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The independency of America may, in all 

 probability, be one of the greatest misfor- 

 tunes that ever befel it. The future success 

 of America must arise from trade, rather 

 than from the fertility of the soil, and will 

 require a considerable navy to defend it. 

 Where is that force to be found but in Eng- 

 land ? If so, the Americans' dependence is 

 on the mother-country, since they are un- 

 able to raise a navy equal to their trade, and 

 a very great number of their merchant-ships 

 are employed as carriers to Great- Britain : 

 therefore England builds the houses in the 

 cities, paves the streets, &c. : and the greater 

 part of what are termed American vessels 

 belong to merchants in England ; so that, 

 should there be peace, the American ships 

 would not be wanted, and then there would 

 be a great stagnation of trade. Every thing 

 in towns is taxed very high ; which is an 

 absolute impost on British manufactures 

 sold in America. The land is already tax- 

 ed higher than it is capable of paying. I 

 have heard several respectable men say, that 



