Part 3

Now, my Lords and Gentlemen! be pleased to compare these _Fears_ of Mr. BURKE, "that the _Americans_ will be too _lavish_ in their Grants,--with the _Hopes_ entertained by the Agent (just quoted from Monsieur De LOLME) that the _Americans_ by Means of _liberal Grants_ may recommend themselves to the good Graces of their Prince;"--and then you will have full Possession of all Dr. FRANKLIN's favourite Speculation for removing the Seat of Empire from hence to _North-America_, and for abandoning the _British_ Isles to the Care of Deputies, Vice Roys, and Lord Lieutenants. Many of you, I make no Doubt, have heard him declare, that the great Continent of _British America_ (which, according to his Computation, will contain nearly ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS of Inhabitants in little more than a Century) ought to become the Seat of general Empire. And it might be easily gathered from the whole Turn of his Conversation, that he thought it no very difficult Matter in the Course of Things to bring this important Point to bear;--that is, to induce some future Sovereign of this Country to make the wished for Exchange;--partly by the Obstacles which might be thrown in his Way, were he to persist in remaining here [Obstacles, of which we have an _egregious Specimen_ already] and partly by the alluring Temptations which might be offered him to quit this petty Spot, and reside in _America_.--I say, many of you must have heard Dr. FRANKLIN haranguing after this Sort; or have seen Letters from him to the same Effect:--For that this was his darling Scheme, even before he came to reside in _England_, I have been well assured; as well as his favourite Topic ever afterwards. Therefore I will add, that by the Help of this Comment, we can explain many Passages in the Declarations of the grand _American_ Congress, which otherwise must appear to be either nauseous Compliments, or gross Contradictions:--The Passages I refer to, are the Protestations so often and so solemnly repeated, that they [the _Americans_] have no Intention of separating from this Country; and that they have the purest Loyalty to the King, and the strongest Attachment to the illustrious House of _Hanover_. This Key therefore unlocks the whole Mystery of their (otherwise unaccountable) Proceedings. And as POPE said on another Occasion:

'Tis in the _ruling Passion_: There alone, The Wild are constant, and the _Cunning_ known. This Clue, once found, unravels all the rest. The Prospect clears, and CLODIO stands confest.

In the mean Time, because his Majesty is graciously disposed to join with _Great-Britain_ against _America_ in this Contest for Empire, (for in Fact _that is_ the _real_ Dispute, whatever may be the _Pretence_) not only many among the _Americans_, which is natural enough, but (Shame to tell!) even among _Englishmen_ themselves, vent the bitterest Reproaches against him for being the best Friend and Protector of the Mother-Country. Surely Posterity will stand amazed at such a Procedure! The like Scenes of Infatuation and Ingratitude (not to mention Disloyalty and Rebellion) never yet disgraced the Annals of the World! And it seems to be reserved as a Mark of Infamy peculiar to the present Age, and to our modern Race of Patriots, that while the Prince on the Throne is incessantly endeavouring to keep his People free, and to secure their Freedom more and more by all proper and constitutional Measures, such Numbers should be found amongst his Subjects, who are equally industrious to thwart his truly patriotic Designs, and to rush headlong into Slavery.

