THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 29 



to the magnitude of external dominion and com- 

 merce, ihould be the powers of the centre , a confi- 

 deration which hath not, feemingly, had a due 

 lhare of attention. The improvement of the mo- 

 ther country was neglefted, as an object of trivial 

 concern, and the confequences were iuch as might 

 have been expected. Filled with vaft ideas of ex- 

 tenfive empire, and commercial monopoly, we en - 

 joyed a momentary fplendour, at an expence far 

 exceeding our abilities, and in a few years the 

 golden dream vanifhed. 



But fo extenfive were our diftant poflefllons, that 

 though an empire be loft, through the weaknefs of 

 the feat of government, an empire (till acknow- 

 ledges our fway ; whofe proportionable magnitude 

 to that of Great Britain is as five to one, without 

 including the uninhabited regions of Labrador, and 

 the countries round Hudfon's Bay. 



Confidering our fituation, therefore, in every [ 

 point of view, national improvements, and the in- 

 creafe of population, feem not only matters of ex- 

 pediency, but of pofetive necejfity ; objects of the 

 firil importance, and to which all other concerns 

 are only fecondary, in a very diftant degree. Hap- 

 pily, the field which yet remains for the exercife of 

 a patriotic adminiftration ; the internal refourccs 

 Hill in referve for the relief of an opprefTed king- 

 dom ; afford a pleafing, well-grounded profpect, 

 that we fhall not only be able to furmount prefcnt 

 difficulties, but even to rife, with redoubled ftrength, 

 from the ruins of a fhattered empire. If we v/ilh to 

 erect a fabric of future profperity on a permanent 

 bafis, we muft return to our deferted native country; 

 trace out the unexplored gifts of nature, and bring 

 into action all its hidden treaiures. England in 

 .1784, contrafted with England at the Revolution ; 

 with Ireland, Ruflla, and North America, is a 

 highly improved country. But England in 1784, 



compared 



