, and
prepare in time an asylum for mankind.

OF THE PRESENT _ABILITY_ OF _AMERICA_, WITH SOME
MISCELLANEOUS _REFLECTIONS_

I have never met with a man, either in England or America, who hath not
confessed his opinion that a separation between the countries, would
take place one time or other: And there is no instance, in which we
have shewn less judgement, than in endeavouring to describe, what we
call the ripeness or fitness of the Continent for independence.

As all men allow the measure, and vary only in their opinion of the
time, let us, in order to remove mistakes, take a general survey of
things, and endeavour, if possible, to find out the VERY time. But we
need not go far, the inquiry ceases at once, for, the TIME HATH FOUND
US. The general concurrence, the glorious union of all things prove
the fact.

It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies; yet
our present numbers are sufficient to repel the force of all the world.
The Continent hath, at this time, the largest body of armed and
disciplined men of any power under Heaven; and is just arrived at that
pitch of strength, in which no single colony is able to support itself,
and the whole, when united, can accomplish the matter, and either more,
or, less than this, might be fatal in its effects. Our land force is
already sufficient, and as to naval affairs, we cannot be insensible,
that Britain would never suffer an American man of war to be built,
while the continent remained in her hands. Wherefore, we should be no
forwarder an hundred years hence in that branch, than we are now; but
the truth is, we should be less so, because the timber of the country
is every day diminishing, and that, which will remain at last, will be
far off and difficult to procure.

Were the continent crowded with inhabitants, her sufferings under the
present circumstances would be intolerable. The more seaport towns we
had, the more should we have both to defend and to lose. Our present
numbers are so happily proportioned to our wants, that no man need be
idle. The diminution of trade affords an army, and the necessities of
an army create a new trade.

Debts we have none; and whatever we may contract on this account will
serve as a glorious memento of our virtue. Can we but leave posterity
with a settled form of government, an independent constitution of its
own, the purchase at any price will be cheap. But to expend millions
for the sake