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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be ffilmed at difffferent reduction ratioa. Thoae too large to be entirely included in one expoaure are ffilmed beginning in the upper lefft hand corner, lefft to right and top to bottom, aa many fframea aa required. The ffollowing diagrama illuatrate the method: Lea cartaa. planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre ffilmda d dea taux de rMuction difff6rents. Loraque le document est trop grand pour Mre reproduit en un seul clich6, il est ffiimi d partir de I'angle aupAriaur gauche, de gauche i droite. et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'imagea nAcasaaira. Las diagrammes suivanta illustrent ia mAthode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 CANADA PUBLIC ARCHIVES ARCHIVES PUBLIQUES ^^^p THE • ' LATE REGULATIONS, * RESPECTING THE Britifb Colonies ON THE CONTINENT OF AMERICA CONSIDERED: In a Letter from a Gentleman in PH I L A D E L- PHIA to his Friend in L O N D O N. Profunt minus refle excogitata j com alios incitent faltem ad veritads inveftigationem. Fulb. a Bartol. PHILADELPHIA Printed ; LoKDON Re-printed, for J. Almok. oppofite Bur- lington^Houfe, in Piccadilly* m.dcclxv. ( ;) ««i« THE LATE REGULATIONS, RESPECTING THE Britifh Colonies, CONSIDERED. SIR, WHEN I laft wrote to you, and faid, " that the late meafures re- fpedting America, would not only . be extremely injurious to the Colonies, but alfo to Great Britain," I little thought I wks entering into an engagement, which would oblige me to exceed the ufual limits of a letter : but lince you defire to have at Jarge the reafons in fupport of this opinion, and I always think it my duty to comply ' "\vith ( 6 ) with your rcqucfts, I will endeavour in the clcareft manner I can, to lay my fcntiments before you. The American continental colcnies arc inhabited by perfons of fmall fortunes, who are (o clofely employed in fubduing a wild country, for their fubfiftence, and who would labour under fuch difficulties in con- tending with old and populous countries, which muft exceed them in workmanship and cheapnefs, that they have not time nor any temptation to apply themfelves to ma- nufactures. Hence arifes the * importance of the colo- nies * It has been fald in the Houfe of Commons, when complaints have been made of the decay of trade to any part of Europe, ** That fuch things were not worth regard, as Great Britain was pofleflTed of polo- nies that could confume more of her manufactures than (he was abl^ to fupply them with. ** As the cafe now ftands, we fhall fliew, that the plantations are a fpring. of wealth to this nation, that they work for us, that their treafure centers all here, and that the laws have tied them faft enough to us ; fo that it muft be through our own fault and mifmanage- ment, if they become independent of England. Davenant or. the Plantation Trade, <* It is better that the iHands fhouid be fupplied from i' (7) jnles to Great Britain. Her profperity de- pends on her commerce -, her commerce on her manufa" r, BcAWEs's Lex. Merc. Red. ** We may fafely advance, that our trade and na- vigation are greatly encreafed by our colonies, and that they really are a fource of treafure and naval power to this kingdom, fince they work for us, and their trea- i'ure centers here. Before their fettlement our manu- fatSlures were few, and thofe but indifferent ; the num- ber of Englifli merchants very fmall, and the whole (hipping of the nation much inferior to w,hat now be- longs to the northern colonies only. Thefe are cer- tain fadts. Rut flnce their effablifhmcnt our condition has altered for the better, almoft to a degree beyond credibility. Our manufactures are prodigioufly en- creafed, chiefly by the demand for them in the planta- tions, where they at leaft tal^cofF one-half, and fup- ply il t 9] the j rert of Europe interferes with her, and various accidents may interrupt them. The benefit from hence is at prefent im- hienfc 5 but in future tinies, when Ameri- ca fhall be more fully peopled, muft exceed "tvith prudent management the warmeft iviflies of a Britifh patriot. Our chief produdlions are provrfionii, iiaval ftores, furs, iron and lumber. A few colonies yield tobacco and indigo. Some of thefe Commodities are neceflary to Great Britain ) but all that flie requires ate vaftly infufficient to pay for her manufa(flures which we want. The productions of fome of the fouthern colonies may perhaps be equal to their demands, but the cafe is wide- ly different with the northern ; for in thcfe, ply us with many valuab''e our ioiportations from (be foreign planta- tions. However, under all thefc reftraints, and fonic others that have been impofed on us, we have not till lately been unhappy. Our fpirits were not deprefTed. We appreiiend- cd nq defign formed again ft oqr liberty^ We for a long tinie enjoyed peace, and were quite free from any heavy debt, either internal or external. We had a paper cur-7 rency which ferved as a medium of domcftic commerce, and permitted us to employ all the gold and filver we coujd accjuire, in trade abroad. We had a multitude of market^ and the Dutch for fplcqs, fays, " Thefe agreements are proper for a poor nation, whofe inhabitants are fatisned to forego the hopes qf enriching themfelves, provided they can be fecure of a certain fubfiftence j 6t for nations, whofe flavery confifts either in renounc- ing the ufe of thofe things which nature has given them, or in being obliged to fubmit to a difadvanta- fl;eous commerce." * Except fait from any part of E^prppe for the f\- iheries of Newfoufidland, New-England, Nevv'-York, vas ever made of injuftice from the depreciation of the currency. [ '5] bills in fuch a manner, that their cmiilions were of vaft benefit both to the provinces and to Great Britain. The inconveniencics under which the colonies laboured before thefe emiflions, are well remembered, and were produced by the fame caufe that di- ftrefles us at this time ; that is, by Great Britain's taking off all our gold and iilver. There was then £o little money among feveral of them, that a ftop was put in a manner to buying and felling,and even fhop- keepers were obliged to barter their goods for food. The efFed produced by thefe e- miffions was furprizing— Trade revived j and the remarkable and immediate |J in- creafe Ij Value of the exports from England to Penfylvania at different periods. In J723 they were ^^15,992 194 1730 - - 48,592 7 5 1737 - - 56,690 67 *74^ ' . n" .., 75*^95 3 4 In the year 1 723 the nrft bills of credit Were emit- ted in Penfylvania to the value of 45000I. In 1728, part of the firft emiflion being then funk, 30000I. more were emitted. It appears from the account above^ that in feven years, from 1723 to 1730, the exports increafed ;^32)599 8 i fterling. In 1738, great part of the preceding emiilions being then funk, there was an creafe of our importations (liewed'hovir ad- vantageous they weye to Great Britain. If any inconveniences were feared from this kind of curreney, means might