^-UBRARYQc, ^-UNIVER% Cut Bono? OR. AM INQUIRY, Cut Bono ? OR, AN IN Q_ U I R Y, WHAT BENEFITS CAN ARISE EITHER TO THE ENGLISH OR THE AMERICANS, T H I FRENCH, SPANIARDS, OR DUTCH, FROM THE GREATEST VICTORIES, OR SUCCESSES, IN THE PRESENT WAR, BEING A SERIES OF LETTERS, ADDRESSED TO MONSIEUR NECKER, IATE CONTROLLED GENERAL OF THE FINANCES OF THIRD EDITION, WITH AN ADDITIONAL PREFACE. WITH A PLAN FOR A GENERAL PACIFICATION. BY JOSI4H TUCKER, D. D. DEAN OF GLOCESTER. LONDON: PRINTED FOR T. CADELL, IN THE STRAND; 5QLD A-LSO BY EVANS AND HAZIL, IN GLOCESTER. M.DCC.LXXXII. PREFACE T O T H E THIRD EDITION. SINCE the Firft Publication of this Work, a Treatife has appeared with the following Title : The Interejls of Great Britain confidered^ with refpeft to her Co- lonih. By James Anderfon, M. A. Print- ed for Cadelk The Similarity of the prin- cipal Arguments, and the Samenefs of the general Conclufion, have induced certain Perfons to fufpec~t, that one of us muft have borrowed from the other. In juftice to that enlightened and judicious Author, I think it my Duty to declare, that I have not the leaft Doubt of the Originality of his Plan ; being perfectly fatisfied, from va- 7 rious vi PREFACE. rious Circumftances, that he could not, even if he would, have borrowed any Thing from me. If, after this Declaration, the Malevolent mall be difpofed to indulge their jSufpicions, and to gratify their Spleen, in fuppofmg that lam the Plagiary^ and have ftolen from him, I will not be at the Pains of confuting the Surmife; but fhall let it pafs, among Multitudes of others, equally devoid of Truth, and equally barmhfs in their Confequences, as far as my Character and Writings are concerned. INDEED, there is one Article in Mr, Anderfons Book, contained in a long Note at Pages 50 54, which I mould have been glad to have adopted [but not without ac- knowledging the Obligation], had I the Honour of being acquainted with the Au- thor, or had I feen his Treatife before I had printed my own. I long have had it in Contemplation, when treating of the ruin- ous Confequences of retaining diftant Co- lonies, PREFACE. * lonies, to give fome new and ftriking II- luftration of that melancholy Truth, by an Example which would fuit all Cafes : Therefore I endeavoured to difcover fome new Topic, or general Medium^ which might have evidenced the bad Effects of thefe Colonizing Syftems in other Inftancesj as well as in that fmgle One, to which the Downfal of Old Spain hath been ufually afcribed, viz. the Treafures of Mexico and Peru. But not having been fortunate enough to fix upon fuch an Illuftration as was altogether fatisfactory to myfelf, I for- bore troubling the Reader with an Argu- ment which did not appear to me to be perfectly conclufive. With Pleafure let it be acknowledged, that I now thank Mr; Anderfon^ in this Public Manner, for doing that Service to the Caufe of Truth, which I could not do. I HAVE further to add, That having fur- nifhed the Gentleman, who undertook a French viii PREFACE. French Tranflation of my Cut Bonof with a Paragraph from one of the late Monf* Turgot's Letters ; many Perfons, both at Home and Abroad, have wifhed to read the genuine Epiftle of that able and up-* right Minifter, whole and unmutilated, in order that they might judge the better of the Force and Spirit of his Reafonings. For my Part, as I fee no material Objec- tion againft gratifying fuch a Curiolity, I here infert it liter ally ^ and at full Length ; and only wifh, that the Political and Com- mercial Arguments, which are urged in it for the Good of Mankind; may have thofe Effects on the Mind of every Reader, which they deferve to have. PREFACE. A Paris, le 12 Septembre Je n'ay point Thonneur d'etre perfon- nellement connu de vous : Mais je fais que vous ave's etc fatisfait d'une traduction que j'ai faite, il y a une quinzaine d'annces, de vos queftions- fur la naturalization des pro- teftants etrangers. J'ay depuis traduit votre brochure fur les guerres de commerce ; et j'ay differe de la faire imprimer parceque je me propofe d'y joindre quelques notes que mes difFerentes occupations ne m'ont pas laifle le temps d'achever. Un tradufteur doit a fon auteur toutes fortes d'hommages j et je vous prie d'accepter a ce titre une brochure, qui certainement ne vous prefen- tera aucune ide'e nouvelle, mais qu'on m*a perfuade pouvoir etre utile pour repandre des id.ce^ elementaires fur des objets qu'on ne fauroit mettre trop a la porte'e du peu- ple. Ce morceau avoit ete' ecrit pour 1'in- "ftrudion de deux Chinois que j'avois vus a dans x PREFACE. dans cc pays cy, et pour leur faire mieux entendre des queftions que je leur ay ad- dreflees fur 1'e'tat, et la conftitution econo- mique de leur empire. LES queftions m'en rappellent d'autres que vous avie's eu la bonte de m'envoyer par Mr. Hume, et que je n'ai jamais reues, parceque le pacquet mis a la pofte a Paris pour Limoges, ou j'etois alors,s'y eft perdue. Mr. Hume vous a fans doute inftruit de cet accident, et de mes regrets. Je ne vous en dois pas moins de remercimens. S'il vous en reftoit quelque exemplaire, et que vous voulaflie's reparer ma perte, le moyen le plus fur fervit de le mettre tout fimplement a la pofte a Londres, a. Tadrefle de Mr. Turgot, 1'intendant de Limoges, a Paris. J'AI un regret bien plus grand de n'a- voir pu profiter des voyages que vous aves fait il y a quelques annees a Paris, pour avoir rhonneur de faire connohTance avec vous* PREFACE. xi vous. J'en aurois etc d'autant plus flatte, que je .vois par vos ouvrages que nos prin- cipes fur la liberte, et fur les principaux objetsde re'conomie politique, fe refemblent beaucoup. Je vous avoue que je ne puis m'empecher d'etre etonne, que dans une nation qui jouit de la liberte de la prefle, vous foyez prefque le feul auteur qui ait connu et fenti les avantages de la liberte du commerce, et qui n' aye's pas e'te' feduit par la puerile et fanguinaire illufion d'un pre- tendu commerce exclufif. Puifient les ef- forts des politiques eclair^s et humains de- truire cette abominable idole, qui refte en- core apres la manie des conquetes, et 1'in- tolerance religieufe, dont le monde com- mence a fe detromper ! Que de millions d'hommes ont e'te immoles a ces trois mon- ftres ! Je vois avec joye, comme citoyen du monde, s'approcher un evenement, qui, plus que tous les livres des philofophes, diflipera le phantome de la jaloufie du com- merce. Je parle de la feparation de vos co- a 2 Ionics xli PREFACE. Ionics d'avec la metropole, qui fera bientot fuivie de celle de toute I'Amerique d'avec 1'Europe. (Tell alors que la decouverte de cette partie du monde nous deviendra veri- tablement utile. C'eft alors qu'elle multi- pliera nos jouiflances bien plus abondam- ment, que quand nous les achetions par de fiots de fang. Le peuple Anglois, Fran9ois, Efpagnol, &c. ufera du fucre, du caffe', de 1'indigo, et vendra fes denrees precife- jnent comme le peuple SuifTe le fait aujourd- huy ; et il aura, comme le peuple SuifTe, 1'avantage que ce fucre, ce caffe, cet indi- go, ne ferviront plus de pretexte aux in- trigans pour le precipiter dans des guerres ruineufes, et pour 1'accabler de taxes. J'AI 1'honneur d'etre, avec Teftime la plus fmcere et le plus etendue, Monfieur, votre tres humble, et tres obeiflant fer- viteur, TURGOT, THE PREFACE. xlii THE original Letter being now given, it may not be amifs to iubjoin a few Notes by way of Explanation on particular Paf- fages. i. Vos Queftlons fur la Naturalization des Proteflants etr anger s.~\ This refers to my fecond Defence of the Naturalization of foreign Proteftants, For, having main- tained, in the feverith Propofal of my Brief Eflay on Trade*, that fuch a general Law was confonant to every idea which the Chriftian Religion and even common Humanity can infpire, or which national * * The firft Edition of this Trafl appeared before the End of the Year 17:8. I ftill approve of the major Part of what is contained in that, and in the fubfequent Editions. But the little that is written in favour of Colo- nization -fchemes [and it is bin 'very little} I wifh was to- tally expunged. The late Admiral Knowles was the firft Perfon who opened my Eyes, refpedling the Inftgnifican- cy, or rather the great Detriment of fuch pretended Ac- quifitions : Sir William Cal*vert, Member for the City of London, confirmed me in this Train of Thinking. And I have remained a fixt Convert to the fame Opinion up- wards of twenty-five Years lafl paft growing every Day jnore and more convinced. 2 Policy X i v PREFACE. Policy and commercial Intereft can dictate; I had the Honour to be burnt in Effigy by one fet of enthufiaftic Bigots at that Junc- ture for maintaining fuch a Doctrine, as I have now, for as good a Reafori, to be per- fecuted by another Set : perfecuted, I mean, as far as Calumny and Mifreprefentatiori can carry them, that is, as far as they dare. But in fact, their greateft Efforts only tend to make the Truth more generally known, by being more thoroughly fcrutinized and examined : Confequently they promote the Caufe they had fo ftrenuoufly refolved to injure and opprefs. Therefore, in this View of Things, I can have no Objections to the Continuance of their Labours, if they can anfwer it to their own Confciences. y*al tr adult votre Brochure fur les Guerre f de Commerce.} By this Mr. Turgot meant, tbe Cafe of going to War for the Sake of Trade \ PREFACE. xv Trade ; many Scores of which I made pre- fents of in France (after it had been blown upon in England ), and which now makes the fecorid of my American Tracts. It were to be wifhed, that fome of Mr. Tur- got\ Friends in France^ would give us this Tranflation, together with his Notes, as far as he had finimed them. Certainly what came from the Pen of fuch a Mafter, and on fuch a Subject, w r ould be worth per- uiing at any Time, and be particularly fea- fonable at the prefent. 3- Ce Morceau avoit ete ecrit pour FlnJlruElion de deux Cbmois.'