THE 
 
 PRESENT STATE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATION. 
 
 THE THIRD EDITION. 
 
 [Price Two Shillings.] 
 
THE 
 
 PRESENT STATE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATION: 
 
 Particularly with refpedi to its 
 
 TRADE, FINANCES, &c. $cc. 
 
 ADDRESSED to 
 
 The King ^nd both Houfes of Parliament, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. A lmon, oppofite to Burlington-Houfe, 
 in Piccadilly. Mdcc&xviii, 
 
STATE 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NATION. 
 
 N O nation ever terminated a war a- 
 gainft a powerful antagonift with 
 more reputation than did Great- 
 Britain the laft fhe waged with the united 
 power of the houfe of Bourbon. Her ar- 
 mies had frequently triumphed, and her 
 fleets were every where victorious : her 
 people, regardiefs of their burdens, were 
 eager for the continuance of the war, and 
 her trade feemed to fiourith the more for thd 
 taxes which were laid upon it. The expences 
 of the ftate were beyond all example ; but 
 her fuccelfes gained her credit, and her 
 sredit gained her loans equal to her dif* 
 
 B burfements. 
 
6 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 burfements. The fpirit of the times ani- 
 mated her foldiery to atchieve what, in 
 other circumftances, it would have been 
 deemed madnefs to attempt ; and the fame 
 zeal caught the frozen breafts of the wealthy 
 in foreign countries, as well as in her own * 
 banifhed their cautious fcruples, and in- 
 cited them to tender her their money up- 
 on parliamentary faith, without enquiring 
 into the validity of the funds affigned them 
 for their fecurity. There could, therefore, 
 be no want of money to continue the war 
 and money, it was not to be doubted*, 
 would procure men. 
 
 The power of France hr.d funk under 
 the irrefifiible force of Great-Britain : her 
 marine graced the Engliih ports. Her co- 
 lonies had put themfelves into our hands, 
 and her trade was confined to the con JIP 
 nent of Europe: the misfortunes qf Raupicp 
 had deprived her of credit; foreigner 
 would not trufr her with their money; and 
 the riches of her own fubjedts were not 
 inexhaustible. Of the fpecie fine remitted 
 to Germany to pay her army, but little re- 
 turned to her again ; for the had net mer- 
 chandize fufficient to purchaie it, nor cre- 
 dit to borrow it. She had already feized 
 upon the annuities due for former loans to 
 ker creditors; and fuffered the bills, drawn 
 by the commanders of her foreign domi- 
 nions, to go back unpaid. The fubfrdies 
 
 promile d 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 7 
 ^promifed her by Spain wfcre become pre- 
 carious for the portal through which Spain 
 received her treafures, was now in the hands 
 of the Englifh ; and the utmoft efforts of 
 that, once formidable, monarchy, had been 
 found unequal to the eonqueft of the little 
 kingdom of Portugal, This, then, furely 
 was the time for Great-Britain to purfue 
 her conquefts, and, by continuing the war 
 two or three more campaigns, crufh the 
 power of the houfe of Bourbon for ever. 
 
 Happily for England, (he had a prince on 
 the throne who preferred the future wel- 
 fare of his own people to the glory of 
 making conquefts upon his enemies ; and 
 was willing to forego the honours of new 
 triumphs, to fecure to them the bleffings 
 of peace. Happily, too, he was then ad- 
 vifed by minifters, who did not fuffer 
 thenafelves to be dazzled by the glare of 
 brilliant appearances, but, knowing them 
 to be fallacious, they wifely refolved to 
 profit of their fplendour, before our ene- 
 mies fhould alfo difcover the impofition. 
 It was confidered, that the moft fuccefsful 
 enterprize could not compenfate to the na- 
 tion for the wafte of its people, by carry- 
 ing on a war in unhealthy climates, and 
 the perpetual burdens laid upon its manu- 
 factures for payment of the exceflive rate 
 of intereft at which money was to be bor- 
 rowed, The increafe in the exports was 
 
 B 2 found 
 
3 STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
 found to have been occafioned chiefly hf 
 the demands of our own fleets and armies, 
 and, inftead of bringing wealth to the 
 nation, were to be paid for by oppreffive 
 taxes upon the people of England -f* . 
 While the Britifh feamen were confuming, 
 on board our men of war and privateers, 
 foreign fhips and foreign feamen were em- 
 ployed in the tranfportation of our mer- 
 chandize, and the carrying trade, fo great 
 a fource of wealth and marine, was en- 
 tirely engrofled by the neutral nations. 
 The number of Britifh fhips annually ar- 
 riving in our ports was reduced 1756 fail, 
 containing 92,559 tons, on a medium of 
 the fix years of war, compared with the 
 fix years of peace preceding it, and the 
 number of foreign fhips had increafed 863 
 fail, containing 85,678 tons *. The fhips 
 
 remaining 
 
 f Vide page 1 1 . 
 
 Account of Britifh and foreign fhipping arriving 1*4 
 the ports of Great-Britaiji, from the year 1749 to 
 1754 incufive. 
 
 BRITISH. 
 
 Ships, Tons. 
 
 J 7 49 
 
 1750 
 
 1751 
 ?752 
 
 1753 
 
 1754 
 
 5*368 460,607 
 
 5*558 486,823 
 
 5*563 502,721 
 
 c’086 508,755 
 
 5 * 9 »o 551*230 
 
 5*769 494*773 
 
 Britilh (hips 34.003 Tons 3,004,908 
 
 Medium of 6 years peace 5,667 
 
 foreign, 
 
STATE GF THE NATION, 
 remaining to Great-Britain were, in great 
 part, manned by foreign feamen, who, 
 when peace came, would return to their 
 Gwn, or other countries, and carry with 
 
 them 
 
 FOREIGN. 
 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 1749 
 
 465 
 
 70,398 
 
 1750 
 
 462 
 
 74>5°7 
 
 1751 
 
 38* 
 
 54,189 
 
 1753 
 
 461 
 
 65,088 
 
 *753 
 
 507 
 
 65>°55 
 
 1754 
 
 57 2 
 
 63*387 
 
 Foreign {hips - ^ - - 2,848 Tons - - 392,624 
 
 Medium of 6 years peace - 474 65,437^ 
 
 Account of Britifh and foreign {hipping arriving in 
 the ports of Great-Britain, from the year 1756 
 1761 inclnfive. 
 
 BRITI.S H. 
 
 Ships. Tons. 
 
 1756 
 
 4>OI2 
 
 373*479 
 
 i 7 57 
 
 3’499 
 
 350,126 
 
 1758 
 
 3’997 
 
 360,628 
 
 1759 
 
 4,170. 
 
 479*737 
 
 1 760 
 
 3*568 
 
 358,028 
 
 1761 
 
 4,164 
 
 5 2 7*557 
 
 Britifh (hips - 
 
 23,410 
 
 Tons 2,449,555 
 
 Medium of 6 years war 
 
 3 ^ 9 TI 
 
 408,259 
 
 Medium of 6 years peace 
 
 5,667 
 
 500,818 
 
 Pecreafs of Britifh fhips 
 
 1 * 75 6 
 
 9 2 *559 
 
 
 
 FOREIGN, 
 
xo STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
 them the profits of our trade, and our fkill 
 in navigating our fhips. The conqueft of 
 the Havannah had, indeed, flopped the 
 remittance of fpecie from Mexico to Spain, 
 but it had not enabled England to feize it ; 
 on the contrary, our merchants fuffered by 
 the detention of the galleons, as their cor- 
 refpondents in Spain were difabled from 
 paying them for their goods fent to Ame- 
 rica. The lofs of the trade to Old Spain 
 was a further bar to an influx of fpecie ; 
 and the attempt upon Portugal, had not 
 only deprived us of an import of bullion 
 from hence, but the payment of our troops 
 employed in its defence was a frefh drain 
 opened for the diminution of our circulat- 
 ing fpecie. While foreigners lent us back 
 
 FOREIGN. 
 
 
 Ships. 
 
 Tons. 
 
 1756 
 
 1,060 
 
 528,067 
 
 *757 
 
 1,429 
 
 163,188 
 
 1 75B 
 
 1 a 2 77 
 
 *49,671 
 
 *759 
 
 i, 3 2 z 
 
 154,884 
 
 1760 
 
 1,088 
 
 * 3 0,778 
 
 *761 
 
 1,848 
 
 l8o, 102 
 
 Foreign fhips ------ 
 
 8,024 
 
 Tons 906,690 
 
 Medium of 6 years war - 
 
 h 337 
 
 151,115 
 
 Medium of 6 years peace 
 
 - 474 
 
 65^37 
 
 Jncreafc of foreign fhips - 
 
 - 863 
 
 85,67s 
 
 
 
 thfc 
 
STATE O E THE NATION. u 
 thfc money we fpent among them, it was 
 true, we fhould Feel no want of money, 
 nor fhould we be deprived of our national 
 coin. Neither does the fpendthrift, who 
 mortgages every year, feel the want of 
 money, fo long as his eftate lafts, or his 
 creditors forbear to call upon him ; but' 
 equally fatal would the day of account 
 have been to Great-Britain as to him, had 
 fhe been deluded into a belief of the reality 
 of fuch falfe wealth. The high premi- 
 ums given for new loans +, had funk the 
 
 price 
 
 % The firft million that was borrowed, having been 
 obtained at an intereft of 3 percent, it is but juft to 
 confider every increafe of the rate of intereft, as a 
 premium to the fubfcribers for the fubfequent loans: 
 the value, therefore, of the feveral premiums given, 
 for the refpe£Hve fums borrowed during the war, may' 
 be thus eft imated : 
 
 In 1756, a premium, of one-half per cent, per 
 annum, was given for the loan of 1,500,000!. to 
 continue till redeemed by parliament. It has conti- 
 nued 12 years, and has, therefore, coft the nation 
 90,0001. exclufive of compound intereft. 
 
 In 175 7, the premium was one per cent, for the 
 lives of the fubfcribers, or their fubftitutes ; this 
 annuity, at 14 years purchafe, upon 3 millions, is 
 worth 472,500 1. 
 
 In 1758, the premium was one-half per cent, per 
 annum, for 24 years. It has now been paid for 10 
 years, which, upon 4,500,000!. amounts to 225,000!. 
 The remaining 14 years are eftimated at 12 years pur- 
 chafe,, which amounts to 270,000 1. the whole of thi$ 
 premium is therefore 495,0001. 
 
 In 1759, the premium was 15 per cent, added to 
 the capital of the fuferibers, which, on 6,600,000 1. 
 amounted to 990,000!. This premium has been carry- 
 
U STATE OF THE NATIGtf. 
 
 price of the old ftock near a third of its on* 
 ginal value, fo that the purchafers had an cb-* 
 ligation from the ftate to repay them, with 
 an addition of 33 per cent, to their capital. 
 Every new loan required new taxes to be 
 
 impofed ; 
 
 ing intereft at three per cent, thefe nine years, which' 
 amounts to 267,3001. The charge already brought 
 upon the nation for this premium is thereforef 
 1,257,300 L 
 
 In 1760, the premium was one per cent, per 
 ahnum for 20 years, and an addition of three per cent; 
 to the capital of the fubferibers, to carry an intereft 
 of four per cent, for 20 years : the nation has now 
 paid this annuity for feven years, in which time it 
 has amounted to 560,000 1. upon eight millions. 
 The 13 years to come are now eftimated at 11 years 
 purcha/e, which amounts to 880, coo 1 . The whole 
 of that annuity is, therefore, to be eftimated at 
 1,440,000 1 . The three per cent, addition to the 
 fubferibers capital is 240,000 1. the intereft on which, 
 at four per cent, for the feven years it has already* 
 been paid, amounts to 67,2061. and the remaining 
 13 years is worth, at 11 years purchafe, 105,6001. 
 which makes 412,80c!. as the value of the three per 
 cent, capital and intereft. This fum, added to the; 
 value of the one per cent, for 20 years, gives 
 1,852,800!. the expence of the premium for the loan 
 of eight millions at three per cent. 
 
 In 1761, the premium was an annuity of il. 2s. 6 d. 
 per cent, for 99 years, upon 11,400,0001. Thi$ 
 annuity has continued for fix years, in which time it 
 has amounted to. 769,5001. It is ftill eftimated at 
 27'- years purchafe, which amounts to 3,526,875 k 
 and, added to what has already been paid, makes 
 4,296,3751. as the expence to the nation fot raifing 
 tii is i'um of 1 1, 400,0 col. 
 
 in 1762, the premium was one per cent, per annum 
 for 19 years, and one per cent, annuity for 98 years, 
 
 uport 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. tj 
 impofed j new taxes mtift add to the price 
 of our manufactures, and leffen their con- 
 fu-mption among foreigners. The decay 
 of our trade muft necelTarily occafion a de- 
 creafe of the public revenue, and a de*. 
 
 upon xi millions. The nation has paid both 
 annuities for five years, which amounts to 1,200, cool. 
 The remaining 13 years of the one per cent, for 19 
 years is now eftimated at 1 1 years purchafe, which 
 makes 1,320,0001. and the one per cent, for 98 years 
 is eftimated at 27^ years purchafe, which amounts to 
 3*300, oool. The whole expence of this premium to 
 the nation is, therefore, 5,820,0001. for the loan of 
 12 millions at three per cent. 
 
 It is impoflible to look upon this account, without 
 being aftonifhed at the prodigious increafe of the 
 premium in the laft four years of the war, and the 
 enormous height to which it was carried in 1762. I 
 know very well, that the feveral annuities, which I 
 have eftimated at their prefent value, were rated at 
 much lefs when the bargains were made, arid that the 
 fubfcribers were not benefited to the amount at which 
 I have computed their value. The expence to the 
 nation is, however, the fame, whether the fubfcri- 
 bers, or the prefent ftock-holders receive it. But it 
 ought to have been the care of the finance minifters to 
 have made the bargain for the public, in a manner lefs 
 expenfive to the nation, if it could have been done 
 with the fame benefit to the fubfcribers. For inftance, 
 had ari intereft of fix per cent, redeemable by parlia-^ 
 ment, been given for the 12 millions in 1762, the 
 additional three per cent, would have amounted to 
 360,0001. per ann. but parliament could have begun 
 redeeming it almoft as foon as peace was made ; and 
 it would probably have been all redeemed in the five 
 years fince the peace; in which cafe it would not have 
 amounted to one million, inftead of 5,820,000 k 
 which the premium that was given now ftands the 
 nation in. 
 
 ficiency 
 
 C 
 
i4 stats of the nation. 
 
 ficiency of our funds mull either be made 
 up by frelh taxes, which would only add 
 to the calamity, or our national credit 
 mull be deltroyed, by Ihewing the public 
 creditors the inability of the nation to re- 
 pay them their principal money. 
 
 With money obtained upon fuch con- 
 ditions, and attended with fuch confequen- 
 ees, men were to be procured j but as the 
 idle and licentious had long been gleaned 
 from the country, the laborious and in- 
 dullrious mull now fupply our levies : 
 bounties had already been given for re- 
 cruits, which exceeded the year’s wages of 
 the plowman and reaper, and as thefe were 
 exhaulted, and hulbandry Hood Hill for 
 want of hands, the manufacturers were 
 next to be tempted to quit the anvil and 
 the loom by higher offers. Armies, fup- 
 plied by hulbandmen and manufacturers, 
 make expenlive conquells. The want of 
 their labour leffens the wealth of the na- 
 tion, and die high wages paid them in- 
 creafes her burdens ; and it is the highell 
 aggravation of the evil, to employ them 
 in climates dellruCtive of the human Ipe- 
 cies, and in countries from whole bourn 
 few travellers return. 
 
 France, bankrupt France, had no luch 
 calamities impending over her ; her dil- 
 trefles were great, but they were imme- 
 diate and temporary ; her want of credit 
 
 prelerved 
 
STATE OF THE NATION* 15 
 prelerved her from a great increafe of debt, 
 and the lofs of her ultra-marine dominions^ 
 leffened her prefen t expences. 
 
 Her colonies had, indeed, put them- 
 felves into the hands of the Engliffi ; but 
 the property of her fubjedts had been pre- 
 ferved by capitulations, and a way opened 
 for making her thofe remittances, which' 
 the war had before fufpended, with as 
 much fecurity as in time of peace. The 
 navigation of France had been ruined; 
 but her fituation on the contineht fectired 
 to her accefs to many markets for the fale 
 of her manufactures, and by her league 
 with Spain £he had obtained the exclufivd 
 fupply of that monarchy. Her armies in 
 Germany had been hitherto prevented from 
 feizing upon Hanover; but they continued 
 to encamp on the fame ground on which- 
 the firft battle was fought, and, as it muff 
 ever happen from the policy of that go- 
 vernment, the laft troops fhe fent into the 
 field were always found to be the beft, and 
 her frequent Ioffes only ferved to fill her 
 regiments with better foldiers. The con- 
 queft of Hanover became, therefore, every 
 campaign more probable; efpecially as the 
 army of prince Ferdinand was greatly #- 
 minifhed, from the difficulty of procuring 
 recruits. By having neither marine to fup- 
 port, nor colonies to protedl, France was 
 2X liberty to exert her whole force upon the 
 
 C 2 cont#ent. 
 
