Dunlap's Pennsylvania packet , The general advertiser — Philadelphia, Pa., 1774-07-04 00:00:00, page 1

N UMBER 111.
Asa POLITICAL REFLECTIONS,
submitted to the confederation of tie British
Colonies. By a Citizen of Philadelphia.
^^c* w'~ HOUGH in my last paper,
^ ^^ J with the impetuous rapidity of
™M' ^T M 4 a heated fancy, I darted through
%c\ ' y^" JEras yet unborn, and plunged
73 ^^ +, into the distant regions of futu
j % rity; I beg leave, my Brethren,
^^-~ Ed ^Q to condu fl you back in fifety,
to the important and interesting reign of George
the Third. A Prince, whole goodness of foul,
and unfulpe^ing heart, unfortunately for his peo
ple, have unwarily betrayed him into the ensnaring
measures of designing men; men whole lust for
power, and rapacious pursuit after riches, would
tempt them to swallow up both King and king
dom, were they not sensible of the neceihty of ex
hibiting to public view, so ostensible a power as
royalty; under whose patronage, and protection
they are artfully undermining the confutation, and
preparing to commit the most horrid parricide on
their country. Lulled into security, and wallow
ing in luxuries, the nation is silently glidingdown
the stream.—The bark seems at rest—the furface
of the deceitful current is calm and ferene —the
banks arc in verdure, and the Ihrubs, and the flow
ers, beguile with their fragrance; whilst the foam
ing roar of the dillant catarad, is icarce feintly
heard.—Alafs, Britannia ! —without lome friend
ly eye perceives thy floating danger, and rushing
into the flood drags thy galley to fhore—thou'rt
gone—irretrievably gone ; —and may America
prove that friend.—
I don t pretend, my Brethren, to any systemati
cal order, in the course of these reflexions; I cast
them as mites into the treasury, as they arise in
my mind, and if any sentiments are found amongst
them, of weight and importance, my labours will
not be loft.—Much has been said on the fubjed
by various writers, and possibly some ingenious
digester, may, hereafter, collect and form them,
into a found American system of policy. I much
wish to fee the execution offuch adefign.
It is now generally allowed, that a congress of
the Colonies is absolutely necefTary ; and as 1 have
no doubt that part of their result, will be the ap
pointment of ambaff+dors, to attend in perlon
with their complaints, at the Court of Great-
Britain ; every aid, however feeble, cannot be
deemed impertinent ; and every argument that
can be held forth, to support the common cause,
will at least be likened to: and certain it is, the
grand desideratum on this occahon, is, to embark
with the strongest and cleared proofs we can.pro
cure, to convince the rulers, and the people of
Great-Britain, that it is their interef to attend to
our grievances, and grant us redress.
Perhaps in pursuing this object, it may not be
amiss to make a few political calculations; that
we may exhibit at one view, the vast importance
of the Colonies. lam well aware that the ob
servations I am now about to make, will at the
firft glance, have so much the air of visionary specu
lation, that many of my readers will turn from me
with indignant contempt : but they will pleafeto
observe, I am endeavouring to unfold to view, the
mighty chart of a cultivated Continent ; for culti
vated it undoubtedly will be, before our children
have slept many ages, in the peaceful grave:—and
as every whole is made up of parts, we ought now
to confider ourselves as members in embryo, of
this ftupendious body, and much are the people of
England interested, in studying the fubjed; for
fwiftly the time paffeth away, and much it behoves
them to watch our encreafe, and accommodate
themselves to our growth.
Though it may be a considerable time before
the full acconiplifliment ofthe following calculati
ons shall happen, yet whoever attentively peruses
the great volume of nature, will find fufficient scope
for the exercise of forefight, and reasonable con
jectures.
Peter the Great, Czar of Muscovy, with a genius
penetrative and persevering, pierced far into the
dark abodes of futurity: and from a wild, barba
rous, and contemptible state, form'd a plan of
empire, of which his predecessors had never con
ceited the most distant idea; and which at this
day has risen to such a formidable height of gran
deur, that her connexions are fought with refpe6f,
by the firft Powers in Europe. If a century before
the accession of Peter to the Czarship, a divinor
had foretold her app ^-;hing glory, his country
men would have treated him with scorn and deri
sion; and well they might, for nothing but a ge
nius like Peter's, could have furmouDted the pre
judices, and customs of barbarians. But with us,
where every liberal art has its votaries, where
science enlarges the mind, and where manly free
dom is valued and enjoyed, nothing but a re
trogration into the savage obfeurity of ten centuries
ago, can obftrud or retard the rapidity of our
progress.
After craving the kind indulgence of my reader,
in gratifying me with a latitude to pursue an in-
VO L. 111. NUMB. Ml.