\ This Paper was a fhort Tract, recommending the free Exportation and Importation of Grain at all Times ancl Seafons. In reference to which, I believe Mr. Turgot has been in a great Part fuc- cefsful : At leaft he has obtained a Revoca- tion of thofe feveral Duties payable on Ri- vers xvi PREFACE, vers and Canals, and thofe Cuftoms and Taxes which had been long eftablifhed for obtaining Licence to pafs through certain Towns on the Route from one Province to another ; by the Accumulation of which feveral Payments, the Expence of carrying of Corn from one neighbouring Diftrift to another, became fo great, that in many In- ftances it was cheaper for the Inhabitants, when in Want of Bread, to import Corn from Abroad, than to fetch it from a Pro- vince bordering on their own. As to the two Cbtnefe Gentlemen, for whofe particu- lar Inftrudtion Mr. I'urgot faith he wrote this little Tract, in order to enable them to give him fimilar Informations relative to China.) it were to be wifhed, that he had been more explicit on that Head, and that he had favoured us with the Informations he received from them, if he received any. Poffibly it might have been an happy Cir- cumitance to Europe in general, could he have obtained an exat Account of thofe feveral PREFACE. xvii feveral Rules and Methods, whereby we may fuppofe, that Cheapnefs and Plenty are impartially expanded, and every where diftributed throughout that vaft Empire, fwarming with Multitudes of People. The Population of China was always a Pheno- menon worthy the Attention of every think- ing Man. BUT this Population of China, together Xvith that of Japan ^ becomes at prefent the more necefTary to be attended to (could we get at the proper Data)> in as much as this Circumftance is clofely connected with an important political Queftion of modern Times. Dr. Price and his Aflbciates, in order to recommend a democratical [alias a Lockian\ Form of Government, in prefer- ence to all others, have inftanced the an- tient Population of Greece and Italy^ com- pared with the prefent miferable Depo- b pulation xviii P R E, F A C E* pulation of the fame Countries, as a decl- five Proof, that Democracies fill a Country with Inhabitants, and that abfolute Oligar- chies, or Monarchies^ turn the fame into a Defert. Unhappily for thefe Gentlemen, they are miftaken in their Premifes ; and of courfe they muft be wrong in their Con- clufions ; The ancient Republics of Greece and Italy ) and of the Ionian States on the Sea-coafts of -^tf, never were democratical in the Senfe that Word is now underftood. For the Right of voting in political Debates never was fuppofed by the Ancients to be an inherent and unalienable Right belonging to the whole human Species. On the con- trary, it was confidered as a Francbife, a Privilege, an Honour appertaining to a feleft Number, and not as a common Right belonging to each Inhabitant, or to every Individual. In fhort, GIVE us OUR RIGHTS, the modern Phrafe of thefe Times, was never heard of in thofe Days. THIS is FACT. INDEED PREFACE. xix INDEED it muft be owned, that the Po- pulation of Ancient Greece v\ r as much greater than it is at prefent, whatever was the Caufe, which I do not pretend to aflign. But that Defpotifm alone is not the true and only Caufe of the prefent Depopulation of thofe Countries, is manifeft from hence, that at the very Period, when Greece was fo populous and free, the interior Parts of Afia Minor, Syria, Paleftiue, and Egypt, were equally populous, as far as appears from Hiftory, and yet not free. For all thefe Countries were then, as well as now, fubject to arbitrary Government, and de- fpotic Sway. China like wife, and Japan , are acknowledged to be the moft populous Countries upon Earth. But it cannot be pretended, that it is the Popularity of their Forms of Government, or their political Freedom, which have produced thefe fur- prizing Populations. Some other Caufe or Caufes muft be affigned for fuch extraordi- nary Effects, whatever they be. For my b 2 Part, x* PREFACE. Part, I cannot tell ; and I am not aihamecl to confefs my Ignorance of what I do not know. Dr, Price declares, that France is more populous than England ; but furely French Subje&s do not enjoy more Liberty than the Engli/b. As to Italy ) I have my Doubts, whether it was, even in the Time of the Romans, more populous than it is at prefent. The Campania, and the Environs of Rome, were certainly much more populous. But to counterbalance thefe Numbers, let it be obferved, that Ancient Ligmia, Gallla Cifalpina, Etruria, and Magna Grtecia, were probably lefs populous than the State of Genoa, Modern Lombardy, Tufcany, and the Kingdom of Naples are at this Day. THERE is a PafTage in the Second Book of Polybius, which has been greatly mif- taken by moil Writers: The fetting of which to rights may contribute to throw confiderable PREFACE. xxl confiderable Light on this Inquiry. When the Romans were terrified with the Appre- henfions of a general Invafion, both of the franfalpine and Cifalplne Gauls united / J. */ -c againft them, they lent to all their Allies to know, what Number of Men they were capable of raifmg on fuch an Emergency ? This produced a general Mufter throughout that Part of Italy^ which made a common Caufe with the Romans of refifting the Gauls; and' the Sum Total of all, taken together, amounted to almoft 800,000 Men, including Horfe and Foot. Hence many Writers, and fome of great Note, have incautioufly inferred, that the Armies of the Romans , and of their Allies at that Juncture, were not much fhort of 800,000 Men. Whereas the Words of Polybhis admit of no fuch Conftruclion ; being fim- ply no more than this *, " That the whole " Multitude, * I have no Greek Pclyllj/a new at Hand ; but by a Memorandum J cock, when I read the PafTage, the Words, I think, xxn PREFACE. " Multitude, capable of bearing " amounted to almoft that Number." This being the Cafe, I learn from certain Inqui- ries made fome Years ago at my Requeft [I cannot fay with great Exactnefs], that the fame Territories would now produce ahnoft double the Number of Tenable Men, or of Men capable of bearing Arms, were the like Mutter to be taken. INDEED, were fuch Kind of Logic as this , 7 O to be admitted, it might be affirmed, with equal Truth, that if Great Britain contains Eight Millions of Inhabitants, and if every Seventh Perfon might be fuppofed to be capable of bearing Arms, then the Armies, which we now have on Foot, amount to I think, were thefe, or nearly thefe; Ivf*7nx> TO -n'^t, r*t MrX ^Dva/xEw* <*ri>'. But the learned Reader will con- fult the Original. It is farther to be remembered, that the whole Force with which the Gauls entered Hetruria, amounted to no more, according to Polybius's own Ac- count, than 50,000 Foot and 20,000 Horfe. Was it ne- ceflary to raife an Hoft of 800,000 Men to oppofe 70,000 ? And is the Valour of the Romans come to this at laft ? upwards PREFACE. upwards of 1,142,857 Fighting Men, But who would make fuch an Inference ? Who would reafon after fo wild a Manner? As to the general Queftion, relative to the com- parative State of the Population of Ancient and Modern Italy, as I neither affirm nor deny;, but only exprefs my Doubts con- cerning it, I leave that Matter to be dif- cufled by thofe who have more Leifure and greater Abilities, and better Means of Information, than fall to my Share. UPON the whole, fuffice it to obferve, That after furveying the Nature and Ten- dency of all other Forms of Government, as far as I am able, I muft pronounce the mixt Form [fuch as curs, where one Part of the Conftitution balances and checks the other, and where all fhould be on a Kind of EQUIPOISE] to be infinitely the beft, notwithstanding the many Imperfections attending it in this imperfeft State of Things. And I mufl add, as a neceffary Corollary, PREFACE. Corollary, That if ever the clvliim ardor PRAVA jubentium fhould fo far prevail, as to obtain an equal Representation in Parlia** ment\ that is, equal to the Numbers to be found within the Bills of Mortality [d* Which, we have been lately told, are One-eighth Part of the Inhabitants of the whole Ifland] the Confequence will be, That fuch an AccelTion of new Members, backed with a perpetual armed and difci-* plined Militia [another favourite Doctrine of thefe Times], within an Hour's March of the King's Palace, and of the Parlia- ment-houfe, will foon overturn the prefent Conftitution ; prefcribing what Terms they pleafe, and even PROSCRIBING whom they * t-r-l (hall think proper. This they will certainly do, as the firft Step towards a bleffed Re- formation, if fuch a Scheme fhould take place: And, in the next Place, they will either erect a Tyranny of their own, over the reft of their Fellow- fubjects ; Or, if they fhould not agree among themfelves, 2 which PREFACE. xxv which of thefe petty Tyrants fhould be Lord-paramount over his Brethren, they will fet the Kingdom to Sale to the highefl Bidder, after the Example of the Prcetorian Guards of Rome. Thefe Predictions may be ridiculed and laughed at ; but there is nothing in them which is not warranted in Hiftory, and confirmed by Experience. Such Confequences are the neceffary Work- ings of Human Paffions, when not under the Guidance of Reafon and Religion. GLOCESTER, May 23, 1782. N. B. The Pur chafers of the former Edi- tions of the Cui Bono, may have this neiv Preface fcparately, Price 6d. if they Jh all think proper. LETTER I. to MONSIEUR NECKER* Cut Bono? S I R> A Man who has diftinguifhed himfelf in fuch critical Times as the pre- fent, in the difficult and envied Station of Controller-General of the Finances of France, is certain of being attacked, and is fure of being defended, by Multitudes of Writers. You have experienced the Ef- fedts of both Parties j and arej perhaps, by this Time, fufficiehtly cloyed with the Flattery of the one, and grown callous to the Cenfures of the other. Therefore it is natural for you to conclude, that when any c 3 other 4 C U I B O N O? other Writer is bringing your Name again before the Public, he is only repeating what you have fo often heard. But if you, Shy will honour thefe Letters with a careful Perufal, you will find hardly one Thing in them fimilar to what you have read" before ; ' and yet. many of them, perhaps, not unworthy of your ferious At- tention. As I wifh to treat you with all the Refpeft due to your diftinguifhed Charac- ter ; and as my Aim, in the Profecution of my Subject, is entirely the Good of Mankind ; I prefume it is tmneeeflary, though a Stranger to your Perfon, to apo- logize for the Liberty I take in thus ad- drefling you. Only let me here be al- lowed to obferve, that I was favoured . r with the Correfpondence of your Prede- ceflbr, Monf. TURGOT, both during the Time he was in Office, and after his Refignation ; and that I am the fame Perfon, of whofe Writings Monf. NECKER himfelf OR, AN IN Q_U I R Y, &V. 5 himfelf has fometimes condefcended to make mention ; and more particularly at that Juncture, when the idle Project of invading England^ became the gene- ral Topic of Converfation throughout all Europe. SETTING, therefore, all Apologies afide, and endeavouring to diveft myfelf of na- tional Partialities, and local Prejudices, to the utmofl of my Power, I now enter on the Work propofed, not as an Englffi- man^ but as a Citizen of the World ; -not as having an inbred Antipathy againft France, but as the Friend of the whole human Species. WHATEVER were your private Views, either of Intereft or of Honour, in pub- liming your Comptc Rendu^ the Example you have fet deferves univerfal Commend- ation. And it is greatly to be wimed, that it were made a fundamental Law in all arbitrary Governments, that each Mi- 4 nifter, 6 C U I B O N O? nifter, in the grand Departments of Trufl and Power, mould publifh annual Accounts of his refpe&ive Adminiftration Ac- counts I mean, which could ftand the Teft of an open and impartial Scrutiny, free from thofe falfe Colourings, and wilful Mifreprefentations, with which yours have been fo frequently and exprefsly charged ; and from which, I fear, you have not yet been able to clear yourfelf to ge- neral Satisfaction. BUT waving every Thing of this Na- ture [becaufe I do not intend to be either your Advocate or Accufer], and taking for: granted, what you do not wifh to conceal, that the grand Defign of the Government, under which you live, in ordering your Account to be made public, was to mew the World, that France