wealbk05-第73节
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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 them； not by
imposing new taxes； but by preventing the embezzlement and
misapplication of the greater part of those which they already
pay。
If it should be found impracticable for Great Britain to
draw any considerable augmentation of revenue from any of the
resources above mentioned； the only resource which can remain to
her is a diminution of her expense。 In the mode of collecting and
in that of expending the public revenue； though in both there may
be still room for improvement； Great Britain seems to be at least
as economical as any of her neighbours。 The military
establishment which she maintains for her own defence in time of
peace is more moderate than that of any European state which can
pretend to rival her either in wealth or in power。 None of those
articles； therefore； seem to admit of any considerable reduction
of expense。 The expense of the peace establishment of the
colonies was； before the commencement of the present
disturbances； very considerable； and is an expense which may； and
if no revenue can be drawn from them ought certainly to be saved
altogether。 This constant expense in time of peace； though very
great； is insignificant in comparison with what the defence of
the colonies has cost us in time of war。 The last war； which was
undertaken altogether on account of the colonies； cost Great
Britain； it has already been observed； upwards of ninety
millions。 The Spanish war of 1739 was principally undertaken on
their account； in which； and in the French war that was the
consequence of it； Great Britain spent upwards of forty millions；
a great part of which ought justly to be charged to the colonies。
In those two wars the colonies cost Great Britain much more than
double the sum which the national debt amounted to before the
commencement of the first of them。 Had it not been for those wars
that debt might； and probably would by this time； have been
completely paid； and had it not been for the colonies； the former
of those wars might not； and the latter certainly would not have
been undertaken。 It was because the colonies were supposed to be
provinces of the British empire that this expense was laid out
upon them。 But countries which contribute neither revenue nor
military force towards the support of the empire cannot be
considered as provinces。 They may perhaps be considered as
appendages； as a sort of splendid and showy equipage of the
empire。 But if the empire can no longer support the expense of
keeping up this equipage； it ought certainly to lay it down； and
if it cannot raise its revenue in proportion to its expense； it
ought； at least； to accommodate its expense to its revenue。 If
the colonies； notwithstanding their refusal to submit to British
taxes； are still to be considered as provinces of the British
empire； their defence in some future war may cost Great Britain
as great an expense as it ever has done in any former war。 The
rulers of Great Britain have； for more than a century past；
amused the people with the imagination that they possessed a
great empire on the west side of the Atlantic。 This empire；
however； has hitherto existed in imagination only。 It has
hitherto been； not an empire； but the project of an empire； not a
gold mine； but the project of a gold mine； a project which has
cost； which continues to cost； and which； if pursued in the same
way as it has been hitherto； is likely to cost； immense expense；
without being likely to bring any profit； for the effects of the
monopoly of the colony trade； it has been shown； are； to the
great body of the people； mere loss instead of profit。 It is
surely now time that our rulers should either realize this golden
dream； in which they have been indulging themselves； perhaps； as
well as the people； or that they should awake from it themselves；
and endeavour to awaken the people。 If the project cannot be
completed； it ought to be given up。 If any of the provinces of
the British empire cannot be made to contribute towards the
support of the whole empire； it is surely time that Great Britain
should free herself from the expense of defending those provinces
in time of war； and of supporting any part of their civil or
military establishments in time of peace； and endeavour to
accommodate her future views and designs to the real mediocrity
of her circumstances。 APPENDIX
Appendix
The two following accounts are subjoined in order to illustrate
and confirm what is said in the fifth chapter of the fourth book；
concerning the tonnage bounty to the white…herring fishery。 The
reader； I believe； may depend upon the accuracy of both accounts。
An account of Busses fitted out in Scotland for Eleven Years；
with the Number of Empty Barrels carried out； and the Number of
Barrels of Herrings caught； also the Bounty at a Medium on each
Barrel of Seasteeks； and on each Barrel when fully packed。
Empty Barrels
Number of Barrels of Herrings Bounty
paid on Years Busses carried out caught
the Busses
L s。
d。 1771 29 5948 2832 2085
0 0
1772 168 41316 22237 11055 7
6
1773 190 42333 42055 12510 8
6
1774 248 59303 56365 16952 2
6
1775 275 69144 52879 19315 15
0
1776 294 76329 51863 21290 7
6
1777 240 62679 43313 17592 2
6
1778 220 56390 40958 16316 2
6
1779 206 55194 29367 15287 0
0
1780 181 48315 19885 13445 12
6
1781
