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^i>^
M E MORI A L,
,?•■
MOST HUMBLY ADDRESSED
TO T H S
SOVEREIGNS of EUROPE,
O V T H J - "^ ■
PRESENT /STATE of AFFAIRS^
./*
B ET WBIN iTHS
OLD AKD NEW WORLD.
L O N D O^N:
Piinted for J. A L M O N, oppofite Bvulimgto
in FiccAftiLLT, 1780.
[ Price Half a Crown ]
■?\
mn
%
!/■•
i^i
%
hi
P R E F A C E.
.. -r,
TH £ Memorial which I herewith
fend you, was written by a Friend
#f mine, who is lately dead. It is of no
confequence to the Publick to be informed
who he was. What he was, and of what
fpirit, will appear by his Writing. A de-
cilive misfortune in his perfonal relations
had determined him to quit Europe, and
to fettle in America : He had arranged his
afiairs to that end ; and, although from the
troubles which, in the interval of his pre-
parations, arofe in America, he fufpended
his a<^ual fettlemen^, in that Country ; yet
A he
I
l\e Co far quitted Europe as to go and refidfe
in the Azores or Weftcrn Ifles, devoting
himfelf to that ftudy and contemplation
vrhich was beft fuited to confole him under
his misfortunes, and to reconcile him to the
facciHce which he was about t^> make of
every thing that remained to him of what
the World holds mod dear. I had the
happinefs of correfponding with him while
he lived there, and I received this from
him, with leave (if ever a time ihould
Arrive, in which I.fhould think it might be
of life); to'publiih it« on this condition,
that I would write <5 ibmething of a Preface
•• to it. Idonpt/^ (♦fays he) "like the
Roman Statefman, fay, Oraa me. Leave
me to oblivion, and in peace, for that is
all I now feek. I am perfuaded that the
General State of fadh, and of the prefent
♦* combination of events, is true : That the
*' conftquences which I point out, asilow-
** ing from them, are probabk : And that
** the condudt which I dcfcribe as that with
** which thefe things ihould be met, is th«
" heft
* In a letter dated Nov. 1778, Ponta MGadMin St. MichttePs,
it
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[ i" ]
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bed wifdom for the Sovereigns of Europe,
by which they can promote the intereft
of their S tates, or the happine fs^ of iheir
People. If the events do^ not come for-
ward ^f tifU Period as I fuppofe, or juft
in the feries of procejpon as my reafoninjg
hath attempted to drawithe line, that is
nothing to the ^ge of the world, nor to
the growing fyftem of a ftatc. The thing,
therefore, which I aflc 6f you, is, to fhow
how the geiieral reafoning on the general
train of events, applies to the circum-
ftances of the time whchcver you flialj
publifli it : And that you will give it
(in French| or in any other Is^nguage ge-
nerally underflood) iuch a fafhionabl^
drefs, fuch as that the world may receive
^t and underdand it. Alfo, I wifb that it
may be ijnderftopd hovy fenfible I an%
that an Apology is neceffary for my pre-
suming tp addrefs a Memorial to Sove-
reigns, on a fubjed in which they muft
be fuppofed to be perfcdly informed, and
in which your Friend, (it may be fupr
pofcd) can have fo little pra(flical informa-
A 2 <* t?Qn
. I
t « 1
<' tion. Although, in what I am going to
** fay, 1 (hall (hew no great art or addrefs,
**t nor obfcrve that condud which would be
*'. likely to recommend this Memorial to the
'^ great world j yet, for truth's fake I will
" fay it> That I have always found that the
" Sovereigns, as far as they are informed, and
*^ are in circumdances to exert themfelves,
** have the interefl and profperity of their
*' fubjeds, the welfare an4 happinefs of
*' niankind, more at heart, than it ever
** enters into the heads or hearts of their
** Minifters to conceive. It is for that rca-
** fon that I have prefumeB to addrefs them.
** I will fet the great Henry of France at
** the head of the firfl lift : One has heard
** of a Sully, a Flcury, a Clarendon, a
** Somers, a De Witt, a * * * j and for the
'* common good of mankind one would
** hope, that fuch men, in all countries
«* where they can aft, may never be want-
" ing to continue this other lift."
Although this my Preface will be formed
ehiefly by extracts from my Friend's letters,
who
[ V 1
who can bed explain his own views^ and
Vtrhichy without the parade of Authorifm^
are mod: fairly explained in thofe private
fentiments : Yet, I doubt whether it majr
not be neceflary to fay that, though he here
appears as an abftraded Philofopher, yet he
was not unpradiiced in the bufi^^efs of Go-
vernment, nor uninformed by experience in
a knowledge of the nature of the Europeaa
Settlements in America. His life was a
compound of bufinefs and frivolity abroad:
He was a Philofopher at home ; and always,
what may be very properly exprcfled, very
much at home* He was confcious that he
thought very differently frOrii the generality
of mankind on thofe fubjedts; and ufed
while in Europe frequently to lament how
little he was underftood on the fubjedt mat-
ter of this bufinefs. In a letter dated from
the fame place, in March 1779* he fays,
** When I look back^ and compare my
f* opinions with events which fecm to have
^* confirmed them, and yet fee how little
•' effe<a thfefe opinions have had, even when
f • called for; and when dqly explained^ by
^ ' «' fads
-r—
• y
'
[ yi ]
f /a^^» in their proper place* I am at
V.^OgtJb convinced, that I have not the
** t^ent of fo arranging, and of fo explain-
}^ fp^ things, which I ani fure are fadls and
/' truths, as to demonftrate them to others.
^* That mind, whofe faculties arc moft rea-
**4ily exerted in the fcarch of truth, is
^f* feldojn habile and efficient in the demon «
f* ftration of it. This, therefore, wjllbe the
*^ lafl; Paper which I ^^H ever write on thi9
f* (idc the world, on this fubjcd. So little,
'* (if I am not too vain in a reference to my
f* own ideas) was this fubjedt compre-
** hepded, fo little did it fcem interefling,
f* fo little was \t reliihed, when I was ii>
*• Europe, that I fcarce f ver talked of it in
*' real (jarneft : And, although this vvith-
«« drawn place may fcem bed fuitcd for
** contemplation j yet I feel here the want
f of that eorrefpondence and convcrfatioa,
«* which clicites, and brings forward into
** cfFeja:, the power of rcalbning, better
^^ than the clofeft and moft intenfe ftudy
** ever did. Nee quenquam habeo qtiocumfa-
f' mil tar iter de ^¥JJ^l.l^odi r^huscolkqui pof-
«c
<«
f vii ]
Jim\ ut ne faltem explic^m ^ mtoM.
And I own I have my apprehcnfions thit
•• I may prove to b« as vifiondr^, aV the*
«• world, I know, will think me**' Whe-
ther the world will be of opinion' With m/
Friend's apprehcnfirohs or not, thak' thli*^
Memorial is vifionary ; you Receive it,
Mr. Almon, jud as I received it. It. appears
to me to be founded in radl; to be plain
an4 intelligible, is what I underdand; and
what therefore, t tliink, any other may very
wdl underftand. I hope, that, little as this
Memorial is in its bulk, indeed not enough
to make a book ; it will neither be fold or
read as a pamphlet laxa cervice^ There is
nothing in it to amufe {uth readers^' If the
matter which it contains, does not attract
and engage the ferious attention of ferious
men of bufinefs, it is neither worth your
printing, nor their purchafing.
I differ from my Friend, and think it beft
that it (hould appear firft in its own drcfs
and language j I therefore fend it to you,
to print off an edition of it. I fhall have
It
[ viii ]
it tranllated afterward into a language that
the generality of the world underflands,
becaufe I think, that the matter which it
contains, is of great importance to the States
of Europe in general, as well as to England
aod America in a more particular manner.
lam.
-.■.•roms
Sir,
Your Humble Servant,
« ♦ ♦ « «
Editor.
Paris, Jan. 25, 1780.
I '
MEMORIAL, ^c.
THAT Nascent Crisis,* which at
the end of the laft war *' opened a
a new channel of budnefs, and irougbt
into operation a new concatenation of
powers, both political and commercial,** is
now, at the beginning of this prefent war,
come forward into birth, in perfed and
c{labli(hed fyftcm. «' The Jpirit of com"
merce bath become a leading and predomi^
nant power,** it hath formed throughout
North-America, and hath extended to
Europe the bails of a new commercial
fyftcm, " The rise and forming op
THA/ SySTEM WAS WHAT PRECISELY
CONSTITUTED THE CRISIS OF THAT
TIME." It was fee A by men who knew
A how
* This quaint expreflion, and the following paiTages, are
taken from Governor Pownall's book cii the Bricifli CoIch
nies, firft publiflied in the year 1764.
*
[ » 3
♦
how ta profit of the knowledge; (hoic
wl^>(liould bave profiled would not fee
^at •♦ TVtM ONE GEliiiRAl COMPWif 1"
interest" ib formed, and fo adling
under the fame laws, and by the fame
ipirit of atfraBfion wlucH pervades all
nature, muft neceffarily, in the ptoceflion
of its power, hav,e ** k o^yl com m 9 if
CENTER or GRAVITY aWi> UNIONU"
There was, at that time,' a Sltate in Eurppe
within whofe dominion j^ 7Ai/ uriter lay;
coinciding nearly with the center of its
own proper folitical fyftem, ' and niaking
even a part of its »tf/i(rj/ lyitem. The
operations df thiai compdfite iy/(em took
a courfe almpi^ in the very direction of the
line of the nirtural movements o^ that
State* the balis of a great marine domt"
nion was laid by fTaturei aiid. the God o£^
stature offered that dona inipii to the only
Power with which the fpirit of liberty
then dwelt. But the Government of that
State, being wife in its own conceit, not
only above, but againit thoJle things which
exifted, rejedted Nature and would none of
her ways^ defpifed tht virifdbm of that
Providence
t 3 1
Proyidcncc which had ^ftabliflied her. The
fpirit of attraftioQ which Nature adtuati;^
was bdd to be a yifion ; and that
STATE OF ifNioN* which the h^d ofi
God held fprth« was blaTpb^med as folly.
The Miniftcrs of that country faid to Re-
pulfion. Thou (halt guide our J^irii i to
piftradion. Thou ihalt be our wijfdpoi*
This fpirit of Repulfion, lhi« wii^pm of
Diftradion» hath wrought the natural ef-
fect difTolution. They have not only loft
for ever the dominioii which they might
have wrought th^ir nation up to« but th|S
external parts of the Empire are one after
another falling olQFi^ and it will be onQ9
more reduced to its infular exideuce.
On the other handt t^is Hfw fyfim^i
power, united in and moving round its
own proper center ** had diffolved tkt effi^
qf nil artificial repulfions which fprc^
would create, s^nd hath formed thqfe i^-p
^ural connexions by and under which its
a^ual interefl exifts.*' Founded in Nature
it is growing, by accelerated motion?* and
accumulated accretion q£ parts, into an
independent, qrga^vzed being, a great and
A 2 powerful
t 4 ]
powerful empire. // bos taken ^ its equal
fiation with the nations upon earth.
Video Jolem orientem in occidente.
North- America is become a new primary
flanet/m the fyftem of the world, which
while it takes its own courfe, in its own
orbit, muft have eiFe£k on the orbit of every
other planet^ and fhift the common center
of gravity of the whole fyftem of the Euro*
pean world.
North- America is de faBo an inde-
pendent POWER vibich bas taken its equal
Ration witb other powers^ and muft be fo
de jure. The politicians of the Govern-
meAts of Europe may reafon pr negociate '
upon this idea, as a matter fub lite* The
powers of thofe Governments may fight
about it as a new Power coming into
eftablilhment ; fuch negociations, and fuch
wars, are of no confequence either to the
right or the fad. It would be juft as wife,
and juft as effedual, if they were to go to war
to decide, or fet on foot negociations to fettle,
to whom for the future the fovereignty of
the moon ihould belong. The moon hath
])een lon^ (:ommon to them all, and they
may
[ 5 1
may all in their turns profit of her refleded
light. The independence of America is
fixed as fate i (he is miftrefs of her own
fortune ;— knows that (he is fo, and will
t actuate that power which (he feels (hefaath,
fo as to eftabli(h her own fy(lem« and to
change the fyftem of Europe.
I will not lofe tin(ie, in an ufelefs wafte
of words, ,by attempting to prove the ^x-
iftence of this faft. The rapid progrefs of
events at this Qrifis^vill not wait for fuch
trifling. The only thing which can be
ufeful to the world is, to examine what the
*
precife change of lyftem is j what will be
the general confequence of fuch change $
and with what fpirit, and by what conduft
the advancing flate of thipgs (hould be
met.
If the Powers of Europe will view the
ilate of things as they do really eaifl, "zni
will treat them as being what they are,
. the lives of thoufands may be fpared ; the
happincfs of millions may be fecured ; and»
the peace of the whole world pre(Qrved«
If they will not, they will be plunged into
g (^^ of troubleSf a Tea of blood, fathom-
. lea
! i
{ 6 ]
•jLpI^ i»o4 bfiundlffs. Tbc warthjit ha^ bc-
guft IP r»ge tetwixt Britain, France, afid
jS^i^in, wl^ich is glmoft gprged betwixt
Britain a^d America* will e)(tend itfelf to
a^ ibe maritime* ^n4 mpft likely, after-
ifr^4s> to all tbe inland powers of Europe :
and like the thirty ytars war of the fix-
licentb an4 feventeentb centuries, will not
^d, but 9S that did» by a new and geners^l
ffffstltkment of powers and interefts, ac?-
Ijpjrding to the new fpirit of the new fyflem
nrhich b»th taken place. Why ma'' not
Jill this be done by a Congrefs of all the
J^owfirs before, as we}l as after war ? If
thp Powers of the prefent world fought for
dominion by extirpation* then war is the
proper engine: but if they war in order
to treat for fettlements of power, as has
been long ^he fyftem pf Europe, then if
^^ a wanton, clumfey, ufelcfs cruelty.
The final i0ue of the conteft in the final
Icttlement of power at a peace* is feldom
. (I think never) in proportion to the fuccefs
ef arms. It depends upon the interpofition
of parties, who have not, perhaps, meddled
with the war, but who com^^ to the treaty
for
Ji.
[ 7 1
£&r t>^dc^. This itii6tp6Ati6n, browight
fofwsbrd by ihtt-igiit^ rH^Ol comttioAty Wilh^
the aid of jedoUf^i ddifb cdiji^^ria by ii«P>
gociation the envied tffe^s of ^tttti. U
thofe who govern in Europe t^ill Idofe b^fc
to former ^air^> ai^d Will conMet thd vidWii
with which fuch were und^rtdfkeit^ will ^^
ferve the progrci* which' they ittadei aftd
the iffue in which they tef minated. If"
they ivill examine the various fydemd pbiiA^
ned for the enlargeihetit of dbo^iniofl, 4tid
* the various ftroggles undeir thtiife plattsj
which have agitated theii* corner of tifie
wOrM, and will Weigh the effba of thefife
with the varions forms of oppofition Whicft
hath been made to, and hath arrefted their
progrefs, they will find, that nfcgodatiorti
and not war, determined thefe points.
The Britbns have been ptiiiieufti, in poN-^
tks, they have forced and brought forward
th'6 prcferit rifin^ fyftcm into event jmd
eflabli(hnient before its natural fedfdri^
They might, with that addrefs which prin*-^
ciples of truth arid benevolence, dtrivirig
thrdi^h common ^nfe, direct, have fetur-
ed the attachment, and retained tbe JHhl
obedienci
ii
I
*^f
t 8 ]
cMfenceof their plantations ' for years to
come (as the Spaniards with their caution
will do hut it was unfortunately for them, %
a principal part of the miferable, bafelefs
plan of their inexperienced advifers, tAe con"
jfidmtsal counfil/ors (in a general propofed re-^P
form of their King's government) to reform
the conftitutions pf their American efta*
blKhments. Although they could not be
ignorant* although they were not unin-
formed* that the courfe of this ref<»rm mud
lead to war* yet having fettled in their i
own minds an over-weening idea of the
force of arms* they thought it m bad move,
if they ihould (like giving check- mate at
chefs) force the Americans^ to have recourfe
to arms. Conquefl, of which they made
themfelves fure* and fettlements in conle-
quence of fuch conqueft* in which they
-would not fufpeA any other Power could
interfere* would give them the proper right
and proper power of altering the *eftablifh-
ments, and of giving them juft what con-
ilitutions they thought fit; fuch as that
given to Quebec* in the exaniple of a con-
quered province held by arms. But* aks if
when
19 3
jvhcn they were fo ready for war, they little
thought, or could be made to underAand,
what fort of a war it would turn out ; and
much lefs would they believe how many
other circumftances of perfons and things,
beiides the operation of theii arms, woul4
interpofe, and become part of the bufinefa,
before it came to the iflfue of a fettlement.
In like manner, none of the Powers of
Europe, and, T believe, very few of the
moil knowing politicians have confidered
«in a general view, the efFe<a of the pre-
ifent combination of events, or what effe^
it is likely to have, on the general fyftem
of Eurppean politics : and yet there is one
thing palpably certain ; that, on whatever
ground the prefent war between Brii'ain
and the Houfe of Bourbon may fet out, or
in whatever line it takes its courfe ; that,
however long, to their mutual ruin, they
may continue the conteft, by which they
hope to decide, to which of them as allies,
fcedere inequali, the Americans ihall be-
long, the Americans will belong to
neither. The Powers of Europe, who will
become patties, before thefe affairs come
B to
i
[ "> J
to the iflue of peace, ^l! concur In nc^
other final fettlement, than that thefe States^
are an indiependent fovereign Power, hold-
ing a free commerce equally with all.
In order then to (hew, how thefe matters
whtch are like to agitate all the States, of
Europe, and, if they go to war on this fub-
je£t| to become the fcourge of the prefent
age, how thofe matters may be fettled,
without going to war, and noitl be finalfy
fettlids whatever arc the ruinous, cruel, knd
deftrudive operations, and ^ffbrts of arms. '
I, a man long withdrawn from bufinefs^
attd now, at this time, from the world,
will endeavour to lay before thofe whom it
m^y concern, a view of the European and
American worlds, comparing their rcfpcc-
tive fyilems in the forms under which they
exift, and operate to^ poWcr; and from
thefice to point out what will be the natu-
ral efFedts of the feparation of them, and
of the independence of America actuating
her fyftem, as it may affedt the commercial
and political flate of Europe -, and finally to
demonftrate how, if the prefent c'rifis be
wifely minagcd, and with a fpiri| of good-
will
:f
[ " 1
will to Men, it may be wrought into the
greateft ble{nng of peace, liberty, and hap-
pincfs, which the world hath ever yet ex-
perienced in the courfe of its exiilence*
In the fituation in which I find myfelf
detached from all connexions in the in-
tereils or politics either of Europe or A-
merica ; and« as to my locality, in a * me-
ridian between the two worlds, I can lopk
to either as I turn to the eaO; or weft:
freed from thofe old habits of thinking, or
rather of prejudging, which an European
is mechanically fettered with, I can» with
the fame philpfophic indifFerence, with
which an ailronomer examines the compa-
rative matter and magnitude of two diftant
planets, compare thefe two diflant worlds
in their magnitude, fpirit, and power.