had fo many Re^ fources ftill remaining, as would exhauft and ruin England in the Progrefs of this War ; I will here fuppofe, for Argu- ment Sake, that every Thing has fucceeu- ed, OR, A N I N CtU I R Y, &c. *) ed, or fliall fucceed, according to the warmeft Wimes of the moft bigoted Frenchman. Poor England is no more I Non modo delenda^ fed penitns deleta eft Car- thago! In fhort, the Lilies of France, like the Eagles of Rome, are every where triumphant ! WELL, my good Sir, after all this Ex- pence and Trouble, after fo much Hurry and Confufion in fubduing this devoted Ifland, after fuch repeated Victories, and immortal Fame, will you permit us to reft a while, and to take Breath? And fmce the French Arms have now raifed their Nation to this Pinnacle of Glory, let u$ paufe a little, to view the extended Pro- fpect fo far below us ? This is all the Boon I aik, and in granting this, I hope we mail be induced to think^ in the next Place [for we have not yet thought upon the Matter], what would be the inevitable Confequences of thefe mighty Revolu- tions, B C U I B O N O? tions, now fo ardently defired by every Frenchman^ were Providence to permit them to come to pafs. SUCH a Subject is furely of Importance to the Welfare and Happinefs of Man- kind. And this is the Subject I propofe for the enfuing Letter. In the mean Time, I own I am under a ftrong Tempt- ation to add a few Words concerning the infatuated Conduct of my own Coun- trymen, the Engli/h^ in the former War ; as a Warning and Memento to future Politicians, ALMOST thirty Years ago, when our Colonifts in America were at leaft Jifty to one more in Number than the JIandful of Men who could have in- vaded them from Canada jl fay, when thefe fifty undaunted Heroes, of the true JLnglifh Breed, pretended to be afraid of Qne Frencb/nan Common Senfe might have O R, A N' I N Q. U I R Y, 6V. 9 have taught us to have fufpecled the Truth of fuch pretended Fears; Com- mon Senfe alfo might have fuggefted the Expediency of paufing a while, and of examining into Facts, particularly relat- ing to the Fur^trade^ before we rufhed into Hoftilities on fuch weak and frivo- lous Pretences : Laftly, Common Senfe might have told us, that it would be bad Policy to put thefe turbulent and factious Colonies above all Controul [if we really thought them worth the keeping], and of placing them in that very State of Inde- pendence, which they had ever wifhed for, and had been conftantly aiming at. I fay, Common Senfe might have fug- gefted all thefe Things, if we had not difdained to afk the Advice of fuch a Counfellor. Nay, more; there was a Man at that very Time, who remonftrated ftrongly againft the Abfurdity, not to fay Injuftice of fuch Proceedings. He mew- ed, with an Evidence not attempted to B be io CUIBONO? be invalidated, that the Americans had not affigned a fufficient Caufe for going to War for their Sakes; and that their pretended Dangers of being driven into the Sea, or of being put between two Fires (the conftant Cry and Clamour at that Juncture in all our public Papers), were mere Impofture and Grimace. And what is beyond all, he offered to prove from the Engli/h Cuftom-Houfe Books of Entries or Imports, that the Quantity of Furs brought into England from America was almoft double to what it had been in former Times, inftead of being monopolized (as was aflerted) by the French: Though I muft own, that had this been really the Cafe, it would have been fomething new in the Annals of the World, that a great Nation, and a civilized People, had made War on ano- ther Nation, becaufe the latter had bought more Skins of Cats, Foxes, Bad- gers, and of fuch Sort of Vermin, thaa the OR, A N IN Q_U I R Y, &V. n the former had been able to do. Laftly, the fame Perfcn ventured to foretel in the moft direct Terms, that the driving of the French from the Englifh Back Settle- ments would be the Signal to the Colo- nies, to meditate a general Revolt. But, alas ! he was preaching to the Winds and Waves : Some would not vouch- fafe an Anfwer to his Letters ; others were pleafed to tell him, that the American Colpnifts were better Judges of their own Dangers, than he had any Right to pretend to be ; and that the Reflexions call upon them for harbouring Thoughts of Independence, and of planning Schemes of Rebellion, were bafe and fcandalous, and utterly void of Foundation. Moreover, not a few plainly declared, that whofoever fhould attempt to raife fuch Sufpicions againfl the beft of loyal Subjects, the faithful Americans, could be no other than a Spy in Difguife, and a Penfioner to France. B 2 [You, I2 - C U I B O N O? [You, Sir, who fo juftly complain, that the feveral Penfions on the French Lift amount to the enormous Sum of Twenty- eight Millions of Livres, or about *. 1,272,727 Sterling ;- you, I fay, can beft tell, whether you have met with the Name of TUCKER among the long Roll of Engli/b Mock Patriots, and French Penfioners ?] Now, as we have fuch a recent Example before our Eyes of thofe fatal Confe* quences, which might have been prevent- ed by a cool and timely Reflection ; it is to be hoped, that the like blind, infa~ 'tuated Part will not be acted over again ; but that the Powers at War will take Warning by the paft, and confider, ere it be too late, what would be the Effects of. the prefent furious Contefts, were they even to be crowned with all that Brilliancy and Succefs, which their own fond Hearts can wift, or defire. * WIT H OR, A N IN CLU I R Y, tf,. 13 WITH thefe Sentiments, and withjuft Efteem for your great Talents, I have the Honour to be, S I R, Your moft obedient, Humble Servant, J- T. LET. r* c u i B o N 02 LETTER II. To MONSIEUR NECKER. Cut Bono? SIR, THE former Letter being only an Introduction, we are now coming to the main Subject. Poor England is fubdued by the combined Forces of * France and her Allies. Perhaps, indeed, fhe may not be fo abfolutely conquered, as to be annexed as a Province to the French Empire, neverthelefs fo totally ruined as to become a Bankrupt, and to make a moft defpicable Figure both in the political and commercial World. Or, if you would chufe an abfolute Subjectioi} rather than a partial one, the Difference between the one Condition and the other is not fo very material, but that this alfo may be granted for Argument's Sake. tt therefore is no longer an inde- pendent OR, A N I N Q.U I R Y, *te- 15 pendent State, but a Province to France, and to be governed by a Vice-Roy of the grand Monarch. Can you alk for more ? WHAT then is to be the Confequence of this mighty Change ? And what Ef- fects are to follow, in the Courfe of Trade, and in the Syftem of Politics, from this grand Revolution ? Refpeft- ing Trade, it is evident to a Demonftra- tion, that were a Tradefman, or a Shop- keeper to be aiked, whether it is his In* tereft, that his richefl Cuftomers and beft Paymafters mould become Bankrupts and Beggars ? he would give you a very fliort Anfwer. Perhaps likewife he would be tempted to afk in his turn, " Do you " mean, Sir, to infult my Underftanding, " or to expofe your own Ignorance by " afldng fuch a foolhh Queftion?" But *' it feems, public trading Nations are to proceed by oppofite Methods, and by Maxims of Trade and Commerce, quite contrarrr * i6 C U I B O N O? contrary to thofe of individuals. Bodies Politic are to ufe every Effort in their . Power to beggar their Cuftomers firft, * and to trade with them afterwards, as the wifeft Courfe : So that what would liave been the Height of Folly and Ab- furdity in the one Cafe, not to fay, Wick- cdnefs and Immorality, is to be con- fidered in the other as the Depth of Pru- dence, Forefight, Sagacity, Penetration, or what you pleafe. Here therefore, let us begin our Accounts, and open our Books Debtor and Creditor between one commercial Nation and another. THE EngUJh, when a great and rich People, bought vaft Quantities of the choiceft Wines and Brandies which France could produce ; and they were known to be the beft of Guftomers by paying for them in ready Money, and even by advancing Sums aforehand ! But when thefe Dealers lhall be reduced to 7 the OR, A N I N Q_U I R Y, 6v. , 7 the loweft Ebb of Want and Indigence^ they will buy more Wines and Bran- dies than ever they did, and become better Cuftomers than they were before. This is Penetration ! This is Sagacity ! r AGAIN, the Englijh, when in great Profperity, and overflowing with Riches, were remarkably vain and oftentatious : And their Females in particular (as it was natural for the Sex), vied with each other in all the Parade of Finery; Hence they were induced, and by their Wealth they were enabled, to buy the richeft Silks and Velvets, and the moft elegant Gold and Sil- ver Laces, that could be wrought in France : For nothing was thought to be too coftly, provided it came from your Country. In hort, French Fafhions were the Stand- ard for Drefs ; French Cooks taught the Laws of Eating ; and French Milli- ners, Taylors, FrizeurSj and Dancing- Mailers prefcribed the Rules of Good- Breeding and Politenefs. But when thofe C happy, i8 C U I B O N O? happy, wiflied-for Times fliall come, when England is to be ftripped of all its Riches, then thefe quondam good Cufto- mers will buy more Silks, more Brocades, more Gold and Silver Lace, and more every Thing than ever they did before, becaufe they will have nothing to pay : And the whole Tribe of Cooks, Milli- ners, Taylors, Frizeurs, Perfumers, &?r. &c. will think themfelves fuperlatively happy in working gratis for the beggared Engli/h. This again is another Speci- men of confummate Wifdom, and deep Penetration 1 ONCE more, and I have done. You obferve in your * Compte Rendu y that Fo- reigners travelling into France import an- nually no lefs a Sum than thirty Millions of Livres, equal to 1,363,6367. Sterling: And this you confider as fo great an Ac- quifition to the Riches of France [I own, * Page 96 of the Original, and 99 of the Englljb Translation. I think OR, AN I N Q^U I R Y, &r,. Ip I think differently], that you exultingly tell the King, your Mailer, that the Mo- ney expended by thefe Travellers is one^ of the moft profitable Branches of Commerce in his Kingdom. Whether it be fo or not, one Thing is certain, that One-half at leaft, if not Two-thirds of this enormous Sum is Englifa Money, fpent by that Race of Be- ings, whom you in France rUle Milords Ang- lois^ et Miladies Angloifcs. Therefore, when thefe new-erected Lords and Ladies, who have at prefent more Money than Wit, fhall be reduced fq low, as not to have one Sous in their Pockets, I leave you to guefs how far the French Polite fle, either at Pa- ris or in the Provinces, will be extended towards them ? -and whether fuch penny- lefs Strangers will be welcome Guefts? Much more might be added ; but furely I have faid enough, as far as Trade or Com- merce is concerned.