IMAGt EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) // //^.^^-^ MP. % 1.0 I.I 1^128 |2.5 |5o '■^~ IffllHBI ^ 1^ 1 2.2 1.25 1.4 1.6 ■• 6" ► .S ^,: <9 ^. y] /i ^> y y^ Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WIST HMiH STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716) 872-4503 \ 4 sj ^^ ;\ \ u^ k^ m \ X ^. '^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. 'I CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ©1984 Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attc.npted 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. 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Un des symboles suivants apparattra sur la dernidre image de cheque microfiche, selon le cas: le symbole — ► signifie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signifie "FIN". Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmte A das taux de reduction diff6rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit en un seul clich«, il est fiimd d partir de Tangle supArieur gauche, de gauche d droits, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nicessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 il^ \ REFLECTIONS ON THE / Z-: TERMS of PEACE. «^ LONDON: Printed for G. KEARSLY in Ludgate- Street. M.DCCL.XIII. /; ww^^mm^m^mHfmtmm t ,« 4r- ■i a \i ''» ^ Vj . « 1 1 . 1 ■■ <.li'f \1> ' i:*i.* . ''^■'J' '-^'f-f ''V« .h Jb r^. . ' ■ «■• ^* I •^f>» » fV k E FLEGTIG)l!^S ;i!' ♦* • « % f -4 ■%■' t 2 ] Art* "fhey will appeal to the Avarice of the Interefted, to the Hopes of the ^ « Pauper, to the Refentment of the Ins • jured, to the adlive Ambition of the .Warrior ^ and will refnind the glowing Stafefman of- Vid:oTy and Acquifition. ^ They who feek to gain by Peace, will animate their Caufe with iimilar Addrefs. They will .difplay its dtflfiifivc Bleffings, will enlarge on fmiling Plenty 5 and next, will call to View the 'flaughtering Scenes of hoftile Rage, of ruined Countries and *, relentlefs Armies, the Tears of Violation^ the Sorrows of the Parent, of the Wi- dow, and 0/ the Orphan, with all the affliding Train of Evils, the ufual At- .tendants on dcAriid:ive War. , -». '# . Some again there are, the. Neuters of War or Peace^ the mere Expletives of State, yet conftant to their own partial Ends, who, difappointed in fome narrow Purfuit, will . not ceafe to traduce the reigning Meafures of their Rulers, if they • partake not pf thofe Emanations of Power, which an Opinion of their own Confer- quence has flattered them with a Right ' to expedl* Others, 'n m y * ' 1 '4 » - •• •■■?*,• . . ■ •* [ 3 ] ,: ' Others, yet mans to be lamented, be- caufc more abjedt, are thofc who* di(lurb the public Order, who al'perfe or approve foleiy on the Principle of venal Hire. With thcfe, no A^ or Charadcr is ^empt from Slander, provided they cap^ get Employment in luch dark and inlidious Work. Sony am 1 to fay of them, as well as of many Dealers in Pa- ragrtphs, and Volunteers in Scandal, wha are equally uninjored and unprovoked, that their Indecencies are fuch, as refled: Difgrace both on our Nation and on our Liberty ; that Liberty (which they turn to Libertinifm) fo much the Glory and Boaft of our excellent Conftitutiop. * With rapid Courfc vile D. •imations fly^ .Whilft noble Adions are but boi"n.and die. •>! This Licentioufpefs alluded to, .■ i ^f- f' • ."■ [ -4 ] Impunity ; nay oftert Ifanrgrefs its Bounds, at the Expence of every Motive that is ingenuous, decent and liberal. • - - ; Hence it muft of* Neceffity happen, from this Review of Things, that amoi^ Numbers^ were they even competent Judges, the Eflintate we put upon the Terms of Peace, or indeed any other Scheme or A(ft for the public Service, will in fome Meafure be precarious, be- caufe it will depend upon that flu(ftuating Good, which we naturally graduate ac- cording to our refpeftivc Prejudices and Situations. • *• - '' Yet many ftill remain, I truil:, who urged by Truth alone, firm in that Pur- poie, and nobly warm with generous Pa- triotifm, mark with the faithful Redlitude of thinking Britons, the Difguife of Art, and fee with fteady Eyes the great Objed: of the Whole ; will cenfure human Frail- ty or unintended Faults with Candor, and applaud, with Impartiality, the Means defigned for public Happinefs, tho* they prove abortive. » To ♦ #■* W r*v y -h. ty t 5 ] 4W .•• 4 To proceed then with Hopes of iml^ tating fuch a Difpofition "for Enquiry, to the Tropic of the Treaty , let us r€Colle(5^ ^-while the popular Co,ntroverfie§ that have J3een maintained, concernirrg the reipedive Value of the Sugar-Iflands ccd- pd to the French \ and of QmacLiy with their Ufurpations on the Continent. »;j iJ:" \. • III n -Much has been Aid in Defence of cachCaufe; and indeed fo.ftrenuous hav^ been the Debates on this Subjedl, that it would feem fome Argun>ent, that the Whole may partake more of politic?il Spe- culation than of moral Certainty ; other- wife it is probable we fhould more rea- dily have found it afcertained. -**" - ■ As I confefs my Abilities not commen- •furate to this Determination, I would on- ly prefume to fay, that the Sugar-Illands ceded to the French, when conlidered tipart^ occur to me, to have eminently the Advantage in refped^ to immediate Intereft -, the Continental Ceffions.made to us, the diftingui(hed Preference in re- gard to durable Power and remoter Pro- lit, as may hereafter appear. '- If •♦ #•: * ^ .» * *fc # . •r-W «» # -^ «*■ • I K •. • .