A. D. 1783. 7 



of their own country. It was proper to avoid all liarfli difcuflions with 

 America, and to lay the foundations of an afFe<5lion and tmity, which 

 would terminate in a grand commercial intercourfe, and in a com- 

 munication of mutual greatnefs and felicity, which might endure for 

 ages to come. The i^etention of the forts in the back country would 

 be attended with an enormous expenfe to no purpofe, and would infall- 

 ibly lay the foundation of new quarrels with America. It was alleged, 

 that the whole province of Quebec was no object for the continuation 

 of any war, much lefs fuch a one as we had been engaged in : the value 

 of the goods imported from it was only about ^^50,000 a-year, v.'hile 

 the government of it in fix years had coft almofl: fix millions. But the 

 trade of the province was not given away : it was only divided in a man- 

 ner advantageous to Britain. Rivalfhip would advance the fpirit of 

 commerce, which monopoly never can do * : and it mufl be remem- 

 bered, that the fur of the beaver is vaflly more valuable in the north- 

 ern, than in the fouthern, parts of the country. It was alleged, that the 

 exclufion of the Americans from the Newfoundland fifhery mufl be 

 an endlefs fource of animofity and contention, and was in facl impof- 

 fible to be accomplifhed. There are two feafons for the Newfoundland 

 fifiiery. The firft in February, which is lefs important, mufi; be aban- 

 doned to the Americans ; for no fhips from Europe can be there fo 

 early f. And as to the fecond, and more important, fifhery in May and 

 June, it could not be refuted to the Americans, who had formerly en- 

 joyed it, without indicating the moft rooted hoftility to them ; and for 

 a liberty of fo little importance to Great Britain, it would be mofl ab- 

 furd to facrifice all our hopes of the benefits to be derived from the 

 friendfhip of America +. As to the independence of America, which 

 forae had denied the power of parliament to alienate, it was obferved, 

 that nothing was given to the Americans .by the treaty, but what they 

 had already enjoyed tor feveral years. 



The cellion of Wefl Florida, already in the pofTeffion of Spain, and 

 the refignation of Eaft Florida, were juflified by the neceffity of affairs, 

 and the apprehenfion of contefls with America upon their account, if 

 we retained them : and it was afferted, that they were fully compenfat- 

 ed by the refioration of the Bahama iflands. 



* But the monopoly of one nation againd an- to obferve, how very oppofitely the value of our 



other, if fuch may be called a monopoly, is very foreign polfeflions and filheries has been efliniated 



different from the monopoly of individuals- or ex- according to the circumftances of the time?. The 



clufive companies againlt a whole nation, of which great earl of Chatham had a very 'Jlfterent opinion 



they conftitute but a minute part. of the Newfoundland filhery, when he afferted, 



f Bat, granting that ihips from liurope cannot that the excluiive right to it was an objeft worthy 



be tltere in time, are not the people of Nova Scotia of being concerted by the extiemities of war. — 



Hill nearer than thole of the United ilates ? And the now-flighted province of Qi^ebec was 



' X' Does not the lairiC argument hold good for trumpeted forth as of the greatell value and im- 



granting them every other privilege which they portance in the preceding war. 

 iormerly enjoyed as Britifh fubjefts ? It is curious 