But as Providence very often brings the greatest Good out of the worst of Evils, let us not despair, but that these very Attempts, wicked and unnatural as they are, may be the Means of uniting all honest, and well-intentioned Men the firmer together, in order to support, and even to strengthen the present Constitution. For Example, the two great Islands of _Britain_ and _Ireland_, which are only separated by a narrow Sea, ought not to be separated at all by different Governments, Laws, or Parliaments. No good Reason upon Earth can be given for such a Separation: And it has long been the ardent Wish of every true Patriot in both Nations, to see them united. Indeed, the best that can be said for the Continuance of the present absurd System is, that the City of _Dublin_ would be a Sufferer by the Removal of the Court and Parliament:--I say, this is the very Argument, which can be urged: And yet this has no Foundation at all, but in the Prejudices of the Populace, who are almost perpetually mistaking their own Interests. Even the City of _Dublin_ would be a very great Gainer by such a Removal: For it would acquire _Industry_ in Exchange for _Idleness_; and then the Hands of its Tradesmen, by being the Hands of the Diligent, would enrich each other by reciprocal Employment;--the Hands, I say, of those very Tradesmen, who in their present State, are almost as poor, as the poorest in the Kingdom.--That this is the natural and necessary Course of Things, and not an idle Theory, or visionary Speculation, I appeal to Fact and daily Experience;--and I appeal, not only to the Case of _Edinburgh_, which is now three Times, at least, as rich and flourishing, as when it was the Residence of a Court, and of a Parliament; but I appeal also to almost every Town in _Ireland_: _Cork_ and _Belfast_ for Example, have neither Courts, nor Parliaments; and yet their Merchants, Manufacturers, and Traders are much richer in Proportion to their Numbers, than those of _Dublin_: And what is still more extraordinary, those little Towns, which once thought themselves happy in procuring Barracks to be erected among them, in order to obtain, as they fondly imagined, _the Benefit of a great Flow of Money_, are now perfectly convinced, that Towns without Barracks, or Towns from which Barracks have been removed, are in a much more flourishing Condition, then those which have them.--Of so mischievous a Tendency is the Circulation of Money, when it becomes the Means of introducing Idleness, and of preventing Industry. For, reason as long as you will on the Subject, the actual State of Things will ever prove itself to be this, that Idleness is the Parent of Poverty, and Industry the only Source of real Riches.

But, my Lords and Gentlemen, this is not all; and my Scheme of an Union with _Ireland_ is calculated not only to introduce Wealth, and to prevent Idleness in the single City of _Dublin_; but also to diffuse constitutional Strength and Firmness, and to create a Stability and Compactness throughout the whole Empire: Whereas Mr. BURKE's has as necessary a Tendency to weaken and disjoint every Part of it, and to sow Jealousies and Dissentions both at Home and Abroad, in the Mother-Country, and in the Colonies:--The unavoidable Consequence of which would be at the last, arbitrary and despotic Power. In one Word, the true Motto for my Scheme is, _Vis unita fortior_; and for his, _Divide et impera_. Judge therefore, as Men who are more deeply concerned in preserving and improving the present Constitution, than any Class of Men whatever;--judge, I say, whether Mr. BURKE's Scheme or mine, in regard to _America_, ought to have the Preference. You have every Means of Information now at your Command: Your Birth, your Rank, and Education, lift you up much above the Prejudices of the Vulgar; whilst your patrimonial Estates and ample Fortunes screen you from a Multitude of those Temptations, to which other Men are grievously exposed. And yet, my Lords and Gentlemen, let me tell you, that if you will not exert yourselves on this trying Occasion, in some Degree proportionate to the Importance of the Cause now before you, perhaps it may never be in your Power to exert yourselves hereafter, when you would wish most ardently to do it. Remember, therefore, I beseech you, the Words, the _emphatic_, and perhaps even the _prophetic_, Words of a celebrated Partizan, whose Name I need not mention:--"Why, Gentlemen, will not you, who are _Men of great Landed Estates_, take an active Part in the present Disputes? Your Neutrality, I do assure you, will not protect you. For if you will still remain inactive at such a Crisis, what has happened before will happen again; and the *****'s and the *****'s who have but little to lose, but may have much to get in Times of general Confusion, will certainly become the great Men of this Nation."

_Fas est et ab hoste doceri._

Indeed the Estates of the Church, we all know, will fall the first Sacrifice, should the Republican Party now prevail. But nevertheless, if you, my Lords and Gentlemen, should be so weak as to imagine, that Matters will stop there; and that your own large Possessions, your splendid Titles, your hereditary Honours, and ample Privileges will escape unhurt, amidst that general _Wreck_ of private Property, and _Crush_ of Subordination, which will necessarily ensue; you will be woefully mistaken:--And I must beg Leave to say, that you will have profited but very little, by what has been so well written in the Annals of this very Country, for your Instruction and Admonition. For depend upon it, the Use of _Committee-Men_, and the Business of _Sequestrators_ are not yet forgot; depend upon it, I say, that Ways and Means are still to be found out, for the lowest of the People to get at the Possession of the greatest of your Estates, as well in these, as in former Times. Their Appetites are equally keen:--And if these hungry Patriots should succeed, after such an Example is set before your Eyes, who are you to blame but yourselves?--In one Word, you know, or ought to know, that even the tender Mercies of a Republic are cruel. Or, if you are not yet convinced of the Truth of this Assertion, look abroad into the World; nay, look into what is now doing by the Republican Congresses in _America_; and then see how you would approve such Men as these for YOUR MASTERS.

