ADDRESS TO THE P R, &c. 629 



mnum; on others, from 10 to 10!. each, which is 

 thought high, chough much more could be gained by 

 ig OW lirgc diftrtds to opulent graziers, and 

 without rtlk or trou' 



There is Ibinething generous in this frit 

 which . noc only the public applaufr, but the 



thanks of government. 



JHtrtft to tbt lower Ranks if Pttplf in the 

 Highland,. 



Having always found you inqurfitive after news, 



and particularly refpeding North America, and the 



encouragements to poor men in that country, I fhall 



give \ h lights as have come to my knowledge, 



'in which you may rely. 



While America remained under the protecting 

 and foftcring hand of Great Britain, (by which you 

 are tounderftand England and Scotland) the p 

 were happy and flourifhing, beyond any example 

 on record ; every year increafcd their commerce, 

 (hipping, and towns, and rolled in new fources of 

 wealth. They were protected at the expence of this 

 country, againfl all enemies; liberal bounties were 

 granted by Parliament for the encouragement of 

 natural produce ; they were allowed a free 

 trade with our fugar colonies, by which they fup- 

 planted the mother country, to a great amount an- 

 nually, without contributing in men, (hips, or 

 money, to the defence of thcie iflands i they had the 

 monopoly of (hip-building, and Britain was the \ 



market, while many of our own ports were 

 neglecled, choakcd up, or in ruins ; they traded on the 

 capital of Brinfh merchants and manufacturers to the 

 amount of 4 or 5,000,000!. and were fupplied with 

 Brinfh and India goods, free of thofc burdens whiefc 

 the native fubjedts paid ; with otht r benefits, exemp- 

 tions and privileges, too numerous to recapitulate, and 

 which would have been further heaped upon them, 



R * 3 had 