have been found to prevent them, without utterly a- bolifhing it : but now, the apprehenfion of mifchiefs that might have been moreeafi./ obviated, has deprived us of real benefits. Perhaps no mode could be devifed more advantageous td fhepablic, or to individ^iafs, than an emiflibn, and re-emifnori, amounting in the whole to 8ooool» Irt five years afccrwards, it appears by the account aBove, the exports increafed near 20000I. ilerline. In later times, when larjger emiffions have been made^ the exports have propoftiortabiy increaftd. In ^56* 55000!. were emitted : and in 1756, 30000I, In 1757, the exports amounted to ^^268,426 6 6. Afterwards our emifltonir were ftill greater, and in one year of the war, the exports rofe to more than 700,000^ ilerling. It is not pretcnted, that the inereafe of our impor- tations isf folely owing to the emifllons of paper money, but it is ught to be a very great caufe of that in- ereafe. It is undoubtedly owing in part to the increjifc of peopk by propagation, and the influx of foreigners. But fuch great and fudden increases as have been men- tioned in the ihort fpace of (evert of five years, from 1723 to 1730, andljorti 1737 to 174/2^ could not, in any great degree, pioceed from the inereafe by propa^- gatton;-and at that time I think foreigners did not flow ( '7 ) than our method of emitting hills in thw province for our own ufe. They arc knt out upon good fecurity, chiefly real, at the-in- tereft of 5^^rf^«f. The borrowers are allowed a long term for payment, and the fums bor- rowed beingdivided into equal portions, they are obliged to pay one of thefe with the inte-^ reft of the whole, every jrear during the term. flow in upon us in fuch numbers as they fince have done. In the war Large Aims were brought among us fbr the maintenance of the fleets and armies, it is true i but that our currency Was then of great utility is^ evident) becaufe when the greateft quantity of it was pafling, bills of exchange we'it lower than they were for a long time before, or have been fince* It may be objeded, that the complaint of the fear- city of money in America, particularly in this pro- vince, cannot be well founded, as we have lately had fuch large emiffions. I am veryrfenfible how liable perfons are to errors in queftions of this nature,, and therefore I think my felf obliged to fpeaic with diffidence on the fubjedl. Perhaps the following obfervations may in fome meafure an(\ver the objedliolfi. ifl. About one-half of the emii'Hons is funk. zdly. Avery great part of the bills now circulating are pafling in the neighbouring provinces. 3dly. Our gold and filvcr are fent to Great Britaint fothat butfmall quantities thereof are now current among, us^ and therefore we mufl almoft entirely rely on our paper for the medium of domeiiic commerce. Laflly, It does not feem probable, that we fhould have heard fuch great com- plaints of the fcarcity of money, if the extreme re- flridtions of our commerce, had not fo geiy rally pre«- vented our ufual metliods of acquiring it. ^ C This ] •'I , ( i8 ) This renders payments very eafy ; and as no perfon is permitted to borrow a large fum, a great number arc accommodated. The cort- fequcnces of fuch regulations are obvious. Thefe bills reprefent money in the fame manner that money reprcfents other things.. As long therefore as the quantity is propor- tioned to the ufes, thefe emilTions have, the fame effects, that the gradual introduction of additional fums of money would have. People of very fmall fortunes are enabled to purchafe and cultivate land, which is of fo much confequence in fettling new coun- tries, or to carry on fome bufinefs, that without fuch afliftance they would be in- capable of managing : for no private perfon would lend money on fuch favourable terms. From the borrowers the currency pafTes into other hands, encreafcs confump- tion, raifes the prices of commodities, quickens circulation, and, after communi-' eating a vigour to all kinds of induftry, re- turns in its courfe into the pofleflion of the • borrowers, ( '9 ) bflfrrowers, to repay them for that Jabour which it may properIy.be faid to have pra- duced. They deliver it, according to the ' original contrads, into me treafury, where the intereft raifesafund, without the impo- fition of taxes, for the public ufc. f{! While emiflians are thus condudled with prudence, they may be compared to fprings^ whofe water an iduftrious and knowing former fpreada in many meandering rivulets through his gardens and meadows, and af- Hr it has refreshed all the vegetable tribes it meets with^ and has fet them a growing, leads it iiito a refervoir, where it anfwers ibme new purpofe. '.. If it could be poffible to eftablifli a cur- rency throughout the colonies on fome foundation of this kind, perhaps greater benefits might be derived from it| than would be generally believed without the trial. With refped to the reftridlions laid on Qur trad^ to foreign plantations, it has been C z alledgec^ 1«mj|7 'i ''■f ( 20 ) allcdged as a rcgfon for them, ** that our iflands ought to be encouraged." They ought to be : but Cliould the intcrcft' of one Colony be preferred to that of another ? Should the welfare of millions be facrificed to the magnificence o^ a few ? If the exor- bitant profits of ont coiony mufl arife from the deprefiion of another, (hould not fuch injufticc be redreffcd ? There is a vaft difference to be made in calculating the gains of any particular branch of bufinefs to the public, and to in^* dividuals. The advantages to the lad may be fiuall, and yet great to the firft, or the reverfe. The flatutes made to reftrain tho trade of the continent in * favour of tho iilandsy * " The agents for NiewYork, in their conteft with the fugar colonies, affirmed, That their winters being feveie, obliged them to take oW more of the woolen manufactures of this kingdom (for which thejf ri'mitted gold and fther) than all the iflands (Jamaica excepted) put together; and which I believe has re-* iiiaincd uncontradi(Sled." Be AWEs's Lex Merc. Red. Tf one province then exceeded all our Weft Indies, e^ccept Jamaica, in this particular, what proportion would ( 21 ) Klands, feem to tend cathcr towards pro- moting would that finzle ifland bear flow to all the reft of the continental colonics f The following account of the exports from England to the Northern Colonies, and to the Weft lndi« iflands, will ftiew they were nearly equal fome time ago ; that tliofe to the Northern colonies now vaftlv exceed, and are prodigloally encreafing, While tho/e to the iilands have continued nearly the fame. From 1744 to 174.8, indufive. Northern Colonies, Weft India Jjlands. ....-.'■, '-. 