DUNLA P's
iferaJWi iffllr,
G ENERA L ADVERTISER.
—„
M O N D A Y, J ULY 4 th, CT .
veftigating fancy, I will venture to entrust to his
candor, the harmless reveries of a leisure hour.
If we suppose the British fubjeds on the conti
nent to be at this day 3 millions, we ihall natu
rally look forward for a proportionate increase.
If from the firft inhabiting this country in 1578 by
afew settlers, under many difficulties (with annual
imports from Europe, considerably less than at the
prelent day) we have encreafed to the amazing
number of 3 millions, for truly amazing it is—
how much more rapid must be our progress for the
next two centuries ?
Where the means of subsistence are easily attain
able by industry, and a scope of country offers
equal to the encreafe, —the conje&ures of popu
lation, form'd by a very ingenious writer * amongst
ourselves, will certainly hold good. Then if ac
cording to that gentleman's calculation, a country
doubles its inhabitants in 20 years:—a single cen
tury will advance us to a multitude almost beyond
conception.
In 20 years the number will be 6 millions,
40 years - - 12 millions,
60 years - - - 24 millions,
80 years - - 48 millions,
too years - - - 96 millions,
nor will the progressive advance cease, till the land
is full.—
To take a more extensive view of this grand
fubjed, it may not be amiss to confider, the im
mensity of the trad we have to cover. If we
reckon from the Polar Circle palling through the
south part of Greenland, to the Tropic of Cancer
palling through the Gulph of Mexico, we Ihall
find an extent of country of 2967 miles, and ad
mitting the lands westward, to extend on an
average 5$ degrees in longitude, there will be at
least 2475 miles; which number squared by the
latitude, viz. 2967 miles, gives 7 millions ^
hundred and 43 thousand 3 hundred and 25 square
miles, and as each square mile contains 640 acres,
we may compute within the habitable part of
America 4699 millions 7 hundred and 28 thousand
acres of land. If we divide thisi'-to farms of 100
acres each, there will be 46 millions 9 hundred
and 97 thousand 2 hundred and 80 farms: and
allowing each farm to maintain 5 persons, the
lands of North America will lupport 234 millions
9 hundred and and 86 thousand and 4 hundred
inhabitants. Perhaps it will be said that the great
spaces covered by lakes, bays and rivers, and the
large portion of land, unfit for cultivation in every
part of the continent, particularly in Greenland,
will render a large dilcount neceff^ry: but if we
confider what vast numbers colieci in cities, towns,
and villages, without a single acre ofgound to 10
families, it may be reafouably conjectured that
thereby, a more than fufficient allowance will be
made. But to take a more accurate fight, let us look
into the state of countries, already full fettled with
inhabitants. England is reckoned by /e%ve writers,
to contain 25 millions of acres and 4 millions 6
hundred thousand fouls, and by others 39 millions
of acres, and 6 million souls.—Suppose we take the
medium, —the number of acres will then be 3 2 mil
lions, and the inhabitants 5 millions 300 thousand,
which is but about 6 acres, to each individual:
whereas in our preceding calculation of the numbers
in America, we have allowed only 3 fouls to each
ICO acres, being 20 acres each: which is above 3
times as much as is founi Deceffary in England;
but suppose we strike off, for water, bad land, &c.
so large a proportion as one fourth, still there will
remain 15 acres to each foul, though they ihould
amount to the number before fpecified, viz.
234,986400, for a round number fay 235 millions:
wiiich is nearly equal to the number of inhabitants,
in Europe, Alia, and Africa: supposed by some
writers to be about 300 millions.
As I proceed in this fubjeft I am flruck with
wonder at the immensity of the view before me;
but when I contrast my fight to the minutia ofthe
political movements of England, I am astonished
at their debates. Could they dwarf the Ameri
cans like the tree of an Espalier, well might they
expert to reach and eat of the fruits ; but when it
tours from the ground, and fpraads its loftybranch
es in the air— they are only to be acquired by the
aid of its limbs.—America viuft grow—England
must perceive it, and yet die negledls to reason
properly on the event. Every deliderata of their
government, centers in power, and yet they are
employing every possible agent to defeat their own
purposes.—Wise and prudent measures would so
conciliate the affe&ioos ofthe Americans, that they
would readily fall in with the fnpremacy of the
proper legislative branch, and submit to a negative
controul for ages to come, if violence and oppres
sion did not rend them asunder.