HERE THEREFORE I willingly close the whole Dispute between Mr. BURKE and me: And I most chearfully submit the Decision of this important Question to those (but to _those only_) who are the best qualified, the most able, and the most concerned to decide impartially. What therefore is to follow in this Treatise, is to be considered rather _ex abundanti_, than as strictly necessary for the Support of my Argument, and the Confutation of my Opponent. Yet, seeing that the following Points may serve to elucidate some of the former, and seeing that so much has been said, and such confident Boastings have been uttered, concerning the Advantages, and even the Immensity of the Colony-Trade; I will enter the more particularly into these Matters.

And first of all, and previous to any Enquiry into the Fact, I enter a solemn Protest against the disingenuous Artifice, so often practiced by the Partizans of _America_, viz. That OF BEGGING THE QUESTION. They beg the Question, when they take for granted, that if _America_ were separated from _Great-Britain_, all commercial Intercourse would cease between the two Countries. For this is the very Point, which they ought to have proved, instead of taking it for granted. And prove it they never can, 'till they shall have first demonstrated, that the _Americans_ will no longer adhere to their own Interest, when they shall be disunited from us. A difficult Task this! In regard to which, they will find all the World to be Unbelievers. Indeed I have already so effectually silenced this Plea in my Fourth Tract from Page 203 to Page 220, [2d Edit. printed for RIVINGTON, &c.] that I hope I may be excused from repeating the same Things. And as the Arguments there urged have never been attempted to be answered, notwithstanding so much Good-Will to do it, and that my Opponents most certainly would do it, if they could, the natural Conclusion is, _that they are_ UNANSWERABLE.

Therefore I now enter upon the Subject itself; and as the Trade to _Holland_ and _Germany_ (and _more particularly to_ Hanover) hath been frequently represented as being very inconsiderable, and of small Importance; I have for this very Reason, selected this Trade from others, to make it the Subject of our Comparison with the Trade to all the revolted Provinces of _North-America_.

An Account of the Value of the Exports from _England_ to _Germany_ and _Holland_; and also to those _North-American_ Provinces, which are now under the Dominion of the Congress, for nine Years successively, viz. from _Christmas_ 1763 to _Christmas_ 1772, distinguishing each Country, and each Year.

From Christmas 1763 | to Christmas 1764. | 1765. | -------------------------+-------------------+ _Value of Exports._ |_Value of Exports._| -------------------------+-------------------+ £. s. d. | £. s. d. | Germany 2,264,315 3 9 | 1,869,465 18 8 | Holland 2,040,467 9 9 | 2,026,772 16 11 |

The REVOLTED PROVINCES of _North-America_.

Carolina 305,808 1 6 | 334,709 12 8 | New-England's four Provinces 459,765 0 11 | 451,299 14 7 | New-York 515,416 12 1 | 382,349 11 1 | Pensilvania 435,191 14 0 | 363,368 17 5 | Virginia and Maryland 515,192 10 6 | 383,224 13 0 |

| 1766. | 1767. | 1768. | +-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+ |_Value of Exports._|_Value of Exports._|_Value of Exports._| +-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+ | £. s. d. | £. s. d. | £. s. d. | | 1,811,268 2 3 | 1,506,293 10 11 | 1,499,732 0 4 | | 1,602,924 6 7 | 1,539,705 18 0 | 1,744,974 5 8 |

| 296,732 1 4 | 244,093 6 0 | 289,868 12 3 | | 409,642 7 6 | 406,081 9 2 | 419,797 9 4 | | 330,829 15 8 | 417,957 15 5 | 482,930 14 4 | | 327,314 5 3 | 371,830 8 10 | 432,107 17 4 | | 372,548 16 1 | 437,628 2 6 | 475,954 6 2 |