503*^69 i\^%'„ 472>99+ * • — • 734*095 '744 -/[640>ii4 i^ 4 1745 - 534»3»^ » 5 J 746 - 754*945 4 3 >747 - 726,648 5 5 1748 - «jo,243 16 9 19 '5 9 I 3 Total ^3,486,268 i^,^'rotal/3,363,337 la 10 Pilxerence 122 930 10 4. £3,486,268 From 1754 to 1 7 58, inclufive. Northern Colonieu JVeJi India IJlein^s 'J.' 1754 -;^i,246,6i5 I II 17^5 - 1^177,848 6 10 1756 - 1,428,720 18 JO 1757 - '>727,924 2 io 1758 * ?,832,948 13 10 £6*5,675 3 o - .694»667 13 3 733'45« *6 3 - 776,488 o 6 877*57 ' i'9 n Total £7,414,057 4 3 Tot. £3,767.841 12 II Diflference 3,046,215 II 4 £7»414.057 4 3 Tot. for the Northern Colonies in the firft term — — £3,486,268 i 2 Pltto, in the fecond term -« 7,414,057 4 3 Incrcafe, £3,927,789 3 i * 1 ( 22 ) moting I partial than general intercAs j and it appears to me no paradox to fay, that the public would be as great a gainer, if eflatet) there were fo * ijioderate, that not a tenth part of the Weft India genden^en, who Total for the Weft India Iflands, in the firft term — iC3'3^3»337 '^ iq , Ditto, in th? fccon4 tern) -r- 3,767,841 12 11 Increafe, only j^o,404,504 Z i ( •— — ' ", The difference between fhc erpployipent affordetl to the manufaifturers of England, by the Northern Colonies and by the Weft India Iflands, i.sftill greater than it may appear to be from the firft view of the preceding account : for a ipuch greater q^antity of £aft India goods is exporte4 to the laft tnan to the firft; and theEngliftimanufaiSlures conCumed by then) generally derive their value from the richnefs of the materials, n)any of which are brought from foreign countries, but thofe we cpjifnine, chiefly .derive their value from the work beftowed qpon thcfin. (Tide note to page 5,; . ^ . • X yide nittetopage 10, * *' A great advantage which the Ffench have over the Englifh in their fugar colonics, is their Agra- rian law, wherpby monopolifts are prevented from en- groflin^ too much land ; fo that the number of whites 1% greatly encreafed, the land much improved, more commodities raifed, the planters obliged to a more frugal way of living, and all things rendered cheaper^ By thefe means Martinico can muf(er 16,000 fighting inen ; but Jamaica, which is near three times as large, only 4000." . fuf KE* on trade^ now <\\ ( 23 ) now fit in the Houfc df Commons, could obtain that frequently expenfive honour. It is allowed by thofe well acquainted with the idands, that they cannot fupply Great Britain, and thefe colonies, with fu- gar and other articles, and that they can by no means confume the productions of thefe colonies ; yet in * favour to them we are almoft entirely prevented from fending * It is recited in the 6th of Geo. II. ch. 13, now made perpetual, '^ that the fugar colonies could not carry on their trade on an equal footing with the fo- reign fugar colonies, without fome advantage and re- liefgivcn to them by Great Britain." That advan- tage given by Great Britain was to compel the con- tinental colonies to take their productions at any price they pleafe to aflc. In fhort, to grant them a mono- poly fur fugar. 7'his was taking from one indeed to give to another j but goes not to the root of the evil 5 as the next preceding note evidently fhews. For if Cirreat Britain fliould facrifice her own interefts and thofe of her continental colonies ftill more, if it be pofTtble, to the intereft of thefe iflanders, they never vrill " carry on their trade on an equal footing with the foreign fugar colonies," until there is the fame moderation in their eftates, and the fame frugality ia their living. By a very Angular difpofition of affairs, the colonics of an abfolute monarchy are fettled on a re- publican principle ; while thofe of a kingdom in ma- ny refpe<5ts refembling a commonwealth, are cantoned cut among a few lords, vefted with defpotic power over myriads of vaflals, and fupported in the pomp of b^lhaws \" '".eir flavery. thefe .11 If i it 'I! ( »4) thefe produ^^'ions to any other markets. Hence it follows, that we arc frequently obliged to fell our caEnmodlties to them nt fo low a price us not to pay the fird cod and freight ; while we, being in a manner prohibited from getting the Wed India pro- ^udtions, for which we have occaiion, any where elfe but from them, mud pay ex- travagantly for them. Nor is this management attended, as it js preTumed, with any benefit to the mo- ther country, but with a diiadvantage cither where the produdlions of the foreign plantations are con fumed among us, or re- exported to Europe. By the compulfioni on us to take from our iflands, the price of their produdtions is raifed on the people of Great Britain. The revenue would be en- creafed by this redridtion being taken off, as wc diould willingly pay a modierate duty upon importations from the French and Spaniards, without attempting to run them ^ while a very confiderable dtsty would be paid Us) paid on the -f* fiigars of our iilands, which, inllcad of coming to us, would then go to Great Britain. Ccfidcs, whatever cxtraor- iiinary price we pay for the produdions of our own iilands mud leil'cn pur demand for Briti/h manufa(fturcs ; fincc it is an Jj undeniable f The re(>ri«Sti«i^n thctraie of the cojonics to U^ feign plaiKatiotis for n>elaflt;s, is particulurly grievoui; aiiJ impohtic, as the melnfl'tt') h/owght from iheiicc was (Jiltilled fur the Fifhcries, the Indian' and Guinea trades, the profit of whkh centered iu Great Britain, it is (aid, our vc-^els now buy fpirituous liquors on thu coart of Guinea Jrom the J>utch. I This cannot be diijputed by any one who is ac- <3uaiiitcd with Anierica^ The increafe of a man's wealth there (liew* itfclf in a greater confumption of iljritifh miiiiwfadtufes of all kiinda.— This reafonin{; in favourof the jcontjee^ita^ colonies trad^ with fo- f eiwn plantations, is confirmed by what Sir Jofiah Child mentions of N. England. — He f.iys, ♦* England lofes by the unlimited tra^e of this colony to other fo- reign plantations, but gains by her diredt trade to Old Kiigland, from whence (he exports nianufatflures to ten times the value of her imports." (See the note to ^age 5. j What was it then that €na'.)led New Eng- land to pay ten times the value of her imports to England, but the profits of her trade to foreigjh plan- tations ? I'his appear" to be a dire6l authority in Support of the arguments hereafter ufed. It Lems, therefore, that Great Britain of late, through too great eagcrnefs to gather golden fruits, has ibaken the tree before they were full grown. With a little pa- tience they would ripen, and then of themfclves drop jmo her lap. D *» The -> > I>- ic ( *6 ) undeniable truth, that what we {}>ouId fave in that way would be chiefly fpcnt* in this. It may alfo be added, that our commerce with the foreign plantations carries to them '* The inhabitants of our colonies, by carrying on a trade with ifieir foreign neighbours, do not only op- cafion ; gteatt • quantity of the goods and merchan- dizes of Europe beinw fent from hence to them, and a greater quantity of the produiEl of America to be fent frpm them hither, which would otherwifo be car- ried from, and brought to Europe by foreigners, but an increafe of the ftdipen apd navigation in thofe parts, which is pf great llrepg'h and fecurify, a$ wc]l as of great advantage to our plantations in general. And tho'igh fome of our c Ionics are not only for prevent- ing the importations of all goods of the fame fpecies jthey prpduce, but (ufFer particular planters to keep great runs