When I fpeak of greatnefs in the one or
other, I mean (as Mr. Bacon, the Lord
Verulam expreffes it) the am^Htude and
j^rowtA ofjaffs. This fubjedt, the com-
paring the greatnefs of two continents^
which never came into comparifaj
B 2 f^y is
* At the Azore», ■'H A •1064
r.i'i'?*-./ ■
s
[ I» ]
Is not more novel in the matter, than T
Aall be thought to be vifionary in the man-
ner and argument i I mud therefore march
here with formal and mdifured fteps.
Before I enter into this comparifon of
the amplitude and growth of the dates of
the old and new world, I ihall here pre-
mife, what the fame noble author fuggefts,
and which, in the courfe of reafoning, will
be explained. " That in the meafuring
and balancing of greatnefs, too much is
afcribed to largenefs of territory on one
hand; and on the other, too much to the
fruitfulnefs of foil, or abundance of com-
modities."
Under this caution premifed, I fhall
ftate firft i\ic natural greatnefs of the new
world compared with that of the old.
Greatnefs without connexion of parts is
^xpanfe not greatnefs : natural connection
of parts without an actuating intercommu*
hion of thofe parts, is encumbered bulk,
tiot ilrcngth. That greatnefs of dominions
which hath a natural capability of fyflema-^
tic connedlion^ by an actuating intercom-
munion which arifes alfo from n^ture» can
alone
I >3 ]
alone be confidered as that natural great'*
nefs which adminifters to amplitude and
grotvth of (i2tes»
Although the three geographical feparate
parts of the world icem naturally to con-
centre by the Mediterranean Tea into a con-
nedted communion; and although when
and while they were actuated by * an
effort of wifdom, as extenfive in tho
branches, as in the communion, at the
rooty they were combined into a one domi«
nion I yet that being an effort beyond the
common holding ftrength, beyond the or-
dinary resources of human nature, the
fcale proved in the end too large for either
the fpirit or the arm of Man to extend to*
It could not but prove to be, in the event,
what it was in the moment of its exertion,
a predominancy of artificial power ^gainft
nature, and therefore temporary. The
three )pzns of the old world, Europe, Ada,
and Africa, feem to have a natural divifion
in the natural fcite and circumftances of
their territory. They are alfo inhabited
and poffeffed by three different and diftindk
fpecies
^ Jhc policjr of the Homan ftate.
fti I
t 14 1
fpeclestheof human being. They have,thcrc-
fwe, generally by the effect of principles
of nature operating againd the vigour of
man, fallen, in dominion, into their natu-
ral diviiion. North America and South
i^merica are, in like manner, at the JonJ,
saturalty divided into two diftin<5t fyftems,
^d will, as naturally, divide into two dif*
tindt dominions. On the contrary, large
as the fcale of North or South America is,
i^either of thefe rcfpedively, either in the
natural fcite and circumdances of territory^
Bor in the people who pofTefs and cultivate
them, are fo divided. North America (I
^ak of the predominating inhabitancy)
IS poiieiTed by the English nation. South
Americ^^ by the Spanifli and Portuguefc,
ivhich, in this argument, may be called
one nation. Thefe natural circumftances
in country and people, forni each of thefe
divifions of the new world rcfpcdlively,
into a one great communion, the bads of
a great and powerful dominion ; ftretching
out its arms and branches over the whole
land, as the fibres of the roots interweave
kto» and through, the various con^binations
^^ ' :.,•...■'. of
of natural objects, whence they draw thcif
fpirit of life.
There is no where in the European part
of the old world fuch a greatnefs of inter-
woven and combined intereft, communicat-
ing through fuch largenefs of territory,
-as that in North America, poflelTcd and actu-
ated by the Englifh nation. The northern
and fouthern parts of Europe, arc poffefled
by different 'nations, a(Stuated by differeat
fpirits, and conduced under very different
fyftems. Inftead of aduating an intercom-
munion by an attra(5kive, their intercourlc
is at perpetual variance under a repellant
principle ; their communion alfo is obftruc-
ted by the difficulties of intercourfc both
over land, and through the feasi^ they are
moreover cut off, as it were m t^ middle,
by other intervening nations, whofe prin«
ciples and fyflem are alike repellant and ob-
llrudtive of free communion.
On the contrary, when the fcite and cir-
cumftances of the large extended territories
of North America are examined ; one finds
every thing united in it which forms great-
nefs
f i6 ]
nefs of dominions* amplitude and growth of
J!ati.
, The nature of the coaft and of the winds
upon that coafl, is fuch as renders marine
navigation, from one end of its extent to
the other, a perpetually moving intercourfe
of communion : and the nature of the ri-
vers which open (where marine navigation
ends) an inland navigation which, with
ihort interruptions, carries on a circulation
throughout the whole, renders fuch inland
navigation but a further procefs of that
communion ; all which becomes, as it were,
a one vital principle of life, extended
through a one organized being.
While the country, by the capability of
this natural communion, becomes thus uni-
ted at m root ; its largenefs of territory,
expanded through fuch a variety of cli-
mates, produces, upon this communion,
every thing that nature requires, that lux-
ury loves to abound in ; or that power can
ufc, as an inftrumcnt of its activity. All
thofe things which the different nations in
Europe (under every difficulty that a de-
fed of natural communion, under every ob-
flrudion
. t<l
[ 17 ]
ftrudlion that an artificial and perverted fyf*-
tem threw in their way) barter for in the
Old World, are here in the New World
pofTeiTed, under an uninterrupted natural
communion, by an unobflruAed naviga-
tion, under an univerfal freedom of com*
merce, by one nation. The nava) flores,
the timber, the hemp, the fifheries, the
falted provifions of the North ; the tobacco«
rice, cotton, filk, indigo, finer fruits, and pcr<-
haps, in no very diftant period^ the wines,
the refin and tar of the South> form the rcf
cipfocation of wants and fupplies of each
refpe£tively. The bread corn, the flour*
the produce of agriculture in every form of
farming, and the feveral encreafing articles
of manufa^ures, which the middle cokfuies
produce, not only fill up the communion^
but compleat its fyflem. They unite thofe
jparts which were before conne^ed, and or^
ganiae (as I have faid) the feveral parts into
% one whole.
Whether the iflands, in thofe parts called
|he Weft Indies, are naturally parts of this
North American Communion, is a queltioo^
i(X t^e detail of it, of curious fpeculatioA^
c m
/ s >
t «« 1
but of no doubt as to the fa<fl. The European'
maritime powers, however, if they can adjuft
their refpeftive interefts in thofe parts ; if
they will form a balance of power there on
thofe interefts j if they can fettle any fyftem
of reciprocal fupport of that balance ; may
certainly, by efforts of force, for fome years,
perhaps for an age longer, preferve the pro-
perty and dominion of thefe iflands. But if
their quarrels amongft each other reipeding
North America, or the European Shifting
of the balance, make them obftinately deaf to
their mutual interefts in thefe parts, «* The
*' whole of the Spanifh, Dutch, Danifti,
<* French, and Britiih eftabliftiments, indif-
<• folubly bound in an union and commu-
*• nion of a one general compo/ite intereft?
^* with North America, and forming the na*
^* tural connedtions under which their mu.
<* tual interefts fubfxft, muft in the courfe
*' of events become parts as of the communion,
" fo of the great North American dominion,
♦^ cftahliflied on the bafis of that union."
Although no external fymptpms of revold^
tion in South America do at prefect mal^eh
any part of the fubje^ \^hiph I offer \o
^onfidcra^opj
"^v
n
*>t
N \
luropcan
-an adjuft
parts; if
there on
»y fyftcm
; may
ne years,
the pro-
But if
'ipeding
y deaf to
•> '* The
I>ani/h, >
ts, iBdiA
Pomijiu-
' intereft
: iht na.-
eir mq.
' courfe
union."
revolo^
mal^eit
>ffer ^o
•a
i '9 ]
condderation^ yet it may not be amifs to
inquire into thofe internal circumdances of
its natural and political fyflem, by which it«
Communion has amplified> and works to
independency and the growth of flate.
v^t The continent of South America has flill
piore amplitude of bafis, in more variety of
cliraatesi than North America, and is much
farther advanced to a natural independence
of Europe, as to its Jiate of fupply^ than
the powers of Europe do fee, or «t lead
own i or than its own inhabitants, fpeak-
ing of them generally> are. themfelves con-
fcious of* This continent, not oi ^y from,
the great extent of^ latitudes under which it
lie9» but from the great variety of climates
that it experiences under the fame latitudes ;
from the abundance and variety of articles
pf fupply which thefe different climates
produce; from the regular, uniform, and
a^ive marine communion, by which a
compleat reciprocation of mutual fupplies is
circulated from North to South, is alfo formed
into one fyftem of communion, the germ of a
great independent dominion ; that has taken
G 2 root,
^1
%
[ 20 ]
fdot, is every day flriking deeper, and more
txp^nded fibres -, and is every day, by the
vigour of natural vegetation (if I may fo qx-
prefs myfelf) putting forth its extended
branches, and is growing occulto velut arbor
avo, into the greatefl amplitude of coin*
Munion, and of dominion founded thereonry
which this earth hath ever yet feen, China
perhaps alone excepted. Agriculture in the
elevated parts of this country, nearly the
iame as' other the perfeAly cultivated parts
of the world a^iiate, has taken place^ and
is in progrefTive motion to the moft varied
ind extenfive operations. Thefe parts afford
not only abtiridarice for home confumption,
lut afurplusfor exportation* The articles of
this export are virhcat, flour, barley, wine«
hemp, tallow, lard, fugar, cocoa, fruits^
fweatmeats, pickled, n^ptha, oil, coiiton^^
ice. This progrefs of agriculture hath, in
the true courfe of nature, called forth, even
from the hands of Indians, manufadures
and trade, the roots which fupply a moft
extenfive circulation of commerce : Cord-
age, failcloth of cotton, woollen and linen j^
cloth, hats, leather, and particularly fole- <v
leather.
r>
r ^1 1
leatker, fiaiice, ihibumeftts of hufb»idry^
t6ols of mechanics, attA, in i^ort, every
thing ifvhich the advandhg Cultivation of
ihah's being callis for, from Aefe articles.
As the markets, population, and culture of
the feveral provinces of the kingdom of Chili
(advancing with accelerated, <ho' not;great»
velocity) ihall mutually encreafe each odier*
The produce of thefe higher latitudes and
cooler climatel will enter into the great fyf-
tern of interc^ommUnion of fmpplies, and will
compreat the w^ftern fide bf South Ame*
rica, poilefled by one nation, into an obje£^
of as much greater magnitude, in a^ivity^
wealth, and power, than the Englifh nation
poilefles in North America, as it is greater
in thevariiety and extentbf its internal com*
munibn. Befides which it will have an- un-^
uninterrupted ititercourfe of Eaft Indian-
commerce.
If any accident (hould happen to abate,
or give a turn to, the caprices, luxury, and
vanity of a rich people, who have nothing
to do but to fpend their money, there is not
anyone article which I can recoiled^, necef-
iarytothtimoft advanced ftate of life, which
they
I
tliey have not, or may not have^ within
themfelves. Look, back and fee if this ftate
of the country is not fo far forth naturally
independent of Europe, as to all fupply and
fupport of its exigence ; I will here add,
<nuch more fo than North America is.
The communion in North America has
not as yet gone into an aSlheflate of manu-
fadtureS| nor will it for many years to come*
And yet, on the other hand, although North
ij^merica is not fo independent of Europe in
the matter of its fupply and commerce, as
South America is, yet being more fo in the
fpirit of its people, in the oeconomy and ad-
vance of its political community, it has«-
with the forcing aid of the government of
its metropolis, become the firft fruit of
thofe who llcpt, and has only Jirft feparated
from the old world. South America is not
yet in its natqral courfe, ripe for falling o^f.
nor is it likely, from the flow, official, cau-
tious prudence of its metropolis, to be forced
before its time and feafon to a premature
revolt, as North America has been. As^
long as the Spanifh monarch proceeds in ad-
miniflring the affairs and the government of
Its
[ «2 V
its American eflablifhments, with the tein>>
per, addrefs and wifdom which it obferves
at prefent, an indolent, luxurious^ fuper-
flitious people, not much, (though much
more than the public in general fufpe^ts)
accuftomed to thii^k of political s^rrange**
ments, will continue in a certain degree o£
fubjedtion to government, and in a certain
degree of acquiefcence to commercial re-
ftridtive regulations in their European inter«
courfe, for the fake of a reciprocity of ad**
vantage, enjoyment, and prote^ion, which
they derive froni it. Not being yet Aw-
dened info a temper for enterprize by force of
war, they will continue to pay their taxes
as a peqce-offeringi But the natives en-
crealing in numbers, beyond any proportion
of the Dumber of Old Spaniards, which the
metropolis can fend either as civil governors
and magiflrates, or as foldiers ; having the
executive power of all the inferior magif-
trades in their own hands, by their own
election of the magiflrates -, and having in«
variably,' where their choice operates, a de-
cided rule %o choofe thofe of their own body ;
,.tb?y have, fo ftr as that goes, all the pdwer
I H ]
of hUttMl i<fvernmmt in their o^n hands, in
vrhich the majedy of the fovereign powcv
never ii^terferes $ and whatever fovereignty
the.Spaoiih mon^ch holds by the offices of
hii viceroys, of his judges, of his audlc^cics,
his clergy, or his army^however majeftic
they may look« or however it may appear
to individuals, and, in particular exertions,
carry terror : it // a mere tenure nt good^wiil,
A great country like this, where the com-
HMinity has £3 far advanced in agriculture,
manufa^ures, arts,jafrd commerce, wherein
there is {\icliL amplitude and growth offiate, is
every day growing too k;ge for any govern**
ment in Europe to manage by authority, at
the diftance of four or five thouland miles.
Afld as to the idea of power by force, I will
nfe Mr. Bacon, the Lord Vcrulam's expla<p
fi?<ion of it ; *< There be, (faith he) two
** nianiiers of fecufing of large territories}
f ^ die one by the natural arms of ev^ry pro-
*^ vince ; and the other by the prote^ing
*^ arms oif the principal eflates ; in which
** latter cafe, commonly the provinciaU are
*^ held difarmed. So are^ere Iwo dan^gcrs,
^ incident unto every eflate, foreign ijiva-
t€
*t
[ 25 ]
*' fion, and inward rebellion. Now^ fuch
^* is the nature of things, that tficfe twQ re*
^'rinedies of (late do fall refp6dUvely int^
" thefe two dsingcrs, in caje of rtmotefro^
** ,vinces: For if .fuch a ftate reft upon th«
natural arms 6f the provinces^ it is fure to
be fubjedt to rcbellicn or revolt j if upoit
i'. protecting ^rms, it is fure to be weak.
**. againft invafion." And I will venture tor
add, weak and infinor to the internal power
pf the province, which muft of courfe pcc#.
dominate. The Spaniih goveroment knows*
that they, as well as the Engltih, found
themfelves under the neceflity of repealinf
an arrangement of revenue which they nad
mac'x; beicaufe they felt that ihef^ffffild not
carry it into execution by authority^ and they!
fo rightly, under (lood their (Irength, at tr
know that it was notjafe to urge it iyforcim
It is alfo very well known, that the di^utet
between the Spanifh and Portuguele coortsji
about the boundaries of the Brazils and tht
Spanifli provinces, arofe from their notbein^
able joint^^y to carry into eiF<^^ ft pacification
ot^j ^he cafe, becaufe there are Powers ia
thofe countries, who would not be bound
by tbc decifions of a goverxmicfit, whoft
I
I
\ ?6 J
laws are pt no authority with them,
when oppofed to their fyftem; The powers
r mean, are the governing authority of
the midions at Paraguay. This is exadl-
IJ? arid precifely the ftate of the cafp
between the rt^etropoUtan government 0/
S^ain and ks provincial eilablifhments in
South America. I could, by a detailed
defcriptlbn of the nature of the country ;. of
tkeappUcartion of the labour of the inhabitants
to its qafabiliiies % of the ftate of the commu-*
tkttf as it lies in nature, and as it is a^uatcd ; all
compared wkh the conAitutton and admini^'
Aration of the government which is efhi^
l^flied. there V with the fpirit of the peopk;
loth Old Spaniards, Creoles, and Indians,
flibw that ^uth America is growing too
l|iuoh fox Spaki to manage ; that it Is in
ftyOiTy to bfe independant, ai. ! will b6 fo
in a^ whene^ver, andv as foon as any occar-
ibn Jkali call forth that power. When-
in^r fttch revolt takes ^cc, it will not be
after the manner or In the form of that of
Jjibrth America. North America build-
mg on the' Isundation of- its dominion
tt-itKesin nature, has become a Democris-
tick or Afiftdtratiek R6{>ublick. ThefadWg
off' &f $^»tt^ Amerii^ wiH be conduced.
*V4i
m
h thcm«
le powers
hority o(
is exadt-
the cafp
iment or
tnents in
detaileci
\niry;.6(
habitants
commi!*'
Jated; all
\ adminiw
I is efhi'^
? people;
Indians;
ntig too
it h iff
ill be fb
ny occar-
Wheni
i not be
'that of
build-
■ » •
othinion
imocrk-
fdiiiig
idoded,
ia
N'-'l
I ^7 ].
Inks natural pfogreCs, by the (pirit of Come
injured enterprizing Genius, taking the lead
.of a fenfe of alienation and of a difpofition pf
revolt, to the cftabll(hment of a great Mq«
Darchy. But all this is befide the fcopq o^
tfiis memorial, and would become of itfelf
a long memoire. I (hall proceed therefore
to consider only thofe operations which are
in event, the amplitude and growth of fiate
iii North America, fo far as the ftates and
whole political fyfiem of Europe may be
a&Aed by it, or concerned in it. I have
ftated this natural greatnefs, as it is found*
ed in an union of a communion. The
civilizing a^vity of the human race« is
vrhat forms the growth of ftate.
To balance the comparative progrefs tf the
growth of this^aU with thofeof Europe, fo as
to obtain any jufl idea of a fubje(5t, even yet
fo little underflood, it will; be neceflary to
take a view of this civilizing aStivity, in the
iburces whence It derived up6ntheold v/orldj
in the line its progrefs took, and in the de-^
feftive eftablifhmcnts to which, even in this
enlightendd age, it is but yet arrived: and,
to compare that with the progrefs and ex-
tended fcope of a very different civilizing
D 2 activity.
,il
t *8 ]
tftivity, operating with rapid and atcele-
Vated motion in the new world. <
'^ When the fpirit of civilization began firit
in Europe, to emerge from that chaos of
barbarifm and ignorance, which the Nor-
thern invaders, like an overwhelming de-
luge, had fpread over the face of it ; the
clergy fent from Rome, as miflionaries
amongft favages, were the blind leaders to
light ; and the felfifh feudal Lords, the pa-
trons of liberal emancipation. Under fuch
aufpices» what light, what liberty, what
civilization ! The inftrudion' of the firft,
derived through a perverted channel of
learning, from a corrupted fource of know-
ledge, which being directed not to inform,
but to fubdue the mind, was more perni-
cious than the darknefs of ignorance, than
the aberrations of barbarifm *. The kind
patronage of che latter, was the benevolence
of a grazier, who feeds and fattens his
cattle, in order to profit the more of their
fleeces, hides, and carcafe. The inftruc-
* Si ad frtt£lum noftrum referemuij non ad illius
comtnoda, quern diligimus. Prata U Arva & pecu-
dum grcges diliguntur ifto modo, quod frsAus ex tis
capiunter. Cicero de Nat. de. Lib. s. p. 44.