■ f 6 ] • ' If the Qacftion was of a 'doubtful Nt- ture, when Canaday Cape-Breton^sii A* cadia were only compared to the other, how much heavier mud be the Scale^ when Vre add to it the unexp^6ted Ac- quifition of Florida and Eaft Louijiana ? Before and during the War^ 'ere Canada^ Cape-Breton^ and th? bordering Ufurpa- tions were conquered and rcpolSflcd, the Choice of the Alternative, between them and the Sugaf-Iflands^ as may be well remembered, was fcarce a Doubt, fo high did the Pretenfions of Value run in Favour of the Continent- The Alarm and Dagger now over, it is funk in Crc»* dit, feemingly, becaufe it is Icfs the No- velty of our Succefs. • Had we at one Time been told of our prefent Boundaries, even with the afto- ni(hing Triumphs of our Arms, what Infidels (hould we have feemed, if we ; had not thought iiich Limits equal to the moft brilliant Victories ? . • * The Imagination could not have * formed an Idea, that the Enemy would ever have been brotight to acquiefce in i"uch Conditions. For,' by Means of the 'ff *• -?«M % ♦If 1,- * f1 * I 7 ] •■ Mijjffipi, Canada itfelf is improved ; by this Communication its Peltry, Woods and Lakes, are made more fubfcrvicnt,- and the fertile Plains of the Ohioy brought hearer the Southern Ocean, rife now a navigable Colony, which otherwife would have remained a mere inland Territory, and a feeble Barrier. ■ . V;, "^ ' . kI >i Ji We are now in the Heart of thelf favourite Loui'fiana^ Mafters of all that mighty Project of uniting by Traffick, the Lakes and the Ohio, the Sources of iS^ Lawrence and the Miffijipiy and of cloathing unnumbered Nations with our Manufa&ories > Mailers of all their Forts and Settlements, the Toil of an Age, compleated to our Hands with great Inge- nuity, Labour and Expence; Conceflions of fuch a Magnitude, as muil amaze a refle 1 I But behold the Power of Prejudice, even in fome well-meaning Men. Lout* Jjana^ which has been delineated a Land \ ». flowing y\ ik • ■"♦•. <■«,' Iff » ■ /I « * * fiowing v^hh' Milk and Honey in th€ Hands of the French, is now deprefTed, when the'more valuable and/ruitful Half is becoine our own, to fandy Defarts, and barren Wilds. Florida. hzs equally partook of* the like pompous Defcription, and invidious Cenfure. 'Buf leaving thefe Obfervers to range f!ie Fields of Fidion, we may with great Probability fay, that although the Spaniards have n^ade but little Ufe of Florida, as having Icfs Genius for .Cultivation than ourfelves, and not in 'want of Southern Lands, yet we may fairly hope to avail ourfelves both from its Soil and Situation. For it being in the fame Parallel of. Latitude with Ferjia, may become a Colony to raife fome of the like valuable Commodities of that Kingdom, and particularly Silk, the Cul- ture of which thrives on the Confines of Florida, in Georgia, where the Mulberry Tree, on wliofe Leaves the Silk- Worms ferd, fo effential to this Branch of Trade, flourifheS in the greateft PeVfedion. A Matter of Moment to this Country, as we now chiefly buy that Article of Fo- reigners ; and as the Trade of Silk, from its growing and almoll general Ufe, is now becom^ in refpcd tc ^:;:& \ em ploy{ f 't •* >., / '*i I [ 9 ] ^p!oys, rtext in Confcquence to out VJoOllen-Manufadtory. :.'•♦ ^ Far be it from my Intentions to elevate any Conqueft or Ceflion at the Expence of difparaging another* My Aim is, that of fincerely reprefenting to the Pablick the Value of what they now retain 5 to make them fatisfied with their Lot, which fome may not properly underftand, and many may intentionally mifinterpret. Not with inflaming Rancour and falfe Inli- nuations, wickedly to attempt to difturb the Minds of my Fellow-Subjc(fls con- cerning what is unalterably fixed, and what merits our warmeft Thanks. The Importance of eftablifhing a Right to cut Logwood, may be gathered from the Difficulty of that Negotiation, as well as from a certain Fadt durinz the Dc- pendance of it. For when it was pro- pofed to M. Grimaldi^ to afc€rtain the Right, he avowed never to lign a Con- dition fo difhonourable, as nothing could affedt him more than fuch a Stain on hi? Nation's Honour ; which particular .Ar- ticle, fo greatly mortifying to them, may be judged of, by making the Cafe our C own. z.-**!/) i !:A<:^t*: >'^'**« ••v...y' ^. I t m «1- .' [lo] own, J It" k - [ '2 ] faid, what in foreign Nations would have been the Cafe, unfullied by Murmurs. : . • , ; •> ■ \ . ■ ,' i In rcfpedt to the Arrangement of the Illands called neutral, and others, who- ever will take the Trouble to perufe them upon a Chart or Map, will find, that if, for Rcafons of Impoflibility, and indeed of Policy too, we could not, in the Nature of Things, keep all ; it muft be acknow- ledged, that in the Aiibrtment of Terri- tory, the Miniftry have paid a judicious Attention not to intermix with each other, where it could be well avoided, the Omif- fion of which Regard might have gene- rated many Feuds in Futurity. Domimco indeed, evidently once a con- fiderable Objeft of the French^ and ca- pable of much Diftrefs to them in Time of War, {landing like a Centinel over the weft Part of MartinicOy and in the Neigh- bourhood of Guadaloupty happily remains with us, by which we gain a moft refrefli- ing Station for our Ships, in the Courfe of Navigation to the Leeward JJlands^ in the neceflary Articles of Wood and Water, Limes, and other Fruit. m [ '3] < > ,'• ■ f It Is the moft known and frequented by the Englipy of any of thofe Iflands; rtilcd Neutral^ and is in itfelf fo valuable an Atchicvement, as ^o need no Addition of Praife. The South End lies in the Latitude of 1 5 Degrees, 1 4 Minutes ; the North End in 15 Degrees, 40 Mi- nutes. So that in Length it is about 26 Miles, but it is not more than fi;^ pver. y.'it. There ftretches through the Ifland one broken Ridge of Hills, with Water run- ning down all its Sides. The largeft Plain is that of Rofeau, towards the S. W. where is the chief Settleme. % Prince Ruperfs Bay is convenient, and fpacious cnopgji for any Squadron, be it ever fo great. The Indians^ who are numerous here, chiefly polTefs the windward Side. The Colonijds cultivate Coffee, Cottqn and Cocoa, of a very good Kind, and like the other Iflands, it would produce excellent Sugar ; which the French, who held it only by difputable Tenure, difcouraged, on account of making them too eminent i(i the ..I .:jiiv?Kr--r. ■■*■ t\ It t H ] die View of their Neighbours, till Length of Poflcffion had mellowed their Title into Right. Its Pofition makes it a con- venient Station for the King's CruiferS and Privateers in War, to wood < , .