SW_WH1793_Page_222

go in the light of a misfortune to this country—Irather consider it as an advantage. My treatise onindigence will show you how small a proportion ofthe national wealth is derived from commerce, greatand unexampled in point of extent as it unquestion-ably is—perhaps equal to all the nations of Europeput together. In another point of view, it may be considered, underProvidence, to be the only bar that existed to the total subjugation of all Europe and America to theyoke of France. If her maritime power had notexisted, and she had abstained from, or waved whatshe calls her maritime rights, upon which her powerchiefly depends, what would have become of theworld at this era? The United States, but for this powerful barrier, must have ultimately fallen underthe power of the tyrant of Europe; whose ambitionhas no bounds, and who may justly be considered asa scourge in the hands of the Almighty, to punish theoffences of the nations of Europe, and permitted toreign for a time. Let us hope that his career isnearly at a close; and that the nations of Europe,convinced of the folly and the great calamities ofwar, will resolve to cling to the olive branch, andcultivate the arts of peace. America, above all countries in the world, ought to avoid war—she isevery way vulnerable, without the means of defence.England is not what she was during the war of therevolution. Her unexampled naval power has ban-ished the belligerent flag every where from the ocean;and powerful as the French are on land, yet whenthey come in contact with British troops on that element, they are compelled (as has been seen almostin every instance) to yield the palm to British valourand discipline. Let us, therefore, hope that Englandand America will form a permanent union, as thebest means of preserving the peace of the world, andpromoting the best interests of the human species. The attainment of this great object now that