/ tion
tipn of thofc teachers ^»$ thi( didafeia af
authority impofed upon iriere cataceumcfna^
Aomines deduitiis. Thbi? learning was didac^
tiirc» not as that of the new phUofophy and
new world isj indudive: their knowledge
was a mere pai&ve imprci&on of maxims
and principles, which, though neither ex-
plained nor reafoned upon, being reiterated,
became opinions, formed, into fyftem, efta-
blifhed in inveterate hal^it. The people
held, did not poflefs, their jenowledge, aa
they did their lands., by a fervile tenure^
which did not permit them to ufe or im<*
prove it as their own. They were fettered
by authority, led aflray by example;, and
under a felfifh felf-obftru£bing fydem, wafted
every power of activity in unavailing labour :
fuch was the Jburce of civilization in Europe^
In order to view the two lines of its pro"
grefi in Europe and in America, it may be
proper to mark and draw, as far as may be
done, a third line, to which both have re-
ference in the comparifon, the right line.
In the natural progrefs of this civilizing ac-
tivity, the 6r{l movement is, the application
of labour to the culture of the earth, fo as
to
§MUf Hm Ripply of §fitA whidh i^ tni^^
fyty to the fatuina bdug in* lkl6«f .^ TM
liboaif titskhf bttSd^ kto^^cbh^y f^i^M
mymeiif, and fiMakefSf fic^ an^ iflilrtMo^^i
which the hdiflaii hmud Wi^th^ aSd of, il
eoacomitant wich this. The mtti4i^t tifal^
fie» by which the f«c^<$i?^^iii of vtanti
and fuii^kifles of va^iou^aitScktf in varidu!*
ha^ids, may he tmmght iMtd il ctftiiniiltlidd
of general' iupply; focceeds' to thefe^ Indif^
vidoah bdiTg thQs^afTiiKed' o^ theit< {upfAyj
by an' a^Vurance of theeitchai^ of thb^ftii"^
phiSg which eaoh is^ able to^cfeifte in hiroWh
peculiar line of labour; Will (boii iMlth-ov)^
the craft of thcif Kattd^ and rtefirte* the ing^
fiuity of their defigns^ Hence; b)r a fu^tili^i'
ffidlranced ftcp, ai»ife, what' afe prdperly
called, altifkers and mauufadtirecd. I^ this
^te of the progrefs of the cc^munhy^ z
general farplti«j not only beyoiid what indi**
Yiduals, but beyond what the wants of tHd
coOMnunity require, is created : and this
general furplus, as it may be exchanged' for
ioreign articles of conofort and enjoyment,
which the locality and climate of that par->
ticular
t >
\mhx <;omoftunUy does oat produce^ ex-
tf^is i^qd opens 9, qoiwfii tor commercial ac-
livi^, wbick n d» nesRt ft^jc in this pro-
gr(?ft. . - ::
Wi^^rrfcrwcc tP tWf line, visw now
tlii€5 c}YiJi^iQ|: ftfitwHy of Uw jhcw «nd of the
^y v^rlcj^ ^^'initjifiwjucceaiadprqgrcfs, v
By the ^ ^oUjRce^ pf iJiQ military fpirit,
ufi^ef w>*ii^ iBurppc was.:^ feppai tipae pc^
pjled^ tlxt^it if h^bitant^ wa:p.dAvi(kd lota two
dl^<Jfes^ tl^' oif ^criQwrs, fl,pd ilavQs, and
^^ il;^4jlyid^ab,<[eacjil ma*, ux^dicj: their oma
ckk) w^9 as. «^ diflfcucwt dqjtea Kv of
difercjj]!; dfl^QWfltttipns^ j;,
Th^ Cloture of the earth was conduced
by this. Uttqit; «Ja6» wrietp^ies^ annexed to^
but.norwflpr^ of th« W^ d^iaded aol^
ffials ttipit. werg» a$ thei cattb of dbe Md^
j>r^er.t)f^ npt jprppiietor^ They had no
IntSjfeii i^^thw o.wi^ perfeAS,, nooeia their
94Yi>,tebflttr, HOWS in the produce, either T>f
the earthr Of gf thw. Uhoiir. I£ they bad
bcgri iafpirfid (for thjejf wer)^ not taught)
wilb. kriftwlodge* they could ha?^ no one
IQlQtive. to qi^q pi^ efTprjfc of imprpvement*
'C», «3^5 thoyfe: whOf werct ii^. fome
degree
[ 3* 1
degree emancipated, dii^t iVtHo% t6 wtioik
their kind Lords had lett lisafeis' df their
ownfelves, were fd deprefled'by ' varidui
tolls, taillages, and taxes ; by being liable
to military indprefTes ; and to the dvil drud*
gery, which took them froth thieir t^wn pro^
per work, and employed them' ilri th^t of
thefe Lords and fbvereigns i which wore
and tore their cattle and carriages and im-
plements of hufbandry ; were, I fay» fo de^
preflcd, that the very bcft fpirit of theql
could aim at nothing in^ the interval but
barct fuftenance and reft : if yet this unfub-
dt?ed fpirit, working, under fuch b^irthehs,
wMi unabated perfeverance 6^ ingenuity,
ever did by the remnant of their exertion^
ralfe* a (urplus in grain or cattle: This
miferable race of men were precluded all
yint and market except fuch, wherein their
Liords were to abforb the chief pirofits, even
of fuch furplus alfo. The cdnfequence
therefore was, that they never did 4y inieu^
iion raife fuch furphxs t accidents of extra-
ordinary feafons, or fbme o^ tW hidden
fecrets of vegetation, would ndW and theii
produce fuch a furplos i blit more! fl'e4u^i
accidei^ti
' C 33 ]
accidents of the fame kind did occafion a
deficiency and dearth. The police of thefo
great Lords never fufFered the homely wif-
dom of this little adage to enter into their
reafoning, " Th^t he who would have a cont'
*' pettncy, Jhould provide enough and a little
•• morer
The progrefs therefore of improvement
in agriculture was arrefted, and became for
many hundred years ftationary. Although
in fome countries of Europe it may feem at
prefent to be progreffive ; yet is the progref-
£on io little and fo Low that it can give no
momcntam, for ages to come* to amplitude
and growth of flate^ England perhaps ex«
cepted. But ths farmer in England alfo is^
eqbally as abfurdly as cruelly^ opprefTed and
kept down.
The work of man employed on wood»
iron, ftone, or leather, were held as parts
of the bafe and fervile offices of fociety;
and fit only for the bondfmen and (laves, to
whom fuch were committed. Thefe artifi*
cers or handicraftfmen therefore were mere
machines in the hands of the mod arrogant
a$ Well as the moft ignorant of maders.
E They
[ 3* ]
They could ftot \^chturc to Inikc experir
ments, or alter the adopted tnd accufto^nd^l
mode of work : they would have no 9i$fi^
nor receive either reward or private pi^Q^I
from their fuccefs, and they rifqued cypj
thing in the failure; To the& branches. of
mechanicks and art went on for age^ in the
old beaten track of the fan^e unimproved
di^finefs.
When upon the breaking up of the Haji-
fbatic League and other (hiftings of cdm-
merce, the Sovereigns^ who had long w»tb
envy feen-, but never uriderflood, the jprofiit
and power which arofe from manufasflurca
brought for\hrard in^o trade, bqgan to ta?;
courage tbdr own &rb]e£ls, and to. iiiyite
foreign ones to eftabliQi manufadures ^lifitbda
their refpedtive dates ; and, with what iikxf
thought profound pd-icy^ to condud; the
commerce of fuch ; civilization then took hi
this line of imiu-ovement a momentary ilatrt
cf progreflion. Bat th^ wretched conditfioa
under which this profound and jealous poli^
cy held the perfons of thefe manufadures,
the many deprelTing, obilruding, imprac-
ticable regulations, by which it retrained
- their
[ 3S 1
their labour, fooh gave a retrograde motion
to thefe efforts. The fame policy, however
af&dting to give encouragement to thefc
manufadures, which it had forced into
operation before and fafter than the country
was ripe for them, not out of its own purfe,
but from the fweat and fuilenance of
the landworker, gave the manufadrurers a
f{dfe help, by fetting various ailizes on the
prodnce of the land, and by vanpusKnarket
regulations, which fiiU further oppreiled
agriculture. But ali this was fallb and
hollow, for, added to ali the deprefliDits of
mind and obffcrudions of body which theio
poor manu&durers iuffisred, thsre was yet
^n adventitious heart-breaking cruelty, to
whkh even merit was peculiarly ejcpoied*
If ever ingenuity of mind, or an excelling
habit in the hand of any of thefe artificers
or manufacturers, invented fbmething new
or operated to fome imprQvemem in the M
line of work ; The fame jealous tyrannous
police, inftead of rewarding them, or fuf-
fering them to feek their own reward* con-
dered them, not as meritorious authors .of
gbod ^nd benefit to ^e community, but as
E 2 profitable
Ml
C 3« 3
profitable inftrument^, to feecl their private
avarice; and inftantly guarded thpm as ilate
prifoners. The poor ingenious Artift found
himfelf reduced to a Aate worfe than ilave^
ry, for the ingratitude of fuch governments
embittered even opprcffion. The confo-
quence was, that all further improvements*
herealfo, were arrefled in their courfe. As
though all this was not yet fufficieqt to keep
down all fpirit in the arts, and ail progrefs
of improvement, this fyftem of police madQ
regulations to be obferved and taxes to be
paid on every movement of the manufac*:-
tures after they were made ; on their com*^
jng from under the hand of the workman ;
on the carriage; on the expofing to fale ;
on the fale^ and on the return, whether in
goods or money. This police, inftead of
fuffering the furplus profit to circulate freely
through the community, where it would
become a growing iource of accretion and
fru6tuation to that community, was intirely
diredled to abforb the whole, beyond the
labourer's hard fuflenance, into the trea(ary
of the ftate. The idea which they enter^
gained of the ptmoft perfedion of the con^-
merpial
C 37 ]
mcrclal fyftem, was, th^ the fubjed (houlc!
fell but not buy ; that the merchants might
export the articles of their work, but muft
import money: and that, the ilate muft
have the grcatcift (hare of it. The whole
fcope and effort of all their commercial
legiflation, was pointed to arrive as near as
poiiible to this imagined perfe^iQn. Under
thefe idpas, and under the authority of
maxims, grown inveterate, they took up
the idea of commercial police, and adding
the myftery of pqliticks to the myftery- of
trade, began to Ugifiztc for commerce*
Hence arofe the attempts to fet up exclufivc
property in certain materials of manufadure
and trade, which they called ftaple commo-
dities: hence incommunicative monopolies in
every (hape that the ii.^ uity of ignorance
could invent to mock the induftry of its
country with : hence exclufive privileges of
trade to certain perfons in certain articles
and in certain places : hence excluiive aih**
eries : hence all that nonfenfe, both in
theory and practice, in which commercial
politicians have taken fo much pains to de«*
i^pivfi themfelves, about a chimera, called
the
ill
( 3« 3
th0 balance of trade ^ hence all the cunning
foDieSy which rendered their markets almbft
impradtioable to each other ; and hence, to
dottbUe and redouble the mifchief, the whole
train of retaliations. Hence reftraints on
eirportation, prohibitions againft importa*
tkn» alien duties, high impods, and a
fhoufand other cmi^arrailing follies, of whick
fhere is no end or ufe. Having thus^ in their
ftctiggles for profit, deranged all the order of
prices 5 haying (ist out with a falfe balance
«f reckoning 5 having by reciprocal retalia>*
tSon, rendered the free courfe and fair com^*'
petition of commerce, well nigh imprac-
ticable amongd themfclv^s, they were forced
to look out for iettlements amidfl fome yet
uncivilised or uncotstimercial people, where
they might exei^ciie thi« unequal fpirit of
exorbitant gain : hence dfo treaties of com-
tnerce>^n unequal conditions of traffic, widi
fhofe of their neighbours, whom tliey could
jsccp ^own deprdied by aicendant power :
and hence, finally, the grand and favourite
ineafure of eftablifhing coloi^es in dii^^nt
uncultivated ro§^n«, whichj ^ out-farm^
j^ peculiar produ(^ion, might be worked
for
C S9 ]
for the fble cxcludve benefit of themetropoHs :
hence alfo that wildeft of all the wild vilions.
of avarice> infpiring ambition, the attempt i9
ijepfier the common ocean an objedl of en^
ci^fcdy dttintd, exclufive property, and to
claim a poiTeflion in, and dominion over lt«
Thu8> through want of reference to the fight
of nature, from not feeing and treating
things as what they were $ firom a total
tnverfion of the natural order of progrefs in
the human community ; the culture of the
natural powers of the land; the improve-
ment of the natural powers of man, to thp
end of advancing the community ; the order
^nd e(labli(hments, or rather the liberty,
whereby a civilizing adivity might operate
to the amplitude and growth of ftates, were
all deprefied or arrefted in their prqgcefs.
The very fpirit of improvement was buried
under oppreuion, and all the light of genius
ctytinguiihed. Thofe who prefutned to fesi-
, fon, being fuch as were at the head of tht
received knowledge, fUch as hac" the lead c^
tlie received opinions, and cbndudted the
|)oiicy of the eilablKhed fyflem^, coniidere^
the fubje^ as a matter fully explored, and
" jfs
C 40 }
» ■ • ■ ,
as founded in the fureft and mod decided
wiiHom. Their afcendant authority, whe«^
ther they fpoke as politicians, or philofo-'
phers believing what they taught, did
equally lay a dead hand on all examiotatloni
did extinguish all attempts of alteration to,
improvement. Moulded by habits, almofl
mechanical, to think and a^ in the line of
thefe eftablidied fyflems, efforts of reafoning
did but the more entangle them, in delufive
means taken, and incffe^ual ends propofed.
They did but flrive againd themfelves, td
jfave the credit of ignorance, and to fatisfy
themfelves in the poverty of their know-
ledge. Inftead of following nature to thofe
truths on which profitable labour, progreOlve
civilization, population, opulence, ftrength*
and the real intered of their country might
be eftabli^ed, their bed wit was empldyed
only to vary old irreverlible mazims, and to
give new forms to old eflabliflied fyilems, or
at beft by new regulations, to relieve the
interefts of the fubjed:, who could no longer
go on, or endure, under the old ones. But
as the credit and authority of the fyilem is
yet to be kept up, the ingenuity and wit of
thofe
.i«.fl
ilAlQl
[ 41 ]
thoCe, who pay their court to Po^ycr, is
ftill employed in finding out new and Arik«
ing reafons for old maxims, or inventing
fidlions and cafes for reconciling old efta»
bliOiments, to new modes of ading in
them, vhich fa<^, truth, and irrefiftible
necefiity, have introduced in pradice. If
any genius ever dare to break this fpiritual
fubordination, and to purfue, either in fpe-
culation or practice, any new courfe to
truth or adion ; all thofe who lead the
opinions of this fettled world, mud ehher
affe^ to contemn him as a iilly vifionary
fooli(h« inexperienced adventurer, or crufh
hjm as .a prefumptuous, turbulent, danger-
ous difturber of the State.
This is the (late of the fpiflt of civiliz-
ing activity, as it hath long dragged on a
feveri(h being in Europe, in the old w orld.
Some time or other (and perhaps foon)
events may arife, which (hall induce the
Governors and leaders of that corner of the
world to revife, to confider, and perhaps
to reform the hard conditions of its impri-
fonment, and to give it liberty, free as its
O native
■ »■<
V-
i 4t 1
native eflehee. In the mean white Wt Wili
turn our tyes weftward«
In this new world we fee all th^ ih-
tabit^nts not only free« but allowing
dn ^^miverfal naturalization to all who
wi(h to b8 £>» and an uncontrouled
liberty of uiing any mode of life they
choofey or any means of* getting a live-
lihood that their talents lead them to«
Free of all reftraints, which take the pro-
perty of themfelves out of their own hands,
their Ibuls are their own, and their realbn ;
they ate their own mafters, and they a£t ;
their labour is employed on their own
property, and what they produce is their
own* In a country like this, where every
man has the full and ^t^^ exertion of his
powers, where every man may acquire any
(hare of the good things thereof, or of in-
tereid and power which his fpirit can work
him up to ; there, an unabated application
of the powers of individuals, and a perpe<»
tual ftruggle of their fpirits, (harpens their
wir^, and gives con (Ian t training to the
mind. The acquirement of information
in things and bufinefr^ which becomes ne-
ceffary
le vtt Will
1 the ih-
allowing
all who
controuled
life they
g a livc-
them tQc
i the pro-
wn hands,
if reaibn ;
they adt ;
heir own
te is their
ierc every
ion of hi»
:quire any
or of in-
can work
pplication
a perpc"*
pens their
g to the
formation
omes ne-
ceiTary
£ 43 ]
ceiTary to this mode of life« gives themind*
thus iharpened, and thus exerciied, a turn
of inquiry and inveftigation which forms a
^bara^er peculiar /# tbefe people , which
is no<; to be met with, nor ever did exifl
in any other to the fame degree, unlefs in
fome of the ancient republics* where the
people were under the fame predicament.
This turn of charadler, which, in the or-
dinary occurrences of life, is called infui"
fitiverfefs, and which, when exerted about
trlHes, goes even to a degree of ridicule in
many inflances ; is yet* in matters of bufir»
nefs and commerce, a moft ufeful and ef-
ficient talent. Whoever knows thefe peo-
ple, gnd has viewed them in this light; will
fonfider them as animated in this new
luoonld (if I may fo exprefs myielf) mtb
the /pirit of th$ new phihjophy*, Their
fyflem of life is % courfe of experiments ;
an4» ftanding on t^at high ground of im-
provement, up io which the mofl: en-
]iight;ened parts pf Ei^rope h^ire advanced^
like eaglets they'commenpe the iirft efforts
of their piuioos from ft tpytrcring advan-
tage. , : . . ^ ,
^ O? /-^' Nothing
. . \
in-
[ 44 ] '
Nothing in the old world is Icfs regard-
ed than a poor man's wifdom ; and yet
a riqh man's wifdom is generally nought
but the impretlion of what othets teach
him : On the other hand, the poor man's
wifdom is not learning, but knowledge of
his own acquiring and picking up, and
founded upon fadt atid nature by (imple
experience. In Atperica, the wifdom and
not the man is attended to ; and America
is peculiarly a poor mans country. Every
thing in this wildcrnefs of woods being to-
tally different from an old woild, almoft
worn out % and every perfon here far re-
inoved from the habits, example, and per-
verfion, or pbftrudtion, of 'thofe who aiTiime
the power of directing them : the fetller's
reafon, not from wha": they they hear, but
from what they fee and feel. They move
not but as Nature calls forth their adivity,
nor (ix a llep but where ufe marks the
ground, and take the diredion of their
courfcs by that line only, where Truth and
Nature lead hand in hand. They find
themfelves at liberty to follow what mode
they like I i|iey feel that i\\ty can venture
^ i I ■ 1 .' ,
f»
^^.
