374 
^he Discoveries and Settlements Book I. 
tHey were able to raife. Such is the Difference between thing unthought of by the Spaniards^ who can fcarce keep 
the Strength of their Governments in that Part of the what they have. 
World, and ours. Upon the whole, all thefe Circumftances confidered, I 
„ But to enter more clofely into the Matter, let us con- flatter myfelf it will not be thought the mere Effefts of 
Fi der tlie vaft Extent of the Country they have, and the Partiality, in Favour of Britain^ that have ded me into 
Number of People they have in it, and compare it with this Notion, but rather a ferious and attentive Confidera- 
our own Territory and Force. Tht Spaniards, ^on one tion of the Situation and Circumftances of both Coun- 
Side of the Continent^ poflefs a Tradl of Land, from 37 tries,, with refpedl to American lam 
Degrees of North Latitude, to 53 Degrees of South *, that very well aware of one Objedlion, which is, the general 
is to fay, from Cape Sehajiian, the moft northern Part of Computations made of the Profits of both Colonies. It 
California, to the Streights of Magellan, which makes may be faid, what Proportion does the Trade, or rather 
about two thoufand Leagues ^ and on the other Side of the Ballance of Trade, from the Englijh Settlements, bear 
the Continent, from the River of Plate, to the Head of to forty Millions of Pieces of Eight, which in a Time of 
the Bay of Mexico, their Territories lie diredly along the Peace, it is computed, are annually brought home by the 
Shorej or immediately behind it. Yet to guard this im- Spanijh Flota and Galleons ; and how idle and ridiculous 
menfe Traft of Ground^ they have not above fix him- a thing is it, to compare fuch immenfe Treafures of Gold 
dred thoufand white People of all Ranksj Sexes, and and Silver, with our Cargoes of Sugar, Tobacco, naval 
Ages, and not above three Millions of Subjedts of all Stores, and Fifh } But,' perhaps, when we confider this 
Colours j and of thefe it is generally reckoned that a more attentively, it will neither appear fo ridiculous, nor 
fixth Part are Ecclefiaftics, and confequently ufelefs to fo much to our Difadvantage, as at firft Sight it may 
the State for its Defence ; on the other Side we have five feem. 
or fix hundred Leagues Coaft, in which we have very near We might, in the firft Place, difpute the Matter of 
as many white People as the Spaniards, and thofe conti- Fadt ; for it is certain, that if we examine it nicely, and 
nually increafing, both by the Number of Perfons bred require all the neceftary Proofs, it can never be brought 
and born in thofe Countries, and by the Acceffion of Peo- anything near that Sum-, but this we are content to 
pie from other Places, drawn thither by the Hopes of wave, becaufe if the fraudulent, as well as fair, Trade, 
Profit. The Spanifo Colonies have been always held dan- be taken in, it is not impoffible, in Time of Peace, that 
gerous and deftrudlive to Old Spain, by draining that there may be in Jewels, Gold, Silver, and Goods, the 
Country of its People ; but this is fo far' from our Cafe, Value of eight Millions of our Money exported in 
that, as 1 have already obferved, our Numbers have not one Year, from America into Old Spain. But the 
only encreafed, fince we began to make Settlements in next Queftion is, does it remain there ? Does this pro- 
America, but have really been encreafed by them, that digious Wealth belong to the Subjedls of Does it 
is, in Confequence of the Navigation and Trade which circulate through that Nation ^ Ail thefe (^eftions muft 
thole Colonies have produced. be anfwered in the Negative, and 1 believe it will be al- 
At the Time Spain difcovered the Wefi Indies, and for lowed me. That to fuppofe two Millions Sterling, or, at 
fome Time after, fhe was the greateft maritime Power moft, ten Millions of Pieces of Eight, become Spanip 
in Europe but the Maxims Ihe laid down for fecuring Property, is over-doing the thing, and allowing them 
her Dominions in the New World, ruined her naval more Riches than really comes to their Share. Butadmit- 
Strength in the Old ; fo that inftead of great Fleets and ing the Cafe to ftand thus, the Comparifon between 
numerous Squadrons, flie is now reduced to a few Ships what they gain by their Colonies, and we by ours, is 
of War of no great Strength and the whole Trade of her far enough from appearing ridiculous. 