- 1 will therefore now proceed to another Subject, that of Politics. For the Bleffings which are to attend this grand, and intended Revolu- C 3 tion. 20 C U I B O N O? tion, whenever it fhall happen, will pro- bably be as fignal in the political World, as in the commercial. great Grievance of the Colonies, and their bitter Complaints againft the Mother-Country were, that they were not governe4 & fa Monfr. LQCKE. For, to give them their Due, they hardly made an Objection to any Thing befides. They did not pretend to fay, that the Halfpenny Tax on News-papers at firft, or the Threepenny Duty on Teas afterwards, were intolerable Burdens in themfelves ; - but all the Grievance was, that the Par- liament of Great Britain, and not the Aflcmblies of America, had legalized them, and ordered them to be collected. " For Man, every Man, every human Mo- " ral Being, according to the immutable " Laws of GOD, and the genuine Voice " of Nature, is born free, and ought " fo to remain as long as he pleafes, be- " caufe he is the Subject of no Govern- 44 ment OR, AN IN QJJ I R Y, &c. 21 " ment whatever, 'till he himfelf fhall " chufe that particular Society, to which " he intends to belong. Therefore he has " an UNALIENABLE Right to be Self- " taxed, Self-governed, and Self-con- " trolled. And to affert the contrary, is " to be an Advocate for Tyranny, and to " be a declared Enemy to the Liberties of Mankind." Now, Sir, as you know, that this is the Language of Mr. LOCKE, and of all his Difciples, more efpecially the Ameri- cans ', - lence to our Neighbours, THE two firft of thefe are, what no People upon the Face of the Globe will dare openly to avow. Yet, it is much to be feared that Motives, not altogether pnlike them, have a fecret Influence on E 2 the 36 C U I B O N O? the Concliid: of Mankind, both nationally, and individually, could they be feen in their proper Colours, without Artifice or Difguife. BUT happily for the Peace of the World, fuch Motives are not .only top bad to be publickly avowed ; but are alfo too dangerous to be attempted in a general Way; becaufe they would cer- tainly end in the Deftruction of the De- flroyers. The ^d Propofal, therefore, is the only one which ought to be reduced to Practice ; namely, To endeavour to make our own Goods better, and to fell them cheaper than our Rivals. Now, Sir, this is not only what we Englijh ought to do, but I aver that it is, what we actually dp perform in various Inftances ; as I fhall prefently fet forth : -And, therefore, our national Jealpufy againft France is fo much th more unreasonable and ab? furdj OR, AN IN Q.U I R Y, Vc. 37 MY firft Proof fhall be brought from your own Country, Switzerland itfelf. For there, if any where, the Manufactures of France may be fuppofed to have an AcU- vantage over the Englifh, by Means of the Vicinity of the two Countries to each other, without any Sea, and indeed with hardly any Land to intervene. And yet, Sir, you know very well, that in all the Branches of the Metal Trade, viz. Lead and Tin, Copper and Brafs, Iron and Steel, the EngliJJi have an univerfal Supe- riority: Alfo that in many Articles of Woollens, of Worfleds, of mixt Stuffs, Cottons, and Cotton Velvets, Camblets, &c. &c. the Englifh are more than a Match for the French in every Market from the Lake of Geneva to the Lake of Con- jlance, and to Bafil on the Rhine. More- pver, as to Chintzes, Callicoes, and all Kinds of Eqfl India Goods, alfo Paper Hangings, and fome Sort of Furniture, fome Kinds of Toys or Trinkets, and all Kinds of mathematical Apparatufles, and 4 ChirurgicaJ 3* C U I B O N O? Chirurgical Inftruments, the French hardly pretend to vie with the Englift in the Goodnefs and Cheapnefs of thefe Things. This, Sir, is my firfl Proof; and furely you will allow, that, as far as it goes, it carries Conviction along with it. BUT 2dly. I will adduce America itfelf, and compel it to be an unwilling Witnefs to the fame EfLet.- Long before our trufty and well-beloved Colonies had open- ly declared for Independence, they were fecretly preparing for this grand Event. From Year to Year they were laying in larger Stores pf fuch Goods as were not .of a perifhable Nature, but might be ware- houfed without Lofs or Waile : And du- ring the two Years immediately preceding their famous Non-importation Scjieme, they ftrained every Nerve, and ftretchecj their Credit to the utmoft, in order to ac- cumulate the greateft Quantities of all Spits of Engli/h Manufactures. Unhap- pily OR, AN IN Q^U I R Y, sV. 39 pily for this credulous Country, they fuc- eeeded but too well in all their Devices, and contracted Debts to the Amount of 4, 000,000 1. Sterling, Then they pulled off the Mafk, and threatened immediate Deftruclion to our very Being, as a trading Nation, if we dared to require them to contribute to the general Expence, which they had oecafioned. " The Trade of " the Colonies, Sir, was, the Trade of " Trades. For all others were nothing, " and lefs than nothing, in Comparifon " thereto. Poor England would be ruin- " ed ; the Ports of London , Brijlol, Li- " verpool, Glafgow, &c. &c. &c. would " become mere Deferts, were it not for " the Colonies : All our Manufactures at " Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Man chef- " ter^ Leeds, Halifax, and in all the " Cloathing Counties, would be entirely at " a Stand, and Grafs would grow in out " Streets."- Thefe Calamities would cer- tainly befal us, unlefs the Colonifts fhould ftill 40 C tf I B O K O? flill enjoy the fame privileges as ourfelves^ with many additional Ones ; and unlefs they mould have their Property ftill de- fended, their Battles fought both by Land and Sea, and their Wars maintained, with- out being obliged to pay a fmgle Sixpence towards any of them, 83* more than they themfelves mould chufe to give. THE Americans having thus contracted a Debt of Four Millions Sterling, due to our Merchants, and having at the fame Time involved the Mother-Country in a new national Debt of upwards of Fifty Millions* incurred in their Defence, began to act their Parts with lefs Referve. Their next Scheme was, to fet up Manufactures of their own, in Oppofition to ours, and alfo to import Manufactures from France^ from Holland^ and every other Country, in order to fuperfede the Ufe of ours. And then our Doom was fixed for ever ! We were loft and undone ! WELL, OR, A N IN Q.U I R f, &t. ft WELL,. Sir, all thefe Schemes having been tried, and tried again, what was the Confequence ? Almoft every one of them has failed : And Trade, after fome In- terruption, has, for the moft Part, re- turned into its former Channel. Nay* French Ships, and other neutral Bottoms [as long as the Farce of Neutrality could jpoflibly be acted], were employed in car*- rying Britijh Manufactures to her rebel- lious Colonies. So that thefe, our quondam Cuflomers, now become moil bitter Ene* mies, inftead of being able to fupply them- felves out of their own Stores^ or to pro- cure Supplies from other Countries, were obliged, for their own Sakes, to have Re- courfe again to the Manufactures of Eng- land: And tjiat too at an Experice of at leaft Forty per Cent, dearer than they might have purchafed the fame, had they continued in their Allegiance, and had known when they were well. F AFTER 42 C U I B O N O? AFTER thefe Examples, both of zerland and of the Colonies, I hope you do not expert any other Proofs in confirm- ation of this Point ; nay, I flatter my- felf, that both French and Englt/b Readers are, by this Time, perfectly convinced that there are feveral Species of Englifb Manu- factures, both much cheaper, and much more defirable in themfelves, than thofe of France : Confequently, that we ought not to be frightened with that Bugbear any more, viz. of the French under-felling us in Foreign Markets ; I mean in fuch Articles as thefe above-mentioned. THIS being the Cafe, it is furely by no Means incredible, that the Englifh Manu- factures mould find a Vent in France, or that the French Nation fhould have a peculiar Fondnefs for them.- -* That thefe Manufactures are much cheaper, hath been proved already by a Series of Evidence not to be refifted : * And that they are alfo more deftrabk in 4 themfelves^ OR, AN IN Q^U I R Y, to. 43 themfelves, that is, better made, more convenient for Ufe, neater, more elegantly finiihed, and, in general, better enamelled or polifhed, is confefled by all ; and more efpecially by our own ungrateful Colonifts, who would have been the laft of all Men living, to have given a Preference to Eng- Ufa Manufactures, if they could have known where to have got better. THE Principles both of Chcapnefs and intrinfic Goodncfs being thus eftablifhed, Motives very fufficient in themfelves to re- commend the Ufe of Englijlj Manufac- tures to any People, if not too poor to buy them, I will now add another In- ducement, which operates on the French Nation with uncommon Force and Energy ; and that is, Novelty, Variety^ and Shew. The Paflion of wifhing to be dijlin- gui/hed is indeed univerfally implanted in human Nature ; and may be made fubfer- vient both to good and bad Purpofes, ac- cording as it is , applied. But I think it F 2 mufl 44. C U I B O N O? muft be allowed, that the French Nation poflefs it in a higher Degree than moft others. Hence it follows, that as feyeral Species of Engli/b Manufactures are not only cheaper, and better, than what can, be procured elfewhere, but have like-? wife this farther Advantage, when they enter France -, that they are foreign, therefore novel \ and therefore affor4 greater Variety ; they have this addi- tional Recommendation, that they attratt the Notice of the Beholders more ftrongly than French Manufactures of the fame Kind can be fuppofed to do. Indeed we often find, that this Paflion for Variety, and for being diftinguifhed thereby, operates Ib powerfully as to fuperfede moft other Con- fiderations. Were it not fo, how can you account for that ardent Defire in many French Ladies to be drefled in Engli/Jj, Silks, and to wear Engli/h Rib- bons, Engli/b, Gloves, &c. &c. &c. whilft our Engli/b Ladies are equally un- i unlefs they can appear in French ?. Nay, OR, AN IN QJJ I R Y, fcfc. 45 Nay, What elfe can account for that Cuftom in the Royal Palaces of France, which ap-? pears fo ftrange in o.ur Eyes, and fo repug- nant to our Ideas ? I mean the permitting very confiderable Quantities of EngliJJj Jewels, and various Toys and Trinkets [Bi- jouterie d* jingle I err e~\ to be fold openly, and avowedly as Englijh, at the Palais Royal in Paris, alfo at Verf allies, Fontainbleau, &c. &c. even Vv T ithin the Hearing of the King, if his Majefty mould happen to be paffing by. That this is, or at leaft, that this was the Fad:, I appeal to yourfelf, I appeal to all the World.