PREFACE . Xl'ii It has been urged, as an argument in support of the inutility of our colonies, that the United States of have taken more British manufactured goods since, than before their independence. Never was there a more false inference made by men who commit blunders from not examining facts. The increased consumption of British goods in the Ame¬ rican republic, is the natural consequence of a rapidly increased population; for that the people of the United States have not augmented the demand for British fabrics, in the same ratio as their numbers have multiplied, is satisfactorily proved by various unexceptionable authorities* This arises in consequence of the political bond between the United Kingdom and the United States being severed, having turned the attention of the republican legislators to home manufactures; and, in order to foster them, to impose heavy restrictions by an obnoxious tariff on the importation of goods, as a measure which they consider politically wise. Vast quantities of French, and other continental manufac- * See the excellent pamphlet of Major-General Sir Howard Douglas , Baronet, On the Value and Importance of the Colonies, p. 7. See Mr Cambreleng 's Report, p. 28. See Reports of Congress, 1825 and 1827. See Watterton's American Statistics. See three intelligent pamphlets, by Henry Bhss , Esq. barrister, on Colonial Policy. See also Recapitulation of Trade and Population, in the last chapter of the second volume of this work. u -