1 6 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 continent, and there only did fhe carry on 
 an offensive war. Her revenues, however 
 impaired *, were ftill equal to the fupply 
 
 of 
 
 6.700.000 
 
 6.800.000 
 
 2.400.000 
 
 16,700,000 
 
 * *■ Ordinary unappropriated revenue of France, 
 pomains - 6,000,000 
 
 T dSvTrfl£ i0 ? ta . Xe ? X ' } 97»8oo,ooo 
 T a He and capitation of Paris - - 6,500,000 
 Places and penfions - - 
 
 Tu penny - - 
 
 Mim 
 
 from the clergy and clerical ap- 1 
 '^pointments - - J 
 
 The fix great farmes under the'j 
 management of. the farmers > 112,300,000 
 general - J 
 
 255,200,000 Livres 
 
 at 22 per £. fterling 11,600,000. 
 
 Exclufive of the above taxes, there are feveral other 
 branches cf revenue, which are alienated or affigned 
 over to particular perfcrr, for the payment of annui-r 
 lie., either perpetual or e> ■ ’rftble, or for the fatis-* 
 fa6 + :Cii of creditors ; all which not being in the power 
 or the ftate, are not to be taken into this account. 
 
 In addition to the above ordinary revenue, the fol- 
 lowing fums were raifed, during the late war, by 
 taxes, within the refpeclive years. 
 
 Total raifed 
 the 'war - 
 
 In 
 
 1756 
 
 Livres at 22 per /. 
 
 121,000,000 
 
 5,500,000 
 
 In 
 
 1757 
 
 136,000,000 
 
 6,181,818 
 
 In 
 
 1758 
 
 135,000,000 
 
 6,136,363 
 
 In 
 
 1759 
 
 159, 69°, 787 
 
 7,258,672 
 
 In 
 
 1760 
 
 212,623,900 
 
 9,664,727 
 
 In 
 
 1761 
 
 183,870,787 
 
 8,357,763 
 
 In 1762 
 
 dnrino- 1 
 
 158.730.787 
 
 7 . 2I 5,°35 
 
 - 
 
 - ] 
 
 1,106,916,261 
 
 50,314,378 
 
 It 
 
of a much greater army than any fhe had 
 yet fent into Germany, and as £he had no 
 other effort to make, it might be expelled 
 her affairs, in that quarter, would, in fu- 
 ture, be better conduced. The glory of the 
 prince was a refource that ftill remained for 
 engaging the French fubjedts to ferve with- 
 out pay, and the military honours had not 
 yet been held out as the reward of gra- 
 tuitous fervice. 
 
 Spain had been forced to begin the war 
 before £he was in any condition to carry it 
 on. The rapacity of the queen-mother 
 and the long fick'nefs of the late king, had 
 unfurnifhed the arfenals, and unftrung 
 every finew of the ftate ; and the new king 
 and his foreign jninifter, knew not where 
 to look for the refources of the Spanifh na- 
 tion. Portugal had been attacked without 
 preparation; and an army, unprovided with 
 magazines, had been marched into a coun- 
 try which never had produced fubfiftence 
 for its own fcanty inhabitants. The evil 
 was not without a remedy, and Spain might, 
 /rom her own fertile provinces, have drawn 
 
 It is to be noted, that the French troops received 
 ftibfiftdnce only for the laft three years of the war, 
 and that, although large arrears were due to them at 
 its cpnplufion, the charge w r as the lets during its 
 continuance, and it was w 7 ell known in England, 
 at the time the treaty of Paris- was negotiating, that 
 France had found means to raife fupplies for that 
 year’s campaign. 
 
 provifions 
 
18 STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
 provifions to fupply her troops the next 
 campaign ; and having found fubliftence, 
 there could be but few obftacles to a junc- 
 tion with the French reinforcements ; and 
 the utmoft efforts of Great-Britain might 
 not then have preferved the independency 
 of Portugal -p. 
 
 Had Great-Britain continued the war in 
 thefe circumftances, had (he borrowed mo- 
 ney and created an army, and made another 
 Weft-India conqueft ; it was highly prcn 
 bable that, after wafting 20,000 of her peo- 
 ple, and loading the ftate with 1 2 millions 
 of debt, (h^ might have found the had only 
 fecurcd a hoftage for the reftoration of Ha* 
 
 f Ordinary revenue of Old Spain. 
 From Tobacco - Reals 109,963,990 
 .From the poftes - - 33? 1 7 5>92° 
 
 From fermes general - 2275756,500 
 From fermes provincial 117,980,000 
 
 Total amount - - 488,876,410 
 
 at 96 per £. fterling 5,093,43* 
 
 Peace eftablilhment before the late war. 
 
 Army 91,311 men Reals 692,099 
 Navy 45,810 men - - 62,013,108 
 
 pivil lift, &c. - - - HO, 405, 449 
 
 Total expence - - - 259,110,656 
 
 at 96 per £ . fterling 2,699,069 
 Txceedings of ordinary revenue above' 
 the expence of the peace eftablifh- 
 pient, exclufive of the revenues arif- 
 ing in New Spaii^ 
 
 *> 393 > 33 * 
 
 novcr 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 19 
 nover or Portugal. Wifdom, therefore, 
 pointed out the prefent as the fit time for 
 hfcr to finifh the war with honour and ad- 
 vantage to herfelf; and her good genius in- 
 clined the French and Spanifh monarchs to 
 wifh for peace. 
 
 Whether, by thefubfequent treaty. Great 
 Britain obtained all that might have been 
 obtained, is a queftion, to which thofe only 
 who were acquainted with the fecrets of the 
 French and Spanifh cabinets can give an an- 
 fwer. The correfpondence relative to that 
 tiegociation has not been laid before the 
 public, for the laft parliament approved of 
 the peace as it was, without thinking it nr* 
 ceffary to enquire whether better terms 
 might not have been had. Be that as it 
 may, the original great purpofes of the war 
 were more than accomplifhed by the treaty * 
 and if our acquifitions are not an indemni- 
 fication for our Ioffes in their conquefl, they 
 bring with them fecurity againft future at- 
 tacks from the fame enemy, and put it iri 
 our power to wage another war with equal 
 efficacy, and with infinitely lefs expence. 
 
 The confiderable levies which had been 
 made in our North-American colonies, and 
 the facility with which troops had been 
 tranfported from thence to the Weft-India 
 iflands, and fupplied with neceffaries, were 
 convincing proofs, that whoever are mailers 
 ef the North-American continent* and com- 
 mand 
 
so STATE OF T ME NATION. 
 
 mand the intermediate feas, can eafily pof* 
 fefs themfelves of thofe iflands. No 'pre- 
 cautions are fufficient to fequre thofe iflands 
 againft fuch attacks ; their climate muft for 
 ever render them the grave of European fol- 
 diery ; and their cultivation being carried 
 on by negroe Haves, their native white in- 
 habitants can never be numerous enough to 
 garrifon their forts. By ftipulating, there- 
 fore, for the entire pofleflion of the conti- 
 nent, the reftored American iflands are be- 
 come, in fome meafure, dependant on the 
 Britifh empire, and the good faith of France 
 in obfervingthe treaty, is guaranteed by the 
 value at which fheeftimatestheirpofleffion. 
 
 The fifhery in the American feas had long 
 been confldered, by both nations, as a great 
 fource of the maritime flrength of each. 
 France poflefled, exclufively, the fifhery in 
 the gulph and river of St. Laurence ; and 
 the convenient fituation of the circumja- 
 cent iflands had enabled the French inha- 
 bitants to divide the Newfoundland fifhery 
 with the Britifh fubje&s. The treaty pro- 
 hibits the French fubje£t$ from entering 
 the gulph of St. Laurence. They may con- 
 tinue to fifh on the banks of Newfoundland, 
 but France has no people remaining in that 
 part of the world to give her any fhareinthe 
 refident fifhery. What fhe is permitted to 
 enjoy, fhe holds upon conditions of the moft 
 fervile dependance. Her two fmall iflands 
 
 Miquelon 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 21 
 Miquelon and St. Pierre, which now make 
 the whole of her North- American domi- 
 nions, fhe can neither fortify nor garrifon,. 
 nor is an armed veffel belonging to France 
 allowed to navigate thofe feas when the fifh- 
 ing feafon is over. Depriving France of all 
 
 her fettlements in Bengal, and confining 
 her to trading houfes on the coaft of Coro- 
 mandel, has put the French Eaft-India com- 
 pany on the mercy of ours •, and the Afri- 
 can trade of that nation has not a fingle for- 
 trefs on that continent to protect it. Even 
 the high-prized Goree, however it may 
 lerve for a place of rendezvous for the fhips 
 intending for that coaft, can afford no fhel- 
 ter to thofe who trade to the fouthward of 
 it, the conftant direction of the winds to 
 the fouth not permitting them to return 
 thither. 
 
 By the ceflion of Florida to Great-Bri- 
 tain, the value of the Havannah to Spain 
 is much leffened ; for, befides Penfacola, 
 there are other convenient harbours upon 
 that coaft where fhips of war may be fta- 
 tioned, and under whofe eye every veffel 
 from Vera-Cruz muft pafs before fhe can 
 arrive at the Havannah, or proceed on her 
 voyage to Old Spain. The paffage of her 
 outward-bound fhips to the Carraccas and 
 Carthagena, is rendered equally infecure, 
 by our poffefiion of the i (lands of Tabago 
 and Granada, between which their dired 
 
 D and 
 
22 STATE OF THE NATION 
 and ufual courfelies ; and Ihould they, by 
 keeping more to the windward, endeavour 
 to elude our cruifers from thofe iflands, they 
 would run an equal rifque of falling in with 
 our fhips on the Dominica ftation. Better 
 fecurity cannot be defired, for the good faith 
 of any nation, than her putting it in the 
 power of her rival to feize upon her reve- 
 nues, trade, or territories, whenever fhe 
 may appear to entertain hoftile intentions. 
 This fecurity France and Spain have given 
 to England by the treaty of Paris ; and it 
 remains with her, to put herfelf in a con- 
 dition to profit of thofe advantages ; which 
 is only to be done, by employing the time 
 of peace in alleviating the burdens of her 
 fubjeCts } promoting commerce and manu- 
 factures ; replenifhing her exhaufted cof- 
 fers, and recruiting her wafted people. For 
 ihould the family of Bourbon make fo much 
 better ufe of the peace, and repair the in- 
 juries of the war, and recover their former 
 ftrength, while England flumbered in in- 
 dolent fecurity, and fufFered her wounds to 
 fefter, in the vain hope, that the reputation 
 ©f her former victories would guard her 
 from future attacks, fatal muft her negli- 
 gence one day prove to her, and weak will 
 fhe find her ties upon the foreign poffeffions 
 of France and Spain, if fhe be unable to* 
 deferid the feat of her own empire again ft 
 the efforts of thofe crowns. What will it 
 
 avail 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 23 
 avail Great-Britain to have retained fit fta- 
 tions for her {hips to annoy the enemy, if 
 fhe has neither revenue to equip a fleet, nor 
 feamen to man one fufficient for the pur- 
 pofe ? 
 
 We have feen that the carrying trade of 
 England, which the war ruined, gave em- 
 ployment to no lefs than 1756 fail of our 
 fhips, containing 92,559 tons, a full third 
 of our whole marine ; and from the follow- 
 ing account it will appear, that the public 
 debt, at the clofe of the war, amounted to 
 no left a fum than 148,377,618 !. for the 
 payment of the intereft, on which a reve- 
 nue to the amount of 4,993,1441. was ne- 
 ceflarily to be extracted from the trade and 
 people of this country. 
 
 D 2 
 
 'State 
 
State of the public debtat the conclufion of the peace, including fuch demands 
 
 STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
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STATE OF THE NATION. 29 
 Such part of this heavy burden as falls 
 upon our artificers and mariners, fuperadd- 
 ed to all former impofitions, muft either 
 fink them to poverty, and thence force 
 them into foreign fervice, or oblige them 
 to demand an increafe of wages, which 
 muft advance the price of our freights ; 
 and, in either cafe, our carrying trade can- 
 not be recovered. Thelofs of our carry- 
 ing trade muft be followed by the decay of 
 that of (hip-building, and the emigration 
 of our moft valuable artificers. A dimi- 
 nution of our revenue from confumption 
 muft attend the lofs of fo many feamen 
 and artificers, and the whole value of all 
 their labours muft be taken out of the ba- 
 lance in favour of this country, and thrown 
 into the fcale of other nations, perhaps 
 into that of our rival. Effects equally 
 ruinous muft be produced by the increafe 
 of taxes upon^our manufacture's $ heavy 
 taxes and low wages muft force the manu- 
 facturer to feek a cheaper country, and 
 with him departs the manufacture : in- 
 creafing his wages muft raife the price of 
 the manufacture, and diminifti its confump- 
 tion at home, and leflen the demand for it 
 from abroad. In either cafe, the nation 
 lofes its trade, and with that its people, and 
 the public revenue moulders away of courfe. 
 If our rival nations were in the fame cir- 
 cumftances v/ith oi^rfelves, the augmenta- 
 
 E . tion 
 
3 o STATE OF THE NATION, 
 tion of our taxes would produce no ill con- 
 fequences : if we were obliged to raife our 
 prices, they muft, from the fame caufes, do 
 the like, and could take no advantage by 
 underfelling and underworking us. But 
 the alarming confideration to Great-Britain 
 is, that France is not in the fame condi- 
 tion. Her diltreffes, during the war, were 
 great, but they were immediate ; her want 
 of credit, as has been faid, compelled her 
 to impoverilh her people by railing the 
 greateft part of her fupplies within the 
 year ; but the burdens Ihe impofed on 
 them were, in a great meafure, temporary, 
 and mull be greatly diminilhed by a few 
 years of peace. She could procure no con- 
 liderable loans, therefore Ihe has mortgag- 
 ed no fuch oppreffive taxes as thofe Great- 
 Britain has impofed in perpetuity for pay- 
 ment of interell. Peace mull, therefore, 
 foon re-ellablilh her commerce and manu- 
 factures, efpecially as the comparative 
 lightnefs of taxes, and cheapnefs of liv- 
 ing, in that country, mull make France 
 an afylum for Britilh manufacturers and 
 artificers ; and the fame caufes which will 
 thus ferve to increafe her fhips and com- 
 modities, and to reduce thofe of England, 
 mull alfo give her the tranfportation of all 
 foreign commodities from one nation to 
 another. Thefe are confiderations which 
 ought to fill every Britilh fubject with ap- 
 
 prehenfions 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 31 
 prehenfions for the fafety of his country, 
 and the independency of the ftate : that 
 Jfhakes all our fecurities, and fully mani- 
 fefts that the mifchiefs of fo expenfive a 
 war, are not to be counterbalanced by 
 the moft brilliant fuccelfes. But it is ftill 
 further to be confidered, and it will pre- 
 fently be made appear, that the real ba- 
 lance of our trade with all the world can- 
 not be eftimated fo high as twt) mil- 
 lions and an half. That the intereft of 
 the debt due to foreigners amounts to 
 1,560,0001. which muft be paid out of 
 the profits of our trade : Ihould, then, our 
 foreign trade decay, fo as to reduce our 
 balance under 1,560,0001. a continual ex- 
 port of our fpecie muft follow to make up 
 the deficiency. The decreafe of our fpecie 
 muft foon alarm the public creditors, and 
 terrify the ifiuers of paper-bills from mak- 
 ing further emiffions ; many fellers out of 
 our funds, and few to purchafe, muft 
 foon depreciate our public fecurities ; and, 
 the merchants finding none to difcount 
 their bills, private and public bankruptcy 
 muft be [the dreadful confequence. To 
 wind up- our apprehenfions to thehigheft 
 alarm, it need only be added, that peace 
 has lately been concluded upon terms hu- 
 miliating to the two branches of the houfe 
 of Bourbon : that a confcientious regard 
 to good faith has feldom flood in the way 
 
 E 2 of 
 
$2 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 of powerful ftates to oppofe their laying 
 hold of a favourable occafion for feizing 
 upon the territories of other nations, or 
 breaking the power of a competitor : de- 
 feats which have expofed their weaknefs, 
 and conceffions which have irritated their 
 
 pride, will not furely lefs difpofe them to 
 attend to the dictates of policy and ambi- 
 tion, or give ftrength to the treaty, to with- 
 hold them from taking advantage of the 
 calamities of England, and attacking her 
 in the height oi lie. diftrefs. 
 
