most rapid progress throughout them. This commerce Great-
Britian has hitherto regulated to her own advantage. Can we
think the annihilation of so exuberant a source of wealth, a
matter of trifling import. On the contrary, must it not be pro-
ductive of the most disasterous effects? It is evident it must. It
is equally evident, that the conquest of so numerous a people,
armed in the animating cause of liberty could not be accom-
plished without an inconceivable expense of blood and treasure.

We cannot therefore suspect Great-Britain to be capable of
such frantic extravagance as to hazard these dreadful conse-
quences; without which she must necessarily desist from her un-
just pretensions, and leave us in the undisturbed possession of
our privilages.

Those, who affects to ridicule the resistance America might
make to military force of Great-Britian, and represent its
humiliation as a matter the most easily to be achieved, betray,
either a mind clouded by the most irrational prejudices, or a
total ignorance of human nature. However, it must be the
wish of every honest man never to see a trial.

But should we admit a possibility of a third course, as our
pamphleteer supposes, that is, the endeavouring to bring us to
a compliance by putting a stop to our whole trade: Even this
would not be so terrible as he pretends. We can live without
trade of any kind. Food and clothing we have within ourselves.
Our climate produces cotton, wool, flax, and hemp, which,
with proper cultivation would furnish us with summer apparel
in abundance. The article of cotton indeed would do more, it
would contribute to defend us from the inclemency of winter.
We have sheep, which, with due care in improving and increas-
ing them, would soon yield a sufficiency of wool. The large
quantity of skins, we have among us, would never let us
want a warm and comfortable suit. It would be no unbecoming
employment for our daughters to provide silks of their own
country. The silk-worm answers as well here as in any part of
the world. These hands, which may be deprived of business
by the cessation of commerce, may be occupied in various kinds
of manufactures and other internal improvements. If by the
necessity of the thing, manufactures should once be established
and take root among us, they will pave the way, still more, to
the future grandeur and glory of America, and by lessening its
need of external commerce, will render it still securer against
the encroachments of tyranny.