of land in their pofTeiTioti uncultivated, with defign to prevent new fettlements, whereby they imagine the prices of t^eir commodities may be af- fected j Vtft if it bp cpnfijJered, that the markets of Great Britain dcpcnjd on the markets of all Europe \n general, ^nd that the European markets in general de- pend on the proporticn between the annual conl'ump- tion ai)d the wfhole quantity of each fpepies annually produced by aUn4tions; it rnuft follow, that whether wr. or foreigners ^re the producers, carriers, jmporT ter;? and exnorters of American produce, yet their refpcctive |>rices iij each colony (the difFerence of |reit|Jjf, cuftoms and inipqrtatipns confidered) will al- ways bear proportion to the general confumption of the whole qunntity of each fort, prpducq^d in all co - lonies^ and in all parts, allowing only for the ufqal contingencies that trade and commerce, agricultqre and manufaiSlures are liable to in all countries." PosTiETH wayt's) Univ. Did. of Trade apd Commerce. very li m (*7) Vifry confideratle quantities of BritiQi md-' iiufa6lui"cs for their confiimption. * if our importations from tfiem fliould be tc-exported to Eurdpe, the profits would center in Great Britain, according to the tifual cdurfe of oUr trade, fhe ftatute faffed in the twenty-fifth year of Charles the fecond, ihdeed mehtions this praAice ^s injurious. It might be fd, if regarded without its attendant circumflances ; but if they are taken into view, and it be con- fidcred, that if we do not carry f hefe pro- dudlions to Europe, foreigners will, no mifchief fcems likely to enfue from our be- coming the carriers. § The reftridtion alfo with legard to our irOn is thought particularly fev«re. When- ever We can get a better price in Great Britain than elfc where, it is unneceflary ; whenever we can get a better price in other * Sec the preceding note, t See the preceding note. places, 'II i (2?) places, it is J prejudicial. Cargoes com- poied of this metal, provisions, and lum- ber, have been found to anfwer very well at the Portii£juefe an^d ferae other markets ; and as the laft articles are frequently very Iqw, and our foreign trade is reduced tofo few commodities^ the taking away any one of them muft he hurtful to us. Indeed, to j^equrre us to fend all qur iron to Great 7n4: |f Great-Brjtiin really takes oflPrfronJ Sweden iron to the value of jiTioOjOOo, according to the cakuktiort that has been rtiade, yet flic docs not lofe all that (utn. Not ta infift on the oiercly political advantage of hav- ing a Commence with that proteftaht kmgdo'nv, A\hich. by being beneficial to htr, maymor^ fiB|t>ly.jtta«hH«r to our intereft, it may be obferved, that the trade o^ Great-Britain to Sweden, it is for 'iron in the grofs, •which IS afterwards worked up, and large quantities of it re-exported; fo that moftcy may thereby be brought into the kingdom, and a ^[reat number of hands- is employed. There is a- vaft difierence "between this trade, and that to France, ifrom^ Whence llic importa- tions into Great-Brit^jn are nierisly for confumption, without affording any iimployment to lier people, or any profit by re-|»cp9^taaon. Befides^ if the colonics can get more by carrying their iron to foreign ports, tha»to Great-Britiini j(ahd if -they cannot, there is no occafion of a law to compel them to carry it to Great- Britain) they wiU be more able tQ;mak(e larirer demands for Britim manufa^ures j fo th^t Great- Bri- tain- vi'ill gain the profits of our iron, to make up her lofs by what (he takes from S tveden. Britain, fo (29) firitain, is, in the opinion of fothc of adt moft judicious merchants, to reqtfire an impoflibility * for as this article is fo heivy, and fuch fmall quantities can be fent in one vefTel, they alTert, that we cantwt &nd freight diredtly home for one half of it. ^ i defides the circumdances already men- tioned to prove the injarious confequeoces of the late redridtions, there is another, which has great force in perfuadiing me, that our trade ought by all in«a»s to be more encouraged and extended dt this uait than WAS formerly neceilary. Our fottle- ments then comprehended only a narrow ftrip along the fliore of the o<^a«V 5 th^ Were lefs populous 5 and their ;diftance from the fea ports being fmaH> they wct« fupplied with everything they wantfcdfrom thenciCy without any length of inUnd car- riage. But now we haye, penetrated bouncl* kfs forefts, have pafled over immenfe mountains, and are daily pufhing further and further into the wildernefs, the inha- I m> ( 3* ) bitants of tlicfc remote regions muft of hc- ceffity hold very little intcrcourfe with thofe which are near the fea, unlefs a very ex- tenfive commerce Aall enable thefe to fupply them with fuch quantities of J fo-' reign commodities as they want; and at fuch prices as they can afford to pay. Every reftridion on our trade feems to be a reflridtion on this intercourfe, and muft gradually cut off the connexion of the in* terior parts with the maritime and the mo- ther country. ' But it is uhneceirary to endeavour to prove, by reafoning on thefe things, that we (hall fuflfer, for we already fuffer. Trade is decaying, and all credit is expiring! H Money is become fo extremely fcarce :{; It is apprehended, (hat if the greateil part of the commodities demanded by the back country fhbuld not be Britifh but Weft-Indian, yet it mufl be bent^- ficial to Great- Britain to promote this trade by all means. For if the countiy nearer the fea grows rich by fupplying them with the produ and our merchants would think themfelves very happy to leave o8f bufinefs with fuch eftatcs as the others begin with. I fpeak of the merchants in general j for we have on the continent in- dividuals who are rich, but their number is too inconfiderable to defervc any notice on this occafion. Befides, the interefl of money being lower at home than it is here, *^thofe who trade on borrowed flocks, can do it to much greater advantage there than we .can. Indeed, among us it is almoft im- pofTible ( 3S ) poflible to get money to trade upon at any rate. How unequal, under the prcfcnt dif- advantagcs, a merchant's commerce will be to the payment of all the taxes impofed by the Stamp ASi on his polices, fees with clerks, charter-parties, protefts, his other notarial a6ts, his letters, and even his ad- vertifements, experience, I am afraid will unhappily prove. Thus," I apprehend, that this a6l will be extremely heavy on ihofe who are lead able to bear it j and if our merchants and people of little fubrta'nce languifh under it, all others mud be afl:e<5tcd. Our mode of taxation hath always been by making as cxaft an eftimate as could be formed of each man's eftate ; by wiiich means, our taxes have been proportioned to the abilities of thofg who were to pay them. Few perfons are employed in the colledion of them ; their allowance is very moderate ; and thereforfc the expence is fmall. No exceflive penalw ties, no tribes of informers, no dreadful and dcteftable courts are neceffary. This I imagine is the mode of taxation, which . E 2 in i I ■ n I 'I ( 36) in young colonies will be found to be kail oppreflive and deftrudtive, and certainly the moft equal : but by the Stamp ASi^ the X wealthy who have money to let out at intc- reft, or to make purchafes, and undoubtedly ought to pay the mod towards the public charges, will efcape thefe taxes, while the whole weight of them will fall on the nc- celTitous and indudrious, who moil of aU require relief and encouragement. But.it may be faid, ** That the merchants will not be affected by thefe taxes, becaufe they will raife the prices of their goods in proportion, and that at length all taxes mufl arifefrom lands'* This rule fecms more applicable to very populous and rich countries, where the ma^* nufadturers and landholders through necefli*- ty or the force of fafhions, have preffing dc>- mands upon the merchants, than to fuch a country as this, where a great majority of the people live on their lands in a very t If a rich man buys land» it is generally from the diftrefled, and therefore the fellers fituation will oblige him to pay for the deed, when the othtr infifti on it'i and^when a man borrows money, every body knows who pays for the bonds and mortgages, plain (37) jplain way; For by pra^ifing a f ri^fruf gality and induftry, we may render Qupfclvcj more independent of the aierchantS:, than the circumdances of more populous and wealthy ilatee will permit the other clafTes of their people to he. The high prices therefore which our mcrphants impofe upon their goods, wHl difcour^ge the fale of themi and cofifcquently they muft ** be aflFe<5ted by the tar.es," which oblige them to raUc the prices in thi$ manner. However, granting that all taxes muft arlfe from landsa it follow;, that where the profits of the lands are fmall, they can bear but friiall taxes. The more labour is beftowed on them, the greater the profits w/// be, and the taxes may be. In Old populous countries there is an opppr* tunity of beftowing this labour, and the manner of doing it is well under^ood^/ Thus in England, the profits of land arc fo great, ^as to fupport a very large number of nobility and gentry in fpendor, and to afford means of raifing taxes to an amazing amount* Nor are the workers of the land unrewarded Il'i 1 t' [38] unrewarded ; for the farmers have Tuch long leafes, and other encouragements, that they thrive and live comfortably, and many of them are very wealthy. How different i« the cafe in America ? The inhabitants being fcattercd thin through the country, and labourers being very fcarce, they think themfelves fortunate if they can clear their land, fence it, and any how put their grain into the ground in fcafon. Ma- nuring * or improving foils is not known, except in fome fmall clofes near cities ; but every one muft be content with what his land will yield of itfelf. With this It muft l5c1:6nlidered, that at lead four fifths of the people in America live upon farms, either of their own or rented, and fpend their fmall profits in maintaining their families ; and it frequently happi^ns from the length and feverity our winters, that the whole produce of a man's farm is not Sufficient to maintains ^^'t' " Further, it maybe obfcrved, that our lands are not fufficiently cultivated, even where they are ca- pable of great improvement. Hence large trails ferve only to maintain a fmall ;iumber of people. If we a(H» why our lands (meaning in Scotland) arc fo ill cultiva. < ^^ "'^ ted, ( 39 ) maintain his family and Aock*. Wc arc informed, that an opinion has been induftrioufly propagated in Great Bri- tain, that the colonies are -f* wallowing in tec!, btTtdcs the obvious caufes arifing from the poverty and unfkilfuhicrs of many of our farmers, the ihortnefs of their leafes, and other things which will occur upon the lead reflcdlion, it is not a little owing to a want of inclination for uericulture, &c." Diilcrtation on the numbers of mankind. * Small as the value of our land ii, it is ftill daily de- crcafing, by the number of markets for their produce being lelTcned j which mufl in time give the people an inclination to try what they can make by manufac- tures. The riches of a people are always in proportion to .the number of hands employed in works of fkill and labour. Where thefe are few there can be but little wealth ; and where there is little wealth, but very fmall taxes can be born. + ** It is certain, that from the very time Sir Wal- ter Raleigh, the father of our Englim colonies, and his ailjciates, fird projedled thefe ellablifhments, there have been perfons who have found an interefl, in mif- reprefeiiting, or leflening the value of them— TK? at- tempts were called chimerical and dangerous. After- wards many malignant fuggeftions were made about facrificing fo many Englifnmen to theobflinatc defirc of fettling colonies in countries which then produce very little advantage. But as thefe difficulties were gra- dually furmountcd, thofe complaints vanifhed. r^o fooner were thefe lamentations over, but others arofe in their Head ; when it could be no longer faid, that the colonies were ufelcfs, it was alledged that they were not ufeful enough to their mother country ; that, while we were loaded with taxes, they were abfolutely free ; that the planters lived like Princes, while the inhabitants of England laboured hard for a tolerable fubfiflence. This produced cufloms and impofitions, which, if grievous to the plantations, muft turn to our diiadvantage, as well as theirs, and confequently become detrimental to both.'* Postlethwayt's Di(5t. of Trade and Com. In \l\ •?f 4 (4° ) wealth and luxury, while (he is lahouriitg under an enormous load of debt. Never was there a greater niin:ake. This opinion has arifen from flight obfervation^ made in our cities during the late war, when large fums of money were fpent here in fupport of ^ets and armsics. Oui produdkions were then in great demand, and trade flourished. Having a number oi ftringers among us^ the people, naturally not ungenerous or in^ hofpitADle^ indiUged themielYcs in many uncommon cxpences. But the caufe of this gaiety has ceafed, and all the tSe6k. remain- ing is, that we ate to be treated as a rich people, when we are really poor. Tully mentions a man who loft an honoarable office, hy the homely eni'ertainraent he ^ave the pet>plc ^f Rome, when he could have afforded a better j but we have loft vaftly more by the imprudent excefs of jcindnefs, with which we have treated the people of Great Britain who have come anwng us, at an expence that did not fuk our fortunes. In purfuance ofthisdcfign to bringdown the prde of thefe princely planters, fuch heavy impofitions were kid in Great-Britain en tobacco, that the inhabitants of Maryland and Virginia were difcouragcd from raif- ing it. Then the mother country felt her error, and thefe Princes were found to be very poor i>eo >le. The fame unhappy fpirit is row producing the (amemlftakc. There wants buta very litttle more weight upon Mary- land and Virginia, to prevent their raiftng tobacco, and to make them and all their fifter colonies fink un- der their multiplied burthens. [41 1 Fever wnion |de in large fpport were li/hed. ^o all the difadvantages ^hat have been mentioned, it muft be added, that our markets are much more precarious than thofe at home. It is computed, that one half of the people there live in cities, and confequently there muft be a perpetual domeftic demand for the produdtions of the earth ; and foreign mar- kets are not far diftant for the overplus. Here the quantity fold for confumption a- mong us is fmall, and moil of the foreign markets are very remote. h^ These reafons induce me to think, that the colonies, iinlefs fome fortunate events^ not to be expc<^ed, fhouid happen, cannot bear the feftridions and taxations laid upon them by their mother country, witho'^t fuf- fering very feverely. What then can we do ? Which way (hall we turn ourfelves ? How may we mitigate the miferies of our coun- try ? Great-Britain gives us an example to guide us. She teaches us to make a DISTINCTION between HEI^ INTERESTS AND OUR OWN, Teachcs I She requires — F com- n •I* \"i f!