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Show P R E F A C E. xii therefore the Reader to the Trail it- felf, I {hall only fay at prefent, that the more we familiarize ourfelves to the Idea of a Separation, the lefs furprized, and the more prepared we (hall be whenever that Event {hall happen. For that it will, and mufl: happen, one Day or other, is the Opinion of almof't every Man,---unlefs indeed we except the extraordinary Notion of the celebrated Dr. FRANKLIN, and of a few other exotic Patriots and Politicians, who are pleafed to think, that the Seat of Government ought to be tranf- ferred from hence to A'merz‘ccz; in Confequence of which Tranflation, this little Spot will neceflarily become a Province of that vatt and mighty Em- pire. Surely every home-born Eng/{fiz- mmz will readily prefer 9. Separation, even a fpeedy Separation, to fuch an Union as this; and yet, alas! the Time is approaching, when there can be no other Alternative. IN regard to the two Sermons, which I have fubjoined to thefe Treatifes, I am not very anxious about the Propriety P R E F A C E. xiii priety of placing them here 5 for many may, perhaps, read them now who would never have looked into them, had they been printed in a Collection of religious Tracts. Befides, I hope that thefe Difcourfes will throw fuch new and firiking Lights on the Subjeét of Commerce, as will induce'lVIen of a liberal Education to f'tudy it for the future as 3. 56227253, and to think for themfelves in thefe important Points. For furely a great Part of Mankind have too long fubmitted to be led blindfold by Writers on Trade, whofe private Interefl' very often claflied with the general Good; and in whofe Produétions we find but very flight Traces, either of the real and difinteref'ted Patriotifm of the Philoiopher, the Humanity of the Moralif'r, or Benevolence of the Divine: In fl'iort, it is a melancholy Truth, that almof'c as much implicit Faith and blind Credulity have hitherto prevailed in the Theory of Commerce, as, in the darket't Times of Popery, obfcured the Principles of Religion. ' b 3 IN |