfed li- berty and freedom, or total independence ; and would at the fame time be more profitable to the whole nation, than any thing elfe that can polhDiy be done in colonies. Such a defign is the more neceffary, as it muft appear to all, who are m the leaft acquainted with the ftate of the colonies, that they muft now either im- prove their lands in ftaple comoiodities for Britain^ OF THE COLONIES. 25S Britain^ or interfere w'th her both in Agricul- ture, Trade, and Manufadlures, the eflential employments and fuhdamehtal refources of the rtation. For this piirpofe ibme 'dri'coiifagemeiit ha^ been giVeri to thfe growing of Hemp and FlaX| ^nd the getting of tiibber ; but thefe are never ikely td be a lading ftaple of any of our cd- Jbnies, and are at the heft but very infignifi- cant refources for fdpporting fo many countries, and maintaining fuch^ number of people. Since thefe therlefdre have failed,and are fo infufficient td anfwer the purpofe, fdriie other methods fhould be thought of, to {Jroniote fuch a llghal ihtereft of the nation j of which any one or two that tan be propdfed would riot be ifufiicient, as \Ve have faid ; and to find any number of ftaple conimodities fiiitable to their Angular dnd pecu- liar fdil and climate, and fit to maintain fuch a riumbef of people, is riot fo eafily done, a^ may perhaps be ihiagined. But this is a fubjeft Which would require a more particular expla-- nation, if we confider the fingularities of the climate oi North America, and the condition of Planters j and if fuch a defign is likdly to be encouraged, we riiay perhaps profecutd it in an- other part of this difcodrfe ; although there are no hopes of feeing it carried into execution, without the united endeavours of the whole nation, both at home and abroad. In the mean time, it may be eafy to fatisfy every unprejudiced perfon concerning the flate Z z 2 of 3.56 T H E S T A T E of the colonies, Co far as relates to the repeal of the late Regulations and Stamp-adt. Many would reprcient this as a very great lofs to Greaf Briimn', the contrary of which muft appear to all, who will confider not only the condition and circumftances, but the very nature and inflitution of colonres. It is not in the nature of things, that they, who make fo little, and mult buy every thing, fliould ever have money. They muft not only fupply themfelves with their own manufadures, but muft even vend them, before they can ever be worth money, as they have nothing c\£t that will ever be a fource of wealth. But how pre- judicial fuch a ftate and trade of the colonies would be to Great Britain, muft certainly appear to all. That is the dired way not only to deprive the nation of the benefit of them, but to make it impoffible for them to live under a Britifj government, without a total relaxation and infringement of the moft eftential and fun- damental laws relating to them. Were they to be forced to raife money by the produce of their labour, or manufadures, as they muft do, fo long as their lands produce fo little, their trade could never be confined to Great Britain^ They might live under a Britifi government, it is true, but they could never fubiift by a de- pendence on Great Britain for their neceflaries 5 which are the chief and firft thing to be con- fidered in the governing of any people what- evefj OF THE COLONIES. 357 ever, and efpecially thofe who are at fuch a diftance. Abfolute neceflaries are above all other confiderations, and to deprive people of thefe, is to unhinge the firfl fprlngs, and the very defign, of government, which is intended for the prcfervation and better fubfiftence of the people. The firft thing, therefore, to be con- lidered, in the governing of the colonies, is, to enable them to fubfift under the government they are fubjed: to ; which they will never be able to do by paying taxes, fo long as their re- fources are fo few, and fo limited and confined. Their trade and refources are now, as they ought to be, confined to Great Britain^ which does not want, and will not take, what the greateft part of North America produces j fo that, to oblige them to raife money, even by the produce of their lands, is to force them into a trade with foreign Powers. Thus the repeal of the taxes impofed upon t je colonies is fo far from being a facrifice of the higheft permanent interefts, and of the whole majefty, power, and reputation of go- vernment, as many feem to thinic, that it appears to be the only way to fecure them *. The whole income * The dignity and power of Government was fecured by the wife and juft law enadied, *< to bind the colonies fubjefts of Greot Britain, in all cafes whatfoever," as they ought to be; but that cannot extend to impojfible cofes^ fuch as the taking of money from them, when it is impof- fible they (hould have any. Neither can we fuppofe, that the wifdom of the legiflature will extend it to cafts, which i'i ii are 358 THE STATfi income of thefe colonies docs not amodrit id above ten or twelve killings a head fer anmm> which fame time it wa. very proper, that the colonies fhould be boand>^.