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Show (41) (40). gdefe, or Danes, or Swedes, to fay nothing of the Ruflians, or of the new maritime Rate of l'ruflia; Would none of them all, give, diredly, or indirectly aid, aflit'tance, encom‘agement. countenance, or pro- teé‘tion to our colonies? \Vould they nor trade or traihck with them, would they lupply them with nothing wh-erewith to defend theml‘elves or offend us 5' Is it very praEtieable to watch and guard inch immenfe coalis, or do we with all the navy of England, in our ports find this lo eafy, with refpet‘t to thofe only of Kent and Suiiex at home ? Did neither England or France, fupport formerly the {even United Provinces in their breach with Spain 5' Have the French at this time afforded no efietitial alhliance to the Turks, nor another nation to the Ruflians, while each continues at peace wizh the enemies of their re: fpeétive friends? Are the independence of the Britifh colonies in North America. and their disjunt‘tion from Great Britain, no ohiee't to other nations; are not they in particular as" much to to France, as this Turkilh and liuflian fquabble P I'Vas that nation formerly ever wanting to Scotland, or infenfi'ole of its intereft in afiiititig that divifion? Idon't at all mean hereby to fignii‘y any attempts or endeavours of Other Governments to take pofl‘efiion of thefe colonies, or any inability in =hemto defend themfelves from that circumfi'ance; butlmean the generaldefire and inclination, which there would aflhrcdly be in all Europe, to fee them disjoined from our, nation, and become abfolute, difiinc‘t, unconnected, independent flares and "governments in larger or fmaller portions, and more or lefs like the prefent f'tates of Holland, as .it lhould V happen. \Vere there in‘fight luch a condition with refpeét to Mexico and Peru, or the Dutch iettlements 'm the Eaft- Indies, would not the Englilh, without infifiing on becoming themfelves mailers thereof. be molt abundantly contented with their general advantage refulting therefrom? It cannot be doubted, but that ‘ that there will be found a conduét and actions confe» quent and correfpondent to fuch nniverfal and almofi unanimous views and wiflies of mankind. This is all faid on {uppolition of peace. But what if one or more of the greater": powers in Europe, flaould in a melt critical and diflicult moment, declare War againft us? Have France and Spain forgot the lofs of Canada, and Georgia, and the many defeats and difgraces received in their hit conteft with us? Have they, for their honour or interell, no defire of revenge, nor that that thofe provinces lhould again return to their own crowns? On whom does it depend, Whether it {hall in the cafe fuppolhd, be war or peace? Is this [0 be determined at London, or at Madrid, or Verfailles? Is it in the power and in the brealt of ourl‘elves, or of thofe, who are mofl our rivals, and whofe enmity may be (aid to be hardly yet cooled? Are four ye'ars palied {ince we had two alarms? Is one year gone fince we had one ? Should there now be happily at the head of one or other government 3 Berfonage inclined to peace ; yet how uncer- tain are the days of every mortal, and how are Princes, Minif'ters, or States tempted into aétion by circum- itanees, opportunities and advantages? Let us Well weigh what it is for a private man, but much more for a great nation to part With the means of their profperity out of their own hands, and to place it in the power and determination of thofe, of whom they have, on account of a long and ancrentrivalfhip, andthe continuance of many bloody wars, the uttnoll; reafon to be ftifpicions and jealous. \«Ve cannot too much confider or reflect upon what happened between Spain and the Dutch l'rovinces at their breach and feparation. The Spanifh Govern- ment confined at that time, of Spain, of Portugal, of Mexico and Peru, and other provinces of America, of the Spanilh and Portuguefe, being all the European . fettlements at that time in the Bait-Indies, and of i " in" Flanders. |