| 1769. | 1770. | 1771. | +-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+ |_Value of Exports._|_Value of Exports._|_Value of Exports._| +-------------------+-------------------+-------------------+ | £. s. d. | £. s. d. | £. s. d. | | 1,338,866 9 8 | 1,272,569 0 4 | 1,316,492 1 4 | | 1,658,551 13 1 | 1,766,333 10 2 | 1,685,397 16 0 |

| 306,600 5 6 | 146,273 17 0 | 409,169 9 4 | | 207,993 14 3 | 394,451 7 5 | 1,420,119 1 1 | | 74,918 7 10 | 475,991 12 0 | 653,621 7 6 | | 199,909 17 11 | 134,881 15 5 | 728,744 19 10 | | 488,362 15 1 | 717,782 17 3 | 920,326 3 8 |

| 1772. | Totals. +-------------------+------------------- |_Value of Exports._|_Value of Exports._ +-------------------+------------------- | £. s. d. | 1,354,181 6 6 | 14,233,183 13 9 | 1,997,815 1 4 | 16,060,942 17 6 ------------------ Total of both Countries 30,294,126 11 3 ------------------ | 449,610 2 2 | 2,782,865 7 7 | 824,830 8 9 | 4,993,980 13 0 | 343,970 19 9 | 3,677,986 15 8 | 507,909 14 0 | 3,501,259 10 0 | 793,910 13 2 | 5,104,930 17 5 ------------------- Totals of the revolted Provinces 20,061,023 3 8 ------------------- Superiority of the Value of the Exports to _Holland_ and _Germany_ over the Exports to the revolted Provinces of _America_ £. 10,233,103 7 7

[_To face Page 49._]

REMARK I.

According to the above State of the Account, the Sum Total of the Value of the Exports to _Holland_ and _Germany_ alone, during a Period of nine Years, exceeded that to all the [present revolted] Provinces of _North America_, by no less than 10,234,103_l._ 7_s._ 7_d._ which is more than ONE-THIRD of the Whole. And yet this very Period was more favourable to _American_ Exports than any other: 1st. Because during this Period, there was the greatest Emigration from _Europe_ to _America_, and particularly from _Holland_ and _Germany_, that can be remembered; and each Emigrant, if a Customer to _England_, whilst resident in _Europe_, not only swells the _American_ Account by his Removal, but also sinks the _European_: So that he acts in a double Capacity, by adding Weight to one Scale, and by substracting, at least an equal, if not a greater, from the other:--2dly, Because During this Period, the Colonists, and more especially the four _New-England_ Governments, were preparing for a _Non-Importation_ System; and therefore were storing their Magazines with great Quantities of Goods to serve for many Years. This Circumstance appears on the very Face of the Account:--And 3dly, Because the Business of Commercial PUFFING, during this Period, was carried, by the Partizans of _America_, to a greater Height than ever, in order to make the _American_ Trade appear to be of much more Consequence to this Nation, than it really is.--To explain this Artifice of Commercial _Puffing_, to such Persons, who are not conversant in the Progress of Commercial Laws, I must beg their Attention to the following short Narrative.--Formerly the Kings of _England_ established certain Duties or Taxes (generally five per Cent. _ad Valorem_) both on the Import and Export of Goods, _merely by Virtue of their own Prerogative_; and, as it was the _universal Practice_ for every Prince to act in the same Manner, these Duties or _customary_ Payments were therefore called the CUSTOMS,--the Place where these Duties were paid the _Custom-House_, and the Officers who collected them the _Custom-House_ Officers. In Process of Time, the Subjects gained a little more Liberty; so that the Duties, which were originally imposed by Virtue of the mere Prerogative of the Crown, were afterwards collected by the Authority of an _Act_, or _Acts_ of the whole Legislature.

