New York. . 263 



the belt and cheapeft manner of carrying 

 on the war, an enemy has it in his power 

 to take one place after another. It has 

 commonly happened that whilft feme pro- 

 vinces have been Suffering from their ene- 

 mies, the neighbouring ones were quiet 

 and inactive, and as if it did not in the leaft 

 concern them. They have frequently ta- 

 ken up two or three years in considering 

 whether ihev mould sive amftance to an 

 oppreiTed lifter colony, and Sometimes they 

 have exprefly declared themleives againft it. 

 There are inftances of provinces who were 

 not only neuter in thefe circumflances, but 

 who even carried on a great trade with the 

 power which at that very time was attack- 

 ing and laying wafte fome other provinces. 

 The French in Canada, who are but an 

 inconfiderable body, in comparifon with 

 the Eng/ifi in America, have by this poiition 

 of affairs been able to obtain great Advan- 

 tages in times of war; for if we judge 

 from the number and power of the Englijh, 

 it would feem very eafy for them to get 

 the better of the French in America.* 



R 4 It 



* This has really happened by a greater union and exer- 

 tion of power from the colonies and the mother country; fo 

 that Canada has been conquered and its poffeffion has beer, 

 confirmed to Great Britain in the lafl peace. F, 