^, of Gnat Britain, in all cafes whatfoevlr. That It IS .mpoffible for thefe colonies ever to have money, appears from many confideratiorts. Firft, th^ balance of trade upon their exports and imports into BrilTn « about a mtlhon a year, bcfides which, they anniat? purchafe from Britatn to the value of about iqo 000/ rt negroes, wh^h takes all the money they have^or can get" o keep up their plantations of ftaple commodities for IS J^m on which her whole intereft in the colonies depend : Th^ makes th? balance of trade againft them, at IcaftL 1,100,000 /. per annum j and yet that, if they were able t« pay It, IS not fufficient to purchafe a fixth part of the necef- fanes they want from Britain. ^ to the fejt. Indus where they are refufed both money 0? any valuable effefts that will purchafi; it ^ Thirdly, their refources for getting money confift in the vent of their produfls, for which they want markets Their trade IS confined to a few fmall iflands, whkh are noi Sufficient to take off a tenth part of the produfts of that Con- tinent. If we would ha ve given them any refources to make money as is pretended, ic fhould have been by aH enlarge- mem of our pofftflions in the fVeJi- Indies : But inftead of that, heir trade there was reftrained, if not riUned, by thefe Regulations. Among others, the Spaniards came to deal With them at Penlaccla with a cargo amounting to 6oo,oo(y doLars, as was faid, but we were hindered to take their money ; which occafioncd the firft failure of the Ncrih Afiencan merchants in their remittances. Thus we woulcf take money from them, when they have none, and at the lame time hinder them to get it. If thefe things arc confidered,' it would not even be for he .ntereft of the people of Great Britain, to have a righl< to tax the colonies. They might clamour, and efen petition, OF THE COLONIES, 359 ivhich wlil never pay taxes, nor even purchafa ab/olute necejjarics. By taxes, therefore, you firft oblige the people to fupply thcmfclves, independent of Great Britain, and then to carry on a trade with other nations, in order to raife money, both of which are equally oppo^ fite to the higheft permanent inter ejh and govern^ meat of Qreat Britain, And this is not only the cafe at prefcnt, but is likely to be much more fo hereafter. The daily and great increafe of ^ the people in North America muft render this their income, and abilities either to pur. chafe necefTaries, or to pay taxes, ftill lefs than at prefent, unlefs they have both manufaanres gnd a trade in them. They will foon want all ^he produce of their lands for their own ufe, pfter which it will be very difficult for them even to carry on a trade with Great Britain ; ?nd abfplutely impracticable to raife money by petition, for fuch a popular meafurc, unwittin^I" ^n their pwn ruin. This is the great inconvenient 1-,^ governments, unlefs they are fubjeft to foa ivhich is what we have above called too great piankind to be entrufted with, and in the j. appears to be contrary to their intereft to enjoy, ^t could be more prejudicial to the intereft of Great Britain, than to take money from thefe colonies, on any account whatever, and above all, for fuch purpofes as the maintain- ing of Canada and Florida, Jf it were poffible to tax the colonies for the benefit of the nation, it (hould be in fuch ftaple commodities as are wanted from them ; although even that would require great prudence and conlideration, if it were to be extended to fpcm all, as will appear from confidering that fubje^. it. ^60 THE STATE it, to pay taxes. Even if they were to make all the improvements in ftaple commodities that could well be propof'ed or thought of, they would never pay taxes. Before they can make thefe, the people will be twice as numeruus as they are, and their income, if it were ten times as great as it is at prefent, would hardly be fufficient to purchale their neccflarics from Britain, Thus it fignifies nothing, whether Great Britain has a right to tax her colonies, or not, lince that right jan never be worth a groat ; and it would be the greateft lof? and detriment to the natioil, ever to exercife it. This muft ever be the tale, fo long as thefe colonics depend on their mother country, without either Itaple commodities, manufacture^, or trade, that turn to any account to tbem ; and the whole piolits of thefe elltntial rtTources, both of wealth and fubfidence, center in, and are reaped h\ Great Britain, If thefe things are cuiifidered, it muft appear to be the grc\i:eC. inconfiftency, either to exptd:, or to take, n-ioney from thefe colonies. That is confaiy to the very nature of colojjies, and to the intent of fettling them. The nation gets both their money, if they have any, and their eff^dls, by trade, and can exped none by a revenue. Upon thefe accounts, it was abfolutely necefiary to repeal ihe taxes impofed upon the! , as it was equally contrary to the very nature of things, and the intereft of Great Brital'iy that they fliould ever be able to pay or TiiE COLONIES. 