The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
History
The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Vol. 05
United States -- Foreign relations -- 1775-1783; United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783 -- Sources
His Lordship talks about the misery of the people in America. Let him
look at home, and then say, where is misery! where the hideous
prospect of an internal civil war is added to a war with all the
world. The truth is, that agriculture and manufactures, not of
luxuries, but of necessaries, have been so much increased by this war,
that it is much to be doubted, whether they ever fed or clothed
themselves more easily or more comfortably. But, besides this, the
immense depredations they have made upon the British trade, have
introduced vast quantities of British merchandises of every sort. And
in spite of all the exertions of the British fleet, their trade is
opening and extending with various countries every year, and Britain
herself is forced to aid it, and will be more and more; a recent proof
of which, is the permission to import American tobacco into the
kingdom from any part of the world in neutral bottoms.
The great debt is also mentioned. Do they pay an interest for this
debt? Is every necessary and convenience of life taxed to perpetuity,
to pay this interest? Is the whole equal in proportion to their
abilities to the debt of England? Would the debt be rendered less, by
joining Great Britain against France and Spain? Would the war against
France and Spain be shorter, less expensive, or less bloody, than the
war against England? By returning to England, would not their debt be
ten times more burdensome? This debt is as nothing to America, once
give her peace, let the Americans trade freely with one another, and
with all other nations, and this debt would be but a feather. Let them
come under Great Britain again, and have the communication between one
Colony and another obstructed, as heretofore, and their trade confined
to Great Britain, as heretofore, and this debt would be a heavier
millstone about their necks, than that of England is about theirs.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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