CONCLUSION. 117 



Whether, however, some produce 600,000, and 

 others only 5000 or 500, there can be no justification 

 for their impolitic, and wanton destruction ; on the 

 contrary, the fewer the number, the greater the 

 reason why they should be more closely protected 

 and preserved. 



The detail of the foregoing bill is open to every 

 man's animadversion and correction — to add or to 

 curtail — in short, to improve. There is no design 

 at subterfuge. The most severe critical discussion 

 will favor the objects which I have in view — truth, 

 justice, and the public good. I have taken this trou- 

 ble for no other purposes. It will probably be com- 

 plained, that there is a great deal of tautology in 

 these remarks : there may be ; but I have no thirst for 

 literary fame ; and as a literary performance the work 

 is altogether beneath criticism. I readily submit to 

 such accusation ; yet there may be some advantage 

 even in repetition, since the oftener a truth is told 

 the more likely it is to make an impression. It may 

 be said again, that the book contains much irre- 

 levant matter ; and, though it may not be so, yet 

 I will allow that charge also, only observing, that 

 if such matter should not elucidate or explain, there 

 is no great harm in trying to enliven a dry work. 

 All these weighty charges I must however bow to, 

 and I can afford to do so, confident that the impor- 

 tance of my object will abundantly outweigh the 

 defects of its performance. 



I therefore conclude with observing, that Pro- 

 vidence has filled the rivers and the seas with 



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