■', \. The ^panadillois are lihnds fcattered between Granado and St, Vincent's, be- iides many namelefs little Ones, are thofe^ called by the French, Ifiet "Randy Le Gri- forty Cariouacou, Union, Mufisptes, and J^ecouya, or Bfguia, which laft is fertile^ has an excellent Bay entirely land4ocked> and fteep to the Shore, called Privateers \ %': 4 * 1, Hi ■f li6] Bay, hut no Water but what is produced by digging the Sand, which is brackifh. ■•»-4 St. Vincent may be made a noble Sugar Illand, as there arc fine Plains, capable of producing abundant Crops. It J chief Commodities at prcfent are Coffee, Cotton, Cocoa and Tobacco, the Culture of which laft might i fupbrefled, as our Continental Colonies fupply us stmply with that Article. ; . . . v . UiM - i - w, During the laft War, there was a( Cuftom-Houfe, where every thing was regularly entered^ and paid Duty to the French King. It is about twenty-^fivq Miles South of St, Lucici of a circular Form, well watered and wooded^ has a good Harbour, and rich Soil, in which Sugar-Cane flouriftics exceedingly. The Caribbee- Indians are here more numerous xhm ^X. Tobago, . ._ .„ .., . r From this Sketchy inconfiderable as it is, for more could not come within due Compafs, k is apparent there has been Refped {hewn to the Propriety of Par- tition. As by adopting Idands lying •L ncareft r fcjr^ • % .f* ' .-y i\ Im ncar^ft together, not only many Incon- veniences are avoided, but they more effectually afford each other mutual Sup- port. In Peace, the reciprocal Offices of Fricndfhip and Trade are better carried on, and in War they form a ftronger Phalanx to relifl: and annoy the Enemy. II %* ' I iry Iflands have alfo their Advantages that are fmall. In this Cafe alfo we have the Preheminence of Numbers. The large Ifland of Hifpaniola would encreafe in Value, even under the fame Superficies, was it divided into many infular Parts, becaufe it is nearer Navigation, and the I ength of Carnage of their Commodities, retiders Plantations diftant from the Sea, of infinitely lefs Value. Hence we erro- neoufly calculate the Capacity and Trade of Iflands in the IVeJi-Indiei^ if we judge all together from the Proportion of their Size. ! ' , . . . K ' But relative to the Growth of Sugar- Canes, and other Articles of that Climate, it is admitted by Judges, that even thofe who poffefs the leall Land of the three late belligerant Powers, have more Soil D than *> •■■■t t ^*j';j: V: than ever can be cultivated In that Way. Hence the Foundation of our Jealoufies is not in Reality fo great as our Imagina- tions paint if, lince yamaica alone could fupply all Europe with Sugar, was. it cul- tivated throughout its Surface. r>ri;j ,fio .fn.'iiv'^ 'i^i V •.:v^ hvli ^ii.^ : ^;. ^..^^j'.-f;'! It might be looked upon as a finiftcr Defign, which the Owner of thefe Sen- timents firmly difavows, if in this Place the Mention of St, Lucia, fo much the Idol of fome worthy and fenfible Pcrfons, had been omitted. ,•';;': '! lit ' Numerous as our Politicians are, moft feem to agree, that if St, Lucia and the Fifhery had been excepted by Us, that then the Peace would have been un- controvertible in every Point. And they equally unite in confining whatever is worthy Difpute to America alone, on which therefore our Animadverfions prin- cipally turn. St. Lucia, convenient as it might have been from its Pofition, its Harbour, and being a Place of Arms in Time of War, is yet no fatal Deficiency. However, the fame ^: T •■ ■[ '9 ] fame Arguments which plead for our Enjoyment of it, plead as powerfully for the unalterable Attachment of the French to it. Commercially confidered, as to Pro- duce, it is no capital Objedl, becaufe it is fmall, and we have already Illands enough; in refpedt to its Utility in War, the Re- diiftion of it would be eafily effeded, did we either find it neceflary to diflodge the Enemy, as Annoyers of our Trade, or to make it a Port of Arms, which Domifiico or Granada would for fo tem- porary a Seafon fupply, if Antigua^ our prefent Harbour and Magazine did not anfwer that Purpofe. If we coped with France before, we are furely more able now, with more Trade and Territory made at their Expence. - 'i l;i In regard to Hurricanes, though dread- ful Vifitations, they rarely happen, and their returning Times, as to the Seafon of the Year, are nearly known, and therefore provided againft. And let the long Period we have carried on our Trade to the Wefi- Indies^ fuffice to fay, that St. Lucia is not abfolutely effential, notwithflanding the Opinion of fome, D 3 and ( \ I ■ - ,^ .:.!0^'^ # :; [ 20 ] and the Offence it has given othersi whofe Zeal and good Wifhes have car-* ried them to hope for Things in our late Negotiations beyond the Bounds of human Attainment. I < I M And here let it not be