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Show 38 co'MMON SENSE. COMMON SENSE. Heaven; and is 'u& arrived at that pitch of firength, in which, no fingle colony is able to fupport itfelf, and the whole, when uni d can accomplifh the matter, and either more, or, refs than this, might be fatal in its eflefls. could have a navy as large again. 39‘ The navy of England is not worth, at this time, more than three millions and an half fletling. ., Out The firfl and {econd editions of this pamphiet were pub- land force is already lufficrent, and as to naval affairs, we cannot be infenfible, that Britain would never {offer an American man of war to be built, while the continent re- liihed without the following calculations, which are now given as a proof that the above eflimation of the navy is a jufi one. See Ernie's naval Hiflary. intro. page 56. mained in her hands. Wherefore, we (book! be no forwarder an hundred years hence in that branch, than we are The charge of building a {hip of each rate, and furnifhing now; but the truth is, we ihould be lets lo, becaufe the timber of the country is every day diminiflting, and that, which will remain at lafl, will be far offand diflicult to procure. Were the continentcrowded with inhabitants, her fufi'er.' her with mafls, yards, his and rigging, together with a peoportion of eight months hoatfwain's and carpenter's feaftores, as calculated by Mr. Burchett, Secretary to the navy. [. Forathip of: too guns -- ings under the prefent circumt'rances would be intolerable. The more fea port towns we had, the more ihould we have both to defend and to loofe. Our prefent numbers are fa happily proportioned to our wants, that no man need be idle. The diminution of trade affords an army, and the neceflities of an army create a new trade. Debts we have none; and whatever we may eontraét on. this account Will ferve as a glorious memento of our virtue. Can we but leave pofierity with a fettled form of government, an independant conflitution of it's own, the purchafe at any price will be cheap. But to expend millions for the fake of getting a few vile ae'is repealed, and routing the prefem minif'rry only, is unworthy the charge, and is ufing poiierity with the utmofl cruelty 5 becauie it is leaving them ' the great work to do, and a debt upon their backs, from which, they derive no advantage. Such a thought is unWOrthy a man of honor, and is the true charaéteritiic of a narrow heart and a peddling politician. The debt we may coutraét doth not deferve our regard ii the work be but accomplifhed. No nation ought to be withouta debt. A national debt is a national bond ; and when it bears no interefl, is in no cafe a grievance. Britain is op- preffed with a debt ot'upwards of one hundred and forty million: flerling, for which [he pays upwards of tour millions interefl. And as a Compenfatiozi for her debt, {he has a large navy; America is without a debt, and without'a nae 35.:53 90 80 29.886 15,638 70 l7~785 60 14.197 so 10,606 40 ~30 at» 7~558 -- -- -- 5.846 3.710 And from hence it is eafy to {aim up the value, or eat! Hither, of the whole Britifh navy, which in the year 1757, when it was at its greatett glory, confided of the followtng flaips and guns. Ships. Guns. Cot} of one. Cofl of all. 6 -- 100 -- 35.5531. ---- 213,318 I. 12 go 20.886 ------ 358.,632 12 8o 23.6;8 -- 283,656 43 70 17.79; ---- 764.755 35 60 r4..97 ----- 496.895 . 40 45 50 4o 10.006 7.558 -- 424,240 ------ 340.1 to 3.7m ----- 215,I80 2,000 1 70,000 -- 53 .10 v 85 Sloops, bombs, and fittzlliios, one with another, at; C0fi 33:65:786 . Remains for gum, ~- 2. 11% vy 5 yet for the twentieth part of the Englilh national debt. ' could ., a‘ |