^' commands compels — [42 ] ■inliris upon it — threatens— •^nd even diftrefles us into it. We have our choice of thefe two things ~ to continue our prefent limited and dif- advantageous commerce or to promote maniifadures among ourfelves, with a ^abit ofcEconomy, and thereby remove the necef- fny we arc now under of being fupplied by Great- Britai?2, It is not difficult to determine which of thefe things is moft eligible. Could the lafl of them be only fo far executed, as to bring our demand for Britifi manufadures below the profits of our foreign trade, and the amount of our commodities immediately re- mitted home, thefe colonies might revive and fiourifli. States and families are enrich- ed by the lame means ; that is, by being fo indullrious and frugal, as tr- fpend lefs than what they raife can pay for. We have examples in this province, which if imitated by others, muft unavoidably produce the moft happy efFecSls for us : I mean the mm [ 43 ] the examples of the induflrious, frugal, ho- neft Germans, Their lands arc as well cul- tivated as they can be in this new country, and they have the good fenfe to require very little provifions and cloaths more than they can get from their own farms, and make with their own hands. If we only confider for a moment, the confequences of fuch a condudt, mould it be general, we mufl be convinced it muft produce commerce, iince all fuperfluities would be exported j and the Owners having few demands in return, that :^rvmerce \NQ]x\ii of courfe prodqce wealth. Indeed we (hall be compelled, I appre* bend, generally to imitate thefe examples. The late regulations, and our conftant re^ mittances to Great -Britahu have extremely leflened the quantity of money among us, and yet thefe remittances are not fufficient to pay for thofe things we want from home. Ner ?rii.\ will teach us two ways to relieve oUi'TvivcS- The one is, to keep the 5nV//Z> manufin^hires we purchafe longer in ufe or wear than we h?ve been accuftomed to do. The other is, to fupply their place by manu- fa(^urv5 of our own. I dont fuppofe our F 2 difficulties 11 m .Ml m Ph [44] difficulties will imwcdiately produce expert artifls among us ; but as the inhabitants here generally refide on their lands, and live in {^ plain ruftic way, they will be able to Aipply thejnfelves with many articles. Some au- thor, and I think Keyfler, fays, that in Swit- zerland, every family has all the trades in it that are necefiary for its ufe. Their work is not, it may be prefumed, at all m the tafte t)f Lordon or Pifns, but it ferves their pur- pofe; and ti. ■' :oarfe cloaths and fimple furniture enable em to live in plenty, apd to defend their liberty. Something of this kind will be, nay, already is, pradifed by us. It is furprifing to fee the linen and cloth that have been lately made among us. Ma-r ny gentlemen in this city, drefs now in fuit^ produced, manufadured, and made up in this province. The cloth is not equal in finenefs to the beft broad- cloth, but it is warm, ftrong, and not very homely ; an4 when the Britijh workmen underfland that they may meet with better encouragement here than they do at home, I believe in a few years we fhall have very different kinds oi cloth among us from thefe we now make, Jnftances are not wanting to juftify the moft fanguinc; 4 [45] fenguine expeditions on this head. Spain ufed formerly to be entirely fupplied with cloths from England ; but in the reigns only of their two laft kings, Philip the Vth, and Ferdinand ^^ Vlth, their man ufadtu res have been improved to fuch a (iegree, even by that proud and indolent people, that this commerce has entirely ceafed in moft parts of that kingdom. The fame thing has hapr pened in France, notwithftanding the de- ftrudive wars in which fhe has been con- tinually involved. Switzerland fome time ggo fpent large fums of money in foreign commodities i but now they make excellent cloths, and good filks, though the fcheme at firft labored under very great difficulties. That country ufed alfo to be fupplied by Sai^oy with wine -, but the Duke laying a du-» ty upon it, the Switzers remonftrated, but in vain. At laft fome of the principal men promoted the cultivation of vines, though their predecefTors had never planted any. The refult exceeded their hopes. * ** The demand for the Savoyard wine daily decreaf- pd, and inftead of the precarious advantage * KeyJIer, arifino[ 'ii [46] arifing from this impolitic duty^ the certain revenue was irretriveahly loft, and the induf- trious fubje(fl deprived of the benefit of his labour." " Before the fettlement of thefc colo-» nies," fays Pojilcthwayt, " our manufadures were few, and thofe but indifferent. Ir^ thofe days we had not only our naval ftores, but our fliips from our neighbours. Germany furnifhed us with all things made of metal, even to nails. Wine, paper, linens, and a thoufand other things, came from Fra ,, Fortugal fupplied us with fugar ; all the pro- duds of America were poured into us from Spain ; and the Venetians and Genoefe retailed to us the commodities of the E^qft^Indies, at their own price." The aflionifhing alterations in all thefe particulars, are too well knov^^n to need enui meration. These inflances, and many others that might be mentioned, may convince us, that nothing is too difficult for men to efFedt, whqfe hearts are filled with a generous love of (47 J of their country -, and they may convinec the world of the dangers that attend provok- ing innovations in commerce. A branch of trade once loll, is loft for ever. In fhort, fo ftrong a fpirit is raifed in thefe colonies by late meafures, and fuch fuccefsful efforts are already n*ade among us, that it cannot be doubted, that before the end of this centu- ry, the m.odern regulations will teach j4me^ rica, that flie has refources within herfelf, of which Ihe never otherwife would have thought. Individuals, perhaps, may find their benefit in oppofing her ufe of thefe re- fources ; but I hope very, very few, will wifh to receive benefits by fuch means. The man who would