Weft Indies is, as to Shipping and the breeding of Sailors, But it may be objedted, that we do not bring home 
very inconfiderable. On the other Hand, our naval Money or intrinfic Riches, which is all that can add to 
Power took Rife from out Difputes with them, grew in the real Wealth of a Nation. Yet this very Objedtion, 
Proportion as theirs declined, and is, at this Day, fup- which feems to fet us farther back than ever, confirms 
ported and maintained by what has weakened them, our our Argument. The Commodities we receive from our 
American Settlements, where, comparatively fpeaking, we Colonies, are the Produce of Labour and Induftry •, they 
carry on as great a Trade, and employ as much Shipping, are returned us for what was the Produce of Labour and 
as in Europe. Induftry here, become, when imported, the Objects of 
The Spanp Subjedts in America are, generally fpeak- Labour and Induftry again ; and after fupplying our home 
ing, a weak, lazy, and effeminate People j fo that what- Confumption, for the Supply of which we muft otherwife 
ever good is derived from them to their Mother Coun- have fent out ready Money, the Overplus is once more 
try, arifes not from their Induftry, but from the Labour exported, and adlually produces ready Money. Now if we 
and Pains of their tributary Indians or Negro Slaves, refledt, that every Fadt, and every Circumftance attend- 
With refpedt to' our People, it Js the very Reverfe ; they ing each of thefe Fadts, is ftridtly true, with refpedt to 
are generally adtive and bufy, engaged in different Me- ourfelves, and that nothing can be replied to it on the 
thods of getting their Living, and very feldom remain Behalf of the Spaniards, who have the Goods and Manu- 
fixed to one Spot for their whole Lives and whenever fadlures they fend to the Weft Indies carried to them in 
there is a War in that Part of the World, and tolerable foreign VelTels, and the Money which pays for them 
Encouragement given them, they are able to raife conft- again, exported from Spain in foreign Veffels we fhali 
derable Armies, and fit out Numbers of Privateers. The be fatisfied that this is no delufive Scheme of the Advan- 
Weaknefs and Declenfion of the Spanip Power, is vifible tages derived to Great Britain from her Colonies in Ame- 
in ail Parts of their Empire ; where feveral great and flou- rica. No fpecious Dream of imaginary Treafures, but 
rifhing Cities, eredled by their firft Conquerors, are either a clear and ftridl Demonftration that Labour, Induftry, 
funk into Villages, or totally deferred but is more ef- and Commerce, are more valuable Mines than any in 
pecially apparent in their Elands, which were formerly Mexico or Peru. 
the beft peopled, and the moft flouriftiing Parts of their But all this is not faid with any Defign to lift us up. 
Dominions ; whereas they are now fallen fo low, that it or render us proud, lazy, and negligent, but quite the 
is With Difficulty they keep them, and there is no diredt contrary; it is exhibited to the View of the Reader, that 
Trade between them and Old Spain at all. Our Colo- he may fee the real Value of Induftry and Navigation, 
nies are fo far from being in fuch a State, that they are and why the Author is of Opinion that the Englijh. are 
daily increafing ; and fome of them, fuch as the Hands as powerful as any Nation at prefent in America^ and 
of Bermudas, are rather over than under peopled ; and may become, out of Comparifon, more fo, if they are 
whenever a long Peace, and a wife Adminiftration, with not wanting to themfelves. The French come certainly 
refpedt to our Settlements, ftiall take Place, they will be- next, but with regard only to their Elands ; for as to 
come infinitely ftronger, and more confiderable, than their Plantations on the River of St^ Laurence, I cannot 
they are at prefent ; and perhaps it will be found both believe they will ever turn much to their Advantage; and 
pradlicable and expedient to make new Settlements^ a as to their Settlements on the Miffijfippi, I am perfuaded 
I they 