 Such are the dangers Great-Britain ftancjs 
 expofed to j and if, to avoid Oi.e part of 
 them, it iliculd be propofed to take off 
 feme of our moll hmdcufome taxes, the 
 
 r faction of the revenue would alarm the 
 
 accelerate the mif- 
 
 dvefs iir e- cf. d to be prevented. If the 
 ini'n.O’ d expence be reduced by dilbanding 
 tio ops. ordering the navy to rot in harbour 
 'tor want of repairs and mariners, difmant- 
 riag fortreffes, or fuffering magazines to be 
 exhaufted ; or, Ihould the colonies be left 
 without protection and a force fufBcient to 
 fecure the fidelity of our new fubjeCts; this 
 would only be to invite hoinlity, and ex- 
 pofe the nation to infult, perhaps deftruc- 
 tion. Prefent fafety cannot be had with- 
 put an expenfive peace eftablifhment, and 
 an expenfive peace eftablifhment prevents 
 relief from taxes, or reduction of debt. 
 
 When 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 33 
 When fuch a choice of difficulties prefent 
 themfelves, it requires the collective wif- 
 dom of the nation to fix upon meafures 
 which fhall give both prefent fecurity and 
 future profperity. Meafures, not the mere 
 dictates of an adminiflration, propofed only 
 to ferve a turn, to prevent clamour againft 
 themfelves, or to throw blame upon their 
 adverfaries ; but permanent and extenfive, 
 fuch as the king and parliament fhall make 
 their own, and fupport in all revolutions of 
 miniftry, and attend their operation with 
 the fame firmnefs and anxiety as they would 
 guard their own rights, or preferve the con- 
 stitution from violation. As reputation for 
 flrength gives fecurity from affaults, the 
 military peace eflablifhment muff be re- 
 fpeCtable. As reputation for integrity be- 
 gets wealth, the public revenue muff not 
 be reduced, but as the payment of debt 
 makes way for it. Our own flriCt adherence 
 to the fpirit of the treaty, gives us the beft 
 title to require the due obfervance of it 
 from the other parties, and a firm demand 
 of reparation, for fmall infractions, is the 
 likelieft means of preventing more mate- 
 rial violations. The more equally the bur- 
 dens of the flate are distributed among its 
 members, in proportion to their compara- 
 tive flrength, the lefs opprefiive will be their 
 weight, and reciprocation of benefits, and 
 placing advantages in the hands of thofe 
 
34 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 who can beft cultivate them, are fure me- 
 thods for augmenting the ability of the 
 whole. 
 
 It is now time to take a view of the mea- 
 fures which have been purfued fince the 
 peace, and to examine how far they have 
 benefited the nation, or have a tendency 
 to extricate her out of her difficulties. I 
 have fhewn, that, at the clofe of the war, 
 the debt, funded and unfunded, which 
 Great-Britain flood charged with, amount- 
 ed to upwards of 148 millions ; the inte- 
 reft payable on which was 4,963,1441. per 
 ann. For this prodigious fum, the iiland of 
 Great-Britain alone flood mortgaged, and 
 on her inhabitants only had taxes been im- 
 pofed, or were to be impofed, for the 
 payment of the intereft. Of this debt 
 75,087,9451. had been contracted during 
 the war, the intereft upon which might be 
 computedat2,6i4,892l. Taxes were,there- 
 fore, to be continued on the people of 
 Great-Britain, which fliould produce a clear 
 revenue of 2,614,8921. in addition to the 
 taxes which they had borne in the laftpeace. 
 The circumftances of the times, moreover, 
 required a more extenfive peace eftablifh- 
 ment, than that maintained by Great-Bri- 
 tain in former times of peace; and, in 1764, 
 the charge of the military guard then fet- 
 tled, as the permanent peace eftabliffiment, 
 exceeded the charge of that maintained in 
 
 the 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 39 
 the years 1752, 1753, and other years of 
 peace, upon a medium, near 1,500,000!* 
 This additional charge being added to the 
 intereft of the debt contracted during the 
 war, makes 4,114,8921. which may pro- 
 perly enough be called, a rent-charge laid 
 upon the people of Great-Britain by the late 
 war, and which was to be extracted from 
 the prefent inhabitants, over and above all 
 fuch fums as were paid by the inhabitants 
 of this ifland in the former peace. 
 
 It was, however, a confolatory refledtion 
 to Great-Britain, that the members of her 
 empire were in much happier circumftances 
 than herfelf. Ireland had contracted a debt 
 of no more than one million, and fome ad- 
 ditional duties to pay the intereft, and dis- 
 charge the principal, amounting to 8o,oool. 
 was the only burden the war had occafioned 
 her to lay upon her people. The American 
 colonies, at the end of the war, flood 
 charged with debts to the amount of 
 2,600,000 1. but as only a fmall part carried 
 intereft, and funds had been provided for 
 paying off the whole by inftallments in 
 five years, the debts of the colonies were 
 more properly to be confidered as anticipa- 
 tions of their revenue for five years, than as 
 funded debts. As Great-Britain, therefore, 
 was alone to carry, in future, the burdens of 
 the war, fhe had the higheft reafon to expedt, 
 that the unmortgaged parts of her dominions 
 
 would 
 
36 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 would willingly take upon them the ex- 
 pence of a confiderable part of the peace 
 eftablifhment. Their own intereft, it was 
 to be hoped, would ftrongly prompt them 
 to contribute, to the utmoft of their abili- 
 ty, to put Great-Britain in a condition, 
 not only to maintain her public credit, 
 by a regular payment of the intereft of 
 her debt, and a gradual reduction of the 
 capital, but to have funds unappropriated, 
 and a revenue exceeding her expences 
 fufficient to. mortgage for new loans, fhould 
 the hoftile preparations of any European 
 ftate make a new war unavoidable. Should 
 Great-Britain be unable to raife money at 
 fuch a juncture, it would be vain for them 
 to hope to do it. Their want of extenfive 
 public credit among foreigners, and of 
 wealthy individuals among themfelves, are 
 infuperable obftacles to their raifing a large 
 fum, by way of loan, on any emergency, 
 but more efpecially at a time when their 
 particular fafety might be in hazard. Fee- 
 ble, therefore, muft the efforts of thefe 
 great members of her empire be for their 
 own defence, or the aid of England in 
 time of war : and what wifer meafure 
 could either purfue, than for each to take 
 upon them as large a fhare of the expence 
 of the peace eftablifhment as their circum- 
 ftances could well bear, and leave Great- 
 Britain to make good the reft ; and, while 
 
 peace 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. yj 
 peace continued, to free herfelf from feme 
 part of her enormous debt, and the op- 
 prefiive weight of her taxes. It was, how- 
 ever, only demanded of Ireland to keep up. 
 her ufuarl military guard, from which five 
 regiments were taken for the garrifons of 
 Gibraltar and Minorca. The American co- 
 lonies were next called upon for their con- 
 tingent. They had no military enablifh- 
 ment of their own ; and, as Great-Britain 
 furnifhed them With troops, they were re- 
 quired to fupply her with revenue for their 
 payment. The expence of the military 
 fervice in the colonies, amounted to near 
 ^oo,ooo l. and yet Great-Britain laid no 
 heavier taxes on the colonies for defraying 
 it, than were eftimated to produce 160,000 1. 
 the deficiency fhe was content to make good 
 out of her own revenue. It is not necef- 
 fary for me to give a detail of the domeftic 
 arrangements, or finance operations of this 
 year ; that has been already done, to the fa- 
 tisfadtion of mankind, in the Conjiderations 
 upon the Tirade and Finances of this Kingdom , 
 and to that I refer the reader : it is fuffici- 
 ent to fay here, upon that authority, that, 
 in every tranfadtion of government, the 
 augmentation of the public revenue, and 
 the reduction of the national expence, were 
 preferred to the gratification of individuals. 
 The laws of trade were carried into ftridt 
 execution, and clandeftine importations uni- 
 
 F verfally 
 
38 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 verfally checked j a confiderable part of the 
 unfunded debt was difeharged, and the re- 
 mainder placed in fituations that leffened its 
 weight upon the national credit ; and fuch 
 part of it as was funded, was charged up- 
 on taxes which could not affedt the fubjedts 
 of Great-Britain. Even a redudtion of the 
 funded debt was begun, and public credit 
 was fo for revived, by thefe operations, that 
 government already found itfelf in a con- 
 dition to change a part of her redeemable 
 debt from an intereft of 4 to 3 per cent. 
 
 Occafiojis prefently offered for manifefl- 
 jng to foreign courts, the fpirit with which 
 the affairs of Great-Britain were to be con- 
 duced. The king of Pruffia had detained 
 fome magazines, which had been left in his 
 dominions, when the Britifh troops were 
 brought from Germany, as hoftages for the 
 payment of debts contradted by our com- 
 miffaries with his fubjedts. That monarch 
 was told, that no demands of his fubjedts 
 would be confidered, no payments would 
 be made to them, nor any memorial re- 
 ceived from his minifters, fo long as he 
 with-held any part of the public property, 
 or doubted of the juftice, or integrity, of 
 the Britifh nation. The magazines were 
 accordingly reftored, and compenfation 
 made for Ioffes occasioned by their deten* 
 tion, and the Pruflian accounts were then 
 liquidated and difeharged. The Spanifh 
 
 governor 
 
STATE Of THE NATION. J9 
 governor of Campeachy had given fome 
 difturbance to our people in the fettlements 
 they were making on the peninfula of Ju- 
 fcatan, and fome French fliips of war had 
 eredted the ftandard of France upon Turks 
 Ifland, and drove away the Britifli fubje&s 
 who were employed in raking fait from the 
 rocks on its fliores. Thefe infradtions of 
 the treaty Were no fooner known in Eng- 
 land, than the Britifli minifters* with tem- 
 per and refolution, infilled upon immediate 
 reparation, and a fleet was inftantly equip- 
 ped to give efficacy to their demands. Both 
 courts difavowed the behaviour of their 
 officers by written declarations, and put 
 into the hands of the Britifli minifters du- 
 plicates of their orders to their governors 
 of Campeachy and Domingo; Turks Ifland 
 Was accordingly evacuated by France, and 
 the Britifli fubjedts were reinftated in their 
 poffeffions in Jucatan, and full fatisfadtion 
 wa§ made by both courts for the Ioffes our 
 people had fuftained. 
 
 It is not my intention to arraign or ap- 
 plaud any minifter : I am neither writing 
 an eulogium upon one, nor making a charge 
 againft another* My only purpole is to lay 
 before my countrymen a candid ftate of the 
 national affairs, and I leave it to them to 
 applaud or cenfure, as the feveral meafures 
 fhall appear to them to promote or retard 
 the reftofatioii of the national ftrength : to 
 
 F 2 provide 
 
40 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 provide for the public fafety and aifert its 
 honour, or to lelfen its fecurity and debafe 
 its dignity. I have been happy in the re- 
 view of the meafures which immediately 
 followed the peace, becaufe they appeared 
 to me to flow from a right undemanding 
 of the circumflances of the ilate, and to 
 have the prefent fafety and future profpe- 
 rity of the whole empire for their object. 
 Equally happy fhould I be to find the fuc- 
 ceeding meafures attended.with confequen- 
 ces alike advantageous for the nation. 
 
 The American colonies not entering into 
 the views of the Britifh parliament, in, re- 
 quiring a revenue from them for the pay- 
 ment of the troops ftationed among them, 
 took up the refolution of refufing obedi- 
 ence to its authority, and refilling the 
 officers in the collection of the taxes 
 which it had impofed. To engage the 
 Britifh factors and manufacturers to interefl 
 themfelves in their behalf, they entered 
 into aflociations neither to import or ufe 
 the manufactures of Great-Britain, unlefs 
 the lately-impofed taxes were repealed ; a 
 popular cry was, in confequence, raifed in 
 this country, for granting the demands of 
 the American fubjedts. The mifchiefs to 
 be apprehended from a refufal were fo much 
 exaggerated, their fhength to refill fo 
 roundly affirted, the t parli .merit gave into 
 the impofition, and gave up the taxes with- 
 out 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 41 
 out requiring an acknowledgement from 
 the colonies of its fupremacy, or their 
 making compenfation to the revenue by 
 any grants of their provincial aifemblies. 
 The reftraints which had been laid upon 
 their trade by fome late ads of parliament, 
 and ftill more by the ftrid execution of 
 the old laws, they complained had difabled 
 them from making fpecie remittances to 
 England; and parliament and miniftry 
 feemed to vie with each other in giving 
 credit to their reprefentations, and in re- 
 moving obftrudions to the freedom of 
 American commerce *. The cyder coun- 
 ties 
 
 * It was represented to administration, and after- 
 wards given in evidence to parliament, in March 
 1766, by thofe who Solicited the repeal of the ftamp- 
 a£t, that a very confidcrable part of the orders fcr 
 goods, which had been transmitted from America in 
 the year 1765, had been afterwards fufpended ; but 
 that, in cafe the ftamp-act was repealed, thofe orders 
 were to be executed in the prefent year 1766, in addi- 
 tion to the orders for the fuppiy of that year ; that, in 
 confequence, the exports to the colonies had, in the 
 year 1765, been greatly diminifhed, and the trade 
 from Great-Britam thither entirely at a ftand. 
 Whereas, Should the llamp-adt be repealed^ trade 
 would again flourifh, and the exports to the colonies, 
 in the prefent year 1766, would be at leaft double the 
 value of the exports in the paft y-ar. The ftamp-act 
 was repealed, and every other American proportion 
 adopted ; and, from the Cuftom-houfe entries, it now 
 appears, that the exports to the North American 
 colonies in the year 1766, inftead of being double the 
 value, as was promifed, actually fell Jhort of the 
 
 exports 
 
4* STATE OF THE NATION, 
 ties in England availed thettiifelves of tfie 
 prefent difpofition of parliament to court 
 popular favour by facrificing revenue, and 
 obtained an alteration of the tax upon cy -* 
 der, which reduced its produce upwards 
 
 of 
 
 exports iit 1765, no lefs than 176,884b fo greatly 
 was the adminiftration and parliament abufed by thofe 
 they confided in, and fo dangerous it is to allow inte- 
 refted traders to dire<ft themeafures of government. 
 
 Exports in 1765. Exports in 17664 Lefs in 176& 
 
 ToNew-Engl. £.451,299 - - - £■ 4°9> e 4* 41,657 
 
 New-York - 382,349 - - - * 330,829 - - - - 51,520 
 
 Perifylvania - 363,368 - - - - 327*314 - - - - 36,054 
 
 Virgin. & Maryl. 383,224 - - - 372,548 - - - - 10,676 
 
 Carolina - - 334;7°9 - * - - 296,732 - - - - 37,977 
 
 Total ^1765—1,914,949 Tot.in 1766-1,737,065 Lefs in 1766—177,884 
 
 It was alfo afferted by the American factors and 
 agents, that the commanders of our (hips of War and 
 tenders having cuftorh commiflions, and the ftridl 
 orders given in 1764, for a due execution of the laws 
 of trade in the colonies, had deterred the Spaniards 
 from trading with us ; and that the fale of Britifh 
 manufa&ures in the Weft-Indies had been greatly 
 leflened, and the receipt of large fums in fpecie pre- 
 vented. Orders were therefore given, in Auguft 
 1765, for the free admiflion of Spanifh vefTels into all 
 the colonies, and, in fpring 1 766, ports were opened 
 in Jamaica and Dominica for the reception of traders 
 from all the American territories. It appears, how- 
 ever, from the Cuftom-houfe entries, that the exports 
 to Jamaica, in 1764, exceeded the exports in 
 1765—40,9041. and the exports in 1766 — 40,984b 
 The importation of bullion from America, appears 
 alfo to have been much greater in the year 1764, than 
 in either of the two fucceeding years : when, there- 
 fore, the exports from Great-Britain arc found to 
 decreafe, arid the imports of bullion to leffen, fsnee 
 
 the 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 43 
 of 30,000 1 . In other refpe&s, the plan for 
 the reduction of the public debt and aug- 
 mentation of the revenue, which had been 
 fettled in the preceding years, was purfued, 
 though not with the fame zeal with which 
 it had been formed, or the nation's cir- 
 cumftances required. 875,0001. of the 
 public cebtwas difcharged, and 1,500,0001. 
 more, changed from an intereft of 4 per 
 cent, to 3 ; and the revenue was augment- 
 ed by an additional tax upon houfes and 
 window-lights, eftimated at 45,000 1. 
 though it fince has been found to produce 
 only 2,000 1. befides what may be in arrear. 
 In the next year fome fteps were taken to- 
 wards returning to the former American 
 fyftem, but the meafures fallen upon were 
 neither extenfive in their purpofe, nor effi- 
 cacious in their operations. Duties were 
 laid upon the importation of Britiffi com- 
 modities into the colonies, for the purpofe 
 of revenue, and a new board of cuftoms 
 was ere&ed in America, for the manage- 
 ment of the parliamentary duties payable 
 there. The legiflative powers of the 
 afiembly of New-York were fufpended by 
 
 the relaxation of the laws of trade, there is good 
 ground for fufpedling that advantage has been taken 
 of the indulgence granted the colonies, to fupply them 
 with foreign commodities inftead of Britifh, and that 
 bullion has been carried from thence to other countries 
 in payment for tlje fame. 
 
 act 
 
44 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 act of parliament, until that aflembly 
 fhould pay obedience to certain claufes in 
 the Briti/h mutiny-ad:, and orders were 
 laid to be given for the troops ftationed on 
 the back frontiers to be drawn dovtfn into 
 the heart of the fettlements, as well to 
 throw the charge of their Quarters upon 
 the colonies, as to be at hand to fupprefs 
 riots and fupport the civil authority. 
 