promote his own interefts by in- juring his country, is unworthy of the blef- fings of fociety. It has hitherto been thought, by the peo- ple of Great Britain^ and I hope it will ftill be thought, that fufficient advantages are de- rived by her from the colonies, without lay- ing taxes upon them. To reprefent them as an " expenfive appendage of the Britijh em- pire, that can no other way repay the trou- ble and treafure they 'coft her/' is certainly one M ,[ 4« 1 'Ofi ^fti>i frreatcd errors ; and to fpend much tia.c L refuting this notion, would be un- ftecefTary. Every advantage accruing to tl\e colonics by their connedtion with the mother country, is ampfy — dearly-^psiid for, by the benefits derived to her frbm them, and by the reftridlions of their commerce. Thefc benefits have been allowed by the beft writers to be immenfe, and * confifl in the yarioMS employment, and the fuppofttKey 'afford hat -people*. If ..the Ci>\mi^' '^'tiipio her to ' j^y ^tajceSj. i^'it |lt€<^j*uftfUlto' nir, as if/ii^;^ paid them ? OTj indeed, may not the colonies with the ftrideft propriety be faid to pay a great part of thofe taxes, when they confume the Britifi manufadlures loaded with the ad- vanced prices occafioned by fuch taxes ? Or^ further, as the colonies are compelled to take thofe manufadtuies thus -f* loaded, when they might ■» ■ ■■■ t ..I . II I. .. - . I ■ , I ■ I . .. ♦ Chiefly j even the fupplying her with naval ftores, &c. being inconfidcrable, when compared with the other advantages. f ** If it be afked, whether foreigners, for what goods »;hay take of us, do not pay on that confumption a great portion of our taxes ? It is admitted they do." PosTLE- # r49i might furnifli themfelves fo much cheaper from other countries, may not the differences between thcfe prices be called an emnnons tax paid by them to Great Britain ? May they not alfo be faid to pay an enormous tax to her, by being compelled to cany their moft va- luable productions to her alone, and to receive what (he pleafes to give for them, when they might fell them at other markets to much greater advantage ? Laflly may they not be faid to pay a heavy tax to her, in being pro- hibited from carrying on fuch manufactures *- ... ■ ■ . J Postlethwayt's GVffl/ BritairCs true fyftem. By the confumption of Britijh manufaiSlures in America, we pay a heavier tax to Great Britain^ than if they were confumed at home. For in the bringing them here, a vaft number of merchants, fa£tors, brokers and feamen are employed, every one of which muft have fuch a profit, as will enable him to fupport himfelf and his family, if he has any, in a country where every thing is dear by rea- fon of the high taxes. So far was the parliament from thinking in the laft war, that any further taxes (hould be laid on the colonies, fo convinced indeed were they, that we had exceeded our a- bilities in the fupplies we gave to the crown, that feveral fums of money were granted to us, as indemnifications for the too heavy expences in which we had involved our- felves. The fums thus given, paid part of our debts, but we ars ftill labourinsj under the remainder. G as \ ' 1 I [50] as they could have employed themfelvcs m with advantage, and thus being obliged to rcfort to her for thofe things with which they might fupply themfelves ? If thefe things are true, and can they be denied I may not the mother country more juflly he called expert^ five to her colonies, than they can be called expenjhe to her ? .ill ■'fl What would France give for fuch expeii" five dominions ? Would fhe refufe the empire of North'Amcricat unlefs the inhabitant* would fubmit to any taxes fhe (hould pleafe to impofe ? Or wouM fhe not rat^her afford them her utmoft protc(5lion, if ever they i^ould be wretched enough to require it, for one half of the emoliMnents Great Britain re- ceives from them ? In Hiorr, the amazing increafe of the wealth and flrength of this kingdom^ fince the reign of queen Elizabeth^ in whofe time the colonies began to be fet- tled, appears to be a fufficient proof of their importance : And therefore I think it may juftly be faid, that the foundations of THE power and GLORY OF GrEAT BRI- tain are laid in america, When. I 5'} When the advantages derived by the mo« ther country from her colonies arc Co * import tant and evident, it is amazing, that any pcr- fons ihould venture to afTert, ** that /he pour- ed out her wealth and blood in the late war, only for their defence and benefit ; and that flie cannot be recompenced for this expence and Jofs, but by taxing them" If any man, who does not chuCe to fpend much time in confidering this fubjecft, would only read the fpeeches from the throne dur^ ing that period, with the addrefles in anfwek to tbem^ he will foon be convinced /or whofe benefit Great Britain thought flic was exert- ing herfelf. For my part, I fliould not now be furprized, if thofe who maintain the a- bove-mentioned afTertions, flaould contend, that Great Britain ought to tax Pcrtugal. For was not that kingdom ** defended by the troops and treafure of Great Britain ? And how can (he be ** otherwife recompenfed for this expence and lefs ?'* If the protedlion of • Vide not^s to page 4. G ;'. Portugal^ ii # [52] Poriugiil, though no taxes arc received from thence, was beneficial to Gav// /jV/'a?///, infi- nitely more fo was tlic protcQiun of the colonies. So far I muft beg leave to dilTcnt from thefw gentlemen, that if tlie colonies, by an increafe of induftry and frugality, Ihould bc-r come able to bear this taxation, it will, in my apprehenfion, notwithftanding be inju- rious to Great Britain. If the fum be trifling, it cannot be worth the difcontentand unhap- pinefs the taking it will produce among fo many faithful fubjects of his Majefty. If it be confiderablc, it muft alfo be hurtful in another refpedt. It mufl be granted, that it is not merely the bringing money into a nation tiiat makes it wealthy, but the bringing money into it by the general induftry of its inhabitants. A country may perpetually receive vail fums, and yet be perpetually poor. It muft alfo be granted, that almoft all the money ac- quired by the colonies in their other branchet pf trade^ is fpent by them iq Great Britain^ [53l and finds employment for her people. What- ever then leflcns the fum fo fpent. muft lef- fen that employment. This I think will be one confequence of the Stamp Act : For our demand will be as much Icfs for Britijh manufadures, as the amount of the fums raifcd by the taxes. So much the fewer BritiJJi merchants, artifts, feamen and ihips will be employed by us, and fo much the more diftrefled at firft, and afterwards fo much the more frugal, * ingenious, )abori-r ous and independent will the colonifls be- come. It is evident from the concurrent teiti- mony of her own mofl noted authors on this fuhjedt, that Great'Britain is fure of having our money at -f- laft ; and it appears no dif- ficult matter to determine, whether it is bet- ter to take it in taxes or trade. — Suppofc the * Great Britain wjll not only lofe in fuch cafe, the i^nnual amount