. y
\ regard-
and yet
nought
rs teach
)r man's
. ,.e^
ledge of
- \i
up, and
■.f
^ fimple
om and
America
Every
eing te-
al moft
7
far re^
nd per*
adiime
fctller'fi
ir, but
' move
dtivity.
LS the
their
th and
r find
mode
mture
IQ
[ 45 ]
to try experiments, and that the advan<«
tages of their difcoveries are their own.
They, therefore, try what the foil claims,
what the climate permits, and what boch
will produce and fuflain to the greated:
advantage. Advancing in this line of la*
hour by Juch a Jpirit of indu^ion, they
have hroi^ght forward into culture an abun-
dant produce, more than any other nation
of the old world ever did or could. They
raife not only abundance and luxurious
plenty to their internal fupply, but the
iflands of the Weil Indies have derived great
part of their fupply firom the fuperabund*
ance ; even Europe itfblf hath, in many
articles of its fupply, profitted of the pro*
duce of this new world. It has had its
fi(h from their feas; its wheat and flour
from one part ; its rice from another ; its
tobacco and indigo from another ; its tim-
|3er and naval ilores from another : olives,
pranges, wines, and various other articles of
the more luxurious produce, having by cx«
perience been founci to thrive, are in eX'
ferimental culture.
If you view this civi)iziqg fpririt in its
^rft fimple movements, you will fee it as
.-■■.■. -An
[ 46 1
la its BxOl infancy* fo attaching itfelf to the
bofom of ithc comnion mother Earth» as
the- infani hangs upon the breaft of iu
natural mother. The inhabitants* where
sothing particular diverts their courfe* are
all kndwor kerf. Here one fees them la-
jbouring after the plough* or with the fy^M
and bough* as though they had not an idea
beyond the ground they dwell uno^; yet
is their mind* al) the while* enlarging all
its powers* and theii: fpirit rifes as theijr
imf rovements advance. ^ He* who has ob-
ierved this progrefs of tl^is new- world* will
know that this is true* and wi^ have feen
many a real philofophipfg a politician, pf a
warriour* emerge out of this wildernefs* as
the feed rifes out of the ground* where ;(
lath lain buried for its feafon.
As in its agriculture* fo in thofe me<«
chanick handicrafts* which are neceffary
to* and concomitant with that* the new
world hath been led to many improvements
of implements* tools, and machines : a
defidency of mapy of thef^* an inaptitude
in
* I hope no one will fo mirunderlland this, as to take it for
a ikncy-drawing of «^at may be ; itxis a lineal and exa£l por>
trait of what aAua'ly exifts. Editor.
i
the
» as
f its
here
are
|i la-
idea
\ yet
will
feea
> as
(ne<«
fary
lew
nts
a
im
Tor '
>or-
I
I 47 3
in many of thofe, which they are able to gcl^
has put thefe fettlers, many times to theit
ihiftsj and thefe ihifts arc experiments.
The particular ufe which calls for fotafe
f^ccedaneum, or for fome further aitfe*
ration, leading experience by the hand 16
improvement, hath opened many a n«nr
invention. While this fpirit of thusanaly*-
. fing the mechanic powers, with the 'folfe
and fimple view to effe^ (indead of p}od«*
ding on with a mere mechanical habits t>f
old implements, tools, and machines, ge<-<
nerally clum fey, and oftentimes inapplica<*
ble) hath eflablifhed a kind of infiaunahm
of fcience in that branch 5 more lietur
tools, implements, and machines; or ra-
ther more new forms of fuch have been
thus invented in this new world, than wer6
ever yet inventeji in the old, within the
like extent of country in the like fpace of
time. Many inftances of this fadt miglit be
here fpecified in the higher, as well as in
the common, diurnal mechanics. ♦
This new world hath not yet turned Its ^
labour into the a5ihe channel of arts and
manufadures ; becaufe by employing that
labour
'/f *■■'■ *■,
I 48 ]
labour in its own natural way» it can pf^
diiC€ thofe things which purchafe fuch ar<«
tides of arts and manufactures, cheaper than
a country not yet ripe for thofe «;mp]oy*
mentSy could make them^ ]6ut although
it doth not manufacture ybr ^/r» the fet-
tlers find intenrals and fragments of time,
which they can fpare from agriculture, and
which they cannof otherwife employ, in
which they make moft of the articles of
perfonal wear and houihold ufe, for home
confumptiotim When the field of agri->
culture fhall be filled with huibandmen^
and the claifes of handicrafts fully flocked ;
as there are here lio laws that frame con-
ditions on which a man is to become eti-*
titled to exercife this or that trade, or by
which he is excluded from exercifing the
one or the other, in this or that place ; as
there are here no laws that prefcribe the
manner in which, and the prices at which,
he is to work, or that lock him up in that
trade which it has been his misfortune to
have attached him(elf to 3 although while
he is ilarving in that, he could, in fomb
other line of bufinefs which his circum*
fiances
ftances poiiit out, dnd ' his talents lesid hitfi
to be ufeful to the public, and tnaintain
Isimfelf ; as thefe are none of thofe op-^
prefHng, obftruditlg, dciad- doing laws here t
the moment that the progrefs of civiliza-^
tion, carried thbs on in its natural courfe,
is rlp6 for It 5 the branth of manufac-
turJKS will take its (hoot, and will grow and
increafe with an a(loni(hing exuberancy.
'.'Although the civilizing aftivity of Ame-
rica does not, by artificial and falfe helps,
contrary to the natural courfc of things,
inGonfident withV and checking the firfl;
applications of, - 'tis natural labour^ and be-
fore the community is ripe for fuch en-
deavour, attempt to force the eftabliihmcn^
of manufadtures : yet following, asUfe and
Experience lead, the natural ptogtefs of im-
provement, it is cfvery year producing a fur*
plus profit i which furpJus, as it enters again
into the circulation of produdbive employ-
ment, creates an accumulating accelerated
progreffive ferics of furplufes. Wit& thefe
accumulated furplufes of the produce of
the earth and feas, and not *with manu-
faSlures, the Americans carry on their com-
H mercial
[ so i
mercial exertions. Their fi(b« >wbieat» ^9^t*
jice, tobacco^ indigo,, live i^is^fk^ bsu;fel|»orj|^.
iind beef (&me of thefe articles hetn^ jpe-
culiar to the country and ftajple ccQaj;acuU^
ties) form the exports of their coQAmecce^
This has given them t direifl trade tp Eu^
rope ; and, with ^^m"^ «idditional artkles^
^ circuitous trade to Africa and (ihe Wei^
Indies.
The fame ingemiity of mechanic Kandi*
craft, v'hich arifes coucomitant with agri-
culture;, doth nere aJib rife concomitant
>yith commer€i:, and is exerted in ship-
BuiLOiNO : it is carried on, not only to ferve
all the purpofes of their own carriage, and
that of the Weil Indies in part, but to aa
extent of fale, fo as to fupply great part of
the (hipping of Britain ; and further, if it
•continues to advance with the fame pro-
gj-efs, it will fupply great part of the.
trade of Europe alfo wUh (hipping^ at
cheaer rates than they can any where, or
by any means, fupply themfelves.
Thus their commerce, although fub(iil«
ing (while they were fubordinate provinces)
under various reilridions, by its advancing^
pro-
r ft I
progrefk in Jbip-huUding, hath been ilctk-v
iifg ^w^ rooty and ii now fhot fbrth tn
aSive commerofi goo wing inta ampliindt of
yftf/v and greait po^er. '^
Slating the ground on which an object
tibn is made to this description of the ifh«
pTG^vdag commerce of Anoertca, will oper to
view? another extraordinary fiaurce of L'lt^
plitude and growth of 0att. It wiHv be faid»
tb«t the fa^ of the balance of trade, being
at all times, and in every channel, fi^n^dly^
againfb America, lb aiK to draw all the gold
and iilver it can colletS; from it« is but a
danming circiimftanec of its progeeffive:
advance in conuaaerce and Gpulence. In:
the itoil place^ is it mot a fs^, thait Ame-
rica (^evna while partitianed ot^t iato dc«
preffedi and retrained provinces) has car-^
rif:d onfall its advanced cultare ia a pror*^
grefs to gjTcai opulence i ifid has it oot bc!eii
conilantly extending the chamncrh of its
tradie, and encreaBn^ its fhippiog ? There
is. not a more fallacious and mifguiding
maixinii (although it has been adopted io
praiflfcice-, »nd even by t^ominiercial nationr^)
than that of judging of the general balaoae
U 2 of
r ." r
of profit in commerce, by the movements
of that one article of it, t^e precious metah.
This metallic moneys as the traffic of the
world is generally condudted^ is an article
as necefTary to go to market for, a$ any
other article whatfbever. In the general
circulation of trade, it will always, as any
other article of commerce doth, go to that
country. which pays the moft for it. Now
that country which, on any fuddcn or great
emergency, wants money, and knows not
how to circulate any other, inoney than the
metallic, muft pay the niuft for it. . Con-
fidered under this idea^ the influx of this
article into a country, inflead of being the
fymptom, or confequence, of the balance of
trade being in favour of that country; or
the efflux being the mark of the like ba-
lance, being againil it, may be a fadt in
proof of the contrary. The balance of
trade, reckoned by the import or export of
gold and filver, may, i^m^j^ny cafes, be faid
to be again fl England, and in favour of thofe
countries to-^hich its money goes. If this
import or export was really the txfed of a
^nal fettled account.
in (lead of being,
9>%
t S3 ]'■
a« is generally the cafe, only the car«^
rying and dedudting of this article to or
from feme open current account, having
further reference; yet would it not be a
mark of the balance of trade. England* from
the nature of its government and the exten-
fivenefs of its commerce, has eftablifhcd a
credit, on which, on any emergency, it can
give circulation to paper money almod to
any amount. If it could not, it mud, at
any rate, purchafe gold and filver, and
there would be a great influx of the precious
metals. Will any one here fay, that this
flate of its circumftances is a mark of the
balance of trade being in its favour : but,
on the contrary, having credit from a pro-
grcflivc balance of profitj it can, even in
fuch an emergency, fpare its gold and filver,
and even make a profit of it as an article,
of commerce exported. Here we fee the
balance of profit creating a credit, wh'
circulates as money, even while its gold
and filver arc exported. If any particular
event, as for in (lance, the late one of the
recoinage of the gold in England, which
galled in the old eoin at a price better than
thai
•.
r « r
th«t at whic;h it was circulaiting ajbrcackt;
ftpuld c^f ^h« |niic€ of this arlkk ia Eii|{4
landy it willy for the fame* re«(bn» as ilt
went out, be; aga^n iinport€4 »ft^) Englanid i
i>ot coming aff the balance of thtir eccount9*<^
but as the ajrticle of trade, of which the
bed profit t^Quld at that laopie^t be made*
The fa^ wasy that at that period^ quantities
of Eo^ili gold coin, to a great amouiii»
were a^uatly ioaported intp England in
bulk; and yet this was no. ipark of any
liHlden chaotgr^ of a balance of. ffade in fa*
vour of iha^ eountfy. . : .
The balance of trade, rccl^oned jy thilt
fallacious r,uk» has been always faid lobe
againft Noith America alfo ; bat the fa^
u$ that the government of that countryg
profiting of a creJii aripng from the fr€i'i
gfeJIive imfirove/HentJ, and ^sticing cam^
m»ce tfit (which all the world fees, or vl
would be na credit) hath* by a reined!
policy eflabli(hed a circulation of paper-^
money to an amount that is ailoniHiing &
that from the immenie quamily it {houl4
diepreciate, is fipthing to this argument ififf
H
[ 55 ]
Uh* ^s Weill us Eng^tndy ctn ^re dbck
gold and filver, can do wiliioat ift. Tlte
efflux, thierefiipc, of tlie prcciona 'metilf»
if no proof of its beiag a baiance agaioft
tilMin. Oo tK« contrary, they being able
to go on wtthotbt gold and filver, but want^
iiiig other articled, ^^ithont which Dhey cooid
iKXgoon, neither in the progce^km of their
improvement&, in the advance of their com^
merce, norim t^e condu(ft of their war niat*-
ters { the metallic money is in part hoarded, and
in part goes out, and thofe articles of moreufe
to them are imported. Does it not then turn
out to be a faA, that this objection, wihicb
is always given as an 'f inilance of weaJcneis
in America, im^er >vhkh ikt mud fiak,
turns out, in thft true ftate of it, an in<«
iknce of the tnofl exUnfive amplitude smd
■ -;-l girtJ^ dOi . grcrwfif
* My information i\y^, that there is now locked iip in Aine«
rica more than Three Millions^ Englifli money', in gdld ahd
filver fpecies, which when their Pitpe* ic ahhiiukted Will<:oM#*i
forth. £dicQe« ,
f Would it not b<| well for %tvg\9x\4t if while Jhetriumplu^^
over this mote in her (ifter*! eye. (he would attend to the beaia ,
in her own, and p<"pare for the coniequences of her owA
P«per Money jl . AdiCOr, .
t J6 1
growth of JtatCi which would not have
been confidered, or even feen, had the ob-^
je^tiba not been made.
I will here, therefore, from this comp^-
rifbn of the fpiHt of civilizing activity in
the old and in the new world, as one fees
it in its application to agriculture, hand!"
crafts, and mechanics, and finally in an
a^ive commerce, fpatiating on an ampli-
tude of bafe, the natural communion of a
great country, and riiing in a natural pro-
*»reffion, venture to affert, that in this point.
North America has advanced, and
18 EVERY day ADVANCING, TO GROWTH
OF STATE, WITH A STEADY AND CON-
TINUALLY ACCELERATING MOTION, OP
WHICH THERE HAS NEVER YET BEEN
ANY EXAMPLE IN EuROPE.
But farther ; when one looks to the pro-
greffive population which this foflering
happinefs doth, of courfe, produce, one can-
not but fee, in North America, that God's
firft bleiling, *« Be fruitful and multiply ;
replenijh the earth and fubdue it,* hath
operated in full manifeflation of his will.
In Europe, on the contrary, where a
wretched, felftfli, felf-obftruding policy,
hatk
[ 57 1
ti^th tendered barren, ndt only fruitful
CQupuies^ but ^ven the womb itfelf ; one
may fay, in melancholly truth* that the
firft curfe* "I will' g;reatly multiply thy
forrow in procreation ; in forrow (halt thou
brin^ forth children^*' feems to have been
executed in judgment* That wretched
flate of the couatry and people, which hath
rendered fruitfulnefs a matter of forrow,
and children a burthen, hath arrefted the
progrefs of population. The apprehen*
fions of having a family to fupport When
the poor parents know not where or
how to provide a home and fuftenance ;
the dread of bringing into the world
(objedts fo dear to all parents) who are to
be born in a flate not much better than
flavery, hath palfied the very idea of mar-
riage, the fruits of which are to be brought
forth in forrow. * In North America chil-
dren are a blefllng, are riches and ftrength
to the parents ; and happy // every man that
hath his quiver full of them. As the nature
I
and
* Magnum quidam eft inciumeiitum, tolerc libcros in
fpem alimcitorum, majus tamea ia rpem libertatis, in fpein
fecHritacis.
PUn. Paneg. i. § a?.
[ S« ]
and caufes of this amazing population hatft
been fo fully difculTed, and with decided
demonftration, explained in '* Obfervations
concerning the increafe of mankind^ the peo»
fling of countries, &c.*' I /hall refer thofc
who think it neceiTary to purfue this point
of the comparifon further, to that little
treatife ; and fhall proceed here to confirm
it by examples of the adlual encreafe flated
in authentic fadts.
The province of Maffacbufetf s Bay had
inhabitants in the year
. 172 a — --94,000
1742— —164,000
♦ 1751. — 164,484
1761— —216,000 ,
1765- — 255,500
1771- — 292,000
1773 300,000
In the colony of Connecticut the inha-
bitants, at the beginning of laft war, and
of the prefent, flood
,756 129,994
1774 257,356
Obferve here, that the numbers, by which
thcfe
' * N. B. A great depopulation, b/ the fasall-pox and war,
in that period.
ind
tch
]efe
I 59 1
thefe people have thus encreafed» are not
aided by any accretion of ftrangers ; but, on
the contrary, they appear lefs than they
would actually be, if all thofe people whom
the colony loft in the courf^j; of laft w^r,
and all thofe who, in very great numbers,
emigrated to the weftward fince the war,
could have been added ; as it is, they have
encreafed nearly the' double in eighteen
years. As it may be a matter of curiofity,
and not irrelevant to the argument, I will
here infert a particular inftance of fecundity
in a family in Connecticut. Mary 1 opmis
(or Loomax) born at Windfor in Connec-*
ticut - - ^ * i^8o
Married John Buel ofLebanoix in do. 1696
Died at Litchfield in do. - - 1768
Defcendants Uving at her death :
Child. Gr. Child. G. Gr. Child. Fourth Gen,
10 .
Died bef. ^er
3
'^3
75
z6
lOl
23*
4*
■ ■■ n
274
'9
22
Tot. dcfcendants J t^''^ ^' ^'' ^'''^ 33^
• Died before her 74
Tpt* enpres^fe born
J z
4IQ
The
The province New Yori;,
1756— "-—96,776 \
1 77 1. -....168,007
1774 i^hHh
The Pominipns of Vi R g i M f A^t
1756 I73»SJ6
1 764— - —200,000
J 774-— Wip J 00,000
np Province of South Carolina,
1750 64,000
1770-— * 1 15,600
■-•fm
Ihe Colony of Rhope Islamei.
,73P 15,302
1748-9— --28,439.
Af there never was a regulated general
militia in P|ElNnsyi.vania, whxh coul4
enable thofei whofe bufincfs it wa;5, to get
accounts of the ihcreafe of population in
that province, founded on authentic lifts,
it hath been variously eftiiiiated on fpecu-
Jation, Although t^ere \yas a continued
import
* This ie fuppofed to be below tbe ■£tqal nnmber, the great
increafe of population being, in the back countriei, net then
fffcluded in the rpgulatipna of the policy* l^dit<aff
[6' 1 ;
Import for many years of Irlfh^ and Forei^
eirigrants into Philadelphia (jSf which I
have the nunihcrs) yet, informed as I am,
that many of thefe pafTed through the pro-
vince* and fettled either diredtly, or as
foon as their indented fervice expired., in
other provinces, I think the progrefs of
population may be reckoned here alfo by
the ordinary courfe of procreation, as in
other provinces and colonies ; and by col-
lating different eftimates, I think I may
venture to fay, that its population, when
I was in the country, advanced in a ratio
between that of MaiTachufett's-bay and
Virginia, The city of Philadelphia,
indeed, from circumftances of trade, ad-
vanced with a more rapid motion, of which
fa^ the following is a ftatcment in prdof.
