power, on the one hand; through pride, envy, | third and fourth descent, that zeal for the and implacable resentment on the other; our public good, that military prowess, and that lives, our families, and little fortunes, dear to undaunted spirit, which has in every age disus as any great man's can be to him, are to tinguished their nation. What numbers have remain continually exposed to destruction, we likewise of those brave people, whose from an enterprising, cruel, now well-inform- fathers in the last age made so glorious a ed, and by success encouraged, enemy. It stand for our religion and liberties, when inseems as if Heaven, justly displeased at our vaded by a powerful French army, joined by growing wickedness, and determined to pu- Irish Catholics, under a bigoted popish king? nish this once-favoured land, had suffered Let the memorable siege of Londonderry, and our chiefs to engage in these foolish and mis- the signal actions of the Iniskillinners, by chievous contentions, for little posts and pal- which the heart of that prince's schemes was try distinctions, that our hands might be broken, be perpetual testimonies of the courage bound up, our understandings darkened and and conduct of those noble warriors! Nor are misled, and every means of our security ne- there wanting amongst us, thousands of that glected. It seems as if our greatest men, our warlike nation, whose sons have ever since cives nobilissimi† of both parties, had sworn the time of Cæsar maintained the character the ruin of the country, and invited the French, he gave their fathers, of joining the most obour most inveterate enemy, to destroy it. stinate courage to all the other military virWhere then shall we seek for succour and tues: I mean the brave and steady Germans. protection? The government we are imme- Numbers of whom have actually born arms in diately under denies it to us; and if the ene- the service of their respective princes; and my comes, we are far from Zidon, and there if they fought well for their tyrants and opis no deliverer near. Our case is danger-pressors, would they refuse to unite with us onsly bad; but perhaps there is yet a remedy, if we have but the prudence and the spirit to apply it.

in defence of their newly acquired and most precious liberty and property? Were this union formed, were we once united, thoroughIf this new flourishing city, and greatly im- ly armed and disciplined, was every thing in proving colony is destroyed and ruined, it our power done for our security, as far as huwill not be for want of numbers of.inhabitants man means and foresight could provide, we able to bear arms in its defence. It is com- might then, with more propriety, humbly ask puted, that we have at least (exclusive of the the assistance of Heaven, and a blessing on our quakers) sixty thousand fighting men, ac- lawful endeavours. The very fame of our quainted with fire arms, many of them hunters strength and readiness would be a means of and marksmen, hardy and bold. All we want discouraging our enemies; for it is a wise is order, discipline, and a few cannon. At and true saying, that one sword often keeps present we are like the separate filaments of another in the scabbard. The way to secure flax before the thread is formed, without peace is to be prepared for war. They, that strength, because without connexion; but are on their guard, and appear ready to reUNION Would make us strong, and even form-ceive their adversaries, are in much less danidable, though the great should neither help nor join us; though they should even oppose our uniting, from some mean views of their own, yet, if we resolve upon it, and it pleases God to inspire us with the necessary prudence and vigour, it may be effected. Great numbers of our people are of British race, and though the fierce fighting animals of those happy islands are said to abate their native fire and intrepidity, when removed to a foreign clime, yet with the people it is not so; our neighbours of New England afford the world a convincing proof, that Britons, though a hundred years transplanted, and to the remotest part of the earth, may yet retain, even to the When God determined to punish his chosen peo-power, the Lord of the armies of Israel, inple, the fab cbitants of Jerusalem, who though breakers spire us with prudence in this time of danof his other laws, were scrupulous observers of that ger, take away from us all the seeds of conONE, which required keeping holy the Sabbath-day: he suffered even the strict observation of that command to tention and division, and unite the hearts be their rum: for Pompey, observing that they then and counsels of all of us, of whatever sector obstinately refused to fight, made a general assault on nation, in one bond of peace, brotherly love, and generous public spirit; may he give us strength and resolution to amend our lives, and remove from among us every thing that

that day, took the town, and butchered them with as little mercy as he found resistance. JOSEPHUS.

↑ Con avere cives nobilissimi patriam incendere; GENTEM, infestissimiam nomini Romano,

GALLORUM

ad bellum arcessunt.-CAT. IN. SALUST.

ger of being attacked, than the supine, secure, and negligent. We have yet a winter before. us, which may afford a good and almost sufficient opportunity for this, if we seize and improve it with a becoming vigour. And if the hints contained in this paper are so happy as to meet with a suitable disposition of mind in his countrymen, and fellow-citizens, the writer of it will in a few days lay before them a form of ASSOCIATION for the purposes herein mentioned, together with a practicable scheme for raising the money necessary for the defence of our trade, city, and country, without laying a burden on any man.