36/. bay them, till they enjoy ?'l the profits of their own labour, and of a trade in the produce of it} whichis to mal;etiiem independent. Many other regulations are as contrary to nature itfelf, particularly . in the acquifitions,. and niufl: b9 repealed, when they come to be known, as the reft have been. Opinionum comment a delet dies, nctura judicia ccnjirmat. Many inde J Icem to be apprehenfive, that the repeal of the Stamp-adl may make the co> Jonies Icfs fubjedt to a Britijh government, and more iuclinable to aflert an independence j in which they (he v. themielves to be totally unacquainted with therh in this refpedt, as well as in all the other important concerns of the nation. The inhabitants of the colonies, like all other Englifimeriy have ever had a firm attachment to their mother country, and hqr government, on account of the invaluable blef- lings they enjoy, from her happy conftitution and form of government ; this has hitherto fe- cured to them thofe liberties and privileges, which they derive from her, and are as tenacious of, as all other Englijhmen : This is the great band of union between the colonies and their mother country, which we (hould difTolve, by depriv- ing them of the liberties and privileges of their fellow-fubje(5ls, which they have hitherto en- joyed, and think they are entitled to by their birth-right, in common with all otiier lubjedts of the realm. To deprive them of this condi- tution, is the fareft way to mf.ke them thirik of another j but (o long as they enjoy all the A a a benefits ')' i6' THE STATE benefits of fuch a government, they never ca« have a better. This is fo well known to all in- telligent people in the colonies, that although many hefe imagine, they want to be independ- ent, and to fet up for themff Ives, yet we be- lieve, no one am.ong them ever once thought of any fuch thing, unlefs the people here put it in their heads. So long as they enjoy their prefent happy conftitution, they would not be independent, if it were in their power, or left to their option. They know very well, if they were to throw off the mild and aufnicious government of Greaf Britciin, they muft be fubjed to tyrants of their own, and expofed to invafions from their enemies. It is therefore only an ofiicious meddling, by people who feem not to know what colonies are, that creates any difturbances between them and their mother country. Such people, by tampering with their government, in order to fecure it, take the dired ways to overfet it. AH the other regulations made concerning them have as dired a tendency to obitrudl the vztj de- figns, which they intended to promote. Their bufmefs, and the difficulties in it, are, to pay their debts, and to purchafe their neceffaries ^ and all regulations (hould be made fubfervient to thefe purpof:;s. Let them alone, to tranfaft thefe in the heft manner they can, unlefs you would enable them to do it in a better manner, which is the chief bufinefs of the nation, and you would hear of no difturbances in them. Their liberaes, fafety and fecurity, are a certain n PF THE COLONIES. pledge for 3^3 of _ _ eir allegiance which is above all others. ^ „„„„ ^^ union between them and their mother coun'tryl founded on the nature and reafon of things, and the rights of mankind, which are as lafting as the world itfelf, if we do not counterad: them. Befides this, there is as great a tye of union from their interefts, which are mutual and naturally connefted together. The colonies which produce flaple commodities for Bri- tain, could not find fuch another market for them J and even thofe which produce nothing of that kind, have the liberty of vending their produds in other parts of the world*, and the advantage of a trade with Great Britain at the fame time. To cement their union, therefore, and to make it lafting, nothing is wanted but to fecure their property by fuch a trade, both m public and private tranfa6tions, under the happy conftitution they enjoy. And as this hath been done, by the repeal of the Stamp- adt, the colonies thereby have their liberties and privileges confirmed to them, their conftitution eftabhfhed, and their property thoroughly fe- curedi and Great Britain has thefe certain pledges for their allegiance and dependence j which, it is to be hoped, will remove all jea- loufies and fufpicions, or grounds of complaint on either fide, and confirm that union and good under/landing between both, which are fo ne- cefi'ary for their mutual interefl: and welfare, and which it was our defign to point out the ways of efiabliOiing. t Tk -r -m. iN 1 S, E R A A. Page 172, line 35, thus rW this. Page 191, line 15, Sanciri readLancid: Page 272, line 15, head r^ai hogOiead. Page 284, line 3, zte read late. Page 300, line r, which read which refources. Page 337* '»ne 19, they r^ad the fettlements.