[4] "We think of nothing but extending our settlements still further on these _pestiferous sea coasts_, even to the sunken lagunes of _East Florida_, and the barren sands of _Mobile_ and _Pensacola_. The only use of _new settlements in North America_, is for the people in the _Northern_ and other colonies, who want lands _to make staple commodities_ for _Britain_, to _remove to them: but none will ever go to Florida, or thrive in it, more than_ they have done in _Carolina_ and _Georgia_. The climate of _Florida_ is _more_ intemperate, the lands _more_ barren, and the situation _much worse_ in every respect." _State of Great Britain and America, by Dr._ Mitchel. It now only remains for us to enquire, whether it was the intention of the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations in 1768, that the territory, which would be included within the _boundary line_, then negociating with the Indians (and which was the _one_ that was _that year_ perfected) should continue a useless wilderness, or be settled and occupied by his Majesty's subjects.--The very _representation_ itself, which the present Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations say, contains "_every argument on the subject_," furnishes us an ample and satisfactory solution to this important question.--The Lord Commissioners in 1768, after pronouncing their opinion _against_ the _proposed three new governments_, as above stated, declare, "They ought to be carefully guarded against, by encouraging the settlement of that extensive tract of sea coast hitherto unoccupied; which, say their Lordships, _together with the liberty, that the inhabitants_ OF THE _middle colonies_ WILL HAVE (in consequence of the proposed _boundary line_ with the Indians) _of gradually extending themselves backwards_, will _more effectually_ and _beneficially answer_ the object of _encouraging population_ and _consumption_, than the erection of new governments; such gradual extension might, through the medium of a continual population, upon even the same extent of territory, _preserve_ a communication of mutual commercial benefits between its extremest parts and Great Britain, _impossible to exist in colonies separated by immense tracts of unpeopled desart_."--Can any opinion be more clear and conclusive, in _favour_ of the proposition which we have humbly submitted to his Majesty?--for their Lordships positively say, that the inhabitants of the middle colonies _will have liberty of gradually extending themselves backwards_;--but is it not very extraordinary, that after near _two years_ deliberation, the present Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations should make a _report_ to the Lords of the Committee of the Privy Council, and therein expressly refer to that opinion of 1768, in which, they say, "_every argument on the subject is collected together with great force and precision_," and