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 ad- 
ministration,” be a sufficient future protection; ex- 
press 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, per- 
fectly 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 num- 
bers 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 independ- 
ency. You would have the French left in Canada 
t Remarks, pp. 50, 5I.