CONCERNING OUR MARINE, &C. 137 



material ? Does our Government perceive the rapid 

 strides which our rival brothers in America are mak- 

 ing to surpass us in marine — and will it be so besot- 

 ted as continue laws to the speedy fulfilment of this ? 



May we hope that, through the energy of our 

 Sailor King, Britain will lead the van in the dis- 

 enfranchisement of man from the old bondage of 

 monopoly and restriction — that a more sane system 

 of taxation (a tax on property) will be adopted, as 

 well as a necessary retrenchment— that the true in- 

 terest of Britain will be understood and followed, 

 and a new era begin. We are sick of the drivelling 

 nonsense of our closet economists about loss by colo- 

 nies and foreign connexion. Bonaparte well knew 

 the value of ships, colonies and commerce, 

 and dreaded the power which eventually wrought 

 his fall. The existence of China depends upon her 

 Agricultm*e, and the sovereign devotes a part of his 

 time annually to the plough. The existence of Bri- 

 tain depends upon her Marine, and the king should 

 always be bred a sailor — the heir-apparent and pre- 

 sumptive being always sent to sea. In the case of 

 a female, if she did not take kindly to the sea- 

 service, a dispensation might be allowed, on her 

 marrying a sailor, and the foohsh law prohibiting 

 our Boyal Family from marrying a Briton be put 

 aside. 



