1. Essays vw 
for them’ *; yet I believe this is too common an 
error. I do not say they are altogether unconcerned 
in the event. The inhabitants of them are, in com- 
mon with the other subjects of Great Britain, 
anxious for the glory of her crown, the extent of her 
power and commerce, the welfare and future repose 
of the whole British people. They could not, there- 
fore, but take a large share in the affronts offered 
to Britain; and have been animated with a truly 
British spirit to exert themselves beyond their 
strength, and against their evident interest. Yet 
so unfortunate have they been, that their virtue has 
made against them; for upon no better foundation 
than this have they been supposed the authors of a 
war carried on for their advantage only. 
It is a great mistake to imagine that the American 
country in question between Great Britain and 
France is claimed as the property of any individual 
or public body im America; or that the possession of 
it by Great Britain is likely, in any lucrative view, 
to redound at all to the advantage of any person 
there. On the other hand, the bulk of the inhabi- 
tants of North America are land-owners, whose lands 
are inferior in value to those of Britain, only by 
the want of an equal number of people. It is true, 
the accession of the large territory claimed before the 
war began (especially if that be secured by the pos- 
session of Canada), will tend to the increase of the 
British subjects, faster than if they had been con- 
fined within the mountains; vet the increase within 
the mountains only, would evidently make the com- 
I Remarks, p. 25. 
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