May the God of wisdom, strength, and

is displeasing to him; afford us his most gracious protection, confound the designs of our enemies, aud give peace in all our borders, is the sincere prayer of

A TRADESMAN OF PHILADELPHIA.

A comparison of the conduct of the Ancient
Jews, and of the Anti-federalists in the
United States of America.

though the natural and unavoidable effect of their change of situation, exclaimed against their leaders as the authors of their trouble: and were not only for returning into Egypt, but stoning their deliverers.* Those inclined to idolatry were displeased that their golden calf was destroyed. Many of the chiefs thought the new constitution might be injurious to their particular interests, that the profitable places would be engrossed by the families and friends of Moses and Aaron, and others, equally well born, excluded.†—In Josephus, and the Talmud, we learn some particulars, not so fully narrated in the Scripture. We are there told, "that Corah was ambitious of the priesthood, and offended that it was conferred on Aaron; and this, as he said, by the authority of Moses only, without the consent of the people. He accused Moses of having, by various artifices, fraudulently obtained the government, and deprived the peo

A ZEALOUS advocate for the proposed federal constitution in a public assembly said, that "the repugnance of a great part of mankind to good government was such, that he believed, that if an angel from heaven was to bring down a constitution, formed there for our use, it would nevertheless meet with violent opposition." He was reproved for the supposed extravagance of the sentiment, and he did not justify it. Probably it might not have immediately occurred to him, that the experiment had been tried, and that the event was record-ple of their liberties, and of conspiring with ed in the most faithful of all histories, the Holy Bible; otherwise he might, as it seems to me, have supported his opinion by that unexceptionable authority.

The Supreme Being had been pleased to nourish up a single family, by continued acts of his attentive providence, till it became a great people: and having rescued them from bondage by many miracles, performed by his servant Moses, he personally delivered to that chosen servant, in presence of the whole nation, a constitution and code of laws for their observance, accompanied and sanctioned with promises of great rewards, and threats of severe punishments, as the consequence of their obedience or disobedience.

Aaron to perpetuate the tyranny in their family. Thus, though Korah's real motive was the supplanting of Aaron, he persuaded the people, that he meant only the public good; and they, moved by his insinuations, began to cry out, “Let us maintain the common liberty of our respective tribes, we have freed ourselves from all the slavery imposed upon us by the Egyptians, and shall we suffer ourselves to be made slaves by Moses? If we must have a master, it were better to return to Pharaoh, who at least fed us with bread and onions, than to serve this new tyrant, who, by his operations, has brought us into danger of famine." Then they called in question the reality of his conference with God, This constitution, though the Deity himself and objected to the privacy of the meetings, was to be at its head (and it is therefore call- and the preventing any of the people from beed by political writers a theocracy) could not ing present at the coloquies, or even approachbe carried into execution but by the means ing the place, as grounds of great suspicion. of his ministers; Aaron and his sons were They accused Moses also of peculation, as therefore commissioned to be, with Moses, embezzling part of the golden spoons and the the first established ministry of the new go- silver chargers, that the princes had offered vernment. at the dedication of the altar, and the offer One would have thought, that the appoint-ings of gold by the common people, as well ment of men, who had distinguished themselves in procuring the liberty of their nation, and had hazarded their lives in openly opposing the will of a powerful monarch, who would have retained that nation in slavery, might have been an appointment acceptable to a grateful people; and that a constitution, framed for them by the Deity himself, might . on that account have been secure of an universal welcome reception. Yet there were, in every one of the thirteen tribes, some discontented, restless spirits, who were continually exciting them to reject the proposed new government, and this from various motives.

Many still retained an affection for Egypt, the land of their nativity, and these, whenever they felt any inconvenience or hardship,

as most of the poll tax;|| and Aaron they accused of pocketing much of the gold of which he pretended to have made a molten calf. Besides peculation, they charged Moses with ambition; to gratify which passion, he had, they said, deceived the people, by promising to bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey; instead of doing which, he had brought them from such a land; and that he thought

Numbers, chap. xiv.

↑ Numbers, chap. xvi. ver. 3. "And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregations are holy, every one of them.wherefore their lift ye up yourselves above the congre

gation."

Numbers, chap. vii.