Philadelphia had in the year houfes
Inhabitants on eftimatef 1749
froip 16,000 to 1 8,000 2 1753
31.3.8 to 35.ooo{;76o
To fpeak of the population of the country in
general ^ there were at the beginning of the
war^ 17^4 and 5, various calculations and efli^
mates
2076
2300
2969
4474
mates made of the numbers < f the people
on the cf^tinent. Thofe who were fan-
jguine, and thought they could correift the
. materials from which the edimate was to be
made^fanvicd they werejudified in making
the amount of the numbers of the people
pne million and a half. Thofe who did not
admit fo much fpecu]ation into the calcula-
don» but adhered plofer to the fa^s of the
lifts as they were made Out> could not flate
|he amount at more than one million two
hundred and fifty tbowfard.
The eftimate of the numbers of the
people^ faid to have been taken by Con-*'
grefs in September, 17741 makes them
3,026,678 ; but when I fee how that ac-^
count, from which the edimate is made,
diflfers, in many particular articles, from
^hat I have ventured to flate as authentic
returns, I am convinced that there muft
have been great fcope of fpeculation fa|cen
and allowed in that edimate. I have
Icen another eflimate which makes the
number, at s^ later period, after two or
three years of war, 2,Sio,ooo. In what I
^m going to advance, I ^m myfelf rather
reafbning
[ 63 ]
reafoning upon eftimate than authentic fa6(»
for I have not Cetn the returns of al/ the
provinces; yet from what I have now feen,
compared with what I have known former-
ly, I do verily l)elieve, and therefore ven-
ture to fay, that 2,141,307 would turn out
the number nearefl to the real amount in
the year i774« But what an amazing pro-
grefs of population is it, which, in eighteen
or nineteen years, has added near a million
of people t&-a million two hundred and
fifty thoufand, although a war was main-
tained in that country for feven years of
that period.
In this view, one fees again the ampli-
tude of the community unfolding its pro*
greflive increafe and growth of State,
beyond any example that any of the
Powers of Europe can bring into comparl-
fon in the account.
But more; thefe numbers are not a
mere mukitude of dwellers, Jruges confu^
mere nati. The frame and model of thefe
communities, which hath» from the hrfl:
eftablifiiment of them, always taken place,
(Pennfylvania excepted) is fuch as hath
enrolled
t «4 1
enrolled every common fubjedl;, by the poll ^
to be a foldier ; and» by rotation of duty,
has trained, to a certain degree, a quarter
part, or about 535,326 qftbefe people to
the aSiual ufe of arms, fo that the country
has this LUTiber Mt ^ ra'e from the c-vil
community, and to k*& itoadiftindt body
of regular foldiers, out raining united
to the internal power of the community,
as it were, the national picquet guard, al-
ways prepared for defence. I am aware,
that even thefe numbers, being the
numbers of a mere militia, will appear
contemptible to the regular Captains
and Generals of Europe; yet, experi-
ence in faA hath always evinced that,
for that very reafon, that they are not a fe-
parate body, but members of the body of
the community, they became a real and
effeSiive national defence, have toes that
are roots, and arms which will bring forth
the fruits of external prote(Stion, with in-
ternal fecurity and peace. This eflablifh-
ment is an organized part of the body, and
can be maintained at all times, and even in
time of fervice, at little more expence than
the
t 65 ],
the \'dlniltf vital circttlnlort feqikes. The
f feai griiatntffs irWd' fti^ctigth of the State if ifti
fitTx'i and C^ttfiiV in^fe ♦ ^^ th^t cveiy
«i6:Vitn<:}n fubjed^ by th^ poll, h fit to mia[k<l
11 l^lditr, ana not <;crt2lih conditions aiid
degrees of men only." I cannot clofe thl§
p'aft oif ifty reafi>ning bcttef than in the
f^ntim^ni in v^hich the fitne great St^eA
mstn d=nd l*hilo(bpher gives his opinion oft
Ad ittaltef, ** Thfc trvlt gi^tatnfefs of th*
^tati cohiid^th efT^ntfally in pop^Utibtt <]^
breed of tneln^ and mhtti t^h^re is valou¥ iti
the individtials> ahd a n^ititary dil^litia^
ifl the frame of the cbmhiii^ity; wher*
all> ahd not ^atticular coi^ditionk and it^
greed only/ tnftk^ profeffioh of arni^, ^hd
bear them iii th^k <;ounffy*s defehcfe."
Great as' this amplitude ^f (he cotil^ii'^
nity m^y be at Its bafe ; fkr advanced a^ it
may be iti the progrefs d£ it's civili'zinjg^ sfc-^
tiVity ; eftkbli(hed in iiitereft and power as
It may be by ati a^ive cdtnmerce; and fe->
curcly fortified as it msry'feeiii in the anion
of its miEtary fpitit ; y^t s^ this, ^Itlibirt
the foul of Goisrnmeiit, would prove but
k a
• Ld. VcruUrtl.
[ 66 1
a phantom. So far as the vilality of Co'"
vernment can animate the organized, be^ngg
and fo far as the fpirit of Government cai^
aAuate the will of the whole, fo far, and
no farther, can the amplitude and growth
of the State extend.
If the dominions of an Empire be ei^'r
tended, while, by reafon of a narrowne^
or weaknefs in the vital fpring of Govern-?
ment, the fpirit of Government cannot fo
extend, as to give vital union to its diOant
parts, or, by an union of will^ to adtuate
the confin/us ahdientit{m in thofe remoto
parts, the extenfion of the dominions works
not to amplitude and growt|], but to the
diiTolution of State. Such Government
will call thofe renK>te parts* external pro-
vinces ; and hccauib it hath i^t the virtue
or the vigour to. fp extend th^ fpirit of Go-
vernment to^ them, as that^ while they
obey the will, they feql th^mfclves vitally
united to it, it will ^flume the tone of
Force. But as the natural internal force
will not aa againft itfelf, that is not the
force which Government
ufe ; Government,
in fuch cftfe can,
rought into fuch an
, unhappy
f
t 67 ]
onliappy cafe, mufl: attempt therefore to
aft by external, unnatural force fent from
without. But, alas { any force that (even
with violent temporary exertions) it can
fend to thefe extremities (without draining
itfelf at heart) will bear no comparifoh with
the natural internal force of thofe pro-
vinces, and can have no effe<5t but that of
alienation and difTolution. When fuch ft
Cafe exifts, the dominions of an Empire^
which were not too great for a right fpirit
of Government, but vvhich, actuated by that
fpirit, was in a continual progredion to am-
plitudj and growth of State, are foon found
too great for the falfe and unnatural fpirit of
Force. Let us here view this world (by the
fatality here defcribed) now feparated and
fallen off from that vital union by which it
was once an organized member of the Eng«i
lifh Empire : let us view it as it now is, am
INDEPENDENT State that bath taken
its equal ftation amidji the nations of tbi,
earth; as an Empire, the fpirit of whofe
government extends from the centre to its
fl:treme parts, exa$StIy in proportion as the
will of thofe parts doth reciprocally unite
K 1 in
[ 6« 3
in that C^otqr. Herp we (hall find {u bath
flw^ys been founc}) ** That uoiverffl pajr^
l^jicipatlori of cQuixcU crc^^jtes rctciprGcaftiio^
of i^nivcrfal obedience* The feat of govpro*
ment v^ill be well informed of tb? ft^to
and condition of the remote and extreme
part« i and tbe remote and ^^^^tiemc pactii*
by participation in the legiilature» will froi^
^If^cpnfcipufoefs, be informed and faiiified
ijx the reaibns and nqceiQty pf the meia«
^f<t9 of government. Theie p^rts will cpn«
$d^f tbcmi^lvcs a& a^itug i^ cvery^^nt
tl^at 13 made, and in every tax which |ji
i^ffifei. This confidcratipn s^lpn* ^iH
give •fficacy to government, s^nd will cre-
%t.e that conjenjus obedientkmt on which
gnly the permanent power of the impe-
rium of a ftate can be founded : this will
give exten^on and A^.bility of enc^pirc a.|
far as it can extend its dominions,"
%ki^ might bavf been, indeed, the Spirit
%f the SrUi(h £mpirc, America b^ing
^ p^rt, of it : W/V is the Spirit o£ the go*
yernment of the new Empire of America^
Qreat Britain being no part of it. It is ^
yit^lity, liable, indeed^ to naany diforders*
many
[ «9 1
V^ny daogf rQUf difeifiai ; but it is young
mii ^ong» an4 wiU druggie, by tbo vigQur
of internal hfaling principles of ]ife» againft
t]iofe evil^, %nd furmount themi like thf
infant Hercules, ix will ftrangle thefe fer*
pents in its cra41c. Its ftrength will gro«r
with its yei^rs» and it will cftablidi its con*
Aitution, and perfe^ adultnciis in growtli
pf Aate.
To fihis gr^atnefs of empire it will cer-
tainly arife. That it is removed thrcq
thoufand miles diftant from its enemy i
that it lies on another fide of th^
globe wher^ it has no enemy ; tha^ it
is earth-bq^n, and like a giant ready tq
run its courfe, are not alone the grounds
^pd reafons qn which a ^epulatiil may
pronounce this. The fol^ering care with
yrhich the rival Powers of Europe will
nurfe it, enfures its eftablilhnfient beyonc)
aP doubt or danger.
Where a ftste Is founded on fuch aai«
plitude of bafe as ihe union of territory ii\
this new world forms ; whofe communion if
4jai^uated by fuch a fpirit of civilization^
\v|iere all is e^terprize ^nd experiment!
whcrc^
■ r 70 ]
where Agriculture, led by this fpiritj hatii
made difcovcrics in fo many new and pe- '
ctiliar articles of culture, and hath carried
die ordinary produce of bread-corn to a
degree that has wrought it to a ftaple ex-
port, for the fupply of the old world y
v^hofe fi(heries are mines producing more
iblid riches, to thofe who work them, than
all the filver of Potofi ; where experimen-
tal application of the underdanding, as well
as labour to the feveral branches of the me-
chanics, hath invented fo many new and
ingenious improvements; vvhere the Arts
and Sciences, Legiflation and Politics, are
(baring with a fliong and extended pinion,
to fiich heights of philofophic induction ;
where, under this blefTednefs, Population
bas multiplied like the feeds of the har-r
vcfti where the flrength of thefe numbers,
taking a military form, "Jha/J lift up itfeif
as a young lion 5" where Trade, of a moft
eXtcnfive orbit, circulated in its own (hip-
ping, hath wrought up this effort of the
Community to an aSiive Commerce ; where
all thefe powers unite and take the form of
cftabJ'oment of Empire; I may fuppofo
fkat 1 cannot err, nor give offence to the
grcatefl
I 7« ]
greateft Power in Europe, when> upon A
cqmparifon of the, ftate of mankind, and of
tbe ilates of thofe Powers ia Europe, with
that of America, I venture to fuggeft to
their contemplation, that America is grow-
ing too large for any government in £u<9
rope to govern as fubordinate ; that the
Government of North America is too firmly
fixed in the hands, of its own community*
to be either direded by other bands, oc
taken out of the hands in which it is ;
and that the power in men and arms (be
they contemned or contemptible, us the
wifdom of Europe may fuppofe) is toof
much to be forced at the di fiance of three
thoufand miles.
If I were to addrefs myfelf to a philofo-
pher, upon a fuppofed adventitious ftate o£
the planetary fyftem, and afk him, whe-
ther, if an accretion of matter fhould en-
large any fattellite till it grew into maeni-
tude, which balanced with its primary;
whether that globe, fo encrcafed, could any
longer be held by any of the powers of na-
ture in the orbit of a fccondary planet ;
or whether any external force could hold it
I thus
ft* 1
this reftrained; he will anfiv^f f^e dl^
ttetly. No. If I afk the ftthei^ of a fiw^lyi
whether, after his fbfi h groWn dp th mzn%
i^fticte, to foil flrength of body eqi^al to
thd patent/ to full pow^er of mind and
Vigour of reafott 5 \^hether he cam be: hdfd
In the famte fubordinaie pupilage, and vi^iH
ludbr himfelf tobe t^ekYed, tmder cotftt*
tiotip as aforetime in his childhood' ? Th6
father wiM be forry t6 be a!(ked the qudf-^
tion, ' and be willing to evade it ; but ht
muft anfwer. No. Yet, if I a!(k an Etit*
ropean politician, who lelrns by hearfay^
and thinks by habit, and who fuppof<^s of
courfe that things muA go on, as th^
have always gone on ; whether, if Nordi
America, grown up, by a ditiiiid and in-
dependent intereft in their economy and
comnierce, to a magnitude in nature, po
licy, and power, will remain dependent
upon, and be governed by, any of the
metropolitan dates on the other fide of the
globe; he will confidently anfwer. Yes*
He will have ready a thouiand reafons why
it muft be fo, although h& rifcs in -his
face to the very contrary. There hav*
been
[73 ]
bcek?, and there are, periods in the Hiftorjr
qf Man, when, inftead oi the politician
being employed to find out reafons to ex*
plain fads, he and all about him fliall be
hjififd, ta invent, or make, faBs, that
Jhall fuit f redetermined reafonings. Truth,
however, will prevail^ and things will al-
ways finally prove themfelves to be what
they are.
What has been here faid is not meant to
eflablifh proof of the FaB, which ts in
event i but fo to explain it, , as ,that the
confequences of it may be fairly and clearly
feen. As to the exiftenc^ of the,fa(5ts, or the
effe£E of them in operation, it is of no lin^ort.
The PRESENT COMBINATION^bF £VENTS,
whether attended tq or not, whetherV'''?^^:^^
hywi/dom into the iyflem of Europe or riot,
'iS)ill, forcing its way by the vigour of na-
tural caufes, Ife found there in all its afccrid-
^nt operations. Thefc will have their ef-
fedts, and Europe in the internal order and
ceconomy of its communities, in the'courfes
of its commerce, will be afFe(fled by it.
. /The flatefman cannot prevent its cxiftence,
,»lior refifl its operation. He may embroil
L ^ his
m
Nil
I
m
C 74 J
his own affairs ; but it will becofne tiU
wifdom and his duty to hk fovereigh adif
thi people, that his meafures coincide and
co-operate ^ith it.
The firft of the confequences is, the' EfFcd
Which this Empire, in a new and fepariate
world, become a great naval Potsfer^ will
have on the eommerce, and perhaps by
chatfges introduced in that, oni tbt political
iyfteoi of the old worid.
Whoever has read andi underftands any
thing of the fbte of the Hanfbatick
League in Europe, and confiders it's pro<^
grefs, firft by it's ppfTeffing all the com-
manding articles of the coRnuerce of the
then world, and the cohimercial comihand
of all the great rivers through which that
commerce muft circulate ; next it'is being
the carrier of (he trade of Europe; and
finally it's^ forming, on this afcendant in-
tereft, by the meant of it's {hipping and
feamen, an aSiivt naval Powers thdt in
al^ cafes could attracSfc the intereil of, ia
ta/c3 refift, and even command the
ma
Ifndcd lo'/vers; whoever, viewing this,
cotAildtis thac this League was made up of
" \
1
!
I 15 1
a niimber of towns, feparate from* an()
IHlconnedled wit^ each pthcr$ and included
within the dominions of other Powers and
States* of a number of individual town?,
vtrho had n^ nati^ral covtmuniont and only
a forced and artificial union ai^ongft each
other I whoever, duly marking this at the
"hafis, follows the ppgrefs of the powe^
pot only pomniercial but naval and politi-
cal, whifh this League, under all thefe na*
tural difad'fantages, eftabliihed throughout
all Europe, will be at np lofs to fee on how
much naqre foUd bafis the power of North-
America f):apds fqunded, how much fafler
and with i^ore rapid increafe (unobilrufted
with th ofe difficulties which the League
fxiet ^i^h) it muft grpw up, and to what
an e^tef^t and aftendancy of interef^, carry-
ing on |he greatcft par( C3f the commercf^
and commanding th^ greateft part of the
Shipping o^ the wqrld, this great comiper-
^ial, naval, ^n^erican Po^er xr^uft foon
arrive at. If this League, without having
the natural foundation of a political boidy»
a landed root, could grow, by an adive
^, pmmerce and the effeA of navigation, tQ
L 2
fuch
.' : ■*
I 76 ]
fuch power as we ki>ow ^t did poiTei;, ^d
$i£ted with ; if this Leagtie, of parts fcparated
by Nature, and only joined by the art^ft*
cial cement of force, could become a gre^t
political body, cxifting, a? it were vitally,
by a fet of regulations oi Jnternal policy,
and ading externaijy witH an interell and
}ower that took; a lead, and even an
afcendancy in wars and tre^ities, 'vha^ mull
the States of North- Anr??rica, removed at
e diftsncc of almoft half the globe, fron^
all the obftru^ions of rival Powers, bavins;
at it's root a landed dominion, feculiarly
adapted to the ccmmunion of fommercf
and union of power, and already gr<^wn up
J.n an almoft univcrfal a£iive commerce,
rife up to in their progrcfs ? As this
Hanfeatick League giew up to po\yer,
Denmark, Sweden, Poland, and even
France, fought jt'b alliance (under the
common veil of pride) by offers of be-
coming it's Proted^op. . Engiapd alfq,
growing faft in io a commercial Pow^pr,
had commercial arrangements, by treaty,
with it. Juft fo now will the Sovereign^
of Europe, juft fo pow have the great
Bourbon
I'V
r)
. , I 77 3
Bourbon Compact the greateft Power in
Europe* icourte4 the friendship of Aiioi^ricjL*
iStanding on faph a ba^fis^ and growing ^p
under fuch- gufpic^s, one may pronounce
of America as was faid of Rome^ Gifitaf,
imredible efi memoratu, adiftd libert^e
quantum brevicreverit.
I mark, here what may he in ivent,
from a vi^w and confideration of what has
ffeen in faSt, merely to obviate a fufpicioii
ipf my reasoning being theory and vifion..
4^^ In the courfe of this American war, all
the Powers of Europe (at lead the miari-
time Powers) will, one after another, as
fonte of the firfl: leading Powers have
already done, apply to ^he States of Ame-
rica for a {hare in their trade, and for a
Settlement of the terms on which they
may carry it on with them. America vt'i}\
then become the Arbi tress of the com-
mercial, an^ perhaps (as the Seven United
BelgJLc Provinces were in the year 1647)
the Mediatrix of peace ^ and of the political
bufinefs of the world.
If North America follows the principles
on which Naturp hat]^ eiUbUIhed her j and
' ' ' ' " ' ^ " .if
r 78 ]
if the Europtan alliances which ihe hat
tlready made d^ itQi inTol?e Hex in, an4
K^ttce herto» a feries of cohd^d dcArudiv*
j»f ih^t lyilem^ which tho^ princiiples lead
|0i (he ximft ot^ferve, that at Kfatare hath
jlbpai^ted her from £iirope» ^nd hath ^fl^a-
tii(htd her ^Ipftf on a great continent, fir
removed frotff the oid vforidf and all' its
imhroiied inferefts and wrangling politics,
without an enemy or a rival, or the en-
tanglement pf ^lliance$ * ':* I. That it is
contrary to the nature of her exigence, an4
i>r confequence to her intercfl, that (he.
ihoald hayt an^ conqedtions of politics
with Europe, other than merely <;bmmer-
^ial i and, ^yen on that ground, to obfervc
invariably, ine caution of not being in-
volved in cither the qparrcl^, or the wars
of the Europeans in Europe. II. That th^
teal ftate of America is, that of ^eing the
common fource of fupply to En^ope in ge-
neral i that her true interejf is, therefore,
that of being a free port to all Europe
at large; and that all Europe at large
^Ould be THE COMMON MARKET foT A-
mcrican
* Commcn Scnfe.
