The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1813-04-16
EWQUIRARoFFI .Ahril IS.
POLITICAL ARITHMETIC.

one year OF war say they, cost so millions
an actual expenditure, aid 20 more in the
diminution OF the price of produce, seven
years, war will cost SC. &c. and then these
ni!liards of dollars, laid upon the ground,
Will cover SO many acres of land. or ii
placed ia a straight line, would form a
belt like that of Saturn, round the world. -
All this is very instrucfivc yet the people
OF this country manifest gratitude to
the learned and laborious gentlemeH, who
have devoted their time and talents TO the
solution of problems no less Gi6Fcuit than
sphsFfant.
Il is much to be detior-d, that this sci
ence of Political Arith rnetc, was not un-
tierstood in the year 1875 Washington &
Franklin, Hancock and Sam. Adams, and
many others of the same stamp, though
they were reputed TO be wise, at that time,
seem never TO have thought of il. These
men and their adhcrcnts, that is to say,
80 in hundred of the people, conten9ed
for the independence of these United States
and encountered seven years of slaughter
and Oscillation, and what is stI morse, of
enormous ecfeace, TO get clear o. de-
maDd not equal to the taxes of p small
Corporation. All that Great Britain want
ed, was duty of about cents on each
pound of tea imported into the colonies
Now mark the mischief resulting from the
ignorance Of the aforesaid Washington and
Franklin, Hancock and Adams. of sci
snce, at this day so well understood.-
1T that time we had only about millions
ct people in tse country. OF these three
millions not more than 202, 327 persons and
50 hundredths of a person Il choose to be
precise even to fraction) drank tea, and
the consumption was exactly three quar-
ters of pound, and 27 hundredths OF a
quarter of a pound for each person, and
single leaf for the fraction of person a.
Dove stated. OF course the annual tribute
mean tax, which we should have paid to
e.. Britain. for her maternal care and ten.
ecrness, In governing us, would have been
SlS, l0@ and 4e cents. Instead of paving
this little Contri button, we went to war. be-
cause unfortunately for us, the admirable
sSience, which teaches Us TO estimate to the
housandth part of dollar, the value OF
national independence, and of ali human
right and OF all human feeling, was not
cultivated in the dark ee of rs, as il IS in
these refined and enlightened times. The
consequence was, that the good people of
ehis country paid more for the war in one
month. than would have discharged the
tax for 1865 years, one month, 27 DAYS. .
hours and so minutes; period. whicl,
enough not equal to the duration Of the
British empire, exceeds by IL years. IL
months, II days and IL hours the continu-
snce Of the present family ON the throne of
G.. Britain. The los. gustainsd bv IN.
burning of q single town, Norfolk for in
stance, was grgatcr than the amaunt. 81 the
AJAX for a whole century.
But TO expose more completely the igno-
vance of the before entioned period of
1f7o to the derision and scorn of the peo-
PIE CT the present day, it is proper 10 stats
what ie historically true, that this little
tax, to get clear OF which million. were
expended. was mere shGdotg II would
Eot have ccst the colonies IA cent. The fact
was This: Before the dispute arose, there
had been duty all teas exported from
England. This duty was of course added
to the price OF the article, and was ulti-
zaa.ely paid by the consumers in America.
TO this the colonies made no cbjecli1n.-.
&hey did not pretend to say that q. b. had
no right 10 impose q duty on goods exported
from thence. The ministry OF G. Britain.
wanting monsy, but unwilling % increase
shc export duty at home, laid T. tax on tea
imported here. This was objected to sire
nuously, and ifthe colonies, right or wrong.
could get clear OF by argument, which
costs bat little, and is in truth worth less
than II costs, they were very wise upon ,hc
true principles of political arithmetic in
Blakins the attempt. 1t s.the saving Of
a good penny. The ministry, then, in or
der ia shew their affection for the colunies
took eft the export duty at home. but|
tett the tax standing here. In a. hecunia,v
point ct vie" the only Uiegy which political
&rIth@,cticisns ever, deign Go take Of aDv
snbjeCt, the eject OF this procedure was
She same as the repeal OF tie tax; Il VAS
at least the same TO us.--But this great
sA'uth the people of rs q 4 not comprehend.
and under the visionary and anti ariihmeti-
notion, that the ptIn,iD'c and not the
e2x. constituted the real point of controver
~. thy persevered in their opposition TO
che pretensions Of G.. Britain. What the.
Sesult Of the contest was, is entirely ana.
sher affair, and does not come within the
S&opc OF Political Arithmetic az least il is
not convenient so to consider it at the time
There was indeed a period of several
years caring which hops might lately have
heen INDUCED. that the principles of this
Ereat science had some influence in tile conn
ellis OF this country But all hope on this sub
Ject IS now eNtingushed by the declara ion
OF war; and millions of sxpence and debt.
vhica might be most advantageously laid
sut IN Claret, SIEVE China, Patent Lsmns
Ane carpets and plated Harness. will he
incurred, 20 repei what are called the no.
Sressions OF nation, whose affection for ms
is as sincere and as boundless as il was FIVE
ana thirty years ago; aggrcssions, which
are enUre!y confined TO the regulation of
our trade, and the impressment of our
seamen % which, as in duty bound, the
people OF these United States. it IS bop0d
VIII most patiently submit.
A Y .