of the taxes, but the people of America cftablifhing manufadlures thro' difcontent, will in time entirely withdraw their intercourse with her — And there- fore her lofs of the whole American trade, may be juftly attributed to this inaufpicious beginning. + See notes to page 4. Stamp n W, *:0 t 5+ I Stamp Act, enforced by uncommon pe- nalties and unheard of jurifdiclions, fhould pick up every piece of gold and filver that ihall wander into the plantations, what would Great' Britain gain by this meafure ? Or rather what would (he not lofe, by at- tempting to advance her revenue by means fo diftreffing to commerce ? But if the late reftridtions (hail not prove profitable^ perhaps they may by fome be call- ed prudent for another reafon. We are in- formed, that many perfons at home affedt to fpeak of the cohnijist as of a people delign- ing and endeavouring to render themfelve: independent, and therefore it may be faid to be proper as much as poffible to deprefs them. This method for fecuring obedience, has been tried by many powerful nations^ and feems to be the rondan? policy of com- monwealths : But the attempt l?. almort c- very inftance from Athens down to Genoa^ has been unfuccefsful. Many ftates and kingdoms have loft their dominions by fc- verity and unjufc jealoufy. I remember none fhat have been loft by kindnefs and a gene- rous confidence. Evils are fi'eqaently preci- pitated (^ ! ■■ pitated by impruilent attempts to prevent them. In fhort, we never can be made an independent people, except it be by * Greats Britain r, ♦ ** If we »rc afraid that one day or other tbe colo- nies will revolt, and fet up for themfelves, as fome feem to apprehend, let us not drive them to a necejftty to feel themfelves independent of us \ as they will do, the mo^ ment they perceive that they con be fuppUed with all things from within themfelves^ and -lonot need our aiUflance. If we would k^ep them ftill dependent upon their mother country, and in fome refpedls fibfervient to their views and welfa.e j let us make k their interest always to be fo." Tucker on trade. *' Our colonies, while they have Englijh blood in their veins, and have relations in England^ and which theV CAN GET BY TRADING WITH US, thefhonger znA great- er they grow, the more this crown and kingdom will get by them j and nothing but fuch an arbitrary power as fiiall makt them defperate can bring them to rebel." Dave N ANT on the plantation crade.- *« The Northern colonies are not upon the fame foot- ing as thofe pf the South ; and having a worfe foil to improve, they muft find the recompence ibme other way, which only can be in property and dominion : Upoa which fcore, any innovations in the form of government there, ihould be cautioufly examined, for fear of enter- ing upon meafures, by which the induftry of the inhabi- tants be quite difcouragcd. 'Tis always uk fort in- nate for a people, cither by consent or upon compul- sion, to depart from their primitive institutions, and ! . '■ ti [ 56 ] Britaht herfclf ; and the only way for her to do it, is to make us frugal, ingenious, * united and difcontented. and thofe fundamentals, by which they were first UNITED TOGETHER. Idem. * The moft efFe<5lu2l way of wiith^ the colonies, h to make it their common intereft to oppofe the defigns and attempts of Great Britain, . *'. All wife ftates will well confider how to preferve the advantages arifing from colonies, and avoid the evils. And I conceive that there can be but two ways in na* •ure to hinder them from throwing off their dependence ; 9Key to keep it out of their powery and the other, out of their xvill. The firjl muft be by force, and the latter^ by ufwg them well, and keeping them employed in fucH productions, and making fuch manufa6lures, as will fupport themfelves and families comfortably, and procure them wealth too, and at leaft not prejudice their mother country. Force can never be ufed efFedtually to anfwer the end, without deftroying the colonies themfelvei. Liberty and en- couragement are neceffary to carry people thither, and to keep them together when they are there : and violence will hinder both. Any body of troops confiderable e- nough to awe th«m, and keep them in fubjeerp ^^^^^^,^^^, '°T^"et! nd exchange their filver lor the manufaaures ot v f ^^^_^^^ povifions of thefe colomes By ^^ ^^^ I commerce inconce.eably b ne ^^.^ Bn»7i fubjcas m.g' t be earner ^ ^^^ po,pmerce the S;..W^- * ^^^^^^^ dcavoured to carry on. Many r ^ rinllars have been brought by tnem fand (".oUars nave ^^^^^^ ^j f ,.„/r,f(./« to lay out there , m' I6i] war on that ftatlon have compelled them to take back thei/ cargoes, the receipt ofwhich^ it may from thence be prcfumed, would be deflruSiive to the inter efii of Great- Britain j-^ Thus we receive lefs advantage from Plorida^ now it belongs to us, than we did when it was pofTefled by our enemies ; for then, by permiflion from the Spanip governors to trade there, we derived confiderable emolu- ments from our intercourfe with them. Upon what reafons this condud: is found- ed, is not eafy to determine. Sure no one confiders Florida in the fame light with thefe colonies, and thinks that no velTels fhould be permitted to trade there, but BritiJJj /hip- ping. This would be to apply the adls of navigation to purpofes diredly oppofite to the fpirit of them, They were intended to preferve an intercourfe between the mother country and her colonies, and thus to cultivate a mutual affe&ion ; to promote the interefts of both, by an exchange of their moft valu- able produdions for her manufadures ; thereby to increafe the fliipping of both j and thus render them capable of affording ^id to each other. Which of thefe purpofes is .. ■«« ^**— ^" i ^h a rrir i liT iiti'rf' mtimmmmimm 162] i,a„fw«ed by prohibiting a commc^^^^^^^^^^^ > ;; \ ^Sf (,y I garrifon. at a great ex- fand-bank. held by g ^^ ^^^^^ ^^^^ pence o '-^-^'Zer ft will, yield a finglc x:;a:::o-.-B.v.-«.but..n.ere- fufes to enjoy. » p I N 1 S. m In a few Days wilt ht puhlifl)ed^ In two Volumes 0£lavo, Price los. fcwecl,or iis.bounJ. I. An authentic Colle(Slion of the Speeches and De- bates in the Uritifli Houfe of Commons, from 1742. Printtd for J. Almon, oppofitc Burlington-Houfe, in Piccadilly. Of whom may he hnd^ II. Confiderations on the Propriety of impofing Taxes in the Britifli Colonies. By Mr. Dulaney of Maryland. Price IS. 6d. III. Dummer's Defence of the Provincial Charters. Price I s. 6d. IV. The Rights of the Colonies, aflerted and proved. By James Otis, Efq; Price 2s. V. The Rights of Parliament, vindicated. Price is. VI. The Grievances of the Colonies, examined. By the late Governor of Rhode Ifland, and printed by Authority of the AfTembly there. Price is. VII. Confiderations on Behalf of the Colonies. Writ- ten at Bofton. Price is. VIII. The Neceffity of repealing the Stamp-Act, de- monftrated. Price is. IX. The Juftice and Ncceflity of Taxing the Colonies, Price is. X. An Examination of the Rights of the Colonie^, upon the Principles of Law. Price is, XI. 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