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household furniture； and into the ironwork necessary for building
and extending their settlements and plantations。 In those
branches of business which cannot be transacted without gold and
silver money； it appears that they can always find the necessary
quantity of those metals； and if they frequently do not find it；
their failure is generally the effect； not of their necessary
poverty； but of their unnecessary and excessive enterprise。 It is
not because they are poor that their payments are irregular and
uncertain； but because they are too eager to become excessively
rich。 Though all that part of the produce of the colony taxes
which was over and above what was necessary for defraying the
expense of their own civil and military establishments were to be
remitted to Great Britain in gold and silver； the colonies have
abundantly wherewithal to purchase the requisite quantity of
those metals。 They would in this case be obliged； indeed； to
exchange a part of their surplus produce； with which they now
purchase active and productive stock； for dead stock。 In
transacting their domestic business they would be obliged to
employ a costly instead of a cheap instrument of commerce； and
the expense of purchasing this costly instrument might damp
somewhat the vivacity and ardour of their excessive enterprise in
the improvement of land。 It might not； however； be necessary to
remit any part of the American revenue in gold and silver。 It
might be remitted in bills drawn upon and accepted by particular
merchants or companies in Great Britain to whom a part of the
surplus produce of America had been consigned； who would pay into
the treasury the American revenue in money； after having
themselves received the value of it in goods； and the whole
business might frequently be transacted without exporting a
single ounce of gold or silver from America。
It is not contrary to justice that both Ireland and America
should contribute towards the discharge of the public debt of
Great Britain。 That debt has been contracted in support of the
government established by the Revolution； a government to which
the Protestants of Ireland owe； not only the whole authority
which they at present enjoy in their own country； but every
security which they possess for their liberty； their property；
and their religion； a government to which several of the colonies
of America owe their present charters； and consequently their
present constitution； and to which all the colonies of America
owe the liberty； security； and property which they have ever
since enjoyed。 That public debt has been contracted in the
defence； not of Great Britain alone； but of all the different
provinces of the empire； the immense debt contracted in the late
war in particular； and a great part of that contracted in the war
before； were both properly contracted in defence of America。
By a union with Great Britain； Ireland would gain； besides
the freedom of trade； other advantages much more important； and
which would much more than compensate any increase of taxes that
might accompany that union。 By the union with England the
middling and inferior ranks of people in Scotland gained a
complete deliverance from the power of an aristocracy which had
always before oppressed them。 By a union with Great Britain the
greater part of the people of all ranks in Ireland would gain an
equally complete deliverance from a much more oppressive
aristocracy； an aristocracy not founded； like that of Scotland；
in the natural and respectable distinctions of birth and fortune；
but in the most odious of all distinctions； those of religious
and political prejudices； distinctions which； more than any
other； animate both the insolence of the oppressors and the
hatred and indignation of the oppressed； and which commonly
render the inhabitants of the same country more hostile to one
another than those of different countries ever are。 Without a
union with Great Britain the inhabitants of Ireland are not
likely for many ages to consider themselves as one people。
No oppressive aristocracy has ever prevailed in the
colonies。 Even they； however； would； in point of happiness and
tranquility； gain considerably by a union with Great Britain。 It
would； at least； deliver them from those rancorous and virulent
factions which are inseparable from small democracies； and which
have so frequently divided the affections of their people； and
disturbed the tranquillity of their governments； in their form so
nearly democratical。 In the case of a total separation from Great
Britain； which； unless prevented by a union of this kind； seems
very likely to take place； those factions would be ten times more
virulent than ever。 Before the commencement of the present
disturbances； the coercive power of the mother country had always
been able to restrain those factions from breaking out into
anything worse than gross brutality and insult。 If that coercive
power were entirely taken away； they would probably soon break
out into open violence and bloodshed。 In all great countries
which are united under one uniform government； the spirit of
party commonly prevails less in the remote provinces than in the
centre of the empire。 The distance of those provinces from the
capital； from the principal seat of the great scramble of faction
and ambition； makes them enter less into the views of any of the
contending parties； and renders them more indifferent and
impartial spectators of the conduct of all。 The spirit of party
prevails less in Scotland than in England。 In the case of a union
it would probably prevail less in Ireland than in Scotland； and
the colonies would probably soon enjoy a degree of concord and
unanimity at present unknown in any part of the British empire。
Both Ireland and the colonies； indeed； would be subjected to
heavier taxes than any which they at present pay。 In consequence；
however； of a diligent and faithful application of the public
revenue towards the discharge of the national debt； the greater
part of those taxes might not be of long continuance； and the
public revenue of Great Britain might soon be reduced to what was
necessary for maintaining a moderate peace establishment。
The territorial acquisitions of the East India Company； the
undoubted right of the crown； that is； of the state and people of
Great Britain； might be rendered another source of revenue more
abundant； perhaps； than all those already mentioned。 Those
countries are represented as more fertile； more extensive； and；
in proportion to their extent； much richer and more populous than
Great Britain。 In order to draw a great revenue from them； it
would not probably be necessary to introduce any new system of
taxation into countries which are already sufficiently and more
than sufficiently taxed。 It might； perhaps； be more proper to
lighten than to aggravate the burden of those unfortunate
countries； and to endeavour to draw a revenue from