And yet, notwithstanding this Change of Authority, there was very little Alteration in the System of Taxation: For _Exports_ as well as _Imports_ (in those Days of commercial Blindness) paid a Duty of about five per Cent. [9] _ad Valorem_, as low down as the Reigns of CHARLES II. and JAMES II.--King WILLIAM was the first Prince who had a true Notion of introducing wise and beneficial Regulations into the System of Exportation: For he caused the Duties to be taken off from the Exports of _English_ Woollen Manufactures, and of a few other Articles: Queen ANN followed his good Example, and extended the same politic System a little farther: But it was reserved to the Reign of GEORGE I. and to the Administration of that _great_ and _able_ Minister, Sir ROBERT WALPOLE (whom the Traders, and the Populace always abused) to enrich this Country by Means of a general System of _judicious_ Taxes, and salutary commercial Regulations. For in one single Act of Parliament in the Year 1722, (8th of G. I. Chap. 15.) there were about 196 Taxes repealed, [see CROUCH's Book of Rates] Taxes which had been injudiciously laid, partly on Raw-Materials coming in, but chiefly on _British_ Manufactures going out. But tho' this excellent Law was productive of the greatest Advantage to the Nation; yet it must be allowed, that like many other good Things, it was the innocent Cause of introducing some Evil. For from that Time we may date the Origin of our modern _Puffing_, respecting the Export of Goods, which has spread but too generally ever since. _English_ Manufactures, when entered in the Custom-House for Exportation, now pay no Tax or Duty; therefore this Circumstance becomes a Temptation to many Persons to make larger Entries for Exportation, than in Truth and Reality they ought to do. Vanity, and the Desire of appearing to be Men of large Dealings, and extensive Correspondencies, and perhaps other Motives still less justifiable, will but too well account for such Proceedings in the mercantile World. Consequently in commercial Puffing, the Traders to _Holland_ and _Germany_, and the Traders to _North-America_ are much upon a Par: So that were they to accuse each other, it might be said of both,

_Clodius accusat Mæchos, Catalina Cethegos._

But nevertheless in other Respects there is a wide Difference between them. For the Partizans of _America_ are actuated not only by Self-Interest, or Vanity, but by Principles still more powerful, viz. By such a Spirit of Enthusiasm, and a Zeal bordering on Phrenzy, as will stick at nothing to promote the Good of the Cause. Hence therefore we may reasonably infer, that tho' the Entries for Exportation to every Country are somewhat exaggerated, yet that those to _North-America_ are doubly so. Other Traders may probably consider these puffing Advertisements [I mean their exaggerated Entries for Exportation] as a Kind of Peccadillos, very allowable for the Promotion of their Interest; but an _American_ Partizan views them in a much higher Light, viz. as _meritorious Acts done for the Good of his Country_.

REMARK II.

As we have been hitherto comparing the Value of the _Exports_ to the twelve _malcontent_ Provinces of _North-America_, with the Value of the Exports to _Holland_ and _Germany_; let us in the next Place consider also the Nature of the _North-American Imports_, if compared with those of other Countries.

Now all Imports may be divided into two Classes, viz. Raw Materials for the Employment of our own People, and taxable Objects for the Purposes of raising a Revenue.

In regard to the first of these,--if we should cast our Eyes on the Imports from [10] _Russia_ only, will any one be so hardy as to maintain, that the Imports from _North-America_ are at all on a Par with them, in any Respect whatever? Timber, for Example, Iron, Hemp, Flax and Flax-Seed, Linen-Yarn, Skins and Furrs, Ashes, Tallow, Hair, Bristles, &c. &c.;--Can it be pretended, with any Appearance of Truth, that the Imports of these Articles (taking one with another) from _North-America_, will bear any Comparison with those from _Russia_? And yet, to the Shame and Disgrace of an enlightened commercial State, several of these raw Materials are taxed, if imported from _Russia_, in order to create a Monopoly to _North-America_: And others, when imported from _America_, are not only allowed to be entered Duty-free, which is just enough; but also have enjoyed for many Years the Benefit of large and munificent Bounties given by the Parliament of _Great-Britain_.--Given? To whom? To our non-represented Colonies: For it seems they will condescend to receive Bounties from us, tho' not represented, notwithstanding they make this very Circumstance a Plea or Pretence against bearing any Share in our Burdens. However, all this is not sufficient to create that Monopoly in their Favour, which they, and their Adherents have long had in Contemplation. For the Imports of Raw-Materials from _Russia_, which are every Day encreasing, exceed those from _North-America_ in Goodness, in Quantity, in Value, and in every Respect, to a very great Degree.