Wesley Corpus

Having considered the justice, you come now to consider the policy, of this war. “In the last reigns, the colonies, foregoing every advantage which they might derive from trading with foreign nations, consented to send only to us, whatever it was for our interest to receive from them; and to receive only from us, whatever it was for our interest to send them.” (Page 67.) They consented to do this / No ! they only pretended to do it; it was a mere copy of their countenance. They never did, in fact, abstain from trading with other nations, Holland and France in particular. They never did, at least for forty years past, conform to the Act of Navigation. They did not send only to us what we wanted, or receive only from us what they wanted. What I did they not “allow us to regulate their trade in any manner which we thought best?” (Page 68.) No such thing. They only allowed us to make laws to regulate their trade. But they observed them as they thought best; sometimes a little, sometimes not at all. “They fought our battles with us.” Certainly we fought theirs: And we have sad reason to remember it; for had Canada remained in the hands of the French, they would have been quiet subjects still. 45. “But what calamities must follow” from this impolitic war ! See “the empire dismembered.” (Page 73.) If it be, that is not the consequence of the war, but rather the cause of it. “The blood of thousands shed” (it is not yet; perhaps it never may) “in an unrighteous quarrel.” Doubtless unrigh teous on their part, who revolt from their lawful Sovereign; and therefore whatever blood is shed will lie at their door. “Our strength exhausted.” No, not yet; as they that try may find to their cost. “Our merchants breaking.” But far more before the war than since. “Our manufacturers starv ing.” I pray, where? I cannot find them: Not in London, in Bristol, in Birmingham, in Manchester, in Liverpool, Leeds, or Sheffield; nor anywhere else, that I know; and I am well acquainted with most of the manufacturing towns in England. “The funds tottering.” Then the stocks must sink very low: But that is not the case. “And the miseries of a public bankruptcy impending.” Just as they have done these hundred years.