But nevertheless, I will now suppose, contrary to all Proof and Matters of Fact, that the Revenue of the taxable Objects imported from North-America, was the greatest of all others;—what Inference is to be drawn from this Concession? And doth it at all follow from such Premises, that the North-Americans must, or ought to enjoy all the Privileges of Englishmen, without contributing any Thing towards the general Support, merely because we carry on an advantageous Trade with them, or have raised a Tax on their Commodities? Surely no: For by the same Rule, we must unite and incorporate with, we must protect and defend, the Chinese, the French, the Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians, &c. &c. for the same Reasons, and on the same Account. A Proposition this, which is too big with Nonsense and Absurdity, to be seriously maintained.
I will therefore dismiss the present Remark, with putting my Reader again in Mind, that let the Trade to North-America be what it may, of little Importance, or otherwise; it is a mere begging the Question, and a most disingenuous Artifice to insinuate (as all the Advocates for America now do) that this Trade will be lost, if a Separation from the Colonies should ensue. On the contrary, it is much more probable, that, when all Parties shall be left at full Liberty to do as they please, our North-American Trade will rather be encreased, than diminished by such a Measure. Because it is Freedom, and not Confinement, or Monopoly, which encreases Trade. And sure I am that, on this Subject, History and past Experience, as well as Reason and Argument, are clearly on my Side.
REMARK III.
The Case of Emigrations from Germany and Holland, hath been in Part considered already: But as the continual Emigrations from Great-Britain and Ireland (which I will always consider as one Country) have something more particularly prejudicial in their Nature, if compared with others, I hope the Reader will not think it lost Time, if I give them in this Place a distinct Consideration.
A Set of Labourers, or Tradesmen resided lately in Great-Britain, or Ireland; and earned their Bread by the Sweat of their Brows. Their natural, or artificial Wants might be summed up under the three great, and comprehensive Articles of Food, Rayment, and Dwelling. In respect to Food, including drinkables, as well as eatables, they paid for it by their Labour and Wages; and consequently were the Means of employing all those different Trades both in Town and Country, which were concerned in, or connected with, the raising of Corn, or the rearing of Sheep and Cattle, the making of Bread, Butter, Cheese, Malt, and Malt-Liquors, Cyder, &c. &c. also in the fattening, killing, dressing, or preparing of Flesh, Fish, Fowl, &c. &c. and in the raising of all Sorts of Garden-Stuff, and other Eatables: The like might be observed in regard to Rayment, traced from the Raw-Material up to the perfect Manufacture, and including every Article of Dress, and all the Trades dependent on, and supported by it, throughout all its Stages: Dwelling is the last Article; in which Estimate ought to be included not only the original Materials for framing the Structure of the House, but also its successive Repairs; together with all Kinds of Household Goods from the highest to the lowest Piece of Furniture, and their continual Wear and Tare.
These Persons, who have been thus useful to their Country, and have contributed to its Trade and Riches, both by paying their own Rents and Taxes, and also by enabling others to pay theirs;—these Persons I say, have been inveigled away to leave this Country, and to settle in North-America.—Here therefore I ask this plain Question, What Recompence can they possibly make in America, for the Loss which hath been occasioned by their leaving England? And what Gains will accrue to the Mother-Country by this flourishing State of her Colonies? Begin therefore wherever you please;—examine, I beseech you this Matter to the Bottom, and mark the Consequences. Food for Example, consisting of its various Kinds, and including eatables as well as drinkables, common Food, I say, must certainly be raised and manufactured on the Spot; for a Man cannot wait for his Dinner ’till it comes from England. Similar Observations will likewise extend to the chief Part of every Article respecting Rayment or Cloathing;—not forgetting also Housing and Furniture. For in all these Respects, the principal Quantity, and the Bulk of the Goods, Manufactures, or Provisions must be procured from adjacent Places, and not from a Country 3000 Miles off. Perhaps indeed a few, a very few Elegancies and Ornaments of Dress or Furniture, or of the Dainties of the Table may still be imported from the Mother-Country. But alas! What are they, if compared with the Whole? Perhaps they would not amount to more than a twentieth Part of the general Consumption.—And most certain it is, that if these Emigrants should not settle near the Sea-Coasts of America, but wander higher up the Country for Hundreds of Miles, in pursuit of fresh unpatented Tracts of Land, (which most New-comers are desirous of doing,) it would then not be a fortieth Part of what they would have either used, consumed, or worn, had they still remained Inhabitants of Great-Britain or Ireland: So little Cause hath the Mother-Country to rejoice at this rapid Progress of the Population of her Colonies, arising from, or caused by, Emigrations.
But here, I know, it will be said, because it hath very often been said already, “That tho’ these Emigrants might not employ as many Persons, or mechanic Trades here at Home, as they did before they left England; yet they will employ more Shipping and Navigation, and consequently more Sailors than heretofore; and Sailors are the Defence, Sailors are the Bulwark of the Nation,” &c. &c. Now in order to detect this Fallacy, as well as the rest, I will here state a Case, which must open People’s Eyes, if any Thing can, respecting even the Articles of Seamen, Shipping, and Navigation.