The feat of government reds in England ; all
profitable offices are vested in the crown. The
right of making war or peace are royal preroga
tives. Connexions, alliances and treaties, by
which every American will esteem himfeM'bound,
are determined in England. All conquests and
new ceded countries, though even obtained by the
assistance of the colonies, vest in the King, with
* Dollar Franklin.
out murmur or complaint. Shall Eiglaid fay
then that America is independent, because ads of
Parliament are not permitted to tax her inhabitants^
— Let them but be fatisfied for the present, with
the immediate advantages, refusing from mutual
i itercourfe, and in cases of necessity from our vo
luntary aids, and then it may not be difficult, to
point out to them a fund that may prove ofthe ut
most importance.
It has already been shewn that America con
tains about 4700 millions of acres, now if we sup
pose a quit-rent to the crown of only ± sterling
per acre, it amounts to the annual sum of 4
million, 8 hundred and 95 thousand and 33
pounds. It will be said that a great portion ofthe
inhabited part of America, is granted in charters,
without fuel) quit-rents being referred, andthere
fore it can never amount to the sum here furmiled.
Let us then strike off one fourth part, which will
be a fufficient allowance for the prefect settlements,
as well as for waters and wafle lands as already
mentioned.—But if the crown was to inftru& its
Governors to grant thelaods as Aft as they are pur
chased of the natives, to aflual settlers, without
the exorbitant claims of a firing of officers, the
quit-rents might be raised to even [ ; sterling per
acre, and the settlers would be gainers by the ad
vance. Then driving off ph of 4700 millions
of acres, and affixing I sterling on the remainder,
viz. 3525 millions, the annual revenue from the
quit-rents, would be 7 millions 3 hundred and 43
thousand 7 hundred and 50 pounds. Here would
be a tax so equal, and easy, that the wheels of
government might move without friction, and
perform their annual revolutions without noise or
jarr. No man would complain of the burthen,
when it became part of the terms of his original
contrast. The scale on which I have set out I
know is large, but not more so, than the chart re
quires; nor Ihould it be despised by those at the
helm. Government will most assuredly derive
great assistance from this source, small as it may
seem at present, if properly attended to. But
they will do well to remember the force of their
own arguments, in theirprefent debates, and pru
dently guard against the danger of our one day re
torting them.
We hear a ministerial member | -in the House of
Commons, declaring in that Houle, in reply to
a Gentleman s, who is one of the greatest orna
ments of his country, and whose nice diferimina
tioos on justice, would grace the Chancellorship of
Britain, 1 fay, we hear in that House, 66 Ithink,
Sir, that Chartered Rights are by no means those sa
cred things, icbich never can be altered; they are lift
ed in theCrown, as a prerogative for the good of the
people at large; if the Supreme Legifature find,
that those Charters, so granted, are both unfit and in
convenient,for the public utility, they have a right to
make them fit and convenient. Whenever private
property is concerned, the Legifature mill not take it
away without making a full recommence. ; bat when
ever the regulation of public matter is the object, they
have a right to correct, controul, or take it away as
may befkfuit the public welfare." —From the fame
fide of the Houle § we allo hear, “ Much has
been said about hearing the parties, (meaning the
people ofßofton,in defence oftheir charters) and
taking away their chartered rights; lam of opini
on when the right is a high political regulation, you
are not in that instance bound to hear them." —Ano
ther Gentleman* in Ministerial league, with the
most insulting audacious sneer, entertains the House
with “ Agreat deal has been said concerning requi-
Jition, pray in what manner is it to be obtained ? —
is the King to demand it, or are we the Legislative
Power of this country, tofend a very civil, polite Gen
tlemen over, to treat with their afemblies ?—How
and in what manner is he to addrejs that afemhly ?
is he to tell the Speaker that we have been extremely
ill used by our neighbours the French ; that they have
attacked us infeveral quarters —that the finances of
this country are in a bad fate, and therefore defre
you wih be kind enough to afif us, and give us Jome
m ney ?— Is this to be the language of this country to
that? and are we thus to go cap in hand?" —1 hope,
my Brethren, you will pardon my making such
large extracts, from debates which you have alrea
dy seen, but I thought it might not be amiss, to take
a colledive view of the fpiritof Parliament: I call
it the Spirit of Parliament, because countenanced
by so large a majority: but does not the heart
of every American boil with indignation in peru
fingit? can he bear wih moderation, the united
insult on his liberty and understanding? who, or
what are those infigniticant creatures, an Ellis, a
Jenkinfon, or a Rigby ? or what the combined
numbeis of an Engli/h Parliament, when weighed
against the growing majesty of this mighty conti
nent ? —Center'd in council, and surrounded by
unoppofing numbers, they boldly utter sentiments,
like Lords of the Earth.—But the pompous dis
play of imaginary power, and the empty shadow
II dll lands hereafter granted hi New-York are to
bear 1-2 sterling qwt-rent, and be fold at public fule
for the benefit of the Crown.
f Mr. Welbore Ellis. X Sir George Saville.