unworthy Remark, that our new-acquired Iflands before-mentioned, are more without the Reach of thefe raging Blads than thofe to leeward, which Circumftance undoubt^ edly aggrandizes their Value. Little, I doubt, do our Difputants clofely confider the perplexing Difficul- ties of fuch a public Negotiation as that of Peace. They perhaps make not fufficient Allowance for the interfering Claims and Syftems of Neutral Powers, National Expedations for private Inte- reft, for obdurate Pride and lurking Re- venge, for fubtle Intrigue, the Appli- cation of every Art and Engine to coun- teract the bed concerted Meafures j and laflly, our own Difability for continu- ing a War fo tremendoufly expenfive to this Country. — Indemnification, Reftitu- . J > tion. * •^^***«e*. \ t 2' 3 tion, Compenfation, we know ?re Terms not always eafily apprehended or adjufled between Man and Man ; but, when ap- plied to powerful and contending States, are Aill lefs pliable and dudile. Having pafTed in Subftancc fbme of the mod controverted Parts of the Preli- minaries, let us ftop a while at the Fifli- cry, declining thofe Articles, for Brevity's Sake, againft which no great Altercations arife. The Fiftiery then, ihc^/je qua non of the French^ or the unalteraBle Point of their Demand, has been apparently calculated rather to amufe their Subjects, than avail the State, as it is more plau- fible than folid, becaufe fettered with very material Strictures. The more pro- fitable Parts of the Fishery, thofe I mean intended for a vendible Commodity in fo- reign Markets, feem not the Objed: of their Aim, from the Nature of the Fifh in the curing Part j and the compara- tive Extent of their Limits will ever keep them below any Competition in RefpeA to their Riva'fhip with us. — Our kte Ac- quifitions of Coaft only about the Illand of St. Johns in the Gulph of St. Law^ rence^ ^^p •mmmrn ii [ 22 ] r^«^^, and of Gafpy^ fmall as they feem,' are equivalent in Confequence to the Fifliery of the French. The Diftance too, they are to keep from our Shores, which if they tranfgrefs, are liable to Confifcation, is fuch an Embargo on the Grant, as muft render it of fmall Value* Again, the Fogs fo prevalent in the Country, which may fubjedl them to Miftakes, uill not be our Detriment, but ^heir own. ' There is one Article more of new Im portance to us, in which we only can partake j the Whale-Pifliery, but of late carried on in the Gulph, and at the Mouth, of St. Lawrence to very bene- ficial Purpofes. In the Name of fober Senfe, what is k the French have got by this Ccflion ? Even no more than the Shell cf the ^t^Iut, the Shadow of a Fifliery, which can eafily be cancelled when Provocations juflify us. They who fee by this Grant, l*eftrained as it is, future Navies arife to deftroy our own, may fpeak coercively to 'ft fo'^tl Mi 4 [ 23 ] to our Paflions, but furely cannot Con- vince our Reafon. . I . > *. •io 'i U> . The Lofs of Senegal to the French on the Coaft of Guinea, renuers Goree a Cef- iion of a very inferior Kind. The Na- tives do not allow the Europeans any Eredtions on the Main Land oppofite Go- ree, (o that this Territory is contined to a very rocky and fandy little Ifland, which, by its Situation againft the Conti- nent, forms a capacious Bay of deep Wa- ter to the Shores of the Ifland, in which we can fafely anchor without Gun-fhot, and always puts it in our Power to take Goree, or put what Strictures we pleafe upon its Trade, which confifts only of Slaves, and that in no competent Degree. Hence no Part on the Coaft already our own, could have been fubftituted with equal Convenience and Advantage to ourlelves. The French knew its In- fignificance without Senegal, and labour- ed at having any other Place afligned them, as it was fo limited in its Produce, and fo lufceptible of Controul, which Se- negal is not, ; , • I K i The I ri t 24 1 The River Senegal, whofc amazing Length of Courfe, gives us already thofe valuable Articles of Gold, Ivory, Slaves and Gum-Senegai with the Profpedl of a great Increafe, can virell fupport itfelf, and is known to be totally independent of Gorefy notwithftanding the many In- tinuations to the contrary, fo induAiriouf- ly propagated. If we turn our Eyes to India, we fee our Affairs there, wear the moft pleafing Afpedt i the Preliminaries eT^prcfs, " To rcftore to France fuch Comptoirs [Fac- tories] as they had in the Year 1749, in the Condition in which they now are 5 and farther, to eredt no Fortifications, or keep any Troops in Bengal.*' — A State attended only with a Name, with much prefent Expence if they attempt a Renewal of their Company, and fcarce a Chance of Benefit for Centuries to come. If the Trade before the War was a lof- ing one, and according to their own Au- thors of Credit it wcs^'-, what muft be the Cafe when they have every Thing to begin de novo, againft a Rival already cftablifhcd Mafters of that Commerce, of I tp » [ 2J ] of the Country, and of the Minds of the Natives. Pondicherry^ that imperious Fortiefs of the French^ erafed, has, with their other Defeats, erafed alfo their Ciedit. The Notions of Power operate no-where fo indehbly as among the People of the Eafl, and therefore muft have their con- fequential Effedis. Behold the Continent of America^ and there we fliall find we have acquired fuf- ficient Surface ; and though iome of it has been alledged to be a fandy Defai t, yet, admitting the Suggeftion, there is Fertility enough for any Superfluity of Men which may arife irom other Parts for Ages without end. To have pro- ceeded would have been Phrenzy. The Polleflion of South America would be our Bane ; which, could a Wifli ac- complifh, we ought not to hefitate, in a public Capacity, to decline. Farther Southward, the Climate grows intenfe, more deftrudive of Vegetation, and more pregnant with every fatal Difeafe. The E Gems, tp.