xii PREFAC E.

colonies now forming the United States were when they declared their independence, with their present condition, and then draw a parallel between their condition at that time, and the present state of the British North American colonies.

In 1772, the European population of the old colo- nies was little more than 2,000,000. At present, the population of the United States is about 13,000,000. In 1783, all the European inhabitants of the present British North American possessions only amounted to 193,000. They now contain a population of 1,350,000. When we therefore consider that these colonies, by cultivation and improvement, are capable of supporting at least 30,000,000 of inhabitants; and including the countries west of the great lakes, probably more than 50,000,000, and that the soil of those countries will produce all the crops that ripen in England, with Indian corn, and other productions, in a climate equally salubrious as that of Britain, we will have little difficulty in concluding, that the men who plant themselves in those regions must rapidly increase their numbers ; and becoming, from interest and inclination, attached to the land of their adoption, they, and their offspring, will for ever maintain pos- session of vast and valuable territory, which, from well known causes, will give the power that holds domi- nion over it the umpirage of the Western World.