pon this foundation, and to bring this to be true, as I shall presently
make appear, I must add, that a just reproach lies upon us for indolence,
and an unaccountable neglect of our national interests, in not
sufficiently exerting ourselves to improve our trade and increase our
manufactures; which is the title, as it is the true design, of this whole
work.

The affirming, as above, that we are able to increase our manufacture, and
by that increase to take off more wool, may, perhaps, be thought an
arrogance too great to be justified, and would be a begging the question
in an egregious manner, if I were not in a condition to prove what I say;
I shall therefore apply myself directly to evidence, and to put it out of
doubt:--

By increasing our manufacture, I am content to be understood to mean the
increasing the consumption, otherwise, to increase quantity only, would be
to ruin the manufacturers, not improve the trade. This increasing the
consumption is to be considered under two generals.

1. The consumption at home.
2. The exportation, or consumption abroad.

I begin with the last; namely, the consumption abroad. This is too wide a
field to enter upon in particular here, I refer it to be treated at large
by itself; but as far as it serves to prove what I have affirmed above,
namely, that the consumption of our manufactures may be improved abroad,
so far it is needful to speak of it here; I shall confine it to the
English colonies and factories abroad.

It is evident, that by the increase of our colonies, the consumption of
our manufactures has been exceedingly increased; not only experience
proves it, but the nature of the thing makes it impossible to be
otherwise; the island of St. Christopher, is a demonstration beyond all
argument; that island is increased in its product and people, by the
French giving it up to us at the treaty of Utrecht. Its product of sugar
is almost equal to that of Barbadoes, and will in a very few years exceed
it; the exports from hence to that island are increased in proportion; why
then do we not increase our possessions, plant new colonies, and better
people our old ones? Both might be done to infinite advantage, as might be
made out, had we room for it, past contradiction.

We talk of, and expect a war with Spain; were the advantages which new
settlements in the abandoned countries of America, as well the island as
the continent considered, we should all wish for such a war, tha