“The right to new acquired countries, according to the constitution of England, two hundred years ago, was allowed to be in the crown. The crown from time to time disposed of these countries not only to their own subjects, but to foreign princes: particulary _Acadia_ and _Nova-Scotia_, when begun to be settled by British subjects, were ceded to _France_, although France had no better claim to them than New-England: and _Surinam_ was sold to, or exchanged with the _Dutch_.” He might have adduced in proof of James I. being of opinion, that he had a personal right to alienate at pleasure new acquired territory, his granting, in September 1621, _Nova-Scotia_, which he could not inherit but as king of England, to Sir _William Alexander_, of Menstry, afterward Lord Stirling, under the seal of Scotland; and his erecting it into a palatinate, to be holden as a fief of the crown of Scotland. Under the same seal, and in the same words, the grant was confirmed by Charles I. in June 1625. The legality of these grants appear not to have been questioned at the time, which indicates that the prevailing opinion of the English corresponded then with that of their sovereigns. Mr. Hutchinson goes on to mention, “_American_ lands in their natural state are of no value; there is not any colony which has not cost more to render it capable of rendering profit than it is now worth.” “In the trading towns, in some of the colonies the last war, one fourth part of the profit of the trade was annually paid to the support of the war, and other public charges. In the country towns, a farm which would not rent for twenty pounds a year, paid ten pounds taxes. Was it from parental affection to the colonists, and to save them from French vassalage, that Great-Britain was at such expence; or was it from fear of losing the advantageous trade she had carried on with her colonies?” “When there is peace in Europe, what occasion is there for any national expence in America?” “It cannot be good policy to tax the Americans; it will prove prejudicial to the national interests. The advantages proposed by the increase of the revenue, are fallacious and delusive. You will lose more than you will gain. Britain reaps the profit of all their trade, and the increase of all their substance.” “Your commerce with the colonies will be enough for you, should you have no commerce elsewhere, if you encourage, the colonies to increase the consumption of your manufactures for fifty years to come, as they have done for fifty years past; and with no more than reasonable encouragement they will infallibly do it, and in much greater proportion.”