-.imiwwipAwn m§ W li ' [ a6 i jCrems, the Gold and Silver of Mexico, Peru and Brazil, may be glittering Baits to captivate Ambition, or allure Rapaci- ty ; but who wants to be informed that ihefe Riches, made current, are already our own, without the Fervor of their Suns, by the Wages of honefl: Indullry, and the Price of our ftaple Commodities j fo long as we keep entire our prefent Polleflions, the Balance of Power and of Commerce, which the Treatyof 1762 has extended and fccurcd. Let us in- dulge ourfelves with a Moment's Amufe- ment, and view the Kings who fplendid- ly call theml'elves the Sovereigns of thefe Countwcs, and then determine, if they are not lefs glorious and powerful than our own Monarch j or if their Subje(5ts are not lefa happy than ourfelves. See them ilothful, v/retched and enervated ; their Parent-Country a Defart, their Colonics in a manner a Sepulchre. In fhort, to them, fuch diilant Empire, and fo cir- cumllanccd, is like to expanded Metal, exchanging Iblid Subftance for gaudy Splendur. In Part, fo far may be appli- cable to France, in refpe(!1: to that Por- »"nn of Loiiijiiina, on the Wcjl Side of tl'iG -jS V^v [ 27 ] the MiJIi/jipiy which they fllpulate to re-- tain, a I'erritory that gives them no Com- mand ot Power, and kemingly promifes not much Profit, as neither Mines nor other valuable Difcoveiies have yet beeri made ; and, if we may guefs from its prefent languid State, and the little Pro- grefs in Improvements fince they occu- pied it, we may reafonably conjedure, that their Rivallhip from that Quarter will give us little Difturhancc. It is Pu- fillanimity to fear it, efpecially if we con- fider the vaft Difproportion of Strength, where we out-number them as F^ifty to one. — On the Contrary, it may rather be expeded, when, in the Courfe of a few Years, we become eftabliflied in our New World, when the Minds of our new*Subjeds (at prefent perhaps a little war'ped by Prejudices infufed by tlie French) become conciliated to our Mode of Government and our Liberty; then, I fay, it is fcarce 'dubious, but that our America, containing the Subjeds of one Power, calculated to breed Men robuft in Conftitution, and inured to Kardfliips^ mufl: be fuperior in Strength to the Southern Parts of the Continent, broken E 2 ill »c-^r..M. J. X 7^ ■' \\ [ 28 ] in upon by the French *, Spaniards^ Dutch^ Porttiguefe, and Enemies of un^ dibmitfing Indians, which tend farther to disjoin thefe already divided Interefts. Little then muft be the Danger from the French, as now limited to Wcftern LouiJIana, almoft: without Ports, fo unfa- vourable to Population, and under the near Infped:ion of a maritime Powerj which could fubjedt their Coaft by the fingle Appearance of a trifling Part of their Navy. For my own Part, notwithflanding the charadleriftic Proverb, ** Give a Frenchman Land, he conftrudls a Fortj give a Spaniard Land, he builds a Church," I am inclined to think, that though the Spaniard is more the paflivc * The French and Dutch^ particularly the lalt, have feveral Settlements on the Coaft of Guianay a Province in South- yimerica. The Portugucfe have the Brazils^ and the Mufquito Indians inhabit the Shores of Honduras and Cam^eachy, Neighbour^ w y,^ t 29 1 Neighbour, and of a lefs incroaching Difpofition, yet in feme Inftances, as in this before us, it may be ultimately more to our Intereft, to have that Country oc- r jpied by the French, in Point of giving Umbrage to the Spaniards, who, as In- dividuals, bear cordial Enmity to each other J as France hath ever made them more the Dupes of its Politics, than the Subjed: of their Refpe(5t or Care, and would therefore proportionably abate the Jealoufy between Spain and Britain, more naturally connected by Ties of mutual Interefl. To make us ftill more fenfible, and fatisfied with the Happinefs of our pre- fent Peace ; is it no Advantage to the Nation, no Comfort to a patriotic Mind, that in this Situation of Things, we have the unmolefted Monopoly of many Ar- ticles of Trade, in which the French, Spaniards, and many other Nations of Confequence, are for ever excluded? I mean our Lumber, Materials for Cooper- «ge and Provifions, on which we fet our own Value ; our Furs, and many naval Stores, with which North'Atmrica now begins Bff5« r '■'i ^ [ 30 J begins to emulate the Countries of tht Baltic. . i - How much the Enemy orice fought to endanger thefe BlelUngs and Emolu- ments, they fo well underftood, their formidable Power, their Bulwarks, their extended Chain of Forts like Walls of Circumvallation, which had well ni^h environed and overwhelmed us, fully evince. ; • . v: ..