Advantages of TEA. 261 
common fenfe and underftanding of this nation, that we fhould 
fuffer fuch evils for fo filly and ridiculous a gratification as the 
drinking tea. 
But there is a delusion in this affair ; many think, and many 
talk abfurdly. I have even heard it faid, with an air of feri- 
oufnefs, that our confumption of tea will enable us to cope with 
France. Perhaps you will be at a lofs to know in what man- 
ner : I will tell you. Tea requires a great confumption of fu- 
gar ; the more fugar is confumed, the more his majesty’s fugar 
colonies are encouraged : the more fugar is brought home, the 
more feamen will be bred, and thefe are our proper bulwarks 
againft France. 
The fallacy of this reafoning is fo apparent, that you will' 
hardly think any reafonable man can maintain it. All things 
have their bounds ; heaven has ordained it fo ; and we fee, 
by every day’s experience, that the condud: or event, which to 
a certain degree is productive of good, every ftep we go beyond 
it, leads to destruction. There are many abfurdities, indeed, 
which are fupported by arguments lefs plauflble than the chain 
of reafoning I have juft mentioned. No body can doubt the 
greater number of manufacturers we employ, without injury 
to agriculture, the better ; but it does not follow, that the 
fafter we wear out our cloaths, the richer we fhall be. The 
mercer will tell you, that the more ftlk you cut to pieces for 
flounces, the more he fhall fell ; and the more he fells, the 
richer he fhall be : but do you imagine the state will increafe 
in power and fplendor, by the havock which female folly creates 
in this inftance? No: many have reafon to complain of their 
INABILITY 
