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ſupply the deficiencies of our revenues, and millions upon millions added to the public weight, under the preſſure of which ſo many individuals are already to ſink; and a ſurcreaſe of which, perhaps many of thoſe, whoſe zeal is foremoſt in the cauſe of humanity, may think it impoſſible to bear.
The numbers of men, who through intemperance, neglect, and other cauſes, have been loſt in this commerce ſhould be duly conſidered; and if the community ſuffer more by endemial calamity, than it can gain by foreign reſource, the folly of adventure is apparent: but if trade can be extended with a preſervation of ſouls, and a proviſion of ſeamen, it muſt greatly favour our inſular means, and every veſſel would be conſidered as the head of a common-wealth, that raiſes annually ſo many patriots to the ſtate. I will not dwell upon the numbers, that may be annually loſt upon the Eaſtern or Weſtern adventures, but only ſubmit, whether they would not have been more uſeful members if they had ſettled at home, and cultivated tracts of land, that before were barren, had given population to deſerts, induſtry to idle-