 In this year the affairs of the Eaft-India 
 company were taken under confideration 
 by parliament, and a claim fet up by 
 government to the profits of the bargain 
 made by the company with the emperor 
 of Indoftan, for the farm of the Mogul 
 revenues in the three provinces of Bengal, 
 Oryxa, and Bahir. The decifion of the 
 right was deferred, and the profecution of 
 the claim fufpended, for two years, upon 
 the Eaft-Iridia company's agreeing to pay 
 government 8 00,000 1. ifi two equal pay- 
 ments, as dedomagement for the expences 
 the nation had been at in carrying on the 
 war in India, and in confideration of their 
 being permitted to appropriate to their 
 own ufe the whole of their income. The 
 parliament, in oppofition to adminiftration, 
 gave eafe to the landed intereft, by laying 
 the land-tax at no more than three fhillings 
 in the pound ; whereas, in every other 
 year fince the peace, it had been laid at 
 lour. This reduced the revenue applica- 
 ble 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 45 
 ble to the current fervice 500,000 1. yet ib 
 ftriCt a fcrutiriy was made into the balan- 
 ces of public accountants, that this re- 
 duction was nearly compenfated for by thb 
 unapplied fums now called in, and brought 
 to the nation’s credit. i,20o,oool. of the 
 funded debt was difcharged, and 1,500^0001^ 
 mdre changed for an interelt of 4 per 
 cent . to 3, and an addition was made to 
 the revenue by duties upon chips hats and 
 foreign linerts, eftimated at 45,0001. per 
 ann. The nation has not, however, been 
 benefited irt any dcgfeie equal to what thefe 
 meafures feemed to pramife. The new 
 and old duties laid in America, which 
 had been eftimated at iro,oool. have not 
 produced 40,000 b arid the duty upon chip 
 hats has hitherto been wholly deficient. 
 From thefe, arid other eaufes, the ways 
 and means have fallen near 500,0001.- ftiort 
 bf the grants, and an arrear to that 
 amount has been left upon the Sinking 
 Fund. The military guard was continued 
 iipori the former footing : but it ought to 
 be noted, to the honour of the board of 
 Admiralty in 1767, that the expence of 
 the navy was kept within the fum ftated 
 in the eftimate, and that efferitial part of 
 the national ftrength was ever in a more 
 ferviceable condition. 
 
 Foreign affairs feem to have beerialmoft 
 entirely neglected for thefe laft two years ; 
 
 G the 
 
4 6 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 the ambtffladors appointed for the courts of 
 Madrid, Turin, and St. Peterfburg, were 
 permitted to enjoy their falaries and their 
 friends in England. The payment of the 
 Manilla ranfom, and the difuniting Spain 
 from France, was intrufted to the negocia- 
 tions of the chaplain to the late embaffy at 
 the Catholic court, and the king of Sardinia 
 was to be kept from hearkening to any 
 propofal, either from the houfe of Bour- 
 bon or Auftria, which might incline him 
 to facrifice the liberties of Italy to his own 
 advantage ; and the fubjeCts of England 
 were to hope for permiflion to purchafe 
 raw filk for their manufactures, through 
 the management of the envoy’s fecretary. 
 
 A treaty of commerce had lately been 
 concluded between the courts of Ruflia 
 and Great-Britain, by the Britifh envoy 
 at St. Peterfburg, on the terms which the 
 earl of Buckinghamfhire had always refuf- 
 ed to accept of, and which had been 
 deemed, by former miniflers, difadvan- 
 tageous for this nation, and, by the mer- 
 chants, unfafe and unprofitable. Two 
 fucceflive ambaffadors extraordinary have, 
 in the courfe of two years, been appointed 
 to perfect this treaty ; neither of whom 
 repaired to St. Peterfburg, and a third has 
 lately been employed in that important 
 bufinefs. The demands of the nation 
 upon France for the maintenance of French 
 
 prifoneas 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 47 
 
 prifoners, who were not included in the 
 agreement of 1764, although fuppofed to 
 amount to a confiderable fum, does not 
 appear to have been all profecuted, or 
 the accounts fo much as made up or pre- 
 fented to the French minifter ; and the 
 proprietors of the Canada bills found them- 
 felves under a neceflity of compounding 
 their demands upon the French court, 
 and of accepting terms which they had 
 often rejected, and which the earl of 
 Halifax had declared, he would fooner 
 forfeit his hand than fign his confent to. 
 
 In the laft feflion of parliament, nothing 
 more was done in the finances, than 
 directing 725,000b more of the funded 
 debt to be paid off, and changing 
 1,000,000 1. from an intereft of four per 
 cent to three. No addition was made to 
 the revenue by any new tax, as had been 
 the ufage in preceding years, but the fame 
 funds which had been appropriated for the 
 payment of the intereft of the former loan 
 ^at four per cent, were now appropriated 
 for the payment of the intereft of the 
 new loan at three per cent. The defici- 
 ency in the ways and means of the former 
 years was not provided for in the fupplies 
 of this year, but transferred to the next 7 
 at the fame time the Sinking Fund has 
 been taken for a larger fum than it is pro- 
 bable it will produce within the year ; fo 
 
 G 2 that, 
 
^8 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 
 fhat, when the accounts come to be made 
 up in Odtober 1768, the Sinking Fund, 
 it is to be feared, will be found in arrear 
 a fum equal to the funded debt difcharged 
 in the courfe of the prefent year*. 
 
 Having now giving fome account of 
 the public tranfadtions fince the peace, it 
 will be proper to bring together the finance 
 meafures of thole feveral years, that the 
 fum of their effedt may be feen at one 
 
 view, 
 
 * The Sinking Fund is always made up to the 10th 
 pf October, and its produce for each year is to be 
 computed from that day in one year to the fame day 
 in the next. During the war, it was ufed to take the 
 Sinking Fund for 2,ooo,oool. and whatever it was 
 deficient of that fym in apy year, was made good out 
 of the fupplies of the next. 
 
 In the year 1762 it wa? taken for 2,000,00$ 
 
 And on the 10th of October 1762 it \ 
 
 ' produced S '> 93**79 
 
 67,821 
 2,000,000 
 
 To which the deficiency of the pre- "} 
 
 ceding year being added, the wnole > 2,067,821 
 
 charge was J 
 
 Jt produced on the iothof O&ober, 1764 2,203,03^ 
 
 So that there was a furplus remaining of 1 35>2i 3 
 
 Th is furplufs was applied to the current 
 fcrvice of that year, and the Sinking 
 f und was taken for - — — 
 
 To 
 
 There was, therefore, a deficiency to 
 to be made good out of the produce 
 
 of the next year 
 
 In the year 1 763 it was taken for 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 49 
 view, and the prefent circumftances of 
 th£ nation be the more clearly perceived ; 
 
 and 
 
 Brought over £. 2,100,000 
 To which ought to be added 70,000 1 ."| 
 which was ordered to be paid out of 
 the cuftoms for the purchafe of the 
 Ifle of Man ; for, as the furplus of r 70,000 
 the cuftoms is carried to the Sinking I 
 Fund, every charge laid upon them j 
 
 may be conhdered as a charge upon it. J — — 
 
 2,170,000 
 
 On the 10th of O&ober 1765 it produced 2,227,015 
 
 There was therefore an exceeding of 57*015 
 
 But this year an alteration was made') 
 in the days of payment of the intereft 
 on the 20,240,000!. 4 per cent, con- 
 folidated annuities ; the intereft had 
 hitherto been paid half yearly at 
 Chriftmas and Midfummer ; but, 
 this year, the quarter due at Michael- 
 mas was ordered to be paid in Octo- 
 ber, and confequently fell upon the ^ 148,231 
 
 Sinking Fund of this year, inftead 
 of being paid out of the next at 
 Chriftmas following : this extraor- 
 dinary charge amounted to 205,2461. 
 in aid of which the 57,0151. having 
 been applied, there remained to be 
 made good out of the Sinking Fund ! 
 of the next year — — J 
 
 Ip this year it was taken for — 2,150,000 
 
 - . 
 
 Which, being added to the part of the* 
 charge brought into the preceding 
 year, then remaining unfatisfied, J- 2,298,231 
 made tfte whole fum to be defrayed 
 
 h If 
 
 brought 
 
50 STATE OF THE KATION. 
 and this I fhall endeavour to do in a man- 
 ner eafily to be underftood, and without 
 adhering to Exchequer method, or uling 
 technical phrafes. 
 
 The public debt at the end of the war, 
 in 1762, we have feen amounted to 
 148,277,618 1. of which 131,319,-481* 
 was funded, and 16,958,570 b was then 
 unfunded. 
 
 Brought over 2,298,231 
 On the icthof October 1766, it produced 2,274,246 
 
 Deficiency to be made good in the next 7 
 year — — J 
 
 An innovation was this year made in' 
 the management of the Sinking 
 Fund. The account of the produce 
 for the firft quarter was called for, Y 
 and the furplus of that quarter was 
 taken feparately, and carried to the 
 fupplies; this furplus amounted to - 
 The Sinking Fund was afterwards 1 
 taken for no lefs than — J 
 
 The total of the charge laid upon it this 1 
 year, therefore, amounted to J 
 
 It produced on the ioth of 06 bober 1 
 1767 only J 
 
 23>9 8 5 
 
 49,269 
 
 2,430,00® 
 
 2 > 5 ° 3> 2 54 
 
 2,004,7 74 
 
 There remained, therefore, to be made 1 q « 
 
 good the next year - - - j 49°>479 
 
 In the la ft year it was taken for - - 2 , 250,000 
 
 The charge, therefore, now lying upon 1 0 
 
 it, amounts to j 2 ’ 748,479 
 
 The 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. $t 
 
 The unfunded debt has been difpofed of 
 in the following manner : 
 
 In 1763 Funded on wine and] 
 
 cyder - - p 5 °°-°«> 
 
 Charged on the Sink- 0 
 
 ingFund - ] 3 » 483 . 5 S 4 
 
 In 176c Funded on coals ex - 1 
 
 ported, &c. j 1,500,000 
 
 In 1766 Funded on window- i , 
 
 lights - -J '-356.043 
 
 Added to the funded debt - 9*839*597 
 Paid off in 1764 and 1765 - 4,092,058 
 
 Difpofed of - I 3>93 1 >^55 
 
 Remains unprovided for. 
 
 Navy debt - 1,226,915} , 
 
 Exchequer bills 1, 800,000 j >9 J 
 
 £. 16,958,570 
 
 The account of the funded debt ftands 
 
 thus : 
 
 Funded debt in 1762 - 131,319,048 
 
 Unfunded debt, funded ini ^ 
 
 1763, 1765, and 1766 -f 9 * 39*597 
 
 141,158,645 
 
 Operations 
 
870,888* 
 
 870,888 
 
 I >74 1 >777 
 
 875,00a 
 
 5 ± STATE OP tHE NATION. 
 
 Operations upon the funded debt. 
 
 In 1765 Paid off 4 part of the 
 
 3 > 483 > 553 l char S ed u P° n 
 
 the Sinking Fund in 1763 - 
 
 In 1766 Paid off one third ofl 
 the remainder - - - J 
 
 In 1767 Paid off the remainder 
 Alfo one quarter part of 
 3,500,0001. funded in ^ 
 
 1763, upon wine and 
 cyder 
 
 In 1766 Paid off the remainder] , 
 
 of the faid fum - - I 2 * 62 *’ 000 
 
 Total paid off 6,983,553; 
 
 New debt created. 
 
 In 1766 
 
 The loan having 
 been 1,500,0001. and 
 the unfunded debt 
 then funded being 
 only 1,356,0431. the 
 difference is to be ad- 
 ded to this account 
 of new funded debt 
 contracted in thedif- 
 charge of the old 
 funded debt 
 In 1767 Loan upon 
 chip hats 
 
 In 1768 Loan upon] „ 
 
 ( j j r \ 1,900,000 
 wine and cyder - J ' 
 
 Amount of new funded debt - 3,543,957 
 Balance, &o, carried over , - 3,439,599 
 
 ^ *43>957 
 
 pon j 
 
 1,500,000 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 53 
 
 Funded debt brought over 141,158,645 
 Balance of funded debt dif- 1 , 
 
 charged J 3 * 439*596 
 
 Total funded debt at the end 1 ~ 
 
 of the year 1768 - - J I 37 > 7 1 9’°49 
 
 Unfunded debt remaining 1 , 
 
 unprovided for as above - j 3 ’ 02 , 9 I J 
 
 ,140,745,964 
 To this fum is to be added whatever the 
 Sinking Fund (hall be found in arrear the 
 icth of October, 1768, and the amount 
 will be the juft fum the nation ftands in- 
 debted. 
 
 The charge upon the nation for intereft 
 of the funded debt ftands thus : 
 
 On debt contra&ed before the 
 war ------- 
 
 On debt funded during the war 
 On remainder of debt funded 
 iince the peace - - - - 
 
 £- 
 
 52,378,252 
 
 2,036,300 
 } 162,000 
 
 4*576.552 
 
 To which is to be added, whatever in- 
 tereft may accrue upon the funded debt 
 in each year. 
 
 The fum of all is, that, at the end of 
 the year 1768, Great-Britain will ftand in- 
 debted upwards of 1 4 1 millions, and have 
 an annual intereft to pay thereon of about 
 4,6oq,goo1. and, as the capital of her debt 
 
 H at 
 
54 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 at the conclufion of the war, amounted to 
 148*277,6 1 81. and the charge for intereft 
 to 4,963,1441. the capital of her debt has 
 been reduced, in the fix years of peace* 
 about 7 millions, and the charge for in- 
 tereft leflened about 360,0001. 
 
 Additions have, in the fame time, been 
 made to the public revenue by the follow- 
 ing taxes and duties : 
 
 In 1763 Additional duty on wines 75,000 
 Additional duty on cyder," 
 eftimated at 75,0001. and 
 in 1764 produced near . 
 50,0001. but fince the al- | 12,000 
 terations in 1766, pro- J 
 duced only - - - j 
 
 In 1764 Duty upon coals export- 
 ed, white callicoes-, and 
 policies of infurance, ef- 
 timated at 45,000 1. in! q 
 1 765 produced 43,0001. j 3 ,00 ° 
 but fince the alterations 
 i ix 1766 have produced 
 only 
 
 In 1765 American taxes, efti- 
 mated at i6o,oool. but 
 fince the repeals and al- 
 terations in 1766, not- r 
 withftanding the addi- 
 tions in 1767, have pro- 
 duced only\ 
 
 
 40,000 
 
 Carried ever 165,000 
 
State of the nation. s $ 
 
 Brought over £. 165*000 
 Duty on gum fenega, efti- 
 mated at 1 2,000 L has r 2,000 
 produced only - - 
 
 In 1766 Duty on window lights, 1 
 
 eftimated at 45,0001. has r 2,000 
 produced only - - - J 
 
 In 1767 Duty on chip hats, no- 
 thing brought to account - - 
 
 £. 169,000 
 
 T he Handing public revenue has there- 
 fore been augmented by the produce of 
 hew taxes fince the peace 169,000 1. of 
 which only 2,000 1. has been produced by 
 ta£es impofed fince Midfummer 1765. 
 
 I pafs over the benefits the public re- 
 venue haS received from finance regula- 
 tions* and diligence in collecting the taxes: 
 becaufe of r the impoffibility of afcertain- 
 ing their value* So many collateral cir- 
 cumftances are to be taken into the ac- 
 
 count, that the increafe in the produce of 
 any tax cannot, with fairnefs, be afcribed 
 to fuperior management in that year ; nor* 
 On the contrary, ought its decreafe to be 
 imputed to negligence. The iiicreafe of 
 the Sinking Fund, and the aCtual reduction 
 of the public debt, are the beft general 
 proofs of finaftce ability, and from thefe 
 two great objeCts no lover of his country 
 ought ever to turn his eyes. The talk I 
 have impofed upon myfelf, of giving juft 
 
 H 2 info rmation 
 
$6 STATE OF TKTE NATION, 
 information to my countrymen, obligee! 
 me to take notice, that, in the fifc years of 
 peace, there has been taken from the Sink- 
 ing Fund to the amount of 12,891,249 1 . * 
 being the exceedings of the produce of 
 title feveral taxes appropriated to the pay- 
 ment of the public debt, after paying the 
 intereft accruing thereon. Befides which, 
 there have been feveral grofs films brought 
 to the public account, which, as they arofe 
 from the war, ought, in juftice, to have 
 been applied in difeharge of the debt in- 
 curred by the war, and thrown into the 
 Sinking Fund for that purpofe. 
 