^'
. i f9 )
mtrican expoi'ts. The true initereft, ttiere*-
iorti of America is^, not to form any partial
tonnexions with any part to the excla/fon
oftberfell.*'
If Bnglarid had attended tb her own Iti'*
tereft* as coAne^ed with that of America;
fhe" would have kilown^ that ^*it is the
comifierce* and iiot the conquefl of Ame«
Hca, by which (he eould be benefitted i**
and if (he would, even yet, with temper^
Kften to her true inter6A^ (he would ftiil
find, '* that that commerce would, in ^
great mc^afore, continue with the fame be-
nefit, wdfe the two countries as indepen*
dent of each other as France and Spain, be-
caufe, in many articles, neither of them
can go to a better market."
What is here faid, is fpoken of them, as
influenced under their prefent habits and
cttftoms of life :-^> Alienation may change
all this.
Be thefe Icffcr private interefts difpofcd
o£g as the fate of kingdoms determines :
The views of this memoir are dire^ed
only to the general confcqucnces of the
general combination of events.
The
¥t/ -^ •/
I 80 1
The firft» v^hich in all human proha^i^
lity willy fooner or later, becoine the great
leading principle between the old and new
world, is, that North America will be-
come a FREE ?ORT to all the nations of
the world indifcriminately; and will ex-
pe£t, infift on, and demand, in fair reci-
procity* a FREE MARKET in all thofe na-
tions with whom fhe trades. This will,
(if (he forgets not, nor forfakes her re^
nature) be the bails of all her commercial
treaties. ,.
If (he adheres to this principle, (he mud
be* in the courfe of time, the chief carrier of
the commerce of the whole world ; becaufe,
unlefs the feveral powers of Europe become
to each other, likewife, free forts and
FREE MARKETS, America alone will come
to and a£t there, with an afcendant intered
that muft command every advantage to be
derived from them, -^
. The commerce of North America being
no longer the property of one country only,
where the articles of its fupply were either
locked up, or came thence to market
through a monopoly; thefc articles will
come
s
[ 8i 1
come freelyi and be found now, in . the
markets of Europe at large ; not only mo*
derated by, but moderating the prices of
the like articles of Europe. The furra and
peltry will meet thofe of the north -eaftcffi
parts of Europe 3 and neither the one nor
the other can any longer be efli mated by
the advantages to be taken of an exclufiye
vent. Advantages of this kind, on the ar^^
tide of iron, and on naval Jiores, have /re-,
quently been aimed at by Sweden j and the
monopoly in them was more than once ufed
as an in()rument of hoflility againfl England.
This occaiioned the meafure which the
Parliament of that country took of granting
bounties on thefe articles, the growth and
produce of America* which meafure gave
fource to the export of the fame articles
from North America: thefe* when they
come freely to the European markets, co«
operatijig with the effedt which thofe of
Ruflia have there, will break that mono-
poly : for Ruflia alfo, by the conqucft, of
Livoinia, and the advancement of her civi-
lization, has become a fource of fupply in
thefe fame articles to a great e^^tent. All
M Europe,
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[ 9t ]' .
Europe, by the intervention of this Ame^
rican commerce in her markets,, will find
the good efFeifts of a fair competition^ both
in abundance of fufplj^ and in moderation
of price. Nay, even England, who hath
loft the monopoly, willhe no great lofer on
this.fcore: fhe will find this natural com*
petition^as advantageous to her, as the mo-
nopoly which, in bounties, and other cods
of protection, (he paid fo dear for.
Sbip'buiidingt and the fcience, a!s well
as art of navigation, having made fuch pro-
grefs in America^ fo that they are able to
build and to navigate cheaper thian any coun-
try in Europe, even cheaper than Holland
with all her ceconpmy can, there will arife
in Europe a competition, at lead in this
branch of commerce. In this branch the
Dutch will , find powerful rivalfhip from
ihat maritime people, the Americans. The
Dutch will alfo find, in the markets' of Eu-
rope, a competition in the branch of the
FiJIjeries. - . .
The rice and the bread corn which the
Americans .hav& been able to export, to an
amount that fupplied, in the-European mar-
kef.
Ithc
an
lar-
ger.
tj
[ 83 ]
ket, the defe^ft arifing from Bngland'si with-
holding her exports^ will, when that^ export
ihall again take place, keep down deprefTed
the agriculture of Portugal and Spain, and, in
fome meafure, of France alfo, if the policy of
thofe countries does not change the regula-
tions, and order of their internal ceconQmy.
^be peculiar articles offupply to be had
as yet from America only, and which the
markets of Europe fo much feek after and
demand, will not only give to the Ameri-
cans the command of the market in thofe
articles, but enable them, by annexing af-
fortments of other articles of commerce,
to produce thefe latter articles aifo, with
preference and advantage in thofe markets.
'Iht refufe fflj, the four, t&e maize, the
barrelled ^eat, the live-Jlock, and various
lejjer articles of ftibjijlence, and thcf /»ot-
ber, all carried in American (hipping to
the Weft-India Iflands, diredtly from North
America : the African flavcs carried, by a
circuitous trade, in American (hipping alfo,
to the Weft-India markets: the taking
from thence the melofl*es ; and the aiding
thofe iflands with American (hipping, in
the carriage alfo of their produce, muftever
M 2 com-
t 84 ]
command and hav6 the ejcendancy in the
^ commerce of that part of the world ; if this
l&endancy even ftops here.
But to qlofc the confideration of the ef-
fe^s which the commercial a£lin)ity of this
New Empire will have, one may fum up
all in this, that the cheap manner in which
' the Americans can, at prefent^ produce
their articles of fupply; the low rates at
which they can carry them to the Euro-<
oean markets, felling alfo their (hipping
there; the fmall profits at which their
inerchants are content to trade, mud lower
the price of the like articles in the Euro-
pean market ; muft oblige the European
merchant alfo to be content with Icfs pro-
^t i mud occaiiop fome reform of the home
icECono|iiy of Europe in raifinjg^, and of the
order of Police in bringing to the market,
the native articles of fupply of that Con-
tinent. Put further; thefe people by their
principle of being a free port in America,
and having z free market in Europe; by
their policy of holding themfelvcs, •• as
they are remote from all the wrangling po-
litics, fo neutral in all ^he ws^rs pf Europe :*'
[ 85 ]
by their fpirit of enterprize in all the quar-
ters of the globe, will oblige the nations of
Europe to call forth within themfelves fuch
a fpirit, as mud change entirely its corn*
mercial fyftem alfb*
But will a people whofe Empire flands
^ngly predominant in a great Continent s
and who, before they lived under their own
Government, had puihed their fpirit of ad«
venture in fearph of a North- Weft paffagc
to Aiia, which, as being their own difco-
very, they meant to have claimed as their
own peculiar right : will fuch a people fuf-
fer in their borders the eftablifhment of
fuch a monopoly as the European Hudfbn'a
Bay Company ? Will that enterprizing fpi-
rit, which has forced a moft extenfive com-
merce in the two Bays of Honduras and
Campeachy, and on the SpaniHi main, and
,who have gone to Falkland's Iflands in
fearch only of whales, be flopped at Cape
Horn* or not pafs the Cape of Good Hope?
It will pot be long after their eftablifhmen^:
as an Empire, before they will be found
trading in the South-Sea and in China,
Jbe Du^ch will h^ar of them in Spice
Iflands,
[86 t
Iflands« to which the Dutch can have no,
claim ; and which thofe enterprizing people
will contert, on the very ground, and by
the very arguments which the Dutch ihem-
felves ufed to contefl the fame liberty againft
Portugal.
By the conftant intercommunion that
there will be between Europe and Ameri-
ca; by the conftant correfpondence and
growing acquaintance that thei:e will be to-
wards the latter, it will be as well known,
in general, as Europe: by the continual
pafifage to and from that Continent ; by at-
tention to the nature of the winds, which,
however variable, have their general courfes;
by repeated obfervations on the currents in
the Atlantic, which (befide the general cur-
rent of the Gulf ftrcam and its lee-currents)
fet according to the prevailing winds, in va-
rious courfcs between the (hoaler and broken
ground j the paffagc will be better under-
ftood, and become every day fliortcr -, Ame-
rica will feem every day to approach nearer
and nearer to Europe. When the alarm which
the idea of going to a Jirangi^ and a dljlant
country gives to the homely notions of an
European
[ 87 ] , .
European manufacflurer or pcafant, or even
to thofe of a country gentleman, (hall be thus
worn out, a thouTand repeated repulfive feel-
ings, refpedting their prefent home; athou-
fand attractive motives, refpedling the fettle-
ment which they will look to in America,
will raife a fpirit of adventure, and become
the irreliftible oaufe of an 2Xmo{k general Emi"
gration to that New World, Nothing but
fome future, wife, and benevolent policy in
Europe, or fome fpirit of the evil one,'
which may mix in the policy of America,
can prevent it.
The Great Creator hath Rationed a Che*
rubim, with a flamiRg fword, that turns
every way, and meets man at every avenue
through which he would pafs in quitting
life itfelf. Unlcfs the great Potentates of
Europe can ftation fome fuch univerfal, and
equally efficient, power of reftraint to pre-
vent man's quitting this Old World, mul-
titudes of their people will emigrate to the
New One. Many of the moft ufeful en-
terprizing Spirits, and much of ihe adive
property will go there alfo. Exchange hath
taught the flatefman of the vvcrld long ago,
that
[ 88 ]
that thty cannot confine money : and the
ftate of the Empire of thefe European flates
muft fall back to an old feudal community,
in which its own people are locked up. and
from which all others are excluded, or com"
merce mil open the door to Emigratiori,
The Sovereigns of Europe, who are cog*"
nizantofthofe movements, and who know
how to eftimate their effedts, mufl feel
what an adventitious weight hence, alfo,
will be added to the encreafing fcale.
Such, upon a patient • invefligation
through pad experience doth the flate and
circumftances of things, in Europe and in
America refpedtively, appear to the Writer
of this paper : fuch, upon a comparative
view of the two worlds, in thofe points
which lead to amplitude and growth of
ilate, doth the combination of events, in
which they are mixed, appear. The Me-
morialift attempts not to reafon upon the
matter. He aims only, and that with all
humility, to point out to the contemplation
of thofe who mud a£t upon it, and who
(hould therefore reafon, the natural^ or,^ at
lea(^, probable tendency of effe^s flowing
from
[ 89 ]
frooi it : and how thcfe relations of things
^r-^l^gefq^ tt fiedera rerum, arc forming
what he C9ncci^es will be the New Syftetp.
He is neither fo unpra^ifcd in the world,
no fo abfurd, as to attempt to eHabliCi the£e
pra(^ical tfTuths by argument. He knows
the infiuei^ce that fettled principles and de-*
cided maxims have on the public as well as
private opinion^ that men meafurc every
degree of proof, and even dcmonftration
itfelf, by them. The fublime politician,
who fpa^iate^ in the regions of predeter-
mined fyAems, which no experience can ever
enlighten, will not (loop to reafon. The
man pf the world, narrowed by a fclfiOi
experience, which is worfe than ignorance,
will neither reafon nor feel. Befides, if in-
dividuals had dire(St and practical convidion
of the exigence of the fadts herein Aated,
and did adtually feel the truth of the ef-
fedts ; yet it requires fomething more mate-
rially operative to move collective bodies
of men. It is but (lowly that nations re-
linqui(h any fyflem which hath derived au-
thority from time and habit; and where
that habit pafTes for experience, and that
authority for truth.
N WJjsn
f 9b' J
When contrary effedtSy condantly and
itniformly oppofing themfelves to the ac»
tivity of error, (hall ihakr men hefilab,
and raiie fome fufpicions that ali is not
right in the old ^em : when Experi-
ence, ob(crving (as it were) two (hips'
failing on the great ocean, (hall fee that
while the fails of the one^ inftead of being
fo ff t as to draw together, and to give the
vefTel its due courfe, do coanteradb each
other, and obftrudt its conrfe ; that it ts
repeatedly taken a-back, and with all its
buftle and a<Stivity makes but little way ; the
other t fetting all its fails as the nature of
the elements requires t zxA fo as all to draw
together, doth, in a one quiet unlhifting
trim, and in a one uniform (^eady courfe,
make great way, fo as to fail down the
other out of light : when Experience, having
Obfcrved this, (hall apply it to what he may
obferve in the different eifedls of the diffo*
rchtfyftems of the Old and New World;
Keafon will be heard. Truth will have its
force, and Nature a6t with all its powers.
Until fome great event (hall produce this
frame and temper of mind in the European
world.
'■tl
. \
C 9' 1
world, all reafoning will become the mere
theory of a vifionair; all argument the
downright impertinence of an obtruding
miiHonair.
Thofe Sovereigns of Europe who have
been led by the office-fydems and wordly
wifdom of their Miniflers; who feeing
things in thofe lights, have defpifed the
unfafhioned aukward youth of America ;
and have negleded to form connections, or
at leaft to interweave their interefls with
thofe of thefe ridng dates : when they (hall
find the fyftem of this New Empire not
only obflru^ing^ but fuperfeding the old
fyfl^m of Europe, and eroding upon the
effeds of all tneir fettled maxims and ac-
cuAorned meafures. they will call upon
thefe their Minifters and wife men. '* Comt
curje me this people t Mr they, are too
mighty for rne»* TheiiFilacefmei? will be
dumb, but the fpjiTit of truth will anfwer»
•* How Jhall / curfe wbpm God bath not
curfed ? Or kow Jhall I defy^ whom the
Lord hath not defied? From the top of the
rock I jee them^ from the hillt I bebol^
them, ho! the people Jhall "DVfhhh A'lohil^
N ^
and
i ^* 1
and Jhaii not tt reci^oned amongst
T'lTE Nations." America is feparitcd
from Europe i (he vO'ill dwell aloM: Shft
will have no connedtion with, the politics
of EUropfc ; and (he will not be reckoned
amon^fl the Nations.
On the contrary, thofe iov^rci'^ns of
Europe who ihall call upon their Minif^crs
to ftate to them things as Ihey do rmlly .
exift in Nature, and treating thbfe things
ij being 'what they are, (hill require of
t'he'ie Miniftcrs, that they take their fyftem
from Nature, inftead of labouring in vain,
to the mifery of mankind the mean while,
to force Nature to their predetermined
cJburies and fyftem : Ahd who (hall be. in
fuch circdmfiances and dtuatlon, as to be
able to form, if iiot the carlicf!, yet the
iftoft fute ahd natulral connexion with
North America, as being, what (he is. An
IieDEPENJi-EklT SrAtE, t«B MARKET Of
ANp A FRE« PORT To Europe; as
THAT BEING WfilCll MUST HAVE A
FRkE Market in £oro|>^, wi]l (coin*
dditJg ^^iih the mbvbments, and partaking'
Qi th? tilths of the new iy^tm) become
t *3 J
(he prlhcipat Teaming iPower in Eurbpe« Sn
fegulating the courfes of the reft, and in
fettling the common center of alt.
England it the State that is in tdofe
ctrcumftances and in that iituation j the
iimUar modes of living and thinking, thp
fame manners and fame fafliions, the fame
language and old hahits of national love,
impreffed in the heart and not yet efibced,
the very indenting^ of the fracture whereat
North- America ftands broken oflf from
her, all confpire naturally to a ri/un&un
by alliance^ If, in the forming that junc-
ture, England, no longer afTuming to be
what (he no longer is, will treat America^
and all other Beings, as what they really
are, (ht might flill have the afcendancy in
trade and navigation, might dill have a
more folid and lefs invidious power thaa
that
Magni Nominis umbra
with whijch (he braves the whole world i
(he might yet have an adtive leading in-
jtercft amongfl: the l^pwcrs of Eurc^pe.
But (he will not. As though the hand^of
judgment was upon her, England will not
Jee the things vibich make for her peace.
France,
[ H I
. France^ oa the p3ntrary». already (and
iDther States will follow this example)
atknowledging tbofe States to he vibat ^b0
are* has formed alliance^ with them on
terms of perfect equality and reciprocity,
'And hehold the afcendant to w^iich ihe
directly, rofe from that politic humiliation.
There never was a wifcr or firmer ilep
tiken by any eftablinied power, than that
iKrhich the New States in America took
for thejr^f;^ fioting in this alliance ; there
never y^ras more addrefs, art^ or policy
ihewn by any State, than France has given
proof of in the fame; when both, agreed
and became allied on terms which exclude
no other Power from enjoying the fame
benefits, by a like treaty.
Can it be fuppofed that oth^r States^
conceiving that the exclufivc trade of Eng-
land towards America is laid open, will
not defire, and will nqt have, their iliare
of it, and of the benefits ^o be derived
from it ? They certainly will. Here then
come forward the Beginnings of changes
in the European i^ftcm. j^
There arc too courfes in which thi>
general
«
\1%
•al
general intercommunion of commerce, Be-
tWixt Europe and Nbrth-Amcrica» may
cbme into operation : the one will lye in
ipecial and particular treaties of commerce^
with fpecific regulations and tariffs, mad^'
feparately, from time to time, with each fe-
parate State : the other may come into Ope-
ration by ALL THE MARITIME STATES
OF Europe, either previous to, or In
confequence of fuch feparate treaties;
either previous to their engaging in a ge-
neral war, or upon the general fettlement of
a peace, meeting in some Congress td^
regulate, amongd themfelves, as well as^
with North-America, the pREt port, on
one hand, and the free market on the
other i as alfo, general regulations 6£ com-
merce and navigation, fuch as mud fuit this
free- tra tier, now common to them all, indif'
ferent'y, and without preference. Such
rcgu! Ions, in the firft place, muft exclude
all monopoly of this I'ource of fupply and
courfe of trade ; and fo far make an eflen-
tial change in the commercial fyftem :
fuch regulations, not having reference only
to America, but reciprocal references be-
tween
[ 9^ 1
tween all tb« 9Gyp,ti;^lng , p^ri^s, trading
ixow. under differeixt cicciiinftaqceS) ayi^
ilanding towards jcafh. ptbfr m ,di#$ic«iif:
predicaineiitSy mQ^ ot^cG^y change _ti^Cf
wbole of that fyfleqa in EiiiQpe. .^^u
The Aoiftrican, wall cooie to market mv
his QWQ flipping and will claiin iit pee^/
as common i will claim a navigation rt-*
ftraintd by no laws but the laip af nations,.
reformed as the rifing €riii& reqiures i will,
claim a free market, not only for the goiods,
He brings* whencefoever be brings theoiy;
biit alio for the Aups in which he bringa
them i the fale of his (hipping will naake,
part of his con^merce. America being a^
free port to all Europe, the American will,
bring tp Europe not only his own pecMliar,
ftafle produce, but every fpecies of hjis pro-
duce which the marlcet of Europe can take
off: he will expedt to be free to offer to
fale in the European market, every fpecie»^
of wrought oiaterials, which he can mak&
to anfwer in that market : and farther, as
his commerce fubfifts, and is carried on by:
a circuitous interchange with other coun^- v
tries and regions, whence he brings arti**^
clcs.
f »7 ]
cksf Aol filBffy (os his own confoaption^
twt as 1 1 rhituprtte trtklcs, with which,
tQtndc In fbfdfiiMriMlii ^-wiU claim,
as ime of dw coft^Wont t0f the^tv sitfritf/,
that thcfe foreigA crtickt» as well as his
own pFO(lti^« ftftU be cooildered^ free for
him to impDtt in his own flitppii^^ to fucb
market. Thoie States who ref^fe this at
firftf £seipg others acqoielce in it» and fee-
ing alfo hew they pfofLtby having articles of
iUpply and trade brought fo much cheaper
to them* will be obliged, in their own de-
fence, and to maintain their balance in the
commercial world, to accede to the fame
Ubfrty. Hence again, even if the Ameri-
can (hould not, by thefe means, become
the s^icendant intereft in the carryiog-trade,
and in (hipping and ieamen, a moil eflential
change muft arif^ in the European fyftem.
