Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/565

 — 35 — which the men are raised. The distress brought upon the inhabitants is, notwithstanding, extremely great. The num- ber of men raised this year, we are sensible, is not equal to that of the last. The assembly then made the greatest effort that has ever been known in the province. They looked upon it to be their last effort; they had no expectations that it could be repeated; and it was really so great as to render it impracticable for us to make the like a second time. The number of our inhabitants is since then much lessened: some were killed in battle ; many died by sickness, while they were in service, or soon after their return home ; great numbers have inlisted as rangers, artificers, recruits in his majesty's regular forces, and for other branches of the service. " The unprecedented charge of the last year, also tends to increase the distress of the province. The expense of the regiments raised for his majesty's service amounted to near one hundred and twenty thousand pounds sterling: besides this, the inhabitants of the several towns in the province, by fines, or by voluntary contributions to procure men for the service, paid at least sixty thousand pounds sterling more; which is in all respects as burdensome, as if it had been raised as a tax by the government. The defence of our own frontiers, and the other ordinary charges of government, amount to at least thirty thousand pounds sterling more. " Because the province last year raised seven thousand men, it is inferred that it is able to raise the same number this, and no allowance is made for its being so much reduced in its estate and number of inhabitants. " We have generally been the first in proposals for public service, and have determined what force we would employ : other governments have followed after us in just what pro- portion they pleased ; and we wish it had been an equal one. We are now lessened, and they are increased; and we are yet urged to continue the same proportions. We have always chosen to avoid entering into the consideration of quotas or proportions, but we seem now obliged to do it. We conceive that in order to determine a just proportion, the wealth, tn»e e 2