*: , - Such Dangers the Miniftry have iri their Wifdom effedtually removed. They have for ever turned the afTaiiing Wea- pons upon the Aggreflbrs, fhould they again provoke; for it is in thefe PartSj this human Hive, not in the fultry Tro- pics, that Power is derived to form our Battles, and maintain our Rights. . Should the Enemy prefume, in fu- ture, to difturb us in our legal PofTefllons in any Quarter of the Globe, with what Facility may we pour Vengeance upon them, when our American Continent con- veniently placed, nay more, qualified alone to controul the Illands of the JVefl- Indies, ji H, I [ 3' ] IndieSy is ready to co-operate with the Mother-Country, to chaftife an Infult? Thelmpartial furely cannot refledtupon this Truth, without acknowledging its Force, and that by demanding Continental Cef- fions, as we could not retain all, they have prudently begun at the right End, were we even romantic enough to be in- fpired with the Tenets of the Macedonian Hero. — So much fuperior is the Chance of our Continent fubduing their lilands, ihould fiich a Conteft arife, than that our Colonies (hould become fubfervient to their infular PofTefiions. . , , ;. ; ,-, \ . The Wii(hes of this Country have ever been to deprive the French of a Port in the Weflern Continent. To this End our Policy has been immemorially diredl- ed. The Stride now made has nearly compleated thofe darling Views. The weak Barrier of Georgia^ and of our late Southern Settlements, are now made ftrong, not only by removing troublefome Neighbours in clofe Contiguity, at a greater Diftance, but by occupying their Itrongeft Fortifications and Ports, which will command a confiderable Part of the Sj'a?iijb ^m [ 32 r Sfamfi Trade in War, and protedj oup own, as we have, by this Step, obtained a Security, never before enjoyed, of traveri^ ing the Great Gulph of Mexico, Let us alfo add, as one Advantage not inconfider- able, that the Towns and Territories of St. Matt hew, St. Mark, Augu/Hn, Penfaco- la, Mobillc, Florida, and Eajl Louiftana, ceded to us, have not been in our Me- mories the Theatre of war, (one Place excepted) confequently thefe Conquefts, from our Ignorance of the Places, would have been more difficult, whereas thofc we have returned them, are, with their Bays, Harbours, Rivers, Watering-Pla- ces, Pafles, Roads and Fortifications, as exadly taken as the corred:eft Surveys could admit of, a Circumftance of in- finite Moment to avert a War, and to awe them into a Continuance of good Be- haviour. In this Light alfo, the Partition has its comparative Value j for even ad- mitting the Sugar- Iflands rendered more tempordry Profit, as has been obferved, the other, of which we only as yet fee its woril: Side, is likely to be made more lading, as more evidendy founded on Principles of Concord and Stability. Be- fides. *i : ir4' p a i [ 33 ] ndes, France, over whom we mod watch, is certainly, from the Nature of our Power, more vulnerable in her Illands, than elfe where. The Fifhery likewife, u magnified, land made fo much the Subjed: of t)e- clamation, is enjoyed by them under fuch humiliating and nervelefs Conditions, that the Annihilation of it, fhould the Enemy force us to fuch Extremities, is not the Week's Work of a fingle Squadron. Thofe who can fee, in the little Iflands of Miquehn and St. Peter's, future Dun^ kirks for Trade and Annoyance, may poflibly mean well, and their Sufpicions may arife from a laudable Love of their Country ^ but by what Charm this is to be accomplKhed, we are not acquainted. As well might they believe, for it is equally prepofterous, that the Fogs of tiie Climate will be the Allotment of the Englifi^ whilft Serenity and SunOiine will be the propitious Portion of the French, Apprehenfions fo void of Foun- dation, and fo indifcriminately published, fervc, like manv others, onlv to fow Ran- F cour. [34] ♦ our, and propagate Difcontentj to tfi^ manifcft injury of the State and of Indi- viduals, againA whom, oftner than Mea- fures, fuch boifterous Clamours are level- led. But there is dill more j thefe rocky PVagments oiMiquelcn and St. Peter's have alfo been converted into Monte Chrijiies*^ terrible Afylums of illicit Traffic to our vaft Continent. Did we find that IJle^ Roy ale y when in PoiTeflion of the French ^ a Fortrefs of Strength, and better calcu- lated for illicit Trade, was adapted to this Purpofe? There is neither the Temp- tation on our Part, nor the Abilities on theirs, as at Monte Chrijlie i as well might they attempt to import Spices from LabradorCj as avail thcmfelves in 'ill * Monte Chriftie is a Port in the Spanijh Part of Hifpaniola, where fome of our North- AmericanSy in War efpeciaiiy, carry on a fc- cret Trade with the Inhabitants of the Ifland for Provifions, Pipe-Staves, and other Kinds of Lumber ; and ^although efteemed contra- band, is faid to be very beneficial to Britain^ fts the Gain centers with us. St. I 35 ] Bt Peter's and Miquelon of Profit fiom pur Coaft, to any Degree of Confe- quence, m Exchange for their Commo- dities. ' It has likewife, with equal Penetration, been obfcrved, by a Writer, That the Pofition pf the above Iflands is dangerous in refpedl of being fituated near St, yobn*s^ our ftrongeft Fort on the Ifland b^ N"wJoundlajid j but it is plain he neither knew their Situation, nor had he con- fulted his Map. St, Jobtis lies on the Eaft Side, and the Illands m (^uefVion at 'f wo hundred Miles Diftance on the South Side of Newfoundland, And indeed had his Geographical Observation been a Fa(5V, his Reafon would have reverted upon himfelf J for aJTuredly the Dan^^rr js lefs on our Account, in proportion to the Strength yve have near them. This minute Miftake would not have deferved a Recital, much lefs a Confuta- tion, had it not been to Ihew the Procli- vity of fome to Error and Mifrepre- fentation. Falfhoods we daily fee, whofc F 2 Authors, fv Iril- %,n 1 ■ . . >J [ 36] Authors, when they tend to Right, arc cold and infipid, when they deviate to- wards Wrong, they are rapid and ex- travagant. But there ever did exift a Set of gloomy Politicians, who may be faid to feek for Sorrow, and relifh truly no Succefs. Indeed, Opinion, the very Spirit of Liberty, fliould be fxee as Air, it is our Birth-right, and may the ineftimable Pri- viledge long cjntinue; but at the fame, Time, let us be honeft