An estimate of the comparative strength of Britain during the present and four preceding reigns; and of the losses of her trade from every war since the Revolution ... To which is added an essay on population / by the Lord Chief Justice Hale.
- George Chalmers
- Date:
- 1782
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: An estimate of the comparative strength of Britain during the present and four preceding reigns; and of the losses of her trade from every war since the Revolution ... To which is added an essay on population / by the Lord Chief Justice Hale. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![[ i8o ] Though neither of thefe ftatements can be allowed to contain the reality, or indeed not much more than the femblanoe of truth, it muft neverthelefs be admitted, that they fill the mindyvith vaft ideas of w'ealth, if they do not altogether fatisfy the judgment in regard to authenticity of fadts. It is however known, that the rulers of King William’s days were much more embarrafied with a national debt of fifteen or even of twelve million, than thofe of the prefent times have been with a public debt of one hundred and forty or fifty million; fo greatly had the people, the induftry, and opulence of fh is kingdom increafed in the mean time. If Dr. Davenant* juftly infilled ill 1698, that this nation Hill having the value of fix hundred millions in land and ftock of all kinds, which, being made liable to public debts, mufi: be judged a fufficient fecurity to fuch as have dealings with the Government,” who ought to doubt at prefent, fince Mr. Pulteney’’ ventures to affirm, “ that the wealth of Great Bntahj now exceeds 'very much one THOUSAND MILLIONS ?” SUCH then is the eftimate of our comparative refources, of the Ioffes and gains of our commerce, and of the augmented numbers of our people fince the Revolution. He who has honoured the foregoing documents with an attentive peru- fal, may probably be induced to afk. What valid reafon is there for relinquifhing hope, by defpairing of the Common- wealth ? The individual who defponds, indulges a paffion the moft to be deplored, becaufe it is the moft incurable. The nation, which in any conjuncture entertains doubts of her own ability, or thinks of fubmilfion to her unprovoked foes, is already conquered, fince flie is enQaved to her irrefolution, or her fears. The weaknefs of the ftate, during a war of unex- ampled embarraffments, confifts partly in the divifion of its mem- bers, placed as they are on every quarter of the globe, and to the confequent difperfion of its vaft force; but perhaps more to the diffimilarity of the principles and views of the leading characters in the nation. While the empire remains entire, there may be applied](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b28757671_0194.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