- But I have done. For furely this Part of the Subject requires no farther Jlluftration. LET us therefore now confider, Whether it be the Intereft of Great Britain to reduce iuch a Kingdom, and fo difpofed towards the Ufe of our Manufactures, to Want and Beggary, had me really the Power of efFedt- ing fuch a Catailrophe ? On the contrary, Whether 4 6 C U I B O N O? Whether it be not our true Interefl to pro*- mote the Profperity of France by all juft and honourable Means, for the very fame Rea- fon, that we ought to promote our own? One or the other of thefe Alternatives muft be right, and the other wrong. If France ftiould grow poorer, fhe muft be fo much the worfe Cuflomer to England \- if richer, probably fo much the better. This is fa plain a Cafe, that one would think, national Prejudice itfelf could not be able to prevent fuch an evident truth from being univerfally acknowledged, and aifented to. But as this Demon, the -Jealoujy ofTrade^ puts on va- rious Shapes, in order to haunt and terrify Mankind with dreadful Panics, and ground- lefs Fears, I will endeavour to purfue him throughout all his Forms,. in order to con- vince the World, if I can, that Providence never defigned us to be Beafts of Prey, to bite and devour erne another; but, on the contrary, that whatever is a focial Duty in I moral Senfe, was Hkewife intended, by our wife On, A N I N Q.U I R t, &c; 47 toife and gracious Creator, to be our real, lafting, and national Intereft in a eommer- 1 cial. And in the Profecution of an Under- taking of this Nature, I cannot doubt of the warmeft Wifhes of every Lover of Man- kind and real Patriot, French or Engli/h ; more efpecially of the benevolent Monfieur NECKER. I therefore here beg his Accept- ance of my beft Thanks for giving me an Opportunity of purfuing this favourite Sub- jet ; and that he would believe me co be, His obliged, and devoted humble Servant, J. T. LET- 48 C U I B O N 6? * , > LETTER IV. further Confederations on the Unreafon- ablenefs of the Jcahtify of Trade ^ 'when attempting to exclude Rivals, and of the Inefficacy of it toward the attaining of any good End whatever. To MONSIEUR NECKER. Cut Bono? S I R> FROM the Days of HESIOD to the prefent Hour, it has been obferved, that two of a Trade can never agree. The Catalogue which HESIOD gives of thefe Contenders is in Part fo ludicrous, that I cannot fuppofe that Beggars and Ballad- fingers were armed by any Legiflature with monopolizing and exclufive Privileges* -Nay, I think it may be inferred from the Poet's OR, A N I N Q^U I R Y, &fr. 49 Poet's own Words, that all Trades were once free \ elfe, why fhould he declare, that an Emulation among Tradefmen was for the Public Good? Why, I fay, unlefs that Emulation was permitted to operate ? BUT whether there were exclufive Companies of Trades fubfifting at that Juncture, or not, we know that in Prc- cefs of Time the monopolizing Spirit pre- vailed almoft every where ; fo that no Opportunity was omitted of eftabliming Companies of Reftraint and Exclufion under one Pretence or other. IN my late Anfwer to Mr. LOCKE'S Theory of Government, I have fhewn [Page 310], that the firft Charters given to Tradefmen by Gothic Princes, and their feudal Barons, Were Charters of* meer Proteffion. Thefe were greatly wanted, and very neceflary in a barbarous Age, when all Europe was over-run with G armed 5 o C U I B O N O? armed Men, who were in fact no better than Banditti^ and who thought they had a Right to feize on thofe, and on their Property, as lawful Plunder, who were not protected. But when a Set of perfe- cuted Artificers were once collected toge- ther, by Means of a Charter, into a Place of Strength and Safety, and near fome great Caftle, they were fecured from far- ther Infults ; fo that neither the Free- hooters of the Prince, nor of the Barons, dared to 1 moleft them. Alfo being im- powered to elect their own Magiftrates, and to" make By-Laws for their better Go- vernment, they had the Advantage of having their Differences decided among themfelves, and Juftice adminiftered at their own Doors. Now all this was right and proper ; and had thefe Mechanics pro- ceeded no farther in the Affair of Incor- poration, and their Defire of Protection, they would have done a fingular Service both - to themfelves, and to Mankind. But unhappily for the Public, and in the End OR, A N IN Q_U I R Y, fcV. 5, End for themfelves, this would not con- tent them : For they were no fooner fe- cured in their own Propeity, and per- mitted to enjoy the Fruits of their Induftry and Labour, than they began to invade the Property of others; and from being perfecuted, they commenced violent Perfecutors. Under Pretence of making Regulations for the Good of Trade, and of keeping up the Credit of Manufac- tures, they introduced Monopolies and Exclufions without Number ; fo that, were a Collection to be made of all the Tricks, Artifices, and Difguifes which thefe Men introduced under the Mafk of Zeal for the public Good, but in Reality to difcourage Emulation, and to prevent Rivals in their refpe&ive Trades, per- haps it would exhibit one of the moft curious Pictures of human Knavery, blended with human Folly, that ever ap- peared, BUT indeed, Sir, you, in France^ have G 2 rendered 5 2 C U I B O N O? rendered this Exhibition unneceflary on our Part ; confequently all that we have to do, is to add a few Touches to your capital Piece. Your Predeceflcr, Monfieur TUR- GOT, had amafled together fuch Heaps of Abfurdities, copied from, the By-laws, and exclufive Reftridtions of your feveral Companies of Trades, in order to expofe both their Knavery, and their Folly, that I really thought, when he had obtained a folemn Bed of Juftice from his Royal Mafter at V erf allies, 1 2th of March, 1776, for the Abolition of them, Impudence itfelf would not have been able to have withftood the Force of fuch complicated Evidence. And I congratulated the Mi- nifter, who had honoured me with a printed Copy of the Proceedings, on the great Victory he had gained over the greateft Enemies of France, Ignorance^ Idlenefs, and Fraud-, Victories of more real Confequence to the Grandeur and Profperity of any Kingdom, than all the Battles won by her moil auguft So- vereigns, OR, AN IN QJJ I R Y, fcV. 53 vereigns, or al>lef^ Generals. But alas ! his Triumph was but fhort ; a fine Dream [beau Reve~\ as he exprefled it in a fubfequent Letter, a Phantom, and no Reality. And the Reward he re- ceived, for attempting to do his Country fuch eminent Service, was to be dif- carded. SIR, in thefe Particulars [that is, in the demolifhing exclufive Charters] you mult allow, that England enjoys a inani- feft Superiority over France. Our exclu- five Corporations, and Companies of Trades in Towns and Cities, have at pre- fent very little Power of doing Mifchief, compared with what they formerly had. For Men's Eyes begin to be opened every where : And the flourifhing State of thofe great manufacturing Places in England [the greateft perhaps in the known World, certainly the greateft in Europe], where every Man enjoys PERFECT FREEDOM to follow that Courfe of Trade to which his Genius 54. C U I B O N O? Genius or Circumftances are beft fuited ; I fay, this flourifhing State has made the dulleft of us to fee/ 9 that Indnftry and Ingenuity are beft excited by conftant Emulation ; and that no Man ought to be armed with the Power of a Law, or with an exclufive Privilege, to crufh his Rival. Nay, we can go farther : For we not only fccl^ but alfo reafon a little on this Head : I fay, a little, for alas ! it is not much. May our reafoning Facul- ties daily gather Strength, fo that good Senfe and real Patriotifm may every where prevail \ However, we can even now dif- cern clearly enough, that the Schemes of flioit-fighted Tradefmen, in excluding their Brcther-Tradefmen from being their Rivals, muft end in their own Lofs and Difappointment ; becaufe fuch Devices are no other than palpable Cheats put upon themfelves. Take, for Inftance, the following Illuftration : A Set of Mecha- nics, or common Tradefmen, a Baker, a Butcher, a Shoe-maker, a Carpenter, a l - Shop-keeper, OR, A N IN Q.U I R Y, fcfc. 55 Shop-keeper, and a Taylor, being met together in deep Confultation, refolve to exclude all thofe Interlopers, who, not having ferved regular Apprenticeships, dare to manufacture Goods, or, not being free of Companies and Corporations, dare to vend them. Filled with the pa- triotic Refolution of promoting the Good of Trade (as their cant Phrafe is) the Baker opens the Affair. He obferves with great Sagacity, that Butchers, Shoe- makers, Carpenters, Shop-keepers, Tay- lors, sfr. &V. whether free or not free, and whether regularly bred to their " re- fpecYive Trades or not, all alike eat Bread. Therefore he has no Objection againft Numbers of fuch Tradefmen fet- tling near him, in order that they may eat bis Bread : But as to that impudent, interloping Fellow [pointing at the poor Non-Freeman Baker] who has fet up a Shop in his Neighbourhood to take away his Cuftomers, he is refolved to punifh him, as a Terror to others. The Butcher comes 5 6 C U I B O N O ? comes next ; and he follows the Baker in the fame Strain; and fo on, 'till the Farce has quite gone round. And then at the Foot of the Account thefe wife Schemers have difcovered, that they have gained juft nothing at all ; but on the contrary, that, by their mutual Exclufions, they have damped the Spirit of Induftry and Emulation both in themfelves and others. THUS, Sir, we reafon in England : And what is much better, in many Cafes thus we act. For though in fuch a Conftitution as ours, it is dangerous to meddle with antient Charters, even whei'e their Faults are very apparent, yet we frequently correct their bad Effects, with- out feeming to touch the Foundation. The Liberty of Trade granted by Acts of Parliament to Perfons of a certain De- fcription [which Privilege is now ex- tended to all who ferve in the Militia,] goes a great Way towards defeating the Projects, OR, A N I N Q,U I R Y, fcfr. 57 ^rejects, and preventing the monopo- lizing Mifchiefs of ignorant, fhort-fighted Tradefraen. But above allj our Courts of Juftice do, for the moft Part$ favour the general Liberty of the Subjecl, wherever they can ; for when any Caufe of this Na- ture is brought before theril, the Judges, as well as the Counfel, hardly ever fail to ob- ferve, in fumming up the Evidence, tha't the Ground of Complaint furnimes the ftrongeft Proof againft the Juftice df the Complainant's Cafe. " Had the u perfecuted Defendant, fay they, beeh u an unthrifty, improvident, or tmfkil- " ful Man ; had he fold his Goods " dearer, br made them worfe than the u Plaintiffs ; thefe People would have ** taken no Notice of him for fuch " Mifdemeanors, notwithftanding theii* " Bdafts for the Good of Trade; and " for fupporting the Credit of Manu- u fadtures ; but would have permitted " Mm to be ruined in his own Way, H Whereas 5 8 C U I B O N O? " Whereas the real Objection of his " Profecutors is plainly this ; he is more " careful, more frugal, more dextrous, and " ingenious than they are : And this is the * unpardonable Crime, which they are now ** profecuting, and wifhing to punifh." Now, Sir, as thefe Arguments are juft and right j and as in all thefe Proceed- ings we prove ourfelves to be much more enlightened than you are in France [I fpeak of your practical Knowledge, not of your theoretical], furely one might have expected, that we mould have been able to have extended to the Cafe of rival Nations the fame Train of Reafon- ing, which we had fo judicioufly applied to the Cafe of rival Individuals. But alas ! I know not how it is, here our reafoning Faculties (where moft wanted) totally fail us : And here we feem to be arrived at our Ne plus ultra : For our Zeal is fo blinded, that we cannot allow I the OR, A NT INQUIRY, Cft. 59 the fame Maxims to be as conclufive in the one Cafe as in the other, though they certainly are. " What? fays the honeft " Engii/bm&i) ought we not