310 Ballance of Trade with FRANCE, 
concerned in this commerce, rob this nation to the quantity, 
according to Tome accounts, of fix to eight hundred packs an- 
nually, the value of which is very great, if we confider France 
as our rival in woollen manufactures. It is hard to fay, if the 
wool we sell to trance, or the tea we buy of her, is moft per- 
nicious to us. What indignation muff it raife in the breaff of 
thofe who have any fenfe of the love of their country, when 
they confider what advantages we wantonly give to France in 
one fhape or other ! We ought to blufh at our want of /kill in 
not finding more effectual means to prevent it. 
Thus we enable France to extend her commerce ; to breed 
up feamen ; to build fhips of war ; to fupport the credit of 
her india company, and perhaps to involve us foon in a very 
dangerous and expenfive war. Thus we put a two-edged fword 
into her hand ; and if providence has not more mercy for us, 
than we have for ourfelves, I am perfuaded fhe will give us a 
blow, which we fhall repent in fackcloth and afhes. I know 
the french have large refources independent of us ; but the 
greater thefe are, the more dangerous is our illicit commerce with 
them, efpecially as they make ,£40,000 go as far in land forces, 
as we do ,£100,000. Let them enjoy the advantages which 
nature has given them ; but they could not benefit fo much 
by their cambrics if we did not wear them ; nor could they 
carry on a trade to china above a fhip or two, if we did not 
buy the tea they bring home. ’Tis not long fince the french 
had but two china fhips, and 9 tis time we fhould endevor to 
reduce them to two again. 
We 