Again i the American raifes his produce
cbe^per^ and navigates cheaper, than any
other can : his (laple con^modities are arti*
cles.whijBh he alone can fupply ; thefe will
come to the market aflbrted with others,
which he thus can mqfi conveniently fupply i
and»^ unleifs the fame liberty and freedom
"-^;.^. O ■ of
of trad^iW9<i%c e^jdfl, ^be»^lj>rooaHy
txifopiW^^JlfikimWM #htch flayer
can."' ' " ■■ ^^'>'^«^ «^''- •■ • ^1^^:
ifekh %riitg¥ ib'4R3# io Ki*- iMMlerof
trading Tcfr1rhdfS''irticles which hc pili'^
^yiafe^; tliat tKB IrBmmumt^ liv Ehif^c
liirifl beaffc(5e3, biittlflfltd, and ini^reRplK].
There wiil be f6tind Wbt'Aiil^ a fair t^iit^
jpetiftbli in tBelilcs, but the feeitliar dBi*
v//y of thc^Amcricafh will'riaife, of cburfe
and as nebcflTary, a fjnritand afttvlty ninongft
thofe who t:ome to th(i Mi(6 market. That
jjifculilt turn' ^F cli^ra^er in the Athcf i-
can, before delcriic^, ^iSM inqiUfitivenefV,
which In bul^cf^ir^infijitts a fpirit-of in-
veftigatioii to ^vtif^e^ent, and in i the
tnoft minute detail/ whtre? er inforihadon
is to be liad; df^ifelinld'eriablta them to
coridu6t their dealings i ri striade in a different
and more advantageous manner than is ufu-
ally priaftifed by tHte European metchflDt.
iHiey acquire a knowledge not only of<^he
hiark^ts of Europe; that is, of the -^ants
^ . '■ and
nd
t 99 1
ai^ ^pplfcs, hosw. they 9orfc(pond| and of
jkhek reUtiire l»lw»i.t[utjhey. never reft
^l^y^jirp fiQf^feA <?f, in the .iK|oft mi-
iwhMi^W* iJpI^wMi^ oi§ycry axticle^rf
prpduGA And nuiliufadurc which cornea ip
-:thofe markets i until they, know, the jci^b-
li<b«^ctfH*« the o|)ci;ati9ns, and lUxe. prices
Hf labpuG^i?d the. pio^s made on each,
#g wdU or 5V<5«f bettejr i^n j^erchants of
$hf i«»»^try. theflafelye?. Jhis^ ftate. of wi-
^mation^' j<?ined tp thcij: conamc|E:cial ^ac-
tiyity^ ieads tbf ti^ to^ the i^i^diate fojirces
,cf all ihe.&pplUs tbcyj.jvant, t9 purchafe,
wi*oaM^>&oing thr«?gh,4hc ch^^^
>d^^.trpi||bl^b,c.l^«^nJBj|g}s|nd aju} ^mcrica,
fevcfjil :pf the Sv^mm »?i»'c^a^s„ciper
%ially Ibpfe ^ ^^^W^^M^S .^^m^
of their o^nJm^i^^M^^^ M^^!^
infor©ic4X. heca^^^qr own favors, ^went
i»ini«d^telo^ jc^ I^Q'ix^fnujfaaurcrs in Bitr
iiningbAm, Wplverhaip|?ton, and Sheffield j
.^Oifchc woollenj n^apitfa^qrers in. Yorkfliirp
; u«nd JL^ancaftiire r, to, |hofe of Liverpool j
?umd to.thofe in tjie W?ft ij aqd opened an
O 2 immediate
r?9'>^
^Hnmediatetraffick wf«b th«m i| tjbe iifl:
'hand. This iame fpiril^^ inveftigilitfb,
^nd this fame comiliercialradiviijr wUi4h
^the fame manner a^uate^tlKeir -doalWigi 4fi
eyery other country of Emope wlkcpe they
h^vt la free laarket* -7^ iv
The ejffed arifing from this may ••(Ipei^f
at firil view to be di(adTantageoiM to ihoib
countries, and may ind<^ afbH the<^oiilr6s
of the Eoropean Merchant it^vHnnlllkf,
hot it will bcicome a general blefflng 10^^
^roibtoumty of every country at krge, by
b<eing the means of nifing a more gineM
competition an^l of diffb^g a mofo equal
pr proportional ihare ^ profit between ^
ranks a|id orders of tbei»itoftrip^it> Whil^
trade is fe)ely in Ae kaada of the Mfr^
riiant. He, not tnm tllfr nature <of the
man» hot fr^ai thp mmm of trade it^f,
bears hard on iim pufdbaftr by his high
rate of pro^^ apd opptcJfcs the ma^ufaf-
turer by the bare Uviipf ftiwtt pf profit he
ifdlows him ; the M^rf^ant grows rich and
inagnificent, makgs a great buftle and ^
great figure: the eye of thi wor)d« at-
traced by the j^lare of tbe^ mofcaotile in^,
1
J
I
1
t
i *^ I
Htfiatiittrii iM 4ef}r^ &<*n< f he d«fr«^Ni
a ccrtaSn difaksatioa fwm tkexiwa^^
loodrwHilh wonii ^Htmik %ft prp4me^f
Jt t»flr Mttt :be lirdl i^th tiijr (imWqr
vthdn the M^rtlkiiitr nitrFfMmts^ or l9!)|fiP
il&e #fince is ' '^ MfK^t^t. TJif |B«pp
4ts, itis left id quantity .fi6ii <y^ mvuM^
ration) ^iil he can^ to vtlRri(e^. If fVfll
4ie bis inter^ft'ta keep tkc! tmtkfSt ftaUETily
Aodbed; it wiUbecQf^1iis1iiterel|« ^ilk^s
colliterai dcbafion ^h{|^ this jftHl gm
\Am P" repre&nrt the demaii<jl ^ [fhf
mark^ its decre^fed, ibif ihii^ he ViriS keep
down thetnaimfkil^^'f |»ro8t. Wbeceai^
on the coi|fra#f» t* ths momtnt th^ Q0mr
mtt^ beeonfien'five and openi aiKl« hy Uiq
intentnxturfe df this American fpirilt ^
trade, runr^ with faif^ competition* ia (t
broader t^ahnel : The merchant mttft
inlike his Wrty by beirfg content with fhiftll
profits^ and hy doing a deal of bufinftft dn
thoft
mr'
Av^dbl ' WHich 1i^ ufttf ftf ^ > antf^he otlkr
^m^'dbtBin-^df^niiftj'ec}^! lUa>r'ortlie pra-
^^i<^h ti^f^^dlfMH^^bor; 'Mbre iirork
VUti^ dd^cl'illb ^ts-df indtiftry more
'^f^d^ly diftfibtiiii^'^^hireitoolMiiMtf of ^
"imfff ntitritioyib ]^U VM be^ diffiifSd
l!hlP4)i%h the Idtfdnreilbls; and gi^ ofiiverfU
-hk khd health/ and ihdre perfed eknberance
%f gftwth to^thc ip^holecommttifty.
' If thefeiaa^ be'true, 'aifd thirreprcfenu
tdtie(rl^of effe^r* Ibe^acco^ding tb Nalbr^ ;
%iid if^ihefe b{>edi%idm taicethis ^ourfe; it
•^fll be ficcdlcfs to^^irtt but to the (hrcwd
*ipeculations of ' the'knerbhants, what their
i<j6ttdaa: muff rttccflkrily be j but it will
biihoVe the Stat^ftneh in the fcvcral Go-
vift-ntnents of Europe to be aware, that,
^Whilethis change' is in operation, they do
n6l fufFer the merchiant to perfuade them,
thfll the general commerce is languifhrng
and in decay, merely becaufe there is not
^iheiame parade of wealth* (n fhch dazzling
•^toft) inftances.
*»
lo
tQ the mirked^ftfupply gi/ubfiftc/J^c^fn^
ioquke, . vhdllcritWe .is. jj^pt plentj ti^,?
I^xt to the rude pr^dpc^, wbic;h (A^j^jl^e
bai^s 4if nMuiufa<Sliutcj,^ftQd ^nqjiirq, ipj^f
tbec, wbUe.^moce, at^drjo^P ifidujOtjy-^jif
daily caUMi fQrtb«M.U i.a ^AQt, eiQployf4^p4
more adequately, piid skyr^ frm^i^d ,exff ndf
ed ^at I j)lni ^whether, wl^ile the i^i^mj^^s
'^^and. ingtnjiitif of. ip^q^j^iadtArers increafes
^Iind advancesi sthpyt do apt sft^liyp ja^j^c
comforl^Wy, . fo f i.tp fee ^ a}}}e |o ^ mai^tj^
and coi^ej|iiQnt](yA iVjia<^» ,»|o have, ;iiji^
preafi{)^ faoulilti vs^et^er popul^ipn ^es
^ not pragrcfli«^l|t:iBftfi|eafe, jRs it jix^t^^Ac
iburcesof iadytry. ^^i einpjijpjfpi^ixt.aiul ^ay.
^t them, M the fumr^^^^guard s^gaipf^the
narrowed, in^rcft ni4 ,c|cc}!i|fivc ji;emp?!r q(
trade ; . |vhiiejhe^ <eficoi|r?ig5^ 4^ ^« '^^^^^^^
twe principle oj\ general communion, „thc
genuine fpirit and life,of cpn^mcrcc. . i^t
.; The Political Fpunders of the old iyftem
in the old world, vyrcre totally ignorant of
i^ythis pxinciple of commerce : they feem not
to have underwood howthi? fruit-bearing
tret
I
M*4 J
vMdi Inftetd of prepiiiag, dM^ .wtflied
to impoi^fli tll# iott from i^nc^ Mt
ihotM huve drtWA itt nvtiilioAs it ^waa
Vfitaom with them to riiMl«r 4ieirncig)i«>'
Hoiirt and ciiftomirt poor. Tliey cnoipad
^d inaiigled ilie verf roots by the varioot
wayf ia mdiidi j^pttlatioo was obftroacd;
liieir impttiaiit atirko ilppad Um ve^
bole of its fital finl^ lb at to drain off
f^A circulatiofiy which ihould giirt ntilri** ^
^bd and efitfreaft to ht by « wretched
id^theftock bf labbulr and profit Irom ac*
ctmniladng. They cut off the bearing
Bnintbes (die hv^b^Mssmk and munufac-
marifH hying^ag thoft i^bM memberi
to ^t barren labonri of d^r ibuidiiig
khxofi And whallillli Jhiit, after idl, the
pdbrkngtlM ifawring Tree coiM produce*
tkty gadtered into monopoMseing (lores,
left others ihonld fliare die profit of it^
ftrtif the Statefinen of the prefent more en-
l%htened age Witt follow where experience
grbiinded in die aftud date of things, leads
M'trnth and right, they will throw the
sidtivity
s-
[ »»5 1
a^fvity of mankind into tU |iroper. C0^rfc
of prodii^ve labour. When man ha(h
the Itbenty of exerting, hit adive pow.er.8 of
indudry or'inge»uit7« ashe can makejibfiixi
the moft produ^ive, and findi a. (hc
market for what he produces, and his
(hare of profit in proportion tp his ef^cjen-
cy in creating it, then is the ground My
prepared for the e»)creafing populatiQ»».
6pulence> and ftrength of the. community.;
ihen will the Sov.ercigns of this old world
find their founded intereft* and mpil q$-
cient power, arifing into^ a^ipplitudp, and
growth of ftate, through means of their
Feople's happinefs.
«Jf 'tha:SovereigB8 o( Europe (hould now
at length find in the example of England,
that the fyftcm of e(labli(hing colonies in
diftant regions and various climates, in
order to create a monopoly of the }.^uU%r
^rodu6: of the labour of the people whom
they fend thither* is at an end; and would
turn the fame attention, with the > fame
seal, to cognizing ■ at home ; that is,
•iiiould, like the Police of China, give
iburce and exertion to their own internal
-> . P powers
I 1^ 1
powerf of pR>difa!i6ii» (hoold cultivafd their
wade Itnds, •nd^lmprove their agrioulturli^
«nd* in Its due torn, give '€^ty eftcoitfagt^
ment to manufadurci if> they would abo*
lifli all thofe uieleTs bonds ^ fiftvery, whicih
operate in corporations and oorporation^
laws; which 6:1 down the a^ivity of the
human being, as it were a phnt» to a local
vegetable life, where its real po^w^rsure
fettered and locked^'upy which repdl til
quality and tompetition, which obflru^fc or
<]iervert the inery fpirit.of commtiition, and
render thofe^ who < fhould live under it,
^iens* to each other : As .all tliofe wretch^
ed remnants of barbarifm Ufall be removed,
ths prodoAiv* powers of tho community
will create' thofe iurplufes whkh will ^-
come t&0 fotfrcit *alnd >in the dbe coUrfe df
nature^ i^pen in their tUHi tbn cbanmiU ef
Tf the European Statbfhien^ fromMexpeh
rienco of ' what has pad, and l>ton the ^fk^
fe<^ of the fyftem of ExiFope ; from iivruii-
tive' experience of the progreffive t State of
Ati^erica; ^otild fee the ^felMbftMlion
•whi(2h ari^S' fronb attempts to> fbrce «n #3ii>
i clufive
tf
cxumpled of SpA4a.ao4 Spglan4r tjnf
diAppoiatcd end# pf aj^tcu^pts-lai^ft^r
bli(h a miaofi^y i rf .mvigatm ifr n ^
yw^ «/" h^'Wit. ipftc»d : of. crcatiflj^;.^
maifitainmg *^;l)y |hf fpiri^.jof ,sM«;aftj|r^
commerce! flip«l4 ftc, tfeat irfl.^hc fP?%"
lures o£ preifitUsQfiJ, hy wj^ich.f^e jC;^f/(l
Statei of EMCppf! lajK>WhJ^f*aF«f* tfe^f^
do but dcprftfa ; fhwnWv^i Xbey jUjay . f^t
licngth £011^ taa tei;nper in.i}4n]^^g^ ^^t
Icaft, if thoy «a,orjot ycti,bftqg, ti^nf^ipUfiS
fo to :a^,i that to giyg fr^?e4pn?> ifeopq, m^d
adivit^ t<> cpr»«n^rc^> fe ^Jif tr+i^ f)^*;^!
opcr^tic3«j\s ifi^a(9tyalJy<;pmfMcrqi^l^ ^ ^./ja,
ir lAU tWs, A k^KiiW, wijl .be caH^d <p^f?^
latioiiij a|)d it is Ind^fBc), i^s^t |>r<;fe<\f > / JM
mcra ithpjory i , y^t b^viflg, by 4 /fcBWc Pf
€^pmm:^m : *iv Fcp^^tfid ^ft»n^ll» , aiMJ^ ip
foaie^ gWt- knpor^r ife^Af xh^xfr^pf^/ftiofH
whkb l^vp hm cpn^mnfii; and irejfS^4
In 9n6 m^nirp have, it>, their due ffia^f^»
bf GQBRc I ^fv^'iy^ wjjdom in a^Qfi^^ri
^jk\\ (hf>pjng ih^^ 1 do tnot pji^fti^e htop
mucbil proeeird iPithis if^utoipn^. .: na^d
's*'«j
p 2
t
I will
C «o8 ]
I will fuppofe, that the Statefmen of
the old world, checked at leaA in their
career of war ; entertaining fbme doubts,
orhefitation at lead, on the principles and
maxims of their old iydem; perceiving
that the oeconomical adlivity in Europe is
on the turn to take a new courfe ; feeling,
in fad, the force and expanding operations
of an adive commerce ; finding themfelves
under the neceffity of making fome reform
at leaft, ^^^/« tbemfthes to /peculate, how,
amidft a number of Powers of trade,
fhifting their fcale, an even balance may
be formed, and fecured in cftablifhment ;
how, amidft a number of fluctuating inte>
rcfts, buoyant on the turn of this great
tide in the affairs of mat, an equal level
may be obtained and maintained. If this
fhould lead them to review their old
iyftem, and they ihould , perceive how it is
of itfelf prepared for change, perhaps
they may find that Commerce, which
might have rifen by a competition in
an adtive induftry, a retentive frugality,
and exertions of ingenuity, hath lon^
bee;i an ^xclufive fcrambling rivalfhip';
■^■- that
^
•s
.t
[ 1^9 ]
that * Commerce, inftead of being (as ia
it's trae nature it is) an equal, equable,
univerfal operation of communion^ which
concenters the enjoyments of all regions
^nd climates, and confociates men of
all nations, in a one mutual communion
of all the bleilings of Providence: when
actuated as it hath been, by a repellant fel«
iiih principle> hath operated in Europe un-
der the old fyftem* as the golden apple of
Difcord, and been to the feveral neigh-
bour nations an occafion of jealoufies of
each others powers of enjoyment; alter-
nate depreflions of each others interefts ;
and a never- ceafipg fource of wars for
many of the latter ages of the world : per-
haps they may alfo then fee that treaties
of peace by which thefe have been termi-
nated, are but truces ; and that guarantees
are but fo many entangling preparations for
future yrsLts,
While they cannot but fee things to
have been fo, on one hand, they will, I
ihould
ur.,' •
Quid quod omnibus Interfc popuHs commerdum dedit f
Ingens Naturz benefictutn, fi illud in injuriam fuam noa
yertat honvnum fiu-or. Sencce Nat. Queil. Lib. 5 and 18.
ihovitd however Hope, i have fatisiadlion In
jperceiying, t)iat the 'manners of mankind^
Ibftencd and foioothed by degrees, have at
lefigth become more huoiani^d ; thck fo-
tlctf and police more civilized ; that the
y/ritld at large hath been rifing nearer and
nearer^ every day, to a merid^ which
liath enlarged it^ views, which hath en«
Itightenedj and Infufed a more gqAerou^ and
Hberil rpirit into i$;tbat although many
fit pht cid, oppreffive, deprefling forms and
Infliitutionc cf Governn)ent) a« they refped);
the <:ukivatorS of the earth, the manufac-
twcTf ihe internal market, the merchant
1^ external commerce^ have not yet been
mflnally fboliflicd; yet that prad;ioe> in the
tdminiflration of thofe governiinents^ hath
by' various accommodations* various faqili*
ticSy abrogated ^their word and moil mif^i*
chievous operations; that the adivity of
man finds every day more and mor«, a freer
courfe; that it finds itfelf encouraged,
where it is in a (ituation fo to do, to engage
In the culture (if I may fo exprefs myfcif )
pf the fruitfulnefs of the feas; that artifi-
cers and manufadurers begin to feci motives
which
q III ]
whkh ilbt oh]^ pVokipf ehfeir indufti-y, "tftft
tncoiirage ihiit ifjgenuity 5 di^t there iftc ^
thoufands ways and channe!s^ (wWcE
though Prided will ttof bpcrt, 'Pruden<5fe will
cdnnlve at) through which the ii>tefecfurie
of markets finds every year a more fVefe and
unreftVained vent J and that tlie a<fHve at*
traction and free fpirit t>f edmmefce Is; like
ihe fpirit of life.^diffiifing iffelf througti^hfe
whole mafs oF BbK)pe. They Will^^fihk
that, in fact, there it an end to all theft
mofiopolmng Jyftems \ that there is an abfoU
lute impracticability, and total inefficiency
\ti fevery line and effort 'of their >^]>^^it/tf
fftedfures. Experience of pad efF©(?:s wil/,
in the courfe of this review, marU ¥6 tlidm>
that any one of thole fowers of Eurbpe,
who woulld aim to deal with th'e reft df
mankind with an Unequal balailfceij who
'would endeavour t6 pile up the flow of
their commerce in a channel above the
level of the cirfcumfliieiit commerce*} will
only find in the end, that they have raifid
amongft their neighbour nations, a fpirit of
jealOufy, a revuilion, and a temperof uni-
verfal fivaifhip, that lliall confpire to wreft
that
I U2 ] ,
that falle balance out of their hands, and to
deprefs them down again, to a level with
the reft of the world. No other effedt ever
did or could derive from the European
iyftem of commercial policy i thefe are the
univerfal laws of nature, analogous in the
moral, to thofe which operate in the na-
tural world. The cities of Italy, thofe of
the Low Countries, the States of Portugal,
Holland, England, have all in their fea-
ibn, and for their period^ as commercial
powers, arifen iabove the common level of
the reft of the world i but over-prefling
with a weight which was felt as unequal,
by thofe placed below them; they have
each, in its turn, found, even in the mo-
ment of their higheft elevations a general
rifing all around them, and themfelves
finking £0 the common level.