to be jealous " of the Increafe of the Trade of France, *' which is our Rival? Ought we not to prevent her from growing rich, if we poilibly can ? Surely we ought ; *' becaufe her Riches are our Poverty; and * { her Poverty is our Riches. We are ** therefore the natural, and necelfary Ene- *' mies to each other ; and fo muft remain * till the End of Time." THOUSANDS, Sir, and Tens of Thou- fands, implicitly admit thefe Pofitions without Examination : Nay, many are fo credulous as to make them a Part of their political and commercial Creeds, though notorious Unbelievers in Things of a better Nature. For my Part, I never was, and probably never ihall be, a Convert to fuch Doctrines. The H 2 Multitude 6o C U I B O N O? Multitude may believe what they pleafe 5 but I hope I am a Proteftant of a more confiftent Texture, than to infcribe Infalli- bility to any human Beings whatever. After having rejected the Pretenfions of the Pope and his Conclave, it is hard if it mould be expe&ed, that I mould blindly fubmit to the idle Decifions of Alehoufe Politicians, r or, what is ftill worfe, to the venal De^ clamations of Party-fcribblers. Could it indeed be made to appear, that the Supreme Being is not able^ or if able, is not willing^ to govern two fuch large Diftri&s as France and England^ with as much Wifdom and Goodnefs as our earthly Governors can make the feemingly claming Irjterefts of different Cities, Towns, or Individuals, within their own Dominions, to harmo^ nize together for the Good of the Whole ; I mould then be inclined to believe, that national Antipathies ought to be encouraged, and that frequent Wars, as a Confequence thereof, ought to be pro- fecutej OR, AN I N QJJ I R Y, &c. 61 fecuted with unrelenting Vengeance. But, I hope, I have made the contrary to appear with an Evidence not eafily to be fhaken, much lefs confuted, HOWEVER, I have not yet exhaufted my Subject : For, in Addition to every Thing which hath been already advanced, I now beg leave to obferve, that even the Pretences for national Jealdufies between France and England^ are much lefs planfilh than thofe which might have arifen be- tween any two neighbouring Countries on the Globe. Thus, for Example, the Genius of a Frenchman, nationally confi- dered, fs quick and lively, rapid and de- fultory ; that of an Englffimaw penetrating and thoughtful, methodical and correct. In the one, Fancy is predominant ; in the other, Judgment. The Frenchman's bril- liant Fancy leads him to excel in almofl all the Works of Ornament and Shew : The Englishman's folid Judgment may be traced in the Manufacture of fuch Goods as 62 C U I B O N O? as are fitteft for general Ufe and Conve-* nience. A Frenchman wifhes to ftrike the Eye of the Spectator at the firfl Glance ; an Engli/hman ftrives to call forth his At-r tention to examine the Goodnefs of the Work, and the Skill and Contrivance of the Workman. Thefe Obfervations have been often made : Indeed they are very obvious. Why then is not the proper Inference deduced from them ? An In- ference of fo much Confequence to the Peace and Happinefs of Mankind ? Name- ly, that fuch different Talents and Ca- pacities cannot, properly fpeaking, be Ri- vals to each other ; for they act in dif- ferent Spheres, and tend to different Ends and Ufes, Therefore there is fo much the Icfs colourable Pretext for national Jealoufy 'between France and England, re- fpecting Trade, inaimuch as' there can hardly be a national Competition between them. MOREOVER, as the Matter which we are OR, AN IN Q_U I R Y, fcfr. 63 are now upon, is of fuch vaft Importance to the Peace and Happinefs of Society, I muft yet confider it in another Point of View. The Illuftration of the Subject may perhaps appear to fome Readers to be too ludicrous : But as the Obfervations are juft, and the Confequences very momentous, I {hall be lefs anxious refpedting any Cenfure on that Head. He? Nugaferia ducunt. THE Province of Monjieur la Valet , and of Monf. le Frizeur, and of Madcmoifdle la Coiftufe, &c. is to fabricate, with' their own -Fingers, thofe pretty Beings called Beaux and Belles ; Things, which for the moft Part owe their Exiftence to a lively Conception, and a fprightly undefinable Je ne f$ai quoi. Confequently no Syftem of Macliines, properly fpeaking, can be ufed, in the Formation of fuch Animalcule, and in giving them the rimmed Grace. For all depends on the prefent Fancy, Tafte, or Ton. In a Word, the Mode or Fa- fliion 64 C U I B O N O? fhion, is the great Empire in which France has reigned, and probably will al^- ways reign, without a Rival. The Cafe of the plodding Engli/bman is of a quite different Complexion. He excels in the Diftribution of Labour into diftinc~t Por- tions, and of adjufting each Portion to the Skilly and Strength, and Age, and Sex of -the Perfon to be employed. Moreover, he has hardly his Equal in the Conftrucliion of Machines for the various Purpofes of different Manufactures* But he cannot adapt the Coggs of his Wheels, his Screws, his Pullies, or his Levers, his Wind, his Water, or his Fire Engines, to the Fabri- cation of Beaux and Belles. This is an Affair quite diftincl:, and will ever fo re- main : Confequently, in thefe Things he is riecefTarily deficient. Indeed, had it been poffible for him to have applied his mechanic Genius and commercial Ma- chines to fuch Purpofes, there is no Doubt to be made but the Eritlfh Manu-t / ficturei OR, A N I N Q^U I R Y, &c. 65 factures of Beaux and Belles would have been the beft and cheapeft, and the moll oli/Joed upon Earth. HENCE therefore it feems to follow, that both the French and the Evglifb ought to be content with their refpedive Talents, and not to attempt thofe Things, in the Execution of which they will, for the moft part, be fure to fail. And if this Inference be a juft one, it will alfo follow, that were the two Nations to enjoy a folid Peace [which they hardly ever will do, while this Fiend, the ^feahufy of ^Trade^ is fowing Difcord between them], they would be much the richer, and if the richer, fo ' much the better Cuftomers to each other, In fuch a Cafe, as France encreafed in Wealth, the Frenchman would wim to en^- joy . funclry Articles of Ufe and Conve- nience, which he never would have thought of in his poor Eftate : And therefore he would purchafe them (either mediately or immediately) at the Et.'plifb Market : J I O / * I becaufe 66 C U I B O N O? becaufe there is the greateft Choice and Variety, and becaufe there alfo he will find almoft all Kinds of Manufactures made the beft, and fold the cheapeft. On the other Hand, in Proportion as England grew richer, the Engli/h of both Sexes would wifh to diflinguifh themfelves in French Modes and Fafhions, and to im- prove, as Lord CHESTERFIELD phrafes it, in thofe Graces which are not the Growth of this Country. HERE then I afk, Is there any -Thing unnatural in fuch Proceedings ? Any Thing on either Side difhonourable or bafe? Why therefore fuch an Outcry about the Lofs of Trade ? And what Rea- fon can be affigned for harbouring national Antipathies againft each other ? Nay, I will go farther : Suppofmg that both Sides kept within certain Limits, which it is the Bufmefs of every wife Legiflature to regulate and prefcribe ; and fuppofmg that they did not run into Excefs, what is there OR, A N IN Q.U I R Y, &c. 67 there which the ftricteft Moralift could cenfure, or the wifeft Statefman, and moil enlightened Patriot, could wifh to alter in the Conduct of either Nation ? Much more might be added ; but truly I have faid enough. At Jeafl, if by this Time you and others will not acknow- ledge yourfelves Converts to my Doctrine, I am fully perfuaded that you will give me fome Credit for the Goodnefs of my Intention, though at the Expence of my Underftanding. Better pleafed with fuch a Compliment, than with a contrary one, I have the Honour to be, Your obliged, And devoted humble Servant, J. T. I 2 LET- 68 C U I B O N O> LETTER -V. The Cafejlated between England and Ame- rica, fuppofing England to be yiffoneufr and the Americans vanqui/Jjed in this Difpute* TO MONSIEUR NECKER. Cut Bono? SIR, JTNGL4ND and America are at War, and have been fo for a Series of Years, Immenfe Treafures have been fpent, Tor- rents of - Blood fpilt, numberlefs Lives loft, befides thofe who fell in Battle ; and Confufion, and all Kinds of evil Works have every where prevailed, in order to obtain, What ? England fays, that fhe fights to recover the Allegiance of her revolted Colonies : And America^ that fhe fights for Independence* I DO OR, AN IN Q.U I R Y, &c. 69 I DO not here enter into the Queftion, which Side was originally, or is now to blame, according to the Terms of the Englifo Conftitution ? Who are in the Right, and who in the Wrong in this unhappy Difpute ? That is a diftincT: Confideration, foreign to the Subject now before us. My prefent Bufmefs is fim- ply this : To inquire, What Benefits or Advantages are to be obtained by Succefles on either Side, fuppofmg either Side to be victorious ? AND firft, as to England's recovering America. England therefore is fuppofed to prevail ; and the Rebellion to be fupprefled. Nay, that we may not do Things by Halves, we will fuppofe far- ther, that an Union as complete, and a Reconciliation as cordial, have at laft taken place, as ever did. Therefore Cm Bono f And what Benefits, when Accounts are fairly balanced, is England to 6 - 7 o C U I B O N O? to receive from this Return of American Allegiance ? THREE Things are faid to be the End and Object of our prefent unremitting Endeavours : FIRST, We propofe to recover our loft Trade with the Colonies. SECONDLY, We hope, that when a Re- conciliation fhall take place, the Americans will be perfuaded (though not compelled) to bear fome Share in the general Expences of the Empire. AND thirdly, We conceive, that by their Submiflion and Obedience we fhall recover our wonted Renown and national Glory. THESE are all the Motives, real or pre- tended, which can be afligned for the Continuance OR, AN IN Q_U I R Y, &c. 71 Continuance of the prefent War. Let us therefore examine each of them feparately ; and then we may the better attend to their collective Force, AND firft, we propofe the Recovery of of our Trade. Trade, Sir, is a very vague Term ; and may (land for any commercial Intercourfe between Nation and Nation, or between Man and Man, however carried on. But, in the Place before us, the Term muft fignify the Ex- portation of Britifh Manufactures into America, and the Importation of Ame- rican Produce into Britain. This Ex- portation, and this Importation, it feems, we have loft : And War and Victory are propofed as the propereft of all Meafures for the Reparation of our LofTes. Now it happens very unluckily for the Advo- cates of the prefent War, that both thefe Proportions are egregioufly falfe : Falfe, I mean, in the Senfe by them intended. For we have no otherwife loft 72 C U I B O N- O? loft our Trade with America, than as both the Americans and ourfelves are become much the poorer, and there- fore fo much the worfe Cuftomers to each other, by reafon of thofe enormous Expences, which the War has occailcned : - At the fa,me Time, that the Price of the Goods and