Common sense: addressed to the inhabitants of America, on the following interesting subjects. I. Of the origin and design of government in general, with concise remarks on the English constitution. II. Of monarchy and hereditary succession. III. Thoughts on the present state of American affairs. IV. Of the present ability of America, with some miscellaneous reflections. A new edition, with several additions in the body of the work. To which is added an appendix; together with an address to the people called Quakers. N.B. The new addition here given increases the work upwards of one third.

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42 COMMON SENSE. thing can be farther from truth than this ; for if America had only a twentieth part ofthe naval force of Britain, the would be by far an over match for her ; becau'e, as w: neither have, not claim any foreign dominion, our tubule force would be employed on our own coal}, where we fhould, in the long run, have two to one the advantage of thofe who had three or four thoufand miles to fail over, he- ffore they eculd attack us, and the lame diiiance to return an order to refit and recruit. And although Britain by he! fleet, hath a check over our trade to Europe, we have a: jYargea one over her trad: to the Weft-Indies, which, by iaying‘in the neighbourhool of the Continent, is entirely at ‘ x Its mercy. , Some method might be fallen on to keep up a naval force in time ofpeace, if we {hould notjudge it neceffiry to {up- port a confiant navy. ' 1f premiums were to be given to mere chants, to build and employ in their fervice, {hips mounted Jit'ith twenty, thirty, forty, or fifty guns, (the premiums to he in preportion to the lots of bu‘k to the merchants) fifty m fixty of thofe (hips, with a few guard {hips an conflant duty, would keep a futhcient navy, and that without burdening ourfelves with the evil, to loudly complained of in England, of fuffcring their fleet, in time of peace to lie rot- ting in the docks. To unlte the finewa of commerce and defence is found policy ; for when our fircngth and our riches; play into each other's hand, we need fear no external enemy. Hemp . abound we e defenc of article every almofi In cor' flourilhes even to ra- knel's, to that we need not want Our es. countri other of that to r {uperio is iron dage. Our {mall arms equal to any in the world. catt at p‘eafure. day producing. Cannon we can; Saltpetre and gunpowder we are every; Our knowledge is hourly improving. Re- never. {Jlution is our inherent charaé'ter, and courage hath Why want? we that it is what fore, ,Where us. ycttforfaken g it; it that we hcfitate? From Britain we can expeét norhin but ruin. lithe it once admitted to the government of traction again, this Continent wianot be Worth living in. be con-" _lealoufies will be always ariftng ; infurreflions will th‘e‘r'nhP. flantly happening ,5 and who will go forth ‘to quell or 11' J . l ‘ - .u ' .t y y . /"§ flanneuwamm... .. m...1...». - m, ,- , . -. . v ‘