Exodus, chap. xxxv. ver. 22.

Numbers, chap. iii; and Exodus, chap. xxx.

I see in the public newspapers of different states frequent complaints of hard times, deadness of trade, scarcity of money, &c. It is not my intention to assert or maintain, that these complaints are entirely without foundation. There can be no country or nation existing, in which there will not be some people so circumstanced, as to find it hard to gain a livelihood; people who are not in the way of any profitable trade, and with whom money is scarce, because they have nothing to give in exchange for it; and it is always in the power of a small number to make a great clamour. But let us take a cool view of the general state of our affairs, and perhaps the prospect will appear less gloomy than has been imagined.

make a very considerable part of the city inhabitants.

At the distance I live from our American fisheries, I cannot speak of them with any degree of certainty; but I have not heard, that the labour of the valuable race of men employed in them is worse paid, or that they meet with less success, than before the revolution. The whale-men indeed have been deprived of one market for their oil; but another, I hear, is opening for them, which it is hoped may be equally advantageous; and the demand is constantly increasing for their spermaceti candels, which therefore bear a much higher price than formerly.

There remain the merchants and shopkeepers. Of these, though they make but a small part of the whole nation, the number is considerable, too great indeed for the business they are employed in; for the consumption of goods in every country has its limits; the faculties of the people, that is, their ability to buy and pay, being equal only to a certain quantity of merchandise. If merchants cal

much, they will of course find the sale dull for the overplus, and some of them will say, that trade languishes. They should, and doubtless will grow, wiser by experience, and import less. If too many artificers in town, and farmers from the country, flattering them

The great business of the continent is agriculture. For one artisan, or merchant, I suppose, we have at least one hundred farmers, by far the greatest part cultivators of their own fertile lands, from whence many of them draw.not only the food necessary for their subsistence, but the materials of their clothing, so as to need very few foreign sup-culate amiss on this proportion, and import too plies; while they have a surplus of productions to dispose of, whereby wealth is gradually accumulated. Such has been the goodness of Divine Providence to these regions, and so favourable the climate, that, since the three or four years of hardship in the first settlement of our fathers here, a famine or scar-selves with the idea of leading easier lives, city has never been heard of amongst us; on the contrary, though some years may have been more, and others less plentiful, there has always been provision enough for ourselves, and a quantity to spare for exportation. And although the crops of last year were generally good, never was the farmer better paid for the part he can spare commerce, as the published price currents abundantly testify. The lands he possesses are also continually rising in value with the increase of population; and, on the whole, he is enabled to give such good wages to those who work for him, that all who are acquainted with the old world must agree, that in no part of it are the labouring poor so generally well fed, well clothed, well lodged, and well paid, as in the United States of America.

turn shopkeepers, the whole natural quantity of that business divided among them all may afford too small a share for each, and occasion complaints, that trade is dead; these may also suppose, that it is owing to scarcity of money, while, in fact, it is not so much from the fewness of buyers, as from the excessive number of sellers, that the mischief arises; and, if every shopkeeping farmer and mechanic would return to the use of his plough and working tools, there would remain of widows, and other women, shopkeepers sufficient for the business, which might then afford them a comfortable maintenance.

Whoever has travelled through the various parts of Europe, and observed how small is the proportion of people in affluence or easy circumstances there, compared with those in If we enter the cities, we find, that, since poverty and misery; the few rich and haughty the revolution, the owners of houses and lots landlords, the multitude of poor, abject, rackof ground have had their interest vastly aug- rented, tythe paying tenants, and half paid mented in value; rents have risen to an as- and half-starved ragged labourers; and views tonishing height, and thence encouragement here the happy mediocrity, that so generally to increase building, which gives employment prevails throughout these states, where the to an abundance of workmen, as does also the cultivator works for himself, and supports his increased luxury and splendour of living of family in decent plenty, will, methinks, see the inhabitants, thus made richer. These abundant reason to bless Divine Providence workmen all demand and obtain much higher for the evident and great difference in our wages than any other part of the world would favour, and be convinced, that no nation afford them, and are paid in ready money.-known to us enjoys a greater share of human This class of people therefore do not, or ought felicity.

not, to complain of hard times; and they It is true, that in some of the states there

are parties and discords; but let us look back, and ask if we were ever without them? Such will exist wherever there is liberty; and perhaps they help to preserve it. By the collision of different sentiments, sparks of truth are struck out, and political light is obtained. The different factions, which at present divide us, aim all at the public good: the differences are only about the various modes of promoting it. Things, actions, measures, and objects of all kinds, present themselves to the minds of men in such a variety of lights, that it is not possible we should all think alike at the same time on every subject, when hardly the same man retains at all times the same ideas of it. Parties are therefore the common lot of humanity; and ours are by no means more mischievous or less beneficial than those of other countries, nations, and ages, enjoying in the same degree the great blessing of political liberty.