 In 1764 and 1765, produce of 
 French prizes given by 
 his Majefty to the 
 public - - 762,500' 
 
 Paid by the Bank on re- 
 newal of their charter 110,000 
 Armyfayings - - - 415,298 
 
 * Taken from the Sinking Fund, being the fum of 
 its produce in the feveral years following ; 
 
 In 1763 1,932,179 
 
 In 1764 - — ■ 2,203,034 
 
 In 1765 * 2,227*015 
 
 In J766 — 2,274,246 
 
 In 1767 2,004,775 
 
 In 1 70S taken for — 2,250,000 
 
 Total produce and applied £, 12,891,249 
 
 Carried over ■£. 1,287,798 
 
STATE OP THE NATION. 57 
 
 Brought over JT. 1.287,798 
 Savings on non-effedtive 
 accounts - - - - 170,906 
 
 Part of compofition for 
 French prifoners - - 308,000 
 
 In 1766 Part of compofition for 
 
 French' prifoners - - 181,000 
 
 F ur ther produce of F ren ch 
 prizes ----- 29,000 
 
 From fale of lands in ceded 
 
 iflands - - - - - 
 
 Army favings - - - 
 
 In 1767 Remainder of compofi- 
 tions for French pri- 
 foners ------ 
 
 F ur ther produce of F rench 
 prizes ----- 
 
 From fale of lands in ceded 
 
 20.000 
 74777 
 
 181,000 
 
 24.000 
 
 iflands ----- 30,000 
 
 Savings on fundry heads 303,774 
 In 1768 Dedomagement from 
 
 the India Company - 400,000 
 
 £■ 3 > 0 3°> 2 55 
 
 If, therefore, thefe grofs fums, which 
 
 amount to no lefs than 3,030,2551. be 
 
 added to the fums taken from the Sinking 
 
 Fund fince the peace, the amount of the 
 
 whole will be 15,921,5041. which, in 
 
 former times, would have been deemed 
 
 the property of the public creditors, and 
 
 ought to have been applied in difcharge of 
 
 the 
 
58 STATE OF THE NATION 
 the capital of the debt j inftead of which* 
 it appears, that little more than feven 
 millions have been paid off, and, confe- 
 quently, that near nine millions of this 
 money has been applied, during the fix 
 years peace, to the current fervice* Thist 
 diverfion of the produce of the Sinking 
 Fund, from the' payment of debt to the 
 fupport of the peace eftablifhment, was 
 unavoidable, and it muft continue to be 
 fo applied, fo long as the expence of the 
 peace eftablifhment, charged upon Great- 
 Britain, exceeds the produce of her unap- 
 propriated revenue. In the two laft years 
 the deficiency of the revenue, annually 
 granted for this purpofe, has been much 
 greater than in the former years, occafioned 
 by the repeal of the American taxes, and 
 the reduction of the land-tax ; and, to 
 make good that deficiency, fo much more 
 has been taken out of the Sinking Fund 
 for the current fervice, and fo much lefs 
 has been applied in difeharge of debt* 
 The eftimate for the peace eftablifhment 
 in thefe laft two years, and the ways and 
 iheans for fupport of it, ftands thus : 
 
 £. 
 
 In 1767 Navy - 1,56 9>32t 
 
 Ordnance - - 220,796 
 
 Army - - - 1,585,572 
 
 Carried over 3,375,683 
 
 Brought 
 
ff 
 
 STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
 Brought over 3,375,683 
 Militia - 100,000 
 
 Mifcellaneous - - 114,896. 
 
 Deficiency of land 1 0 
 
 and malt - - 5 zSo >° 0 ° 
 
 c. — -£- 3 >* 7 °>S 79 
 
 standing Ways and Means, leav- 
 ing out adventitious and grofs 
 fums, which ought to be thrown 
 into the Sinking Fund, 
 
 £■ 
 
 Land tax, 3s - - 1,500,000 
 
 Malt tax - - 750,000 
 
 American taxes produced 40,000 
 Gum Senega - * 2,000 
 
 — 2,292,000 
 
 Made good out of the Sinking 1 0 
 
 Fund -I '•578.579 
 
 1 ■ — ■■■ ■■ r- 
 
 In the prefent year, 1768/ 
 
 the grants for the peace f 3,968,172 
 eftablilhment amouns to J 
 And the Handing Ways and" 
 
 Means the fame as laft 
 year, with the addition of . 
 
 30,0001. expected from f 2 > 3 a2 > 000 
 the increafed produce of 
 the American taxes - - 
 
 Made good out of the Sink- ] 
 ing Fund - - - - 1 
 
 1,646,172 
 
 While 
 
6o 
 
 STATE OF THE NATION. 
 While fo large a fhare of the furplus 
 of the Sinking Fund is thus taken away 
 yearly from its original defignation, and 
 applied to the current fervice in time of 
 peace, what hopes can we have of feeing 
 fuch a reduction made in the capital of the 
 public debt, as fhall enable parliament to 
 redeem fome of our burdenfome taxes, and 
 give relief to our manufacturers, artificers, 
 and mariners. And how melancholy is it 
 to reflect, that when every engine for tax- 
 ation has been employed, every project for 
 drawing money out of the peoples pockets 
 has been tried, and all corners of the Ex- 
 chequer fearched into, and every gleaning 
 of revenue brought to account, that we 
 now find ourfelves unable to pay off a mil- 
 lion per annum of a debt of 141 millions, 
 and yet continue every tax, one dulling in 
 the pound, land-tax only excepted, which 
 the extremity of the war forced govern- 
 ment to impofe upon the people of Great- 
 Britain. 
 
 Where is the fund which, in thele fix 
 years of peace, has been liberated of the 
 debt it was charged with in the war, that 
 could now be pawned anew for a frefh 
 loan ? And what new tax could be devifed, 
 which, if it proves a productive one, 
 would not, by adding to the burdens with 
 which our trade and manufactures are 
 already oppreflbd, fink them undet its 
 wei ght ? The 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 6 1 
 The effects of the prodigious revenue 
 drawn from the people lince the laft peace, 
 already begin to Ihew themfelves in the 
 increafed price of labour and the neceflaries 
 of life *. It cannot be long before they 
 operate upon our manufactures alfo, and, 
 by railing their price, diminilh our 
 exports s and our imports, either open or 
 clandeftine, will, from the fame caufe, 
 be augmented. Both ways the balance in 
 favour of Great-Britain will be reduced, 
 and our circulating fpecie diminifhed. As 
 our trade is at prefent circumftanced, the 
 balance in our favour is not very conlider- 
 able, and in the laffc accounts made up, 
 viz. to Chriftmas 1766, it is Hated at 
 3,135,222b In abatement of this fum 
 it is to be noted, that goods exported, 
 which neither pay duty nor receive draw- 
 back, may be eftimated at the difcretion 
 of the exporter, and that it is the c*uftom 
 of merchants to over-enter, as well to 
 avoid the expence of a fecond entry, as to 
 give themfelves the reputation of an exten- 
 
 ** There is no need of having recourfe to hidden 
 caufes, to account for the increafe of the prices of all 
 productions of labour, when it is known, that the 
 people of Great-Britain now pay four millions a year 
 more than they did before the war. Every man, when 
 he pays his proportion of that fum, thinks how he 
 may reimburfe himfelf at his neighbour’s expence, an i 
 raifes his prices accordingly \ thus the increafe of 
 price becomes at laft general. 
 
 I five 
 
62 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 five trade ; confequently the value of the 
 exports taken from the Cuftom-Houfe 
 entries muft always exceed the true value 
 of the goods aftually exported. On the 
 other hand, goods imported are valued in 
 the Cuftom-Houfe entries as they ftand 
 rated for the payment of duties, and, in 
 many cafes, are rated much below what 
 the importer pays for them ; fo that the 
 nation not only receives lefs, but pays more 
 than appears from thofe accounts. Befides, 
 all clandeftine importations are of neceffity 
 unnoticed in the Cuftom-Houfe books, 
 But yet their value muft, in a national 
 eftimate, be taken into the account, as 
 they equally ferve to leffen the balance in 
 favour of the nation, as goods legally 
 entered. The real balance, therefore, 
 in favour of Great-Britain, from her trade 
 with the whole world, muft, in the year 
 1766, have been confiderably under two 
 millions and a half, and, out of that fum, 
 ilie had to pay the intereft accruing to 
 foreigners from that part of the public 
 debt which is their property. It was com- 
 puted, that, of the 72 millions Great- 
 Britain was indebted before the war, about 
 20 millions belonged to foreigners. The 
 German war, in four years, coft her above 
 25 millions, which if that only was 
 returned to her, and invefted in her three 
 per cent, funds, (which, in thofe years, 
 
 fold 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 63 
 ibid at a difcount of 25 per cent, on a 
 medium) foreigners will now ftand cre- 
 ditors to Great-Britain for 52 millions, 
 which, at three per cent, intitles them to 
 an in ter eft of 1,560,0001. This fum is, 
 therefore, to be deducted from the balance 
 of our foreign trade, and the remainder is 
 all we have to look to for fupplying us with 
 gold and iilver, as well for our manufactures 
 as circulation. 
 
 Such being our cafe, it is not to be won- 
 dered at, that our coined fpecie is every 
 day decreafing, and that the price of bul- 
 lion advances ; and, ihould the balance 
 of our trade continue to leflen, we cannot 
 long expeCt to have fpecie to pay our 
 foreign creditors, or any thing but paper 
 bills to carry on our trade with at home. 
 A fituation to which we feem to approach 
 with carelefs Ipeed, unfufpicious of the 
 confequences, and infenfible of the cala- 
 mities which hang over us. A mind not 
 totally devoid of feeling for the miferies of 
 his country, cannot look upon fuch a prof- 
 peCt without horror, and a heart capable 
 of humanity muft be unable to bear its 
 defcription. 
 
 An opinion has too long prevailed, that 
 all minifters are alike, and that the mea- 
 fures propofed by all will have the fame 
 tendency. Many think the form of 
 government not worth contending for, and 
 
 I 2 very 
 
64 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 very little attachment is difcoyerable in the 
 body of our people to our excellent con?? 
 ftitution. No reverence for the cuftoms 
 or opinions of our anceftors, no attach- 
 ment but to private intereft, nor any zeal 
 but for felfi.li gratifications. Whilft party- 
 diftindtions of Whig and Tory, High 
 Church and Low Church, Court and 
 Country fubfifted, the nation was divide 
 ed, and each fide held an opinion, for 
 which they would have hazarded every 
 thing, for both adted from principle. If 
 there were fome who fought to alter the 
 conftitution, there were many others who 
 would have fpilt their blood to preferve it 
 from violation. If divine hereditary right 
 had its partizans, there were multitudes to 
 hand up for the fuperior fandtity of a title 
 founded upon an adt of parliament, and 
 the confent of a free people. But the 
 abolition of party-names feems to have 
 deftroyed all public principles among the 
 people, and the frequent changes of minif? 
 ters having expofed all fets of men to the 
 public odium, and broke all bands of com- 
 padt or aflfociation, has left the people 
 but few objedts for their confidence. The 
 power of the crown was, indeed, never 
 more vifibly extenfive over the great men 
 pf the nation ; but then the great men 
 have loft their influence over the lower 
 order of t tie people; even parliament has 
 
 loft 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 65 
 loft much of its reverence with the fub- 
 j e£t$ of the realm, and the voice of the 
 multitude is fet up againft the fenfe of the 
 legiflature. An impoverifhed and heavily 
 burthened public ! A declining trade and 
 decreafing fpecie! A people luxurious and 
 licentious, impatient of rule, and defpif- 
 ing all authority ! Government relaxed in 
 every finew, and a corrupt felfifh fpirit 
 pervading the whole ! The ftate deftitute 
 of alliances, and without refpedt from 
 foreign nations ! A powerful combination, 
 anxious for an occafion to retrieve their 
 honour, and wreak their vengeance upon 
 her ! If fuch be the circumftances of 
 Great-Britain, who, that loves his king or 
 his country, can be indifferent about pub- 
 lic meafures ? Is it of no importance to an 
 Englifhman, that the trade and manufac- 
 tures of the nation are going to ruin ; that 
 Great-Britain is in danger of becoming a 
 tributary to France, and the defcent of the 
 crown dependant on the good pleafure of 
 that ambitious nation ! Is it of no import- 
 ance to an inhabitant of Ireland, that, in 
 cafe of a war, that ifland fhould become a 
 prey to France ; and Great-Britain, unable 
 to recover it by force, be compelled to 
 cede it, by treaty, to purchafe peace for 
 herfelf? And, is it of no importance to 
 the thriving American colonies, that Great- 
 Britain, finding l}er incapacity to defend 
 
 herfelf 
 
66 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 herfelf and protedl them alfo, fhould be 
 obliged to confine her fleets and armies to 
 her own coafts, and leave them expofed to 
 the ravages of a domeftic, or the conqueil: 
 of a foreign enemy ? And can it be a mat- 
 ter of indifference to any lover of liberty 
 and the Britifh conflitution, throughout 
 this wide-extended empire, that not more 
 than three years fince, the calamities inci- 
 dent to a long minority in fuch circum- 
 ftances, were hanging over the nation ? 
 
 I have not made this difplay of the na- 
 tion’s difficulties to expofe her councils to 
 the ridicule of other ftates, or provoke a 
 vanquifhed enemy to infult her : nor have 
 I done it to excite the people’s rage againft 
 their governors, or fink them into defpond- 
 ency of the public welfare. But I thought 
 fuch a view of the condition j of Great-Bri- 
 tain, might be a means of calling up the 
 public attention to the national affairs, and 
 engaging every friend to his king and coun- 
 try, to exert his beft abilities in forming 
 and fupporting fuch a fyftem of meafures as 
 might, in their iffue, place Great-Britain 
 in a fituation of fafety and dignity. Her 
 cafe is, thank God, far from defperate, nor 
 are her circumftances irretrievable. I truft 
 it is in the power of the king and parlia- 
 ment to concert meafures, and to find men 
 capable of carrying them into execution 
 with wifdcm and perfeverence, that, per- 
 haps 
 
STATE OF THE NATION, 67 
 
 haps, in the courfe of the prefent parlia- 
 ment, will render the nation, both happy 
 at home and refpedled abroad, formidable 
 in war, and flourifhing in peace. To con- 
 tribute my mite to the public fervice, I 
 fhall now proceed to point out what, in 
 my poor opinion, can and ought to be 
 done for extricating the nation out of its 
 difficulties. The plan has, indeed, been 
 already formed, and the out-line drawn 
 by the adminiflration of 1764 : I (hall only 
 attempt to fill up the void or obliterated 
 parts, and trace its operation* 
 
 The {landing expence of the prefent 
 peace-eflablifhment upon the plan of 1764, 
 improved by the experience of the two lafl: 
 years, may be thus eflimated : 
 
 Navy ------- 
 
 Army, exclufive of extraor- 1 
 
 dinaries - - - - - J 
 
 Ordnance, exclufive of ex- , 
 
 traordinaries - - - j 
 
 Militia ------- 
 
 Four American govern- i 
 
 . G \ 19,200 
 
 ments - - - - J y 
 
 Senagambia - - 5,500 
 
 African committee - 13,000 
 
 Foundling Hofpital - 20,000 
 
 Surveys in America - 1,800 
 
 1,500,000 
 
 1,268,500 
 
 169,600 
 
 100,000 
 
 59,500 
 
 Carried over 3,097,600 
 
68 STATE OF THE NATION* 
 
 Brought over £. 3,097,60a 
 Deficiency of land and malt 1 
 
 (militia taken out) - - J 2 5 °> 000 
 
 Deficiency of annuity fund - 45,561 
 
 Extraordinaries of army and 1 
 
 ordnance - - - - j 75 > QOQ 
 
 The fum allowed in this eftimate for the 
 navy, is 69,3211. lefs than the grant for 
 that fervice in 1767 ; but in that grant 
 30,000 1. was included for the purchafe of 
 hemp to replenifh the magazines, and a 
 faving of about 25,000 1. was made in 
 that year. The allowance for the army 
 and ordnance, exclufive of extraordinaries, 
 is the fame as has been granted in the two 
 laftyears; but the allowance for extraordina- 
 ries is much lefs than has been demanded in 
 either, and yet is has been fhewn in the 
 Confederations , &c. that a confiderable di- 
 minution of even the fum here ftated for 
 thofe fervices might be expected. The 
 fum allowed for deficiency in the land and 
 malt tax, it is to be hoped, would alfo be 
 found too large, as the deficiency of the land 
 tax in the years 1754 and 1755, when it 
 was at two (hillings, amounted to no more, 
 on a medium, than 49,372 b to which, if 
 we add half the fum, it will give us 
 79,058 1. as the peace deficiency at three 
 (hillings. The deficiency of the malt tax 
 muft be computed on a medium for a 
 greater number of years, as its produce is 
 
 cafual, 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 69 
 cafual, and, therefore, taking its defici- 
 encies in the feven years of peace, imme- 
 diately preceding the laft war, the medium 
 will be no more than 133,0181* which, 
 being added to the deficiency of the 
 land tax, makes only 212,076 1. the fum 
 to be allowed for the deficiency of 
 of both, which is 37,924 k under the al- 
 lowance of the above eftimate *. The 
 fum of 20,000 1 . given to the Foundling 
 Hofpital, and 1,800 1 . for the American 
 furveys, muft foon ceafe to be necefiary, 
 as the fervices will be compleated. On all 
 thefe accounts, we may furely venture to 
 reduce the ftanding expences of the efti- 
 mate to 3,300,0001. of which upwards of 
 
 300.000 1. will be for the plantation fer^ 
 vice ; and that fum, I hope, the people 
 of Ireland and the colonies might be in-* 
 duced to take off Great-Britain, and de- 
 fray between them, in the proportion of 
 
 200.000 1. by the colonies, and 100,000 1. 
 by Ireland. 
 
