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Show G E N E R A L R E F L E C T I 0 N S. The co1onies , the refore, feparat cly confi dcred are internal Y' weak; uut it may be (uppofcd, th at, by an union or coalition, . th ey would become 11rcng and formid able ; uut an union feems almofl: impofEb le. One founded in dominion or power is morally fo: for were not E ngland to interfere, . the colonies themfelvcs .Co well un ded l:and the policy of preferving a balance, that, I th ink, they would not be idle fpect ators, were any of the colon ies to endeavour to fubjugate its next neighbour. I ndeed, it appears to me a very doubtful point, even fuppofi ng all the colonies of America were to be united under one head, whether it would be pofii ble to keep in due order and government fo wide and extended an empire ; the difficulties of communication, of intercourfe, of correfpondence, and all other obfiacles confidered. A voluntary afiociation or coalition, at leafi a permanent one, js almofl: as difficult to be fupppofed : for fire and water are not more heterogeneous th an the different colonies in North America. Nothing can exceed the jealoufy and emulation, which they poffefs in regard to each other. The inhabitants of Penfylvania and New York have an inexhaufl:ible fource of animofity, in their jea1oufy for the trade of the J erfeys. Maffachufets- Bay and Rhode Hland, are not lefs interefl:ed in that of ConneCticut. The Weft Indies are a common fubieB: of emu-· J lation to them all. Even th.e. limits and boundaries of each colony, are a confl:ant fource of litig;;ttion.- In !l10rt, fuch is the di fference of charaCter, of manners, of religion, of inter- · eft, of the different colonies, that I think, if I am not wholly. ignorant of the human mind,, were they left to themfelves, there would foon be a civil war, from one end of the continent to the other; while the Indians and Negroes would, with better re afon, impatiently watch the opportunity of exterminating them all togethe.r ~ Af ter G E J.- E R A w R E F L E C 1 I 0 N S. Aft r al1, hO\vever, fln>pofl n )' \Vh at I firn1 ly believe never w ill take pl ace, a pe rmanent union or al liance of all the colonies, ye t it could not be effeCtual, or produ Cl: ive of the event fup pofed ; for fuch is th e xtent of coafl: fettled by the American coloni es , th at it can never be defended but by a mar itime power: America mufl:: fid1: be mifl:refs of the fe a, ·before !l1e can be independe nt, or m i fi refs of herfel f. S u ppofe the colo .... nies eve r fo populo us; fup pofe them capable of maintain ing Joo ,ooo men conflan tly in arm s, (a fuppo fiti on in the highc fl: degree extravagan( , yet hal f a doze n frigates would, with ea fe, ravage and lay wafl:e the whole country f rom end to end, withou t a poffibili ty of their being ab le to prevent it ; the country .is fo interfeB:ed by rivers, of [uch magn itud e, as to render i t impoffi.ble to build bridges over th em, th at all communication is in a manner cut off. An army under fuch ci rcumfiances could never ac:t to any purpofe or effeCl, its op erations would be totally frufl:r ated. F urther, a grea t part of the opulence and power of America depends upon her fia1eri es, and her commerce with the Weft Indies; fhe cannot fubfifl: without them; but the fc would be i ntirely at the mercy of th at powe r, which might have the fovereignty of the fea s. I conclude th erefore, th at England, fo long as !l1e maintains her fup erio rity in that refpeB:, will alfo po.lrefs a fnperio rity in America ; but the moment !l1e lofes the empire of the on e, !he will be deprived of the fovereign ty of the other: for were that empire to be he ld by France, H olland, or any other power, Americ a, I will venture to pred iCl, will be annexed to it .- New ef1:ablia1 men ts formed in the interior parts of America, w ill not come under this predicament. I hould therefore think it the befl: poli cy to enlarge the prefent colonies, but no t to eftablilb frefh ones ; for |