178 ROYAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 



wben Nova Scotla, small as she la, will maintain half a million of men upon 

 the sea. Already is she becoming remarked and remarkable for her enter- 

 prise. Taking her tonnage and applying to all the other provinces her ra±io 

 of Increase since 1846, they coUeetlvely own six thousand one hundred and 

 thirty-nine vessels, measuring 453,000 tons. We are perpetually told of the 

 progress made by the great republic and the learned member for Annapolis 

 ascribes all their prosperity to their union. But the North American provinces 

 have not been umted, and yet they own as much tonnage as the fifteen of 

 the United States which I am about to name. 



I take North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama. Mississippi, 

 Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Michigan, Wi&consin, Oregon and 

 California ; and, altogether they own only four hundred and flfty-three thous- 

 and nine hundred tons of shipping, or but nine hundred and forty-six tons 

 more than the five North American provinces which have no union, no national 

 investments, no control over their foreign relations, no representation in the 

 national councils of the Empire to which they belong. I may be told that 

 some of these States raise more com, cotton or tol>acco or have more manu- 

 factures than we have. I care not for these. Since the world began the 

 nation that had the most ships, has had the most influence. Maritime 

 countries ever take the lead in freedom, in commerce, in wealth and true 

 civilization. Sir, let not the member for Annapolis, while he directs our 

 attention to higher objects, fail to see in the maritime position which his 

 country has achieved, unmistakable evidence of her energy and enterprise, and 

 let it ever be borne in mind that the United States were a century in advance 

 of us in point of time, and that she came into possession of all the property 

 that the Loyalists left behind them. But, sir, take the comibined tonnage of 

 North America and you will find it equals that of Holland, Belgium and 

 the two Sicilies, three of the maritime powers of Europe. Who then will say 

 that we have not a mercantile marine wherewith to endow a nation ? 



Scotland maintains upon the Clyde the greatest manufactory of ships in 

 the world. Vessels glide up and doiwn that beautiful stream like swallows 

 round a barn, scarcely a moment passes but richly laden vessels arrive or 

 depart with domestic manufactures, or the products of foreign climes. Go 

 into the factories where the mighty engines for her steamers are wrought and 

 the noise of the fabled Cyclops' cave is realized. The roar of waters behind 

 Niagara Falls is scarcely more incessant or more deafening. And yet, sir, 

 the tonnage of Scotland is only a trifle more than that of the North American, 

 provinces. Her whole commercial marine included but five hundred and 

 twenty-two thousand two hundred and twenty-two tons in 1853. 



At the risk of being tedious let me now turn your attention to two 

 or three curious historical facts Illustrative of this argument. Since we 

 were boys we have all read of the Spanish Armada. We have all read of 

 Queen Elizabeth reviewing her land and sea forces ; and preparing with 

 grave doubts in her royal mind, to defend heir sea-girt isle against the foreign 

 Invaders. This was In 1588. We read in old chronicles that England then 

 owned but one hundred and thirty-five merchant ships. But that some 

 wei^ " of great size " ; some were four hundred tons, and a few reaching five 

 hundred tons ! If my friend George McKonzie, of New Glasgow, had dashed 

 Into the midst of the maiden Queen's navy with his one thousand four hundred 

 and forty-four ton ships, I fear that he would have shaken her nerves and 

 astonished our forefathers of whose exploits we are so enamoured that we 

 never think of our own. Sir, In 1702 the mercantile marine of England and 

 Wales Included only 261,290 tons ; and even as late as 1750, not a century ago. 

 It was but 432,922 ; less than the tonnage of North America at this moment ; 

 and yet for ten centuries prior to that period they have maintained an Inde- 

 pendent national existence. 