 Ireland has too long been confidered as 
 only a colony to Great-Britain, and by 
 throwing it into that fcale, the weight 
 of the members has been found too great 
 for the head. The common intereft of 
 
 * The deficiency of thefe funds muft always be 
 greater in time of war than in time of peace, becaufe 
 the money is then more immediately waited, and the 
 rate of intereft is higher. 
 
 K all 
 
*o STATE OF THE NATION, 
 all the parts of the empire, requires th 
 the balance fhould be preferved ; and no 
 meafure can tend fo immediately to that 
 end, as incorporating Ireland with Great- 
 Britain. I mean not an entire and corn- 
 pleat union of the two kingdoms, but a 
 community of interell ; efpecially a com- 
 mon privilege of trading to and with the 
 colonies. The people of Ireland would 
 then find it to be their interell, equally 
 with the people of Great-Britain, to con- 
 tinue the colonies in their dependance, and 
 to protect them from foreign attacks, and 
 as they would thence be inclined to con- 
 tribute to the expence of the forces kept 
 there by Great-Britain, with thofe views, 
 fo would they be enabled to make remit- 
 tances thither for that purpofe : and the 
 means of remitting the money is what they 
 only want, for they have abundant ability 
 to raife the fum I have mentioned. They 
 have neither land nor malt tax, houfe or 
 window tax, no duties upon flamps, nor 
 any tax upon foap, candles, fait, or leather. 
 The nett produce of the public revenue 
 of that kingdom in 1765 and 1766, was, 
 on a medium, 730,8121. in each of thofe 
 years, and it arofe altogether from port 
 duties or cuftoms, an inland duty or ex- 
 cife upon beer and ale, and llrong waters 
 made for fale, and a tax upon fire hearths ; 
 and it has been already faid, that the whole 
 
 of 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 71 
 of the debt that kingdom ftands charged with, 
 does not amount to one million. The charge 
 of the civil eftahlifhment there, has, indeed, 
 been augmented from 73,067!. in 1749 and 
 1750, to 128,9941. in the years 1766 and 
 1767. But this augmentation has not ferved 
 to leffen any charge upon Great-Britain ; 
 were it fo applied , half the fum I am propofing 
 to be raifed, would be already granted. The 
 extreme poverty of the lower clafs of people 
 in Ireland, is generally urged as an argument 
 of the inability of that country to raife a 
 more confiderable reyen ue than it does ; but 
 perhaps, the want of judicious taxes is the 
 principal caufe of that very poverty in the 
 lower people. All tenantry muft be poor, 
 who are without means to bring back to 
 themfelves the money they pay their land- 
 lords : taxes laid upon the landlords, and the 
 revenue fpent among the tenants, is a great 
 means of this neceffary circulation ; and a 
 land tax is, of all others, the moil certain and 
 limple means for taking the money out of 
 the landlords pockets, and out of theirs only ; 
 and if it be fo employed, as that agriculture 
 and manufactures fhall thereby be promoted, 
 the tenants will be paid through the moft ad- 
 vantageous channels that can be ufed for fo 
 excellent apurpofe. Were, then, too,oool. 
 per annum to be taken from the landed men 
 in Ireland, and, on that account, the trade of 
 that kingdom extended fo as to occafion a 
 
 K z demand 
 
72 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 demand for 200,000 1. * value of their ma- 
 nufactures and products, it is evident that 
 the nation in general would gain a balance 
 of 1 00,000 1. and that the induftrious poor 
 would be enriched to the amount of 200,oool. 
 And let not the people of Great-Britain ima- 
 gine, that this acceffion to the trade of Ire- 
 land will be a diminution of theirs. Ireland 
 can furnifh many commodities which Great- 
 Britain cannot fupply, or at fo high a price, 
 that neither her colonies nor foreign nations 
 will take them from her, and are, therefore, 
 making them for themfelves, or purchafing 
 them at cheaper markets. Many have been 
 the cheques propofed for fecuring to Great- 
 Britain the intire property in the Irifh wool, 
 but they have all been found ineffectual, and 
 fuch muft ever be the cafe, while Britain 
 purfues the fame policy * and France knows 
 her own intereft. For what can be more for 
 the intereft of France, than to procure the 
 wool of Ireland at any price, as fhe thereby 
 gains a fupply for her own manufacturers, and 
 difables the Britifh manufacturer from rival- 
 ing her ; and as the owners of lands in Ireland, 
 on which fheep are fed, have no other means 
 of receiving their rents, than from the fale 
 of the wool, and the value of their lands 
 muft confequently depend on the price of 
 that commodity, can it be expeCted they 
 
 * The exports from Ireland to the Britifh colonies have 
 increafed fince the peace, upon a medium of five years, 
 101,702!. 
 
 will 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 75 
 will be aCtive in reftraining their tenants from 
 carrying it to the beft market? Whereas, 
 fliould it be permitted to the Irifh to export 
 coarfe woollen cloths, the landed men, fenfi- 
 ble of the advantages of manufacturers fettling 
 upon their eftates, would exert all their pow- 
 ers to prevent the wool being carried from 
 them to France, however high that nation 
 might bid for it. Thus would Ireland be fet 
 up as the rival of France in the lower kinds 
 of that manufacture, and whatever gain ac- 
 crued to Ireland from it, would be fo much 
 taken from France, and added to the wealth 
 of the Britifli empire. 
 
 The ability of the colonies to raife a re- 
 venue of 200,000 1. is evident from many cir- 
 cumftances, but there are two which deferve 
 to be particularly mentioned. At the end of 
 the war, viz. in 1763, the colonies flood in- 
 debted in their refpeCtive public capacities to 
 the amount of 2,600,000!. and, in the year 
 1766, they were indebted no more than 
 
 767.0001. confequently they had, in three 
 years, paid off i,8oo,oool. of debt, which 
 required a revenue of 6oo,oool. a year to do 
 it with, befides providing for the ordinary ex- 
 pences of their refpeCtive civil governments. 
 The remainder of this debt muft, by this 
 time, be entirely difcharged ; and where can 
 be the difficulty upon countries, which have 
 fhewn their ability to raife a revenue of 
 
 600.000 1. to raife one of 200,000 1. in the 
 like manner, and to be expended among them 
 
74 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 for like purpofes ? The other proof of their 
 prefent ability arifes from their diftrefs for 
 paper currency : they complain they have no 
 medium for circulation ; a want they never 
 found during the war, nor would have now. 
 If they had any confiderable fums to raife, 
 cither for the payment of debt, or as provi- 
 iion for current fervices. Their general 
 practice of ifliiing paper bills, to the amount 
 of the fum granted for any extraordinary fer~ 
 vice, and laying taxes to fink them by inftall- 
 ments in five years, fupplied them with a 
 paper currency to the amount of the revenue 
 thus anticipated ; and it being their cuftom 
 to provide for the ordinary expences of the 
 year, after its expiration, and then to iffue 
 bills for difcharging it, they to be called in, 
 and funk by taxes in the next year, the bills 
 for the ordinary fervice come alfo into circu- 
 lation. — Their want of paper for circulation 
 is, therefore, an evidence of their having no 
 public debts outftanding ; and that their 
 ordinary expences are too inconfiderable to 
 fupply them with a medium equal to their 
 trade *. 
 
 The ability of the colonies being un- 
 queftionable, it will fcarcely be neceflary for 
 me to offer any argument to fhew the rea-. 
 fonablenefs and equity of their contributing 
 
 * I purpofely omit taking notice of fuch paper bills as 
 in fome colonies are ifTued, by way of loan, becaufe they 
 have continued the fame fince the war as during its con- 
 tinuance, New York only excepted. 
 
 the 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 
 the fum propofed. Whilft 8 ,000,000 of fub- 
 jedts, inhabiting Great-Britain, are made to 
 pay four millions, as the confequences of the 
 late war, one great object of which was the 
 fafety and profperity of the colonies, it furely 
 is not too much to require of the 2,000,000 
 of fubjedts refiding there, to contribute 
 200,000 1 . for the general fervice, efpecially 
 as the expence of the troops and flaps ftation- 
 ed among them, for their immediate protec- 
 tion, amounts to near double that fum. Nor 
 ought the fovereign authority, which rules 
 the whole empire, and is bound to do equal 
 juftice to every part, to admit of any pleas 
 for exempting the fubjedts in the colonies 
 from fliaring in the common burdens, and 
 contributing to the neceffities, of the ftate; 
 a fum fo much within their abilities, and fo 
 much below their proportion of the fums 
 levied from their fellow-fubjedts in Great- 
 Britain. — The only thing which requires 
 confideration is, the means by which this re- 
 venue may be raifed in the colonies. 
 
 Taxes laid upon the importation of Britifli 
 commodities, have an equal tendency to pro- 
 mote the manufadture of fuch commodities 
 in the colonies, as bounties given for the 
 encouragement of the American manufadtu- 
 rer ; and taxes upon the exportation of rough 
 materials, or other produdts of the foil, have 
 nearly the fame effedt ; for it muft be indif- 
 ferent to the planter, whether he is made to 
 pay more for the article he buys, or gets lefs 
 
76 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 for what he fells : his ability to purchafe is 
 leffened either way, and he is equally 
 prompted by his unfupplied wants to manu- 
 facture. To raife a revenue, therefore, by 
 port duties in the colonies, feems contrary to 
 the firft principles of colonization, and is not 
 lefs prejudicial to the interefts of Great- 
 Britain, than to thofe of the colonies : for 
 the waftes in America can never be cultivated 
 by manufacturers, nor can Great-Britain 
 retain her inhabitants, or maintain a force 
 fufficient to protect her extenlive dominions, 
 without them. Taxes which encourage agri- 
 culture * and retard manufactures, are the 
 moft eligible, becaufe confiftent with the 
 views of both, and fuch are the taxes, which 
 have lately been denominated internal or 
 domeftic. It is by fuch taxes the provincial 
 affemblies generally raife their revenues, and, 
 perhaps, it would be the moft expedient 
 method for parliament to affefs each colony a 
 fpecific fum, and leave the mode of railing 
 it to the refpeCtive affemblies : parliament 
 referving to itfelf the difpofal of the money, 
 and the account of its expenditure* 
 
 As the revenue propofed to be raifed in 
 the colonies, would not oe fufficient for the 
 payment of the troops ftationed in America, 
 
 * There can be no error more fatal than to fuppofe it 
 the fame thing to tax land, or to tax the products of the 
 land. A tax upon land excites the owner to cultivate it 
 to reimburfe himfelf; whereas a tax upon the products of 
 the land prevents the owner from cultivating it, left he 
 Ihould pay the tax. 
 
 and 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 7; 
 &nd the whole of it would, therefore, he 
 expended there. To facilitate the remittance 
 of the revenue, as well as reduce the charges 
 for extraordinaries, the troops fhould be dif* 
 tributed in the great trading towns on the fea 
 coaft in North America, and the convenience 
 of paying them fhould be attended to in their 
 diftribution. New-York is the mart for the 
 products of the Jerfeys and Rhode Ifland $ 
 the revenue raifed in thofe colonies could, 
 therefore, be eafily remitted thither ; and 
 fhould the amount, added to the revenue 
 railed in that province, exceed the pay of 
 the troops Rationed there, the balance could 
 eafily be remitted from thence to the Floridas, 
 as the garrifon-s there are fupplied with many 
 forts of provifions from New-York. As 
 Maffachulet’s Bay and Connecticut are in 
 want of means to remit, the number of 
 troops Rationed in thofe two colonies, fhould 
 be large enough to abforb the whole revenue 
 raifed by them. Penfylvania, Virginia, and 
 Maryland, could find bills upon England, by 
 which to remit their furpluffes to wherever 
 the paymafter fhould direCt. North Carolina 
 could remit to South Carolina, and the 
 exceedings of the revenue of both could, 
 with great convenience, be fent to the Flori- 
 das. Georgia could as yet fcarcely pay its 
 own little guard. Quebec might, perhaps, 
 pay its own garrifon. Nova Scotia could con- 
 tribute only a part of the expence of hers ; 
 
 L and 
 
78 STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
 and nothing could, at prefent, be expeCted 
 
 from the Floridas. 
 
 The colonies having thus performed their 
 part as members of the Britifh empire* it is 
 incumbent on parliament to promote their 
 profperity and advantage in every way, by 
 which it may be done without injury to the 
 other fubjeCts of the realm. 
 
 Great-Britain and Ireland, (for I wifh to 
 confider then! as united in intereft and con- 
 nexion with the colonies) ftand in pretty 
 much the fame relation to the colonies, as a 
 manufacturing farmer's houfe and garden in 
 the village, does to his adjacent farm. His 
 little garden may be fufficient to fupply him 
 and his family with many neceflaries and 
 delicacies, but it is from his farm he muft 
 bring the materials for his manufactures, and 
 the bulky articles for market. He thinks it 
 of no importance, to whom it is he fells fuch 
 products of his farm, as he has neither occa- 
 lion for in his manufactory, or for the fub- 
 fiftence of his family ; neither does he think 
 it at all neceffary to bring them firli to the 
 village before he fends them to market. His 
 chief care is, that his own teams are the 
 carriers, that the money his products are fold 
 for is brought back to him, and that his fer- 
 vants do not lay out their wages at other 
 fhops than his. In like manner it feems 
 entirely confonant to the general interefts of 
 Great-Britain, to allow her colonies to carry 
 direCtly to foreign markets almoft every pro- 
 duction 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 79 
 
 dudtion of their feveral climates, which {he 
 has no occafion for. The tranfportation 
 ftiould, in all cafes, be made in {hips belong- 
 ing to her own fubjedts, and the utmoft care 
 taken, that the value of the fales be inverted 
 in her merchandize or manufactures. It 
 
 furely is not equal condudt to our colonies, 
 nor politic in refpedt to Great -Britain, that, 
 whilft bounties are given to facilitate the 
 export of Britifli grain, the products of the 
 colonies fhould be reftrained to come and 
 enter in a Britifli port, before they can be 
 carried to market, and thereby loaded with 
 the expences of double freight, port-charges, 
 and all the inconveniences of a prolonged 
 voyage, merely to benefit a few individuals 
 in Great-Britain. The cheaper the produdts 
 of the colonies can be fent to market, the 
 greater will be their confumption ; and if a 
 ftridt guard be kept, that nothing be carried 
 back but from Great-Britain, the advantage 
 of an increafed foreign demand for the com- 
 modities of the colonies, will be {hared by 
 Great-Britain with them. 
 
 The fyftem for colony regulations would 
 be very Ample, and mutually beneficial to 
 Great-Britain and the colonies, if the old 
 navigation laws were adhered to. No foreign 
 {hip fhould ever be permitted to enter a colo- 
 ny port, unlefs in cafes of real diftrefs, or 
 freighted with bullion. The tranfportat on 
 of all commodities from the colonies to be in 
 JSritifh bottoms, and even Britifli {hips {hould 
 
 L 2 not 
 
8o STATE OF THE NATION, 
 not be generally received into the colonies 
 from any part of Europe, except the domi- 
 nions of Great-Britain. 
 
 Such of the colony products as are wanted 
 in Great-Britain, fhould be firft brought 
 hither $ but, in order to fecure to the colonies 
 as good a price for them here as they could 
 expeCt at any other market, they fhould be 
 at liberty to carry them hence, when they 
 had been offered for fale, and refufed to be 
 purchafed by our people. If we want them 
 for our manufacturers, at a lefs price than 
 other nations would give for them, bounties 
 upon importation, to be repaid on exporta- 
 tion, are the only fair means of lowering the 
 price to our manufacturers, and not taking 
 it out of the pockets of the colonifts by legal 
 jreflraints upon their Tales. 
 