If the Statefmen of Europe Should, at
length, begin to liften to thefe experiences,
and to reafon on thefe principles, they,
reafoning, not like philofophers on abftradt
theory, but like politicians on the adtual
ftate of things, and wrought thus to a
temper of treating, and adting towards
things
•
a
9.
Is
rs
\,
things as they really are i they mud fee how
much it is the intereft of All, to liberate
caiJh other from the Rejlraints, Probibitiotis
and ExcbifionSf by which they have reci-
procally aimed to reprefs, and keep back
that induftrious a£tlvity, or at lead the
cffcd: of it, which fhould othcrwife have
given fource, in each refpedively, to the
common benefit and intereil of All : They
will fee ♦ ** that the moft advantageous
** way which a landed nation" [prepared at
the foundation as in this paper defcribed}
' can take, to encourage and multiply
' ArtiHcers, Manufadturers, and Merchants
« of their own, is to grant the moft perfe<ft
' freedom to the Artificers, Manufadturers,
* and Merchants of every other Nation :"
That the Repulfive Syfiem, and Exclujive
Navigatiorif on the contrary, lowers the
value of their own internal furplufes, by
railing the prices of all things which muft
be bought with them : And gives alfo to the
Artificers, Manufacturers, and Merchants,
Q^ a mO'
* Dr. Adam Smith,
[ i<4 ]
u monopoly againjl their own land" workers :
Seing this, they will encourage Populatton,
firft internally, by preparing the ground for
the roots, which is the natural and nioH:
efficacious means, as hath been feen in
America ; next by an univerfal Naturaliza-
tion and Liberty of Confcience. Should the
Sovereigns of Europe at length fee this truth
manifefted by experience, which the poli-
ticks of Statefmen, and the myfleries of
Tradefmen,havc fo long hid from their eyes;
that a general and univerfal freedom of
Commerce^ under the prefent confpiring
flate of the men and things of the com-
mercial world, can operate only to promote
in the people of each Nation, the ncccffity
of an adlive induAry, oeconomy, fobriety,
experimental ingenuity, and a temper of
equal juftice, coinciding with the general
communion of Commerce i and that thefe
virtues while they render each particular
national community produdtive, populous,
opulent and ftrong, do unite the intereft of
the Sovereign and the happinefs of the Peo-
ple, in the power of the State : Elevated as
their lituation is, and above all local, par-
tial
A^
X "5 J
tial views, they niuO: fee, that, if Nature
has fo formed Man, if policy has fo framed
Society, that each labouring in his defined
and defined line of labour, produces a fur-
plus of fupply, it is the law of Nature and
of Nations, it is of perfecSt juftice as well as
policy, that men and nations (hould be
free, reciprocally to interchange, and re-
fpedively as their wants mark the courfe,
thcfe furplufes: that this Communion of
Nations with each other, by which they aid
and profit each themfelves, each other and
all, is a right which may be enjoyed and
cxercifed in its true and genuine fpirit, and
to its utmbfl extent, except in time of
war, but even to great degree in time of
war, without interfering in the political
and civil power of the world ; and that (if
fo) it ought to be thus enjoyed and cxer-
cifed to the benefit and intereft of each,
and to the common good of all.
To thofe who fee things as they are, and
reafon upon them as being what they are, the
fpirit of thofe exclufive laws of navigation
which obftrudt an equal fyftem of univerfal
communion* in commerce, will appear as
Q^a the
I
riH»^. ^
I „6 ]
the fpirlt of piracy i nv^iU appear in the ex-
treme execution of them at the breaking
out of hoftilities, and oftentioMS even in
declared war, the fame in the thing ;aiid
fad: as the robberies of thofe States which
the Powers of £urope have decidedly called
Piratical : they will fee that the Common
Ocean, incapable of being defined, inca«
pable of a fpecial continued occupancy,
incapable of receiving exclui:v«ly the la-
bour of any individual perfon or State
mixed with it, is incapable of becoming
an objeB ef property s that however the
Authority of an ufurped power of religion,
however the Force of Empire, "may at-
tempt to ^ive imaginary boundaries to the
open, .unbounded, undefined parts- of this
Common Ocean, drawn by thofe who were
asignorant of Aftronomy and Qeography, as
they were of the laws of Nature, as ignorant
of Heaven as of Earth, boundaries which
common juilice never can fix, nor which
common fenfe ever can find ; it can never
become an obj0 of dominion; and that, there-
fore, the Ocean ihould in policy, as it is
in faA, remain common and free
Pervium cun^is iter.
If
IS
If
I 117 ]
If thie Spv^erdj^ of Suibpe (hoold lA
this vi«w of things conceive that the Com^
mercial Syftem of Europie is chan|;iDg ift
h€t, and in wifdoni and policy Should be
changed} thit the great Commerce of
North America, emancipated from itr pro*
vincial Aate« not only coincides with, but
is a concurring caufe of^ this change 1 thtC
tie prefent combination of tbefe roenU
form a crifis^ which Providence^ as it wer«k
with a more than ordinary interpofitioH
hath prepared : and that Heaven itself (eims
to call upon them, to whom it hath com^
mitted the intereft and happinefs of 'man*
kind, toco-operate witbits gracious Vto*
vidence : if likening to the voice of rea'^'
fon, who brings experience in her hand* the/
ihould be convinced that of all the frnitikift
follies, which rivalChip of ambition, or the
reftlofs recklefs a^ivity of politics hath ever
drawn them into, there is nothing fo ab-
furd as warring againft each other about an
objcft which, as it is feparated from Eu-
rope, will have nothing to do with its em-
broils, and will not belong exclufively to any
of them. If lidening to this voice, which
I
X "8 3
HI that of an AngeT^ announcing peace and
gOQd-will to mankind, fummons them to
leaye 60rthe endl^fs ufelefs operations of war;
to confider the prefent cri0s as an obje^St
pf Council and not of War ; and, therefore,
to meet in communications and intercourfe
of their rcafoning powers : fur^ly thefe So-
vereigns, who hold themfelves to be tht
Vicegerents of Heavcn'k power on earth,
will a€t with this its manifcAed fpirit and
will.
The maritime powers of Europe, let
tbcm continue the war to what length of
time they may, mud. (before peace, refpedt-
iDg that continent, refpe(5ting /America, and
the mixed interefls of Europe and America,
can be even treated of ) tnuil convene by
their Confuls. Commiffioners,,or other Mi-
sifters, in order to confider the feveral
points on which the war broke out, the
points in claim and in adtual contefV, the
points €n which they may fafcly fufpend
hoftilities, the points which mud form the
bafis of treaty, and which will enter into
the future fyftem, the point on which peace
by that fyftcm may not only be made but
. eflabliflied
'[ rf9
^fl;abU(hed simdn^ft thb nations of the At*
laii^tic oc^aifi. Will not* tfh'ch Tcafoii and be*
ncvolencc,' iii^hich (m^hii pcctrliat crlfis^
true policy and thdr r%hll Ahd'bcft irttcrtft
IS induded; fuggeft to their heamV and ac^
tu!ate their Councils to convene a Conjjj^ci«i
before they are enga^ei^in further hoJiiHtier^
before the dcfvaftatioh of ' l^ar extends^riii^
arid miftry yet furtlierf 'Morale fuchtiidii
furc, derived • fr<hn'-^th*e • fa'Hiie* icelkigii -iatid
reafonings, adtiiated i>y ' the fame motfves,
arid p6in ting tb the ft'tii'c^vieWs, as iedtb^
the ft vera! great Tradinjg Bodies' of Europe
tb convene in a CoiiGtais^, Which gai^e'riie
to the Hanfektic League, is neither -cbn*^.
trary to, nor out 'of the courfe of public
bufincfs ; but is,^on Vhe other hand, what
the nature of the prefent crifis in a more
than ordinary neceffity requires. In thi§
model there is example in fadt, precedents
in wifdom and policy, applicable in the
fame manner to aimed the fame cafe as
theq cxifted. If the Statefman, who on
fuch occaiions are to advife their Sove-
reigns, fhould think that this example docs^
not come up to the prefcnt cafe, or that the
mechanic
11
'h
I
.OLil
IPdcl^aale comni^erGy; rcAfoMog of fucli;
}u>fnel^ psM'tieSfCs^i, Q^vcf be a mo(M ^ f^P
ifuhlii;iic of po^fif ^^ this ppf r^ ( juft ^r
ieryiog ia the pafllng^ that thoCe w^o think
fo, icAow. nothing of the wifdom of that
I^fa9^e) woA^d xn^d humbly recommend it
to thefp^ St^ftneni, tak iog, up. the fubjed^ ]«
^;ei^ged, JibcnJi^ philofophic view, to
consider dij(pafik>nately, and weigh tho-
roughly, mbetbfir Jbmt G^j^ehal CavNciL,
on the model of thai concerted, between the
grea^ Henry of France ^d Elisi^beth of
]&pglaad| two as nobb fjnrits and at wife
politicians as the VFOx;ld hath fincc feeo,
JbwUnot HMv beprapofifi.,. This Memoire
()ops not mesA ^ Qfners^ Council, ^eded
inio the fame eAaJblininaent (akhougl nn
the fame bafe) 2& their 4tfign^ vfent to,
which was to t^e forming a Council of
AdminiAration« for regulating, and cpndudk-
ing a general political Jyjlem of all Europe.
The general Council here fuggefted, is /im-
ply and definedly a Csuncil of Q^merfe, for
all, Europe and North America (abfplutely
exQlufiye of all and every point, of politics)
f^^med by the feyeral Sovereigns fending
11'. *^"''
[ .M 1
il^bmmiflioners or Minlfters to conVehe^ as
a Chaltibcr or Board, reprefenting the fe-
Vcral {Commercial Interefts of eaeh State }
lind, on a gfcn«!ral liberal plati and' fyftem
of commerce, the cohjanfk and confociated
tomnon iritcreft of All. As fuch it fhbnld
iremain a (landing perpetual Council of de«
liberatioh and ad vibe, arid a seat op jtj-
t>iciAL Administration common to
all. •' CoHiinuellement ajemble en tofps de
^* Senaf pom* delilferer fur Us affair a fur-'
*• venanfes, s'occuper h difcuter les different
** inferits, pacifier les querelks, eclaircir ^
** vuider tons les affaircs^-^potir affurer tfik"
** tuellefnent • la liiierti dh commerce,** Alfo
as a Great Ai«D General Court op
Admiralty, to take cognizance of fuch
mattet^s of commerce ib litigation, as/ ac-
cording to its eftablifhmcnt, (hall comcf
duly before it : ind^ of all offences which
fhall be coiiiniitted againft thofe general
and cbmmon laws of trade, which fl^all
have been, with ratification of the S6ve«*
reign Powers, eftabliilied by it.
Scrch a Council might not only prevent a
frt'bft dreadful general war^ which (eems to
R ' - 'be
■I
[ I« 1
be coming on in Europe; but, if it iliould
be fo happy as to agree on fuch reglsments
25 would eftabliQi peace at prefent, might,
for ever after be the means to prevent all
future occaiions of v^ar, arifing from com*
mercial quarrels. Or^ if the rage of war
did force itfelf upon ihe world, it would
then be a Seat of common judice, open to all
nations, for the relief of the peaceable, in«
duftrieus, and innocent, who ihould. be ac>
cidentally or iniquitouily injured by any of
the warring parties : a feat of fuch juilice
as does not exiil, and cannot be expected,
in any private national Court of Admiralty,
in the prefent date of nations. Whatever
is the fate of every other part of this pro-
pofition, the prefent entangled, confound-
ed, vague ilate of the marine law cf na-
tions> feems to be fuch, as creates a necef-
fity, which mud draw this part into eftab-
lifhment. At prefent, all principle, rule,
and law, feems to be as much loft and gone,^
as if the nations were fallen back to the old
ftate of piracy, under their old barbarifm,
Europe cannot, even in war, go on under
the prefent abrogation of all treaties* and
all the laws of natioas.
If
E »23 ]
• If the ftate of things, if the combina-
tion of events are, in fa£V, fuch as mark
the necedity «f fome fuch General Coun-
cil : If the minds and tempers of Sove-
reigns, whofe hearts are in the hands of
Providence, be in fuch frame as the impref-
fion of thefe things feems naturally to make:
And if under this vievir of things, ^nd in
this fpirit of wifdom, they (hould fend
their Commiflioners or Minivers to con-
vene in fuch a General Council, with
powers and inflrudlions to form fome gene-
ral laws and eflabli^hment on the ground
of. Universal Commerce: the cardinal
poiilts which will mod likely come under
deliberation will be : id. How far» in right,
and how far in policy, it may be heft for
All, to e(labli(h, on mutual agreement, the
Mare Liberum : and how far each in-
dividual nation, (providing for the fecurity
of that peculiar property and dominion
which they have, occupy, and duly hold,
in local. defined bays and harbours, &c.
eaclofed within the boundaries and coads of
their landed dominions) may accede to this
i cdabliihment, as a law of nations.
^ . R a zd\y,
If
ri I
2dly. How far the univcrfal Jus Na^;-
G AND I may b^, or can be eftablifhed*
confiilent with the prefent national claims
of the feveral Maritime States ; or how
rhofe may be accomrpodated, mutually and
reciprocally, fo as to lead to fuch eftabliih*
m^nt hereafter. On this ground they wil)
naturally meet each other, in forming at
leail fome general fyilem of regulations and
laws,, common to all, under which thi^
ufliverfal commerce may a€t and be pro-
tedted: So tha*^ the exercife of this right
may extend whcrefoever the ocean flows, .
and be as free as the air which wafts i%
over that ocean in all directions. H^***
.3dly. This will lead to deliberation on
the. LiBERTAS UNIVERSALIS COMMERt .
CIORUM, FREE PORTS, and FREE MAR->
K£TS, in open equal trafHck.
As a concomitant meafure, or at leaft
(thefc being fettled) as a neceflSiry confe- .
quence of them, the Members of this
Council mud enter into convention, after-
wards to be ratified by the refpedtive So<f/<
vereigns, of reciprocal ilipulations and
terms> as to Port Duties and Market Tolls.
The
iV
^J^ adj^dmeni: of ihts ktter p6int wilt
(derive, and naturally^ fake its form from
the mode pf the e(b]bli(htnent of th^ three
forn^er matters. They will, however^ h&
beft anet m.o(i wJfely fettled, by thofc'
Staft& who 2*6 ill circumffences which
efiable theiri, ai#d who are undet fuch'
ar fpirit of wifdbto as wi» dirta them^
to aboliih, by degrees, all Port Outies;^
and to rai^ their revenue by Excife, Taillfcs,
and other internal iburces of finance, a?
arc c^lkiStcd hot from the fdler, where
every Impofition lays with redoubled load^
of tax on the Spbjedl, and comes with
defalcated and defective revenu6 to tha'
State, but immediately on the confumer ;
where the load mpft ht proportioned to the
abilities of his bearing it, and whence^
whatever is colkrad, comes in full to the
State. " Add to this, that it would be a
means of making that country which adopt-
ed this meafure, a free port j a cir-
cumflance very defireable to every well-
wiflier of his country. See then whether
it docs not defervc the care of every worthy '
patriot
rv
It ^*6 }
psrtTiot !• make fiich afchem^ (if it can be)
jfeafiblc an4 pri^dtic^We*"* ««hhij
}£; the State of, Ejarope^ by its circum'*
fiances and modes of b^finefs, by the fpirit
of its politicks* by the temper and under-
ftanding of its Sovereigns, iS; not yet pre-
pared and ripe for any fuch genera} fyilem
and eftablifliment of Universal Com-
MfRCB, iinder the Mare Liberum, the,
Jus Navigandi, and thp_ ]L|££RTASr
Universalis Commerciorum: The bu-
finefs of this Council will turn on the. mak^
iog of fuch alterations, accommodations*,
and; reform in the old fyftem* as may fuit
and fqllow the changes of it. They will,
therefore, deliberate fird, on the nature
and extent of the conditional grants of
privileges of trade, which, under the air
of piotedion, they {hall offer to Ame-
rica; Under this idea they muil fettle
with Her and amongft each other quite
new arraogcmenti of tariffs. As they ihall
advance in multiplication of difficulties, and
by degrees to a convidtion of the imprac-
ticability of this line of meafuresi they
* Sir Mat. Decker.
will.
[ »f ]
wilU by degrees, raiie even in their ovrn
ideas, this nation to be States admitted,
and next go upon the experiment of trea-
ties of commerce with her, on the old
European fyftem. Experience will teach
them, that this will create a rival(hip»
which will evade and break all treaties of
commerce. Here then will they come
round in a circle to the point of neceffityt
as herein before ftated, which, firft or laft,
muft force into eflablifhrnent, the meafure
defcribed in this paper, -f Voila tout ce
qii on pent raifonabkment exiger, II n* efi
au pouvoir de V humanity, que de preparer
et agir. Le Succes eft i* Ouvrage i um
main plus putjfante.
t Due de Salli, Liv> %;
FIN! $.