Commodities of the refpec- tive Countries is prodigioufly enhanced to the Confumers ; enhanced, I fay, on ac- count of higher Freights, higher Infuran- ces, and greater Rifques ; -and above all on account of thofe vaft Profits which Foreign- ers with their neutral Bottoms gain at pre- fent, by being the fole Agents, Factors, ancj Carriers between the two Countries. THIS being the Cafe, and fuch the Dif- advantages on both Sides, is it to be won- dered at, that the Trade between England and America fhould not be at prefent in a flouriming Condition ? How. indeed could it be otherwife in fuch a State of Things ? At the fame Time, it is pro- per O R, A N I N Q_U I R Y, &V. 73 jber to afk, Will the Continuance of the War, and thofe mutual Beggaries and Bankruptcies confequent thereupon ; Will thefe Things be a Means of reviving our Trade, and of making either Side the richer, or the better Cuftomers ? The Man who chufes to maintain fuch a Para- dox, is not to be envied on account of his Logic. He may fay what he pleafes; HERETOFORE it was a Kind of unpar- donable Offence to endeavour to convince the Ej2glijh, that their Manufactures had a Preference to thbfe df other Nations iti point of Cheapnefs. For the JLnglifh have a mofl unaccountable Propenfity towards the gloomy and the difmal in their Prof- peels concerning Trade. And nothing feems to pleafe them better, as the cele- brated Lord CHESTERFIELD ufed to fay, than gravely to be told, that they are ruined and undone. Therefore his Friend Lord BOLINGBROKE grounded all his K. patriotic 74 C U I BONO? patriotic DifTertations on this very Bafis; for which worthy Deeds he, and his Brother Patriots were held in fueli high Efteem by the good People of England du- ring the long, pacific, and wealth-creating Reign [if I might ufe fuch a Term] of Sir R. WALPOLE, as approached almoft to Adoration. Indeed, long before them, ruined and undone was the Burden of the Song. An Author of fome Pvepute, one JOSHUA GEE, was fo poiTeffed with this defponding Notion, that he undertook to demonftrate by Figures, and Tables of Accounts, that the Balances of Trade were almofl: every where prodigioufly againft us : So that according to this comfortable De- monftration, there would not have re- mained One Shilling in Great-Britain for thefe 60 Years laft paft. Yet, Sir, we have fpent and laviilied away, fmce that Period, chiefly in unnecefTary and unprofi- table Wars, upwards of 150,000,000!. flerling : A fure Proof that he was mife- rably OR, AN IN Q^U I R Y, &V. 75 rably deceived in his Calculations j tho' a moft melancholy Reflection on our own Prudence. HOWEVER, that which Reafon and Argument could not do, refpecting Trade, Experience itfelf has. at laft effected. For now the Englifo Merchants and Manu- facturers find and feel, that their Goods at an American Market (notwithftanding all the prefent Djfadvantages they labour under) are allowed to be better and cheaper, than the like Articles of other Nations, the Americans being the Judges. This is a happy Omen, which may tend to many good Conferences, if properly improved, For from hence it undeniably follows, that the Americans will buy our Goods, when it is their Intereft, and when they are able fo to do, notwjthftand- ing the bittereft Antipathy they can con- ceive againft us, And I defy any Man to prove that they ever did buy our Goods, contrary to their own Interests, even du- K 2 ring 76 GUI BONO? ring the moft flattering Periods of their Friendship. [One Thing however I muft confefs, that heretofore they fre- quently bought Englijh Merchandife, when they knew they were not able, and never intended to pay for them. And with thofe very Capitals purchafed Ertates, or carried on a Trade to the Spanifo Main, Therefore if this be meant by the Com- plainants, when they lament the Lofs of the American Trade, I hope we (hall never recover fuch a Trade for the future : That is', never truft them to the fame Amount. The bad Debts of the Ame- ricans to this Country, long before the pre- fentDifturbances, were great beyond Ima- gination : much greater than the Sums owing to England from all the. World be- fides.] MOREOVER we now fee, and know, that the beft Produce of America can find its Way into England, if we give the beft Price, notvvithftanding thofe Obfta- 6 OR, AN IN Q.U I R Y, & f . 77 cles, which Civil Wars, and national Animofities, accompanied with every other Difficulty and Difcouragement, can throw in the Way. The Tobacco of thofe revolted Colonies, Maryland, and Virginia, with the valuable Productions of other Colonies, are now bought and fold as openly and avowedly, even at public Auctions, in all our great Sea- ports, as before the War. Therefore after fuch Proofs, what is it, which we can wifli for, or defire more ? And if this be not fufficient to convince us, that the Conqueft of America? fuppofing it ever fo feafible, can be of no Manner of Ufe in a mercantile View, I fhould be glad to know, what Kind of Proof will, or can be thought fufficient ? In a Word, if daily Experience, and Matters of Fact are not able to bring us to a Confeffion, that our Plan is totally wrong, I know not what elfe to have recourfe to, but to declare openly and without Referve, that we are determined to act both againft Conviction 7 8 GUI BONO? Convi&ion and againfl our own Intereft, ~Non ferfuadeblsy etiamji perfuaferis. BUT we are told in the fecond Place, '* That the Reduction of America would be a Means of perfuading the People on that Side of the Atlantic to bear fome Share, and to contribute fornething to^ wards our heavy, national Expences." Good! And then the Argument will run fomewhat to the following Effect j though not in the fame Words. " After we have for fo many Years en^ " deavoured to fubdue the Bodies of the *' Americans by the Force of Arms, we f * will for the future djfclaim all fuch <* Methods ; becaufe we intend to fub- ** jugate their Minds by the fuperior ** Power of our enchanting Eloquence, " Fiiheries, or his Merchandife, to corrv- " mcnce a Sailor, or a Soldier, for the and Americans : For their Cafes are ex- aAly parallel. Indeed all Sides are, at laft, moft thoroughly convinced, that they have been fighting for a Shadow j -r*or rather, for what is much worfe than a Shadow, a Subftance of a very pernicious, and deftructive Quality. Ne- verthelefs Pride, national Pride, is of fuch a Nature as to prevent them from making this frank Confeffion. The La- bours therefore of an Individual, however obfcure, may not be entirely thrown away in fuch a Cafe : He may fuggeft fome- fhing, which has not occurred to wifer Heads, ,24 A PLAN OF Heads, or he may be the Means of bring- ing all Sides the nearer to each other, without either Party feeming to yield, or to make the firft Advances. But be that as it may ; and if his Labours fhould be again difregarded, as they have often been j the very Defire of doing Good, and the mem confcia refti are in them- felves no fmall Confolation. A Machia- vellian Politician is not to be envied. Scheme for a general Pacification, 'with Remarks thereupon* I. Let all the Countries and Places, which have been taken during the War, be mutually reftored, and as nearly as poffible in the fame Condition that they were in, before the War began. This Rule fhould extend to every Part of the Globe; unlefs to fuch Places, as {hall be otherwife difpofed of in, or by the following Treaty. II. LET PACIFICATION. 125 II. LET the Countries between the Rivers Penobfcot and Cfffixefticut, con- taining almoft all the Provinces of New- Hampjhire, MaJJacbufets, Rhode-IJland, and Connecticut, be ceded to the Ame- rican Republicans in full Right. III. LET the American Loyalifts enjoy the DiftricT: from the River Connecticut to Hudforis River, together with Long I/land, and Staten I/land. IV. LET all the Countries from Hud- foris River to the Northern Boundary of North Carolina, containing Part of the Province of New Tork, all the Jerfeys, all Peniifyfoania, all the three Lower Counties, and all Maryland and Vir- ginia, be ceded for ever to the Republican Americans. By this Partition or Divi- fion, they will be put in immediate PofTeffion of nine Provinces out of thir- teen, for which they contended. In 6 thefe A P L A N O F thefe they will be independent .of Great- Britain, and Great-Britain independent of them. Y. LET the Loyalists retain the three remaining Provinces, namely, Norths Carolina, South-Carolina, and Georgia. VI. As the Provinces of New-Tor k, Worth, and South-Carolina, and Georgia, will thus become Afylums, and Places of Safety, for the loyal Refugees to retire tp,-r let the fame regal, and mixt Govern- ment be reftored to each, as obtained heretofore. But let it be ftipulated, that this Government fhall continue no longer than for TEN YEARS from the Date of the Treaty : At the Expiration of which Term, let the ArTembly of each Province be at full Liberty to chufe any Form they mall think proper. VI L LET the Eajjern Florida* be ceded to PACIFICATION. 127 to Spain, together with the Fortrefs of Gibraltar, provided his Catholic Majefty will give the Ifland of Porto-Rica in Exchange : A Place of as little Ufe to them, as Gibraltar is to England. VIII. LET the Ifland of Minorca be ceded to the Houfe of Auftria, as an in* termediate Depofitory between the Ports of Triejie, in Dalmatia, and Oftend, in Flanders. But let the whole Ifland, with all the Ports and FortrefTes thereunto be- longing, be confidered as one general free .Port, or common Magazine, wherein no Duties are to be paid either on Exporta- tion, or Importation : And where alfo the Ships of all Nations, military as well as mercantile, mall be fafe and free to go in and out, to load and unload, to careen, and refit at Pleafure, without Moleflation of any Kind ; only paying the necefTary Charges to the refpeclive Tradefmen, Ship-Carpenters, &c. &c. IX. LET A P L A N O F IX. LET the Emperor of Germany in- vite the Powers at War to fend Deputies to meet at Bruffels, or at any other con- venient City in Aujlrian Flanders, there to treat on the Means of procuring a general Pacification : And if Peace can be obtained on the above Terms, or on any other more acceptable to the con- tending Parties, let the great Powers of Germany^ the Emprefs of Ruffia, and the Kings of Sweden and Denmark, fo- lemniy guarantee the fame. REMARKS. Remark I. THE above Plan for a ge- neral Pacification is not offered as the very beft in the Nature of Things, but only as the moft feafible, and the likelieft to be adopted by the oppofite contending Parties. For when there are fo many dif- ferent Prejudices to be encountered, the Man who hopes to fucceed in any Degree, muft (leer fuch a middle Courfe, as that all may be gratified in fome Re- fpect, PACIFICATION. 