 The prodigious extent of the Britifh 
 dominions in America, the rapid increaie of 
 the people there, and the great value of their 
 trade, all unite in giving them fuch a degree 
 of importance in the empire, as requires that 
 more attention fhould be paid to their con- 
 cerns, by the fupreme legiflature, than can 
 be expected from it, fo long as the colonies 
 do not eleCl any of the members of which 
 the hopfe of commons is compofed, It is 
 not to give parliament a right to tax, or make 
 other laws to affeCf, the lives or liberties of 
 the fubjeCls in the colonies, that I propofe 
 their fending members to parliament: the 
 authority of that augufl aflembly is not 
 
 limited 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 81 
 limited by the conftitution, to be exercifed 
 over thofe fubjedts only, by whom the houfe 
 of commons is chofen. The fupreme legif- 
 lature reprefents all the fubjedts of the ftate : 
 “ For the legiflative is the joint power of 
 “ every member of the fociety, given up to 
 “ that perfon or aflembly, which is lcgif- 
 “ lator *f\” It is only elfential to the comple- 
 tion of the legiflative power in Great-Britain, 
 tho-t the members of the houfe of commons 
 fhould be commoners, and eledted by com- 
 moners. The prefcribed mode of eledtion 
 may be altered at any time ; but this efiential 
 principle cannot be changed without difiolv- 
 ing the conftitution. 
 
 The number of the eledtors, is, I con- 
 ceive, become too fmall in proportion to the 
 whole people, and the prefent importance 
 of the colonies feems to demand that fome 
 among them fhould be vefted with the right 
 of eledting ; for it is not reafonable or fitting, 
 that the right of eledtion for the whole of the 
 eledtive part of the fupreme legiflature, fhould 
 continue reftrained to certain inhabitants of 
 Great-Britain, now , that fo many of the 
 fubjedts of the realm refide out of Great- 
 Britain. On this principle, and on this prin- 
 ciple only, it is, that I think the colonies 
 ought to be allowed to fend members to 
 parliament. Diffufing the right of eledtion 
 will certainly give each part of the empire a 
 better opportunity of laying open grievances, 
 and obtaining redrefs, of acquiring benefits, 
 
 and 
 
 f Vide Locke’s Treatife on Government. 
 
62 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 and removing fubjedts of complaint, than 
 they can have while it is confined to fuch 
 only as refide in Great-Britain. But let it 
 not be imagined, that, by increafing the 
 number of the electors, or adding to the 
 members of the houfe pf commons, any 
 new rights can be given to the legislature, 
 or that the fovereign authority of the legif- 
 lature can be enlarged over thofe who were 
 always fubjedts of the realm ; it muft always 
 have been abfolute and compleat over them, 
 and it is not, therefore, capable of addition 
 or enlargemen t *. 
 
 The 
 
 * That the Parliament, as early as the 8th of Henry tha 
 Vlth, confidered itfelf as the reprefentative of the whoje 
 people, and veiled with authority to make laws to bind 
 the king’s fubjeeSfo, in all cafes whatfoever, as well as thofe 
 who had no fnare or voice in the elections of the members 
 of the houfe of commons, as thofe by whom they were 
 chofenj appears from the cafe of the inhabitants of the 
 county-palatine of Chefter. Their petition to the king, 
 in 1450, publifhed in the Admimftration of the Colonies , fets 
 forth, that the parliament of England had then impofe.d 
 taxes upon them, notwithftanding they fent no deputies to 
 that parliament; and on that ground they think their 
 rights and privileges had been violated. The king, we 
 iind, took part with the county-palatine, and interpofeef 
 his then, acknowledged authority tofufpend the execution of laws, 
 and required the parliament’s commiffioners to defift from 
 levying the parliamentary tax. This cafe was certainly 
 much (tronger than the cafe Qf any Britifl* colony can pof- 
 fiblybe; for that county-palatine, as their petition fets 
 forth, ct had been a county-palatine, as well before the 
 cc conqucft of England, as continually fince , dijlintt and 
 “ feparate from the crown of England, and had been 
 
 "Vr nmted by king William, the conqueror of the whoje 
 
 e “ kingdom, 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
 The late vaft addition to the Britifh pof- 
 feflions in Afia, and the wealth of the inha- 
 bitants, open a rich profpeft for trade to the 
 people of Great-Britain, as well as of reve- 
 nue to the ftate : two objedts which fhould 
 
 always 
 
 €t kingdom, to Hugh Loup, his nephew, to hold as freely 
 ** to him and to his heirs, by the fword, (which was Wil- 
 M Ham’s beft title) as the fame king fhould hold all Eng- 
 44 land by the crown.” Their fupplication to the king 
 is not, therefore, to exempt them from parliamentary 
 taxes only, 44 but to fee that there be never an a £k in 
 44 this parliament, nor in any parliament hereafter, made 
 44 to the hurt of the inheritors, or inheritans, of the 
 44 faid county, of their bodies , liberties , franchifes 9 or 
 44 poffefJionS) being within the faid county,” 
 
 Yet, notwithflanding this plea of the county-palatine, 
 and the interpofition of the king in their behalf, their pe- 
 tition to parliament, recited in the preamble of the 34th 
 and 35th of Henry the VUIth, which was near a hundred 
 years afterwards, is compleat evidence, that the parlia- 
 ment had not defifted from the right of taxing and binding 
 the inhabitants of the county-palatine of Chefter, nor 
 ceafed to exercife it, although there were no members of 
 the houfe of commons, elected by the inhabitants of that 
 county-palatine, in all that time : the words are, 44 That 
 44 forafmuch as the faid inhabitants have always hitherto 
 44 been bound, by the afls and flatutes made and ordained, 
 
 44 by your faid highnefs, and your moft noble progenitors, 
 14 by authority of the faid court, (viz. the parliament) 
 
 4 4 as far forth as other counties , cities^ and boroughs have 
 
 45 been 9 that have had their knights, citizens, and burgefles, 
 44 within your faid court of parliament, &c.” 
 
 The friends of liberty and the constitution fhould be 
 careful not to veft the whole authority of the community 
 in the houfe of commons, by deeming that houfe alone- 
 the reprefentative of the people ; for, if that were the cafe, 
 whence, might it be alked, do the king and peers derive 
 their right to a (hare in the legiflature ? Are they indepen- 
 dent of the community r Or, are they unauthorized by it ? 
 
 King 
 
«4 staT£ gf the Nation. 
 always be contemplated together. For, in 
 our prefent circumftances, neither ought the 
 revenue to be facrificed for the augmentation 
 of our trade, nor ought our trade to be left 
 fened for the fake of increaiing the public 
 revenue. I enter not into the queftion of 
 right litigated between the ftate and the India 
 company. Whatever comes of the dewane, 
 the fovereignty of Great- Britain over the ter- 
 
 King James the Firft feems to have had an idea of his own 
 independency upon the community ; and the parliament, 
 in their firft a<ft in his reign, thought it fitting to declare, 
 whence all the branches of the legiflature derived their au- 
 thority : cc The whole body of the realm,” fays the ftatutc, 
 <c and every particular member thereof, either in perfon, or 
 <c by reprefentation upon their own free election, are, by 
 <c the laws of the realm, deemed to be prefent in the high 
 “ court of parliament.” They do not fay in the houfe of 
 commons, but in parliament. The conftitutional doc- 
 trine, therefore, is, that the whole legiflature reprefents the 
 people of the realm : the king and the lords are equally, 
 with the commons, the reprefentatives of the community, 
 and equally accountable to the people for their conduct: 
 Hence it is that the people have a right to petition, as they 
 frequently do, the other branches of the legiflature, to de- 
 ftroy the a£ts of the commons : which would be a ftrange 
 abfurdity, if the commons only were their reprefentatives 
 or agents, and vefted with full powers to a£t for them. 
 
 The people have, indeed, a cheque upon the conduct 
 of the individuals, who compofe an houfe of commons, 
 frpm the frequent returns of their ele&ions, which they 
 have not upon either of the other branches of the legifla- 
 ture; and it is, therefore, to be prefumed, that the mem- 
 bers of that houfe will be more particularly attentive to the 
 circumftances and inclination of the people, than either 
 the prince or the peers can be ftippofed to be. The grant 
 of fupplies fhould, for this reafon, originate with the 
 commons; and, for a contrary one, the ultimate decificn 
 of controverfics rcfpe£ting property, fhould reft with the 
 lords. 
 
 ritories 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 58 
 ritories held by the company, in virtue of 
 their charter from the crown, muft ftill be 
 admitted ; and if thofe three provinces of 
 Bengal, Bahir, and Oryxa, are become pof- 
 feffions of the India company, they are Britifh 
 colonies, and the inhabitants are Britiih fub- 
 jedts, tho’ governed by their own laws, or laws 
 framed by the Eaft-India company. There 
 is no material difference between the grant of 
 the crown to the proprietor of Maryland, and 
 the grant to the proprietors of the countries 
 to the eaft of the cape of Good Hope, fave 
 in the article of trade. The 'inhabitants, 
 therefore, of the Eaft-India company’s pof- 
 feffions, are equally bound with the people 
 of Maryland to contribute to the burdens of 
 the ftate and the fovereign power over the 
 whole empire, is equally obliged to require 
 them fo to do, according to their ability. 
 The charter of the Eaft-India company, no 
 more than the charters of the American co- 
 lonies, precludes the parliament of Great- 
 Britain from taxing the fubjedts in Alia, as 
 well as thofe in America, or from repealing 
 fuch taxes as their refpedtive charter-legifla- 
 tures may impofe, fhculd they be found in- 
 jurious to the general intereft. It is faid, a 
 revenue is now drawn from the fubjedts in 
 Afia, to the amount of a million and a half, 
 over and above what is neceftary for the fup- 
 port of the civil government, and the main- 
 tenance of troops fufhcient for their own par- 
 ticular protection. It, therefore, behoves 
 
 M parliament 
 
86 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 parliament carefully to examine, whether the; 
 payment of fo large a revenue does not di~ 
 minifh the confumption of Britifh manu- 
 factures among thefe people, or whether any 
 part of it be raifed by duties on taxes oh mer- 
 chandize carried from Great-Britain, or on 
 fuch commodities of thofe countries, as are 
 materials for Britifh manufactures, or are 
 valuable articles of commerce to be tranfport- 
 cd to our colonies or foreign countries : all 
 fuch taxes, undoubtedly, ought to be repeal- 
 ed ; for it is much more for the intereft of 
 Great-Britain, and the whole empire, that a 
 part of the wealth of the Afiatic fubjeCts, 
 lhould be remitted in payment for manufac- 
 tures, and that they fhould furnifh cheap 
 materials for our manufactures, or merchan- 
 dize, at a low price, than that the wealth 
 they can fpare fhould be extracted from them 
 by taxes, and remitted in bullion. Perhaps 
 the removal of fuch clogs upon our trade in 
 thefe countries, might render it practicable 
 to introduce Britifh manufactures even among 
 the Tartars, and other nations in the northern 
 parts of Aha, at leaft as far as the Ganges or 
 Indus is navigable ; nor would it he extra- 
 ordinary, if Great-Britain fhould fupply all 
 Europe with the commodities of the Haft, 
 (fpices excepted) from being able to fell them 
 lb much cheaper than other nations could 
 import them from thence. If the fubjeCts in 
 Ana can now raife a furplus revenue of a 
 'million and an half, it is not to be imagined, 
 
 O * 
 
STATE GF THE NATION* 8; 
 the remiflions commercial considerations 
 Would require, would reduce that revenue lb 
 low as the fum the Eaft-Xndia company have 
 agreed to pay the government, in compensa- 
 tion for its fufpending the claim fet up to the 
 dewane. I Shall, however, eftimate the pro- 
 duce of the taxes, continued by parliament, 
 on the fubjedts in Alia, at no more than that 
 fum, as their contingent towards the Support 
 of the peace eftablilhment of Great-Bri- 
 tain. 
 
 Thefe acceffions of revenue, drawn from 
 the feveral members of the empire, would 
 render the charge of the peace eftablilhment 
 no longer an oppreflive burden upon the peo- 
 ple of Great ‘-Britain. The expence, we have 
 feen, might fairly be reduced to 3,300,000 1. 
 and the Ways and means here pointed out, 
 added to the prefent grants for defraying it, 
 may be computed at the following fums. 
 Land tax, three Shillings - - - 1,500,000 
 
 Malt - -- -- -- - 75c, 00 
 
 Gum Senega ------- 2,000 
 
 American revenue - 200,000 
 
 Ireland - -- -- -- - 100,000 
 
 Alia ------- - - 400,000 
 
 2,952,000 
 
 be made good out of thei Q 
 Sinking Fund - - - -1 
 
 3,300,000 
 
 M 2 
 
 The 
 
88 STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
 The charge upon the Sinking Fund, for 
 the fupport of the peace eftablilhment, be- 
 ing thus reduced to fo fmall a fum as 
 348,0001. fhould that fund continue to pro- 
 duce, as it has done upon the loweft medi- 
 um fince the peace, there would remain to 
 be taken from it upwards of 1,800,000 1 . to 
 be applied in difcharge of the public debt. 
 An able finance minifter, with fuch a furplus 
 in his hands, would not find it impracticable 
 to induce the proprietors of the irredeemable 
 four per cent, annuities to fubfcribe their 
 terms, and take an intereft of three per cent, 
 immediately. 
 
 That operation would add 200,000 1 . to 
 the furplus of the Sinking Fund, and, when 
 there were in it two millions, to be applied 
 in difcharge of debt, the difficulties of thd 
 nation might be faid to be over. 
 
 Every payment of two millions would re- 
 duce the charge for intereft; 60,000 1 . and 
 taxes, to that amount, might be redeemed 
 and taken oft the people of Great-Britain, 
 in every year while peace continued 5 and 
 what nation in Europe would think of com- 
 mencing war with her, when they faw her 
 maintaining fo formidable a peace eftablifli- 
 nient, and with a clear furplus revenue of 
 two millions, with which to augment her 
 forces on the firft hoftile appearance, without 
 impofing any new tax, or making any loan. 
 
 Every year of peace, if thefe meafures 
 were purfued, would bring with it a fecurity 
 
 for 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. S; 
 for the continuance of the public tranquillity, 
 as Great-Britain would continually find frefli 
 motives to preferve it, and other ftates would 
 find it lefs fafe to provoke her to a rupture 
 with them. 
 
 The meafures which can beft ferve to in- 
 creafe the balance of our tr^de with foreign 
 nations, will difcover themfelves upon a 
 view of its principal branches. Our trade * 
 with Ruflia has, in five years fince the peace, 
 viz. from 1762 to 1766, drained Great-Bri- 
 tain of 3,606,5151. of its fpecie. The total 
 value of our imports from thence, exceeding 
 that of our exports thither, to that amount. 
 Our trade with Sweden has carried from us. 
 
 * Imports from Swe- Exp. to Sweden. Balance In favour of 
 den. Sweden. 
 
 1762 
 
 201,160 
 
 1762 
 
 *7 » 5°7 
 
 *83,653 
 
 1763 
 
 249,540 
 
 » 7 6 3 
 
 20,494 
 
 229,046 
 
 1764 
 
 253,280 
 
 1764 
 
 28,351 
 
 224,929 
 
 * 7 6 5 
 
 2 34 > 45 2 
 
 1765 
 
 49,003 
 
 185,449 
 
 1766 
 
 * 95*499 
 
 1 766 
 
 59,678 
 
 135,821 
 
 Tot. imp. 
 
 i>i 33 > 93 i 
 
 Tot. exp. 
 
 I 75>°33 
 
 Tot. bal. 958,898 
 
 Imports from Ruflia. 
 
 Exports 
 
 to Ruflia. 
 
 Balance in favour 
 
 
 
 
 of Ruflia. 
 
 1762 
 
 627,451 
 
 1762 
 
 61,509 
 
 565,942 
 
 1763 
 
 801,279 
 
 1763 
 
 78,901 
 
 722,3^8 
 
 1764 
 
 920,293 
 
 1764 
 
 9 , 95 2 
 
 852,341 
 
 1765 
 
 967,339 
 
 1765 
 
 76,170 
 
 891,169 
 
 1766 
 
 684,585 
 
 1766 
 
 109,900 
 
 574,685 
 
 Tot. imp. 
 
 4,000,947 
 
 Tot. exp. 
 
