General Reflections 



hard, their diet poor and scanty, their treatment cruel 

 and oppresive: they cannot therefore but be a sub- 

 ject of terror to those who so inhumanly tyrannize 

 over them. 



The Indians near the frontiers are a still further 

 formidable cause of subjection. The southern In- 

 dians are numerous, and are governed by a sounder 

 policy than formerly: experience has taught them 

 wisdom. They never make war with the colonists 

 without carrying terror and devastation along with 

 them. They sometimes break up entire counties 

 together. Such is the state of the southern colonies. 



The northern colonies are of stronger stamina, 

 but they have other difficulties and disadvantages to 

 struggle with, not less arduous, or more easy to be 

 surmounted, than what have been already mentioned. 

 Their limits being defined, they will undoubtedly 

 become exceedingly populous: for though men will 

 readily retire back towards the frontiers of their own 

 colony, 'yet they will not so easily be induced to settle 

 beyond them, where different laws and polities pre- 

 vail; and where, in short, they are a different people: 

 but in proportion to want of territory, if we consider 

 the proposition in a general and abstract light, will 

 be want of power. But the northern colonies have 

 still more positive and real disadvantages to contend 

 with. They are composed of people of different 

 nations, different manners, different religions, and 

 different languages. They have a mutual jealousy 