129 fpects, though not to the full Extent of their extravagant Wimes* THE very beft Syftem \beft I mean in Behalf of England] would have been, To have thrown up all foreign Domi- nions at once j and to have trufted folely to the Goodnefs and Cheapnefs of our Alan u fa 6lu res, and to the long Credit we can give, for procuring them a Vent in thefe [abdicated] Governments, as well as in other Countries* In the next Place to have relied on the Strength of our great Capitals, and on the commanding In- fluence of good Price, and good Pay, for purchafing all Sorts of Goods and Com- modities from every Nation under Hea- ven : And in the third Place, to have kept our Strength both by Land and Sea, well concentred on our own Coafts, not diflipated by foreign Expeditions, always ready at Hand for our Defence againft Invaders. This, I fay, would have been the beft, and the wifeft Scheme; nay R more. ,30 A PLAN OF more, this is the only Scheme, ta which we ourfelves muft have Recourfe in Times of the greateft Difficulties, and Dangers. A plain Proof, that there is no need at any Time to recur to any other Meafure! Neverthelefs, when Man- kind have been long kept in Darknefs, or after they have wilfully blind-folded themfelves for Ages paft, they muft be treated according to the Nature of their Cafe. For their Eyes are too weak to bear the full Glare of Day at once : T ,ight therefore muft be let in upon them by Degrees. And as this Confideration is of Weight, permit me to ufe it as an Apology for not offering a better Syftem than the foregoing. Remark II. WERE Minorca to be put into the Hands of the Houfe of Aujlria, as propofed in the foregoing Plan, and to be made a common Magazine, and a ge- neral free Port for all Nations, much Good might redound thereby to the whole poli- tical PACIFICATION. 131 tical and commercial Worlds ; and it is hard to fay, what great Evil could refult from fuch a Meafure. For, in the firfl Place, as his Imperial Majefty wants fuch' a Port, to be a Kind of intermediate De- pofitory between Flanden and Dalmatia, a Hint of this Nature properly fuggefted, might be a powerful Inducement with him to offer his Mediation for compofing the prefent Differences, and to propofe one ' of his Towns in f landers for affembling a Congrefs, IN the fecond Place, no Power, or Potentate, or even Individual, could be hurt by the opening of fuch a general Mart for all Nations to refort to. For as all would have equal Liberty both of Ingrefs, and Egrefs, all would be benefitted in one pegree or other, fome more, or fome lefsj 9-but none could be hurt: Cer- tainly the Englifh could not be injured; becaufe they would enjoy the fame Li- berty, which they have at prefent, with R 2 great j 3 2 A PLAN OF great additional Advantages, without a Shilling Expence, and, what is ftill more, without exciting the Fears and Jealoufies of other Powers. The Ruffian Empire would be benefitted, becaufe fuch an intermediate Deppfitory between the Extremities of that vaft Empire [that is, between Peterjburgh and Afoph, if the Turks will permit a free Navigation through the Dardanels'] would anfvver much the fame End to her, as it would to the Houfe of Aujlria. And as to France, Spain, Italy, and every Side of the Mediterranean, not to mention the North of Europe it is obvious to {he rncft common Apprehen/ion, that all thefe Countries would derive confiderable Advantages from fuch an Inftitution ;; and that France in particular would be benefitted abpve the reft ; becaufe fhe would have the mod Goods and Mer- chandife to be expofed to Sale at this Emporium, and the feweft Wants to be fupplied ; confequently the lefs to pur- chafe ; PACIFICATION. 133 chafe ; and the greater would be the Ba^ Jance in her Favour, THE PoflefTion of fuch a Spot as Minorca^ by the Houfe of Aujlria, could give no juft Umbrage to any Naval Power. For though the Head of that Houfe were ever fo denrous of raifing 3 naval Force, it would be impoflible for him to accomplish his Wifhes, with only three fuch Ports as Ojlend t Mabon, and Wriefie t and thofe almofl one thoufand Miles diflant from each other. There- fore Peace and Commerce muft always be his only Views, as far as Minorca would be concerned, whatever military Schemes might be formed in other Refpe&s. , TRADE therefore being the only Object capable of being purfued in this Cafe, his Imperial Majefty might main- tain a fufficient Garrifon at a very fmall JSxpence, perhaps, indeed, at none at 6 all. x 3 4 A P L A N O F all. For as this general Emporium would attract to it the Aftive and In.. tfuftrious from every Country, fuch Numbers would fettle on the Ifland, as would render it Populous like an Hive of Bees. Therefore a very moderate Ex- cife, or inland Duty on the Home Con^ Jumptton of the Inhabitants, would fully defray trie Charges of the Civil Govern- ment [if judicioufiy laid on] and probably maintain a Garrifon of 2500 Men befides : I mean after the Manner that the Auf- trian Troops are cloathed, fed, and paid, not according tp {he Expences of Eng- lijh Troops, and Garrifpns. $tbly, WHATEVER Benefits other Countries would obtain by opening the Communication here propofed, rrthe Be- nefits to the Kingdom of Hungary will ilill be greater. This fine Country is allowed by all to be qne of the moft fertile upon Earth; yet it has hitherto, laboured under two fuch Difficulties, as have PACIFICATION. 135 have rendered it in a Manner a Terra m- cogntta to the commercial World. The one is, the feudal Syjlem, which ftill reigns there, 2nd in the neighbouring Pro- vinces, to a greater Degree than in any other Part of Europe, Poland excepted. Now, Sir, a feudal Baron, with his hundred VafTals on his Eftate [Slaves in EfFecl:] doth not ufe and confume as many of the Neceffariesand Conveniericies, much lefs the Elegancies of Life [that is, in a commercial View, he and his miserable Dependants are not fo good Cuftomers] as a French Nobleman with 25 Tenants, or an fLnglifa Gentleman with 15. And as his Imperial Majefty is abolishing all thefe ilavifh Tenures, as faft as he can, and as the Nature of the Cafe will per- mit ; -this will in Time open new Sources of Commerce and Riches, much more beneficial than the Difcovery of new diftant Countries, or the Colonization of remote Deferts. The fecond Inconvenience which Hungary laboured under, was the Want of 136 A PLAN OF 1 offome Communication with the reft of Europe, by Means of a commodious Port. This Evil will be remedied to a great De- gree by the Meafure here propofed; for the Eftablimmentof an Emporium atMi/iorca, where the Produce and Manufactures of all Countries might be depofited and ex^ changed, will operate nearly the fame, as it Hungary was moved out of its Place, and brought more contiguous to thofe Coun- tries, or that thole Countries were placed nearer to Hungary : I fay, the commer- cial Effects would be much the fame. And then the Riches of Hungary, by Means of a regular, well -directed Cir- culation of Induftry and Labour, would become the Riches of fuch Countries -, more efpecially of the great' commercial Countries of France and England : And the Riches of France and England, for the very fame Reafon, would become the Riches of Hungary : That is in plain one Nation would become fo much PACIFICATION. 137 much the better Cuftomer to the other, by being fo much the Richer. THIS mutual Circulation of Labour and Induftry, is that grand fundamental Truth in the Science of Politics and Commerce, which never can be too much inculcated. O ! what Oceans of Blood would it have faved in every Age, had it been duly attended te ! Remark III. The only Affair in the Revolt of the Colonies, in which the Honour of England is truly concerned, is, to fecure fome Place of Retreat and Safety to the loyal Americans, from the Rage of their blood-thirfty republican Perfecutors. The foregoing Plan has, I hope, fufficiently provided for their Se- curity. Indeed, as their only Crime was the doing their Duty, and being faithful to thofe Engagements which they owed to the mildefl: Government upon Earth ; the Time will come, when even their S Perfecutors J3 8 A P L A N O F Perfecutors will look upon thefe Loy- alifts with different Eyes : They will confider them, as having been their moft faithful Monitors, who would have faved their finking Country, had good Senfe, and found Policy not to mention a Word a"bout good Faith, Honour, and Con- fcience, been fuffered to prevail. Per- mit me likewife to add, that when the Hand of Time has laid low the Author of thefe Papers, already prefled with Years and Infirmities perhaps Monf.. NECKER himfelf may vouchfafe to fay : " What a Pity, that the DEAN of " GLOCESTER'S Advice had not been " more attended to ! His Obfervations " were juft ; that the War in which " we all engaged fo deeply, and which " we cherifhed with fuch unthinking " -Zeal, has been productive of great and " lading Evils to ALL j to France in " particular ; and of no Good to any." BUT' as it will be immaterial to my- 5 PACIFICATION. 139 felf whether you will condefcend to take Notice of my Writings or not, I enjoy a prefent Satisfaction, when I confider you as my Fellow-Labourer in the good Work of Peace. Many PafTages in your Book evidently befpeak you to have a generous Concern for the whole Human Race, and to be patriotic in the beft Senfe of that Word, A Friend to Mankind* EVER ambitious of being related in Af- fection to all of that Character, I have the Honour to fubfcribe myfelf, with the greater Pleafure, S I R, Your mofl refpedful, And moil obedient humble Servant, GLOCESTER, T T T T f^ 1 IT T?T? November 28, 1781. J * .V M*M* ^ 82 POST- POSTSCRIPT. THIS Moment an Account is arrived, that the brave Cornwallis with his little Army has been obliged to fubmit to the united Force of fuperior Numbers. I am at a Lofs what to fay on this Occafion. To congratulate my Country on being defeated is contrary to that Decency which is due to the Public. And yet, if this Defeat fhould terminate in a total Separation from America, it would be one of the hap- pieft Events, that hath ever happened to Great Britain. I have no Right to congratulate you on this Victory, much lefs POSTSCRIPT. 141 lefs to condole with you ; though Con- dolence would have been by far the pro- perer Compliment. Time will fhew what you have got ; and what we have loft, by the ProgrefTes of the prefent War. The Englijh have been too long . \ in the Habit of ufing the difad^antageous Lever -, it will now be the Turn of the French to ufe it. France, without Co- lonies, or Foreign. Dominions, is almofl: invulnerable j but whenever me is feized with the epidemical Madnefs of having diftant Colonies, me will be as vulnerable as her Neighbours. FINIS, Lately publijhed by the fame AUTHOR, ATREATISEon GOVERN- MENT, in three Parts. Part I. The Notion of Mr. LOCKE and his Fol- lowers, containing the Origin, Extent, and End of Civil Government, examined and confuted. Part II. The true Bails of Civil Government, fet forth, and afcertained. Alfo Objections anfwered ; different Forms compared ; and Improve- ments fuggefled. Part III. England's former Gothic Conftitution cenfured and expofed ; Cavils refuted, and Authorities produced -, alfo the Scripture Doctrine, concerning the Obedience due to Gover- nors, vindicated, and illuftrated. Printed for T. CADELL, in the Strand, London. .. 4f : . Ofnvbom may be had, All the Author's POLITICAL and COM- MERCIAL TREATISES.. His Theological and Polemical TRACTS are printed for MefTrs. RIVINGTON, in St. Paul's Qburch-Yard. X K. . UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. REC'D LD-URL Hi'; vji m A 001 122595 l