 394 > 43 2 
 
 Tot. bal. 3,606,5 15 
 
 Balance in favour of Sweden in 5 years fince the peace 958,898 
 Balance in favour of Ruflia in 5 years fince the peace 3,606,5 1 5 
 
 Balance in favour of both nations 
 
 +.565,413 
 
 in 
 
$o STATE OF THE NATION; 
 in the fame time, the fum of 958,898 1. 
 which, added to the balance paid to Ruffia, 
 makes a fum nearly equal to the balance 
 Great-Britain has received from both Spain 
 and Portugal in thofe years -f*. I well know 
 that the commodities we import from Ruffia 
 and Sweden are all of them ufeful, and that 
 many of them are materials for manufactures 
 of the moft profitable kind ; but, furely, we 
 ought to require thofe nations to take payment 
 in our manufactures to a greater amount than 
 they now do, or we ought to endeavour to 
 procure thofe commodities from countries that 
 would do fo. Our colonies could, perhaps. 
 
 f Imports from Spam. 
 
 1762 131,279 
 
 1763 590,506 
 
 1764 503,489 
 
 1765 594,893 
 
 17 66 558,002 
 
 Tot.im. 2,378,169 
 
 Imports from Por- 
 tugal* 
 
 1762 359,127 
 
 1763 304,056 
 
 1764 312,974 
 
 17 6 5 354 >3°7 
 
 1766 347,806 
 
 Exports to Spain. 
 
 1762 139,580 
 
 1763 1*168,072 
 
 1764 i, 3 i 8,345 
 
 17 6 5 1 > 2 37»55 i 
 
 Exports to Portugal. 
 
 1762 908,729 
 
 1763 727,623 
 
 1764 1,266,998 
 
 1765 679,037 
 
 1766 667,104 
 
 Balance in favour of 
 Great-Britain. 
 
 8*301 
 
 577,566 
 
 814,856 
 
 642,658 
 
 520,729 
 
 Balance in favour 
 of Portugal. < 
 549,602 
 423,567 
 954,024 
 
 3 2 4>73° 
 
 319,298 
 
 1766 1,078,731 
 
 Tot. exp. 4,942,279 Tot. bal. 2,564,1 10 
 
 Tot.im* 1,678,270 Tot. exp. 4,249,491 Tot. bal. 2,571,221 
 
 Balance in favour of Great-Britain from her trade j 
 to Spain, in the 5 years fince the peace — J 
 Balance in favour of Great-Britain from her trade 1 
 to Portugal, in the 5 years fince the peace — J 
 
 2,564,1 id 
 2,571,221 
 
 Balance from both nations 
 
 5* I 35»33* 
 
 furnifh 
 
STATE OF THE NATION, 
 furnilh us with them all, and, although we 
 fliould pay them higher prices, yet, as they 
 would take payment for the whole in our 
 merchandize, and thereby fave fo large a ba- 
 lance to the nation, the price ought not to 
 be confidered as an objection, for it would be 
 eafy to reduce it to our manufacturers by 
 bounties. Such were the judicious meafures 
 purfued in 1764; as has been fufficiently 
 fhewn in the Regulations of the Colonies , and 
 to them I refer. 
 
 The decline of our trade to Portugal has 
 been much complained of, but no fuffici^ 
 ent remedy for reftofing it has yet been dif- 
 covered. Two late meafures or the court of 
 Portugal feems to have contributed much to 
 the diminution of our exports to that king- 
 dom : the fetting up manufactories for fupply^ 
 ing themfelves with fome articles, which they 
 formerly took from Great-Britain ; and the 
 importing directly from other countries, fuch 
 foreign commodities as were ufually carried to 
 them through Great-Britain. Againft the 
 firft of thefe proceedings we can have nothing 
 to fay. Every ftate has a right to employ its 
 own fubjects in making their own necefiaries, 
 and it is the duty of every government to 
 confine the expences of its people within its, 
 own dominions. If our lofs of the carrying 
 trade to Portugal be owing to any indulgen- 
 ces granted to the fhips and fubjedts of other 
 nations, or to the withdrawing any heretofore 
 granted to thofe of Great-Britain, there is 
 
92 STATE OF THE NATION, 
 juft ground for complaint, and the honour 
 and intereft of the nation demands fpeedy re- 
 drefs ; but fhould it come out, upon enquiry, 
 that Portugal has not varied her conduct 
 either to Britifti fubjedls, or to thofe of other 
 nations, and that her people prefer buying of 
 other nations only becaufe we have advanced 
 our prices, I am afraid we muft look to our 
 own burthenfome taxes for the caufe of our 
 grievance, and to the fpeedy redudtion of them 
 for the remedy. In fo far as this appears to 
 be the cafe, will it not juftify the reprefenta- 
 tion I have been making of the danger Great- 
 Britain is in, of lofing her whole carrying 
 trade, and with it a full third of her maritime 
 ftrength ; for if Portugal wont employ us for 
 her carriers, what other ftate can we hope 
 will give us the tranfportation of its mer- 
 chandize ? It behoves us well to examine into 
 the circumftances of this fad: ; for a declin- 
 ing trade ought at all times to be an alarm- 
 bell to Britifti minifters, and, in the prefent 
 condition of the nation, any diminution of 
 its balance may be attended with fatal confe- 
 quences. 
 
 Our trade with Hoftand, and the German 
 ftates, is of fo great importance, that it can 
 never become a matter of indifference to 
 Great-Britain, whether France fhould gain 
 the afcendancy on the continent. The folly 
 of fubiidy-treaties, in times of peace, has, 
 indeed, been fufficiently expofed, by the fmall 
 advantage that was found from them, at the 
 
 com- 
 
STATE OF THE NATION. 93 
 commencement of the late war ; but defend 
 live alliances are what our honour and inte- 
 
 reft requires us to enter into, with dates who 
 allow us an advantageous commerce with 
 their people^ Our exports to thofe coun- 
 tries are compofed of the produces or manu- 
 factures of all parts of the Britifh dominions, 
 and they are, confequently, all fharers in the 
 profits of that trade, and ought all to contri- 
 bute to the expence of maintaining the liber- 
 ties of thofe dates, and keeping our good 
 faith with them. From 1762 to 1766 inclu- 
 live, the value exported from Great-Britain 
 to Holland and Germany, amounted to 
 20,455,786 1. and the imports from thence 
 to no more than 5,581,2191. and, confe- 
 quently, the Britifh empire has received a 
 balance of 14,874,5671. from thofe dates, 
 in that period of five years The profits 
 
 of 
 
 * Imports from Hoi- Exports to Hollaiid. 
 
 land. 
 
 1762 493,944 
 
 1763 476,383 
 
 1764 37 1 >7 3° 
 
 1765 420,273 
 
 *7 66 374*5^7 
 
 1762 2,10 7,957 
 
 1763 1,910,240 
 
 1764 2,040,467 
 
 1765 2,026,772 
 
 1766 1,602,924 
 
 Balance in favour 
 of Great-Brit. 
 1,614,013 
 
 i >433> 8 57 
 1,66 8,737 
 1,606,499 
 1,228,337 
 
 Tot.im. 2,136,917 
 
 Imports from Ger- 
 many. 
 
 1762 516*489 
 
 1763 1,085,1 07 
 
 1764 606,410 
 
 1765 602,624 
 
 1766 633,672 
 
 Tot. exp. 9,688,360 
 Exports to Germany. 
 
 1762 2,435,106 
 
 1763 2,272,2 72 
 
 1764 2,379,315 
 
 1765 1,869,465 
 
 1766 1,811,268 
 
 Tot.bal. 7,551,443 
 
 Balance in favour 
 of Great-Britain. 
 1,918,617 
 1,187,165 
 
 I >77 2 >9°5 
 
 1,266,841 
 
 j , 177.596 
 
 Tot.im. 3, 444, 302 Tot. exp. 10,767,426 
 
 N 
 
 Tot.Bal. 7,323,124 
 Balance 
 
$4 STATE OP THE NATION. 
 
 of our trade with them, ought, therefore, to 
 be taken into the account, when the advan- 
 tages and inconveniencies of alliances with 
 them are eftimated, and the meafure of the 
 luccour Great-Britain fhould bind herfelf to 
 afford them, ought to be adjufted to the be- 
 nefits fhe derives from their independancy. 
 
 The generofity with which Great-Britain 
 has always fupported her allies, and the great- 
 nefs of the force fhe employed in their de- 
 fence in the laft war, as it muft have impreff- 
 ed upon all nations an high idea of her re- 
 gard to her engagements, fo will it lead them 
 to prefer her alliance to that of other ftates, 
 if they fee her in a condition to make, the 
 like efforts upon fimilar occafionsj and it 
 may, therefore, be in the power of the fame 
 able miniflers, who fhall reftore her at home, 
 to procure fuch advantages for her commerce 
 with foreign nations, as fhall extend it to a 
 far greater height, and add greatly to the 
 balance in her favour. 
 
 Dignity can only be reftored to govern- 
 ment, and a love of order and fubmfiiion to 
 the laws inculcated among the people, by 
 committing the adminiftration to men of vir- 
 tue and ability. It will be in vain to endea- 
 vour to check the progrefs of irreligion and 
 licentioufnefs, by punifhing fuch crimes iix 
 
 Balance from Holland iq the 5 years fince the peace 7*55 1*443. 
 Balance from Germany in the 5 years f.nce the peace 7,323, 124, 
 
 Balance from both 
 
 H* 8 74>5 6 7 
 
STATfc OF THE NATION. 95 
 6ne individual, if others, equally culpable, 
 are rewarded with the honours and emolu- 
 ments of the ftate. The virtues of the moft 
 exemplary prince that ever fwayed a fceptre, 
 can never warm or illuminate the body of his 
 people, if foul mirrours are placed fo near 
 him, as to refraCt and diffipate their rays, at 
 their firft emanation. A due regard for 
 fiibordination can never be inculcated by plac* 
 ing men, ignorant of the national affairs, 
 and unacquainted with the conftitution of 
 their country, at the head of the king’s coun- 
 cil ; who one day exalt the prerogatives of the 
 crown beyond their legal bounds, and the 
 next yield to the outrages of a mob, tamely 
 permitting theperfon of the king to be inful t- 
 cd, and his orderly and affectionate fubjedts 
 to call in vain for protection. Union among 
 the people, in fupport of the public meafures, 
 can never be promoted by a divided heteroge- 
 neous adminiftration ; nor can their confidence 
 be exadted by feeing the public money diffipat- 
 ed with a profufe hand : the great refponfible 
 offices of ftate turned into finecures, and fo- 
 reign ambaffages converted into occafions for 
 bellowing private gratifications on the follow- 
 ers of a miniftry. Very different muft the con- 
 duct and characters of thofe minifters be, from 
 whom we are to hope the reftoration of energy 
 to government, and of vigour to the ftate. Men 
 to whom the king lhall give his confidence, 
 and the people lhall think worthy to poffefs 
 it ; who will not facrifice the interefts of the 
 
 N 2 ftate 
 
9 $ STATE OF THE NATION, 
 ftate for gaining popularity to themfelves, 
 nor fee k to make their court to the prince, by 
 narrowing the liberties of the people. 
 
 Such has been the general relaxation of 
 government, that the minifters, who fhould 
 endeavour to wind it up to its proper tone, 
 muff expofe themfelves to the clamour of 
 the licentious, and the calumny and oppo- 
 sition of the fadlious : they muff do many 
 
 things to provoke refentment and create 
 dillike. The firm fupport of the prince, 
 and the affurance of continuing in his fa-? 
 vour, can alone prompt them to undertake 
 meafures of extent and efficacy, under fuch 
 difcouragements. It will not be enough 
 to fupport them, during the conflict, againfi: 
 their adverfaries ; they will expedt to en- 
 joy the fweets of repofe after they have 
 obtained the vidtory. Detaching the lea- 
 ders from their parties, and expofing them 
 to the contempt and hatred of their follow- 
 ers, by gratifying them with employments 
 at court, may be a proper means for break-? 
 ing an oppofition, or fruftrating the defigns 
 of a factious cabal ; but there cannot be a 
 more dangerpus error for a prince to fall 
 into, than to entrufi: the exerdfe of his 
 power with thofe he de^ms unworthy of 
 his confidence. For the minifter who 
 finds himfelf diftrufted, will expedt his dif- 
 miflion from his poft, whenever a favoura r 
 ble pccalion offers itfelf for filling it with 
 another. Common prudence will, there- 
 fore. 
 
STATE OF THE NATION, 
 
 Fore, diredt him to fecure a retreat among 
 the people in the belt manner he can. He 
 will endeavour to court their favour by fa- 
 crificing the authority of the prince to their 
 humour; he will indulge their prejudices 
 by debafing the dignity of his mafter. 
 Such were the practices of Robert duke of 
 Albany, and Murdo his fon, when they 
 fought to enhance their own merit with the 
 Scotifli nation, at the expence of the fo- 
 vereign, with whofe authority they were 
 inverted. “ They negledted nothing” fays 
 that energic hiftorian Dr. Robertfon, 
 that could either foothe or bribe the no- 
 bles. They flackened the reigns of go- 
 ** vernment ; they allowed the prerogative 
 to be encroached upon ; they dealt out 
 ft the patrimony of the crown, among 
 thofe whofe enmity they dreaded, or 
 ** whofe favour they had gained, and re- 
 “ dueed the royal authority to a Rate of 
 “ imbecillity, from which fucceeding mo- 
 narchs laboured in vain to raife it.” 
 
 The prefent circumftances of this coun- 
 try bear fo near a refemblance, in many in- 
 stances, to the condition of the French na- 
 tion, when Henry the Fourth afeended 
 that throne, that meafures fimiiar to thofe, 
 by which that great prince reftored order 
 and dignity to his government, and tran- 
 quillity and profperity to his people, cannot 
 fail of being attended with the like happy 
 effedts in Great-Britain. Henry, fays 
 
 Sully, 
 
98 STATE OF THE NATION. 
 
 Sully, began his difcourfe to his council 
 by drawing a very natural reprefentation of 
 the perplexing fituation he was in. 44 Ir- 
 4 ‘ reconcileable enmities in the nobility of 
 €c the kingdom, hatred amongft them- 
 “ felves, and rage againfl him, mutiny 
 and difobedience in aU minds, tfeachery 
 44 within, violence without.” “ The me*- 
 44 thods” continues the fame great minifter, 
 4€ this great prince took, to render all the 
 44 intrigues of thofe who endeavoured to 
 4€ difturb his government and thwart his 
 “ purpofes, ineffectual, were, to apply 
 44 himfelf, with his accuftomed attention 
 44 and affiduity, to the affairs both within 
 44 and without his kingdom, and to fill the 
 44 intendencies, and other public offices, 
 44 with fuch men only as were diflinguifhed 
 44 for their merit, their probity, and zeal 
 “ for his fervice. He permitted me,” fays 
 he, ** to be continually laying before him 
 44 the flate of his affairs, informing him of 
 44 the ufe and deftination of his money ; 
 44 and I carried my folicitude for order and 
 44 oeconomy fo far, as to reproach him with 
 44 even the fmalleft needlefs expence ; but 
 44 I amaffed him treafure, I filled his ma- 
 “ gazines, and pointed out to him the 
 4{ means of rendering himfelf formidable 
 44 to all Europe.” The confidence he re- 
 pofed in the duke of Sully, and the firm-- 
 nefs with which he fupported him againft 
 the calumnies and intrigues of thofe venal 
 
 wretches. 
 
STATE OF THE NATTON. 99 
 Wretches, who he had made his enemies by- 
 reducing their penfions, and cutting off the 
 fources of corruption in the court, enabled 
 that upright minifter to do thefe great 
 things for the ftate ; and he candidly con- 
 felfes, that, without it, it would have been 
 vain to have attempted an enterprise fo dif- 
 ficult, as a reformation in the finances** 
 Few princes, indeed, can hope to find a mi- 
 nifter equally deferving to be the general 
 repofitory of their confidence, and the fub- 
 ftitute of their power, with the duke of 
 ^Sully : yet we may hope, that the qualities 
 which that great ftateftnan requires in a fi- 
 nance minifter, are to be found in every 
 country, and particularly in our own. 
 “ We may be allured,” lays he, “ that the 
 “ revenues of a ftate are fallen into good. 
 “ hands, when a moderate degree of judg- 
 €C ment, much diligence and exadtnefs, 
 “ and ftill more probity, are qualities re- 
 “ markable in him that governs them/' 
 
 That the Almighty, who, in fo many 
 inftances, has mercifully interpoled to pre- 
 ferve thefe kingdoms from deftrudtion, may 
 put it into the heart of our gracious king 
 to chufe fuch able and virtuous minifters : 
 that parliament may adopt their meafures, 
 and fupport them in carrying them into full 
 execution : and, that all the fubjedts of the 
 realm may be of one heart, and one, mind, to 
 contribute to the fupport of the Britiih empire, 
 
 and 
 
ioo STATE OF THE NATION 
 and the prefervation of our moft excellent 
 conftitution in church and ftate, is the wifh 
 with which I {hall conclude this treatife, and 
 in the fame fentiments do I hope to terminate 
 my life* 
 
 F I N 1 S