_When Africa shall no more sell out their blacks,_ _To make slaves and drudges to the American tracts;_ … _When America shall cease to send out its treasure,_ _But employ it at home in American pleasure;_ _When the New World shall the Old invade,_ _Nor count them their lords, but their fellows in trade;_ … Then think strange things are come to light, Whereof but few have had a foresight.”[273] Some of these words are striking, especially when we consider their early date. In a commentary on each verse the author seeks to explain it. New England is “that thriving colony which hath so much increased in our days”; its people are already “industrious,” and when they have so far increased “that the neighboring country will not contain them, they will range still farther, and be able in time to set forth great armies, seek for new possessions, or _make considerable and conjoined migrations_.”[274] The verse touching Africa will be fulfilled “when African countries shall no longer make it a common trade to sell away their people.” And this may come to pass “whenever they shall be well civilized, and acquainted with arts and affairs sufficient to employ people in their countries: if also they should be converted to Christianity, but especially unto Mahometism; for then they would never sell those of their religion to be slaves unto Christians.”[275] The verse concerning America is expounded thus:-- “That is, When America shall be better civilized, new policied, and divided between great princes, it may come to pass that they will no longer suffer their treasure of gold and silver to be sent out to maintain the luxury of Europe and other parts; but rather employ it to their own advantages, in great exploits and undertakings, magnificent structures, wars, or expeditions of their own.”[276] The other verse, on the invasion of the Old World by the New, is explained:-- “That is, When America shall be so well peopled, civilized, and divided into kingdoms, _they are like to have so little regard of their originals as to acknowledge no subjection unto them_: they may also have a distinct commerce between themselves, or but independently with those of Europe, and may hostilely and piratically assault them, even as the Greek and Roman colonies after a long time dealt with their original countries.”[277] That these speculations should arrest the attention of Dr. Johnson is something. They seem to have been in part fulfilled. An editor quietly remarks, that, “to judge from the course of events since Sir Thomas wrote, we may not unreasonably look forward to their more complete fulfilment.”[278] SIR JOSIAH CHILD AND DR. CHARLES DAVENANT, 1698.