Page:The History of the American Indians.djvu/466

 454 APPENDIX.

and in the enfeebling regions of the fouth. Even there, when the fprings of the date-machine are any confiderable time over-ftretched, the fnarp feelings of the people naturally roufe, and force them to conquer their timorous difpofition, and exert their powers to break the torturing wheels, and free themfelves of their pains. The voice of nature is againil tyranny. It execrates the abettors, and configns them to punimment.

As the lands in Virginia, and Maryland, are greatly exhaufted by raifing that impoveriming weed, tobacco, Great Britain may expect to feel a gradual decay of that valuable branch of trade, in proportion to the increafe of the people in thofe provinces, unlefs new colonies are fettled on the MifTifippi. Befides this tract, there is not a fufficient fpace of fertile land in North America, to invite planters to raife that ftaple commodity. Though the Ohio fettlements are now numerous, and increafmg faft, the feeders will only confult their own eafe, as nature is there very prolific of every convenience of life ; except go vernment wifely encourages them to raife fuch products as would fuit the mother-country, and reward them for their labour. Were proper meafures adopted, the defire of gain would induce them to plant with the utmoft afilduity : and fmiling induftry would foon beget a fpirit of emulation among the planters, prompting each to excel his neighbour in the annual quantity and good quality of thofe ftaple com modities they were invited to fix upon. The vaft tracts of fertile woods, which are now fhamefully allowed to be only the haunts of wild beads, and wolfim favages feeking for prey, might far eafier be turned into valuable fine plantations by bounties, than the marfiies and barren lands in Britain were, into their preient flourifhing condition, by the repeated en couragements of the Royal Society, and of parliament. Any thing that promotes greatly the public good, ought always to be done at the expence of the public, otherwife it will never be done, efpecially by labouring in dividuals. Charity begins at home, and every one's domeftic affairs de mand his clofe attention. To preferve the Ohio lands, coft Great Britain, and our colonies in particular, a river of blood, in confequence of the blindnefs and obltinacy of a haughty general. A legal conftitutional form of government, ought immediately to be eftablifhed there, both for the general welfare, and preventing evils that may reafonably be expected jto grow up among a remote, and. numerous body of people, hardy and 7 warlike,

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