New York. 265 



the Englifi, who commonly have no par- 

 ticular attachment to Old England ; add to 

 this likewife that many people can never 

 be contented with their pofleliions, though 

 they be ever fo great, and will always be 

 defirous of getting more, and of enjoying 

 the pleafure which arifes from changing ; 

 and their over great liberty, and their luxury 

 often lead them to licentioufnefs. 



I have been told by Engliftmen, and 

 not only by fuch as were born in America, 

 but even by fueh as came from Europe, 

 that the Engli/lj colonies in North- America, 

 in the fpace of thirty or fifty years, would 

 be able to form a (fate bv themfelves, en- 

 tirely independent on Old England. But 

 as the whole country which lies along the 

 fea more, lis unguarded, and on the land 

 fide is harrafTed by the French, in times of 

 war thefe dangerous neighbours are fuffici- 

 ent to prevent the connection of the colo- 

 nies with their mother country from being 

 quite broken off. The Engli/lj government 

 has therefore fufficient reafon to confider 

 the French in North-America, as the beff. 

 means of keeping the colonies in their due 

 fubmiffion. But, I am almoft gone too far 

 from my purpofe ; I will therefore finifh 

 my obfervations on New York. 



The declination of the magnetic needle, 



in 



