171 Essays 3 
others. They have ever conducted their several 
governments with wisdom, avoiding wars and vain, 
expensive projects, delighting only in their peaceable 
occupations, which must, considering the extent of 
their uncultivated territory, find them employment 
still for ages. Whereas England, ever unquiet, am- 
bitious, avaricious, imprudent, and quarrelsome, is 
half of the time engaged in war, always at an expense 
infinitely greater than the advantages to be obtained 
by it, if successful. Thus they made war against 
Spain in 1739, for a claim of about £95,000 (scarce a 
groat for each individual of the nation), and spent 
forty millions sterling in the war, and the lives of 
fifty thousand men; and finally made peace without 
obtaining satisfaction for the sum claimed. Indeed, 
there is scarce a nation in Europe, against which she 
has not made war on some frivolous pretext or other, 
and thereby imprudently accumulated a debt that 
has brought her on the verge of bankruptcy. But 
the most indiscreet of all her wars is the present 
against America, with whom she might for ages have 
preserved her profitable connection only by a just 
and equitable conduct. She is now acting like a 
mad shopkeeper, who, by beating those that pass his 
doors, attempts to make them come in and be his 
customers. America cannot submit to such treat- 
ment, without first being ruined, and, being ruined, 
her custom will be worth nothing. England, to 
effect this, is increasing her debt, and irretrievably 
ruining herself. America, on the other hand, aims 
only to establish her liberty, and that freedom of 
commerce which will be advantageous to all Europe: 
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