we facrifice but that which is of leaft value? But this complaint is furely unfeafonable, when all the power of Britain is exerted in defence of the American colonies.

One of his arguments, by which he proves the value of our American dominions, is fuch, as deceives many, and gives occasion to many abfurd fpeculations, if not to mischievous practices, and therefore deferves to be confidered. There is, fays he, fo much room in the American regions, that there needs not be a beggar or stroller in England.

I do not very clearly fee the confequence that, becaufe there are lands in America, there need be no beggars in England. Our beggars are not beggars because we want land, but either by impotence, idlenefs, ignorance of the arts of life, or misfortune. Thofe who are impotent will not be much mended by the voyage, and, I am afraid, will be coldly received by their fellow-fubjects in America. What cure, except hunger, or a whip, there is in America for idlenefs, the inhabitants of that country muft inform us; if idlers can be reformed there by any means which cannot be used at home, they ought certainly to be fhipped off with the firft wind. Thofe that have been fo unhappily trained as to have no means of earning a livelihood, but by brute labour or bodily ftrength exercised without art, are, I believe, lefs wanted in America than in England. And of those who are impoverished, the number, whom mifery terror and want drive into America, is already too great.

It ought to be confidered, that every inhabitant gained to the colonies, is loft to the mother country. That the people fent into these unbounded regions, are diffused over vaft tracts, to fuch a distance as to be dif abled from inftructing or helping one another, and are therefore less useful and less happy than at home. The strength of every country confifts in the number of people proportionate to its extent, and it is not the populousness of a nation that produces beggars and ftrollers, but want of due regulation. To free ourselves from beggars and strollers by fending them to America, is to cure an ulcer by cutting off the limb.

OBSERVATIONS

ON

THE

TREATY

Between his BRITANNIC Majefty and her Imperial Majefty of all the RUSSIAS, figned at Mofcow, Dec. 11, 1742; the Treaty between his BRITANNIC Majefty and the Landgrave of HESSE CASSEL, figned June 18, 1755; and the Treaty between his BRITANNIC Majesty and her Imperial Majesty of all the RUSSIAS, figned at St. Petersburg, Sept. 1, 1755*.

THESE are the treaties which for many months filled the fenate with debates, and the kingdom with clamours; which were reprefented on one part as inftances of the most profound policy and the most active care of the public welfare, and on the other, as acts of the most contemptible folly and moft flagrant corruption, as violations of the great truft of government, by which the wealth of Britain is facrificed to private views, and to a particular province.

From the Literary Magazine for July 1756.

What

What honours our minifters and negotiators may expect to be paid to their wisdom, it is hard to determine, for the demands of vanity are not easily estimated. They should confider, before they call too loudly for encomiums, that they live in an age when the power of gold is no longer a fecret, and in which no man finds much difficulty in making a bargain with money in his hand. To hire troops is very easy to those who are willing to pay their price. It appears, therefore, that whatever has been done, was done by means which every man knows how to use, if fortune is kind enough to put them in his power. To arm the nations of the north in the cause of Britain, to bring down hofts against France from the polar circle, has indeed a found of magnificence, which might induce a mind unacquainted with public affairs to imagine, that fome effort of policy more than human had been exerted, by which diftant nations were armed in our defence, and the influence of Britain was. extended to the utmost limits of the world. But when this ftriking phenomenon of negotiation is more nearly infpected, it appears a bargain merely mercantile of one power that wanted troops more than money, with another that wanted money, and was burdened with troops; between whom their mutual wants made an eafy con-. tract, and who have no other friendship for each other, than reciprocal convenience happens to produce.

We shall therefore leave the praises of our minifters to others, yet not without this acknowledgment, that if they have done little, they do not seem to boast of doing much; and that whether influenced by modesty or frugality, they have not wearied the public with mercenary

panegyrifts,

panegyrifts, but have been content with the concurrence of the parliament, and have not much folicited the applaufes of the people.

In public as in private transactions, men more frequently deviate from the right for want of virtue than of wisdom; and those who declare themselves diffatisfied with these treaties, impute them not to folly but corruption.

By these advocates for the independence of Britain, who, whether their arguments be just or not, seem to be most favourably heard by the people, it is alledged, that these treaties are expenfive without advantage; that they waste the treasure, which we want for our own defence, upon a foreign intereft; and pour the gains of our commerce into the coffers of princes, whofe enmity cannot hurt nor friendship help us; who fet their fubjects to fale like sheep or oxen, without any enquiry after the intentions of the buyer, and will withdraw the troops with which they have fupplied us, whenever a higher bidder shall be found.

This perhaps is true, but whether it be true or falfe is not worth enquiry. We did not expect to buy their friendship, but their troops; nor did we examine upon what principle we were fupplied with affistance; it was fufficient that we wanted forces, and that they were willing to furnish them. Policy never pretended to make men wife and good; the utmost of her power is to make the beft ufe of men fuch as they are, to lay hold on lucky hours, to watch the present wants and present interefts of others, and make them fubfervient to her own convenience.