and judicious in its Ufe ; at leaft, let decent and deliberate Argument be our Guide, fo as to behave; in our Controverfies with that Civility and Decorum becoming Perfons not adluatcd, by Rage or Party. Let us feck to con- vince, rather than vilify ; and when we give our Antagonifts the Fall, let it be like the Fall ofCafar, graceful and modeft, but not the Stab of Brutus. In fhort, let us attack as we fhould like to be attacked. Good Manners is expedVed by all throughout Community ; it is the Cement of Intercourfe, and the Bond of Peace. Why then fhould Cafuifts depart from mm I 37 1 fiom Co generous a Point, whether in Converfation or in Print, when probably the Balis of the Difpute is but political Conjedture, or oftentimes at bcft, qnin- terefting Certainty ? The Name of Author carries with it the Idea of Refpe\A. [ 40 ] - hent. Henceforward, we may firmly rely, that Tranquillity will fpread her iBleflings for a Perpetuity over thofe long difturbed Realms. The Indian^ inftigated by the French to A6ts of horrid Cruelty, will now become an lifeful Subjedl. He will now negledt his Scalping-Knife, and bury his Hatchet, for the placid Scenes of Peace ; his War the Chace, his Willi alone Allegiance* To take Survey of the Whole, let Us a Momeij*. ^ iulge ourielves in the pleallng ProfpeCi of a well-conditioned Domain, circumfcribed by the mod le- gible Charaders, and happy from Con-^ tinuity and other peculiar Circumftanccs within. Let us figure to ourfelves a Coun- try, fortified in Front by the Ocean (on which we reign the acknowledged So- vereigns) aided againft an Enemy by all the natural and artificial Difficulties of the Coaft, and with the naval Power of Great -Britain, Again fecured by undif- covered Wilds, the poffible Work of future Ages to explore, by the impreg- nable Fok^ and by the copious Waters of %.. h)-- w [ 41 ] of the Miffiffipi, within which Barriers lie ample Regions, even fo fuperior in Computation to the Scale of Miles, that Geometricians meafure them only by Degrees of the Earth's terraqueous Sur- face; Regions, in which are included every Climate and Soil, confequently ca- pable of every valuable Produdion. Rich in numerous navigable Lakes and Rivers, replete with Fifh, and joining us in Amity and Intercoarfe with unnumbered Tribes ^ in Plains, Hiilsand Woods, flocked with all the Variety of Animals, Vegetables and Fofiils, that can gratify Man, or exalt our Commerce. Such, I fay, is not an ideal Portrait, for fuch exadtly is that America we now fecurely poffefs, rich in Towns and Ci- ties, rifing Colonies, and every other flourKhinz Circumflance of Ponulation, Trade and Indiirtrv, the certain Means of Power and of Opulence. But this is not all, evei: other Q^iarters of the Globe have bee nade, by this Per. ce, to con- fefs us their mii^Jity Owners. We reap not only hali" jl*neric(i^ but extend our G Sway [ 42 ] Sway from our own Senegal^ whofc Springs arife in the very- Bofom of Africy to tributary Ga?iges, in more diftant Had other Nations thefe Advantages, thefe independent Refources, how would they approve themfelves favoured of Heaven ! Or, to fpeak in other Terms, was any different Power, the French in particular, invefted with fuch Dominions, how great would be our Envy 1 What alarming Apprehenfions of Danger (hould we not entertain ! Hold but this Mirror up to our Judgment, and we (hall be more able to fee the Truth. Through this Glafs, her fair Proportions will be more judly reflected, than if viewed only through the diftorting Medium of our Pride and Vanity. , With Reafon then, may we pronounce ourfelves much benefited and improved, great in Commerce, revered abroad, and powerful at home. As fuch tli^jrcfore is in Reality our State, let us not blall the Laurels of this glorious War, by wanton and II (43 ] and iinjufl: Refledlions on a Peace : Let us not flight the Difpenlations of Providence, and the Fruits of our Arms, by ungrateful Repinings and ungenerous Sarcafms. No, rather let us firft approach the Supreme of all with fervent Gratitude for the BU 'lings he has fliowered upon us, and of iate beftowed, in ending the dire Ca- lamities of War ; next, exprefs our Sen- timents of Refped to thofe, who merit well in giving Reft to panting Nations, by boldly (landing forth our Champions in the arduous Taflc of Peace j a Tafk, in which (although a miniftring Angel could not fatisfy all) they have fucceeded, in the Opinion of the Confcientious and Difpalfionate, beyond ExpeiftatioUf •> IS In regard toConf^rudions of a more nar- row Kind, put upon feveral Articles in the Preliminaries of Peace, by implied Defeds, and equivocal Exprefllons, we may reft af- fured,that fuchObjedions as arc fignificant, will be fully obviated in the general Trea- ty. But it mufl remain a Truth, that mod of thofe, which have been exhibited to the G 2 Public, •In ■ t [ 44 ] Public, appear to be of fuch a trifling N . J~e, or are in themfelves (o very crude, X .0 . eed no Comment or lUuflration. 