Some indeed among us are not so much grieved for the present state of our affairs, as apprehensive for the future. The growth of luxury alarms them, and they think we are from that alone in the high road to ruin. They observe, that no revenue is sufficient without economy, and that the most plentiful income of a whole people from the natural productions of their country may be dissipated. in vain and needless expenses, and poverty be introduced in the place of affluence. This may be possible. It however rarely happens: for there seems to be in every nation a greater proportion of industry and frugality, which tend to enrich, than of idleness and prodigality, which occasion poverty; so that upon the whole there is a continual accumulation. Reflect what Spain, Gaul, Germany, and Britain were in the time of the Romans, inhabited by people little richer than our savages, and consider the wealth they at present possess, in numerous well-built cities, improved farms, rich moveables, magazines stocked with valuable manufactures, to say nothing of plate, jewels, and coined money; and all this, notwithstanding their bad, wasteful, plundering governments, and their mad destructive wars; and yet luxury and extravagant living

rich. At present our independent governments may do what we could not then do, discourage by heavy duties, or prevent by heavy prohibitions, such importations, and thereby grow richer; if, indeed, which may admit of dispute, the desire of adorning ourselves with fine clothes, possessing fine furniture, with elegant houses, &c. is not, by strongly inciting to labour and industry, the occasion of producing a greater value, than is consumed in the gratification of that desire.

The agriculture and fisheries of the United States are the great sources of our increasing wealth. He that puts a seed into the earth is recompensed, perhaps, by receiving forty out of it; and he who draws a fish out of our water, draws up a piece of silver.

Let us (and there is no doubt but we shall) be attentive to these, and then the power of rivals, with all their restraining and prohibiting acts, cannot much hurt us. We are sons of the earth and seas, and, like Antæus in the fable, if, in wrestling with a Hercules, we now and then receive a fall, the touch of our parents will communicate to us.fresh strength and vigour to renew the contest.

SETTLEMENT ON OHIO.

When lord Halifax presided over the British Board of Trade, 1760, a plan was suggested by Dr. Franklin for establishing a colony or settlement on the river Ohio; considerations of policy and utility were com bined in this design; among others that of serving as a protection to the interior frontier of the adjoining colonies against the Indians, which was highly approv ed by the Board of Trade. It had not been proceeded in at that period, but in 1770 it was renewed, and Thomas Walpole, an eminent banker of London, was asso ciated with Dr. Franklin, John Sargent, and Samuel Wharton, and many others of great property in the design. A petition praying for a tract of land on the Ohio for this purpose was presented to the king in council by the above-named persons, on behalf of them. selves and others After the petition had been for some time before the privy council, it was referred, as usual, to the Board of Trade, to consider and report. The report made appears to have been drawn up by lord Billsborough, who then presided at that Board. The answer which follows was written by Dr. Franklin. Those papers excited great attention at that period, and it is believed lord Hillsborough never forgave Dr. Franklin the humiliation he felt from this answer.

Report of the Lord Commissioners for

Trade and Plantations, on the Petition of the Honourable Thomas Walpole and his Associates, for a Grant of Lands on the river Ohio, in North America.

has never suffered much restraint in those countries. Then consider the great proportion of industrious frugal farmers inhabiting the interior parts of these American states, and of whom the body of our nation consists, MY LORDS,-Pursuant to your lordships and judge whether it is possible, that the order of the 25th May, 1770, we have taken luxury of our sea-ports can be sufficient to ruin into our consideration the humble memorial such a country.-If the importation of foreign of the honourable, Thomas Walpole, Benjamin luxuries could ruin a people, we should pro- Franklin, John Sargent, and Samuel Wharbably have been ruined long ago; for the Bri- ton, esquires, in behalf of themselves and their tish nation claimed a right, and practised it, associates, setting forth among other things, of importing among us not only the superflui- "That they presented a petition to his maties of their own production, but those of every jesty in council, for a grant of lands in Ame nation under heaven; we bought and consum- rica (parcel of the lands purchased by govern ed them, and yet we flourished and grew, ment of the Indians) in consideration of a