' Essays 5
are not now to be had in New England, but from
very remote places and at great prices. The trade
is accordingly declining there; so that, far from being
able to make hats in any quantity for exportation,
they cannot supply their own home demand; and it
is well known that some thousand dozens are sent
thither yearly from London, Bristol, and Liverpool,
and sold cheaper than the inhabitants can make
them of equal goodness.
In fact, the colonies are so little suited for establishing
 of manufacture, that they are continually
losing the few branches they accidentally gain. The
working braziers, cutlers, and pewterers, as well as
hatters, who have happened to go over from time
to time and settle in the colonies, gradually drop the
working part of their business, and import their respective
 goods from England, whence they can have
them cheaper and better than they can make them.
They continue their shops indeed, in the same way
of dealing; but become sellers of braziery, cutlery,
pewter, hats, &c., brought from England, instead of
being makers of those goods.
5. The American Colonies not dangerous in their Nature
 to Great Britain.
Thus much as to the apprehension of our colonies
becoming useless to us. I shall next consider the
other supposition, that their growth may render
them dangerous. Of this, I own, I have not the least
conception, when I consider that we have already
fourteen separate governments on the maritime coast

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