'It ought alfo to be remembered, that Pre- liminaries are but the Arguments of the Work, the Foundation as it were only of the Fabrick, which is yet to com- pleat. Some Criticifms, indeed, intro- duced through the Channels of our News- PaperSj and other Publications, have, no Doubt, been pertinent, and although the Fears may have been ncedlefs, they are yet commendable, becaufe delivered with that Sobriety and Deference, the Com- panions of Merit, which fliew the Owners influenced by Reafons only of public Attachment. Thefe, it is hoped, will be amply grajfied, as there is little Queftion to be made, but the cleared Words, and moft explicit Declarations, will be attended to in the Treaty. So much may fuffice to wipe off fome Impreflions, which may have been tranfiently made on feeble Minds, by the intemperate Sallies of Folly and Inconliftency. Before [ 45 ] ' Before I dirmils thefe Reflexions, perr mit me to add a few mifcellaneous Thoughts, whch appear to me perhaps in a different Point of View, from what it may iiffedt many others. , . . In refpe6t to our Acquilitions, I think it would be highly advifeable to keep a refpedtable Force at Mobilky in its Neighr bourhood, ar ' on the Banks of the Mijjijjlpi, as high as the River Ohio^ and occalionally higher, as Times and Ne- cellity may fulicit. Such an Eftablifh- ment will tend to awe the French^ and keep the Indians in clofer Subjedion, will encourage our Settlers, when they find themfelves protected, and aflill Population, as tiie Soldieis, by marrying, will, with their Offspring, become Colonills. In Ihort, to be ftrongly defended without by our military Force, and rely more for Protedion at home on our Navy and Militia, wliich are now fo excellently trained, feems to be the natural and true Policy of thi<^ Country of Freedom. In (■ I! EH? ) 'i! w [46] III refpedl to Minorca^ the Obferver may probably be more lingular j fince he conceives, that although an Illand affording an Harbour inferior to none in Europe y yet the Expence is by no Means adequate to its Ufc. In Peace it is a mere dead Weight, and its Maintenance a grievous Burden, unlefs we contra(i]: the too extenlive Fortrcfs of St, Pbilifs^ which requires many Regiments to man it, and fubftitute a Part only of the Works to execute the Purpofe of com- manding the Harbour, in which Gate it might be put on luch an eafy Footing, as the Inhabitants might be near enabled to bear the Expence, together with the little Caflleat Fort Ferncl/es, and a trifling; G^rnCon Sit CkaiicILj, , ■■■. : 1., ll [m 1 ■U m i In War, unlefs by Chance we are en- gaged in the Meafures of Italy ^ and ob- liged to dwell with our Ships on that Coaft, Minorca is abfolutely detrimental, as the Situation of it is fo retired from every Intention of watching the Enemy ; and let Experience determine, if in the War t 47 ] War before this, any of the Enemies Fleets were once intercepted, fo that the Ufc derived to us from the Profpec^t merely of an Italian War alone, is ap- parently fo dirtant a Contingence, as in- duces me to think we over-rate its Value. By having this Harbour, Gibraltar, the natural Pafs of the Ocean to watch and embarrafs the Enemy, is lefs attended to, whofe great Advantages of Situation have been proved this War to a Demon- ftration, infomuch that one may venture to pronounce, had Minorca been ours, we fhould fcarce have boafted of the naval Vidlories of Admirals Bofcaivat, OJhorne^ and others. But there is fome Reafon to expe(5l, that Reforms concerning Minorca are, with many others of high Liiportance to the Welfare of this Country, already under propiri- Confideration. Another Suggeftion arifes of no fmall Moment, tliat by attending more to Gibraltar, a great Expcncc in Freight for naval il ■1 h '?' b '■ 1 1 ' l> \l r [48 J naval Stores will be laved, on account of its being nearer EfiglanJy and lefs Stores will alio be loniumcd, as the Ships will frequently be careened at home, with the multiplied Advantages of their greater Prefervation, of Profit to oui Country, and Annoyance to Avi Enemy -, in War by tra- verfing the grand Lines of Navigation in their Paffige through the Atlantic Ocean in their foreign and homeward-bound PalTages. It has been urged as one Inducement to keep Minorca^ that by its Means we command more the Refpedl of the Barbary States. But Ihould this have Weight, we may keep it in a Manner to anlwer every Purpofe of Convenience, without its enormous Expence ; and what aggravates the Confideration, is, that the greateft Part of the Govern- ment's Monev, for the Subfiftence of our Troops, ^c. centers at Marfeilles^ as it is well known the Shops of Malwt, CittddclLiy and yillyorc^ are fupplied al- niofl: folcly with Commodititrs, in Time of Peace, from the Scuth of I'rance. But \ [ 49 ] I But with Regard to the Barbary States, as Corfairs, let me afk, if they would not ftill court us more for the Afylum of Gibraltar-^ if Minorca was in the Hands of the Spaniards ? becaufc their Difficuhies would be encreafed, and Gibraltar become to them a friend- ly Port, ftill more neceflary and pre- cious. — However, it is not a Queftion, but that in our Treaty we (liould infift upon its Reftitution. The Honour of our Nation would have been too much facrificed to have neglected it. All I contend for is, that its Utility feems by no Means to preponderate its late Ex- pence, and that we ought in Prudence, either to retain it in a lefs expenfivc State, or feek to exchange it with Spain foi fomething more advantageous, which might reciprocally fatisfy both Powers. Did the Author think it of any Mo- ment to the Public to declare himfelf farther on this Subjedl, he could affirm, that War is his Harvel>, but that his vo- luntary Pen, like his Heart, rejed:s all H fordid Ml 1 \ i t w 1 fordid and partial Views. He ueans alone to fpeak the Language of Probity and of Candour, and not to difturb his Country^s Quiet with Duplicity and Ca- vil, unlefs he could be ufeful to rcdify the Treaty fo as to fuit every Palate 3 in which Senfe, did not the Work appear impradicable, all Qi]r Piiftates would ar- fiye too late, . ■%- , 1 F I N I s. \. "i*mii 1 t:ieans *robity rb his idCgi- rcdify Ue^ iti appear uld ar- rkfl r : ■'