34 Benjamin Franklin [1760
for the blood and treasure she had spent in “their
cause ’’; confess that enough had now been done “for
them’’; allow that “English forts, raised in proper
passes, will, with the wisdom and vigor of her administration,”
 be a sufficient future protection; express
 their desires that their people may be confined
within the mountains, lest, if they be suffered to
spread and extend themselves in the fertile and
pleasant country on the other side, they should
“increase infinitely from all causes,’ “live wholly on
their own labor,” and become independent; beg,
therefore, that the French may be suffered to remain
in possession of Canada, as their neighbourhood may
be useful to prevent our increase, and the removing
them may “in its consequences be even dangerous’’*;
—1I say, should such an address from the colonies
make its appearance here (though, according to the
Remarker, it would be a most just and reasonable
one), would it not, might it not, with more justice
be answered: “ We understand you, Gentlemen, perfectly
 well; you have only your interest in view;
you want to have the people confined within your
present limits, that in a few years the lands you are
possessed of may increase tenfold in value. You
want to reduce the price of labor by increasing numbers
 on the same territory, that you may be able to
set up manufactures and vie with your mother
country. You would have your people kept in a
body, that you may be more able to dispute the
commands of the crown, and obtain an independency.
 You would have the French left in Canada
t Remarks, pp. 50, 5I.