§ Mr. Jenkinfon. * Mr. hQy.
of leclaratory right, however flupenduous they may
appear, in a Britifo Senate, will gradually lefTeii
and shade away, as they extend across an ocean of
three thousand miles. —l am loft as I pursue the con
fufed intricacy of their notions of right, and after
the most diligent scrutiny, into the rudiments ..f
their principles, I can only resolve them into the
wicked policy of arbitrary Monarchs ; tile princi
ples of power. But let us revert to the growing
connexion between America and Britain. Wg
have taken a distant view of the immense revenue,
arising to the Crown, from the Continent ; a reve
nue that is already begun, and it fully colleHed,
amounts to no despicable sum.
If “ chartered rights, are by no mean ' sacred
" things ;" and we are to admit the doebine of
breaking contracts, when “ unfit and inconvenient
" for public utility,'' how long time will those har
dy politicians allow to elapse, before America shall
fit in judgment on the question: Will they call it
50 or 100 years; or will they vainly hope, that
heedless centuries will glide silently away, in tame
and stupid fubmiflion to unnatural fubjedion. If
the immense supplies from America arc squander
ed away in profufion and corruption; if the com
mon enemies of the empire are gaining ground on
our pewer, by the debaucheries and profligacy of
an enfeebled and enervated system of British poli
cy, will not our successors revive the arguments
ofthe present day, and produce them as cases in
point. Let not a British Parliament rave within
dignation at sentiments like these, and rush im
petuous into vindictive resentment: let them ra
ther fit calmly down, like master builders, and
wifely count the cost. Let them look back into
their own hifory, and mark the progress of the
State:—ffoethey will find, that the power of Eng
land has ever been in an exa& ratio to her com
merce. How much then is her interest concerned
in prefetving a good understanding with her Co
lonies.
Some who affea: to treat her trade to America
with contempt, when compared with her other
connexions, would do well to take an accurate
view of the great commercial scale. The Princes
of Europe, sensible of the vast importance of trade
and manufactures, are every where exerting the
utmost of their influence amongst their fubje&s, to
train and cultivate the commercial arts: howmuch
England has already felt the effect of their designs,
th. languishing state okfome branches of their ma
nufactures, may feelingly and forcibly inform them.
In Europe her system of trade is contracting; but
in ' meiica a most noble and extensive fieldexpands
to their fight. Here is their mart, hue is the
grand vent of their industrious artisans. Let
the British Senate cultivate harmony and friend
fhip, whilst we t : 1 our fields, and distant as our
situations are, a waring band ci° British canvafy
shall unite us together, and a floating Iftmus df
Royal English Oak shall extend through the main.
Shipin fight of Ihip shall unfold one ofthe wonders
of Augur the son of jakeh, and mark a “ IFay
" in the midfl of the sea."
Foliibly some may be alarmed with the motion
of granting to the Crown of England, a halfpenny
fleilingon our lands. I acknowledge on a curso
ry inlpe&ion, the expediency of it may prove
doubtful : but, Brethren, if you will please to in
dulge me a little further, in giving scope to a po
litical imagination, we will examine the fubjed,
in a pretty extensive point of view.
The levying of taxes on a nation, in such just
directions, as to , all equally on all, however de
sirable, has been hitherto deemed one of the politi
cal impossibilities of Government ; but every states
man, who prosecutes the happinels, and Length
of a country, will make it his indefatigable study,
to approach as near to that desired equality, as the
nature and constitution of the state will admit.
There are few governments in the world, but
have arisen to their present height of grandeur, or
fallen to their prelent state of decay, by inferable
and unpremeditated gradations.—Barbarism has
leisurely fled before civilization, without leaving
any certain fixed plan behind. From century to
century, the forms of Government have been va
ried, but have ever been calculated to the meridian
of the present day.—Perhaps it is left for us in
America, boldly to chalk out a new plan, and ihew
to reviving Eastern rea ms, if reel ing Ihould ever
be their fate, that the true art of govemtnert is
vet to unfold. —But 1 fear to proceed—methinks
I grow presumptuous in my views, and, Bre.
thren, your patience begins to be exhaufted—ihall
I proceed :'—or shall I drop the pen ?
You're blent—l'll venture on
When a country is so extensive in itfelf, as to
produce the means of lubhftence to its inhabitants,
its land may be juifly said, to be the origin and
fountain of all its wealth; and the value of every
article of its produ&ion, will in some measure be
regulated by the value of the land. If the land
lords of a country rent out their grounds at 2cf
per acre, and the ground yields but to bulhels of
wheat per acre, and the wheat fells but for 2/ per
bufhcl,the farmer will be inevitably ruined. Then
either the landlord mull lower his rent, or th'