0 Essays ) 
ledge; and if there are at present but few of them 
that distinguish themselves here by great expense, 
it is owing to the mediocrity of fortune among the 
inhabitants of the northern colonies, and a more equal 
division of landed property than in the West India 
Islands, so that there are as yet but few large estates. 
But if those who have such estates reside upon and 
take care of them themselves, are they worse sub- 
jects than they would be if they lived idly in England? 
Great merit is assumed for the gentlemen of the 
West Indies, on the score of their residing and 
spending their money in England. I would not 
depreciate that merit,—it is considerable; for they 
might, if they pleased, spend their money in France; 
but the difference between their spending it here and 
at home is not so great. What do they spend it in 
when they are here, but the produce and manufac- 
tures of this country? and would they not do the 
same if they were at home? Is it of any great im- 
portance to the English farmer, whether the West 
India gentleman comes to London and eats his beef, 
pork, and tongues, fresh, or has them brought to him 
in the West Indies, salted? Whether he eats his 
English cheese and butter, or drinks his English ale, 
at London or in Barbadoes? Is the clothier’s, or 
the mercer’s, or the cutler’s, or the toyman’s profit 
less, for their goods being worn and consumed by the 
same persons residing on the other side of the ocean? 
Would not the profits of the merchant and mariner 
be rather greater, and some addition made to our 
navigation, ships, and seamen? If the North Ameri- 
1 Remarks, pp. 47, 48, &c. 
760] 40