The Spanish Military Forces in the Country cannot defeat a general confederacy of the Indians and others; when strengthened by an Army from the associated American Colonies.

But this prospect, as far as it regards the independent States, I cannot reflect upon with any pleasure, rather, with Pain; because I am convinced, that it will not be of any advantage, but rather injurious to them to enlarge their Territories.  It will lead their attention to the Gold Mines of Mexico, and cause them to neglect their own more fruitful Mines at home; Commerce and Industry, the nearest and most certain Way to Honour, Opulence, and Happiness.

This Conduct, at least chiefly, reduced the Spaniards to their present comparative insignifancy, among the Nations of Europe; and should this be the conduct of the united States, they may expect the total Destruction of their Religion, Laws, and Liberties.

May they seriously reflect upon the Conduct of the Athenians and Carthaginians, in ancient Times; and upon the Conduct of the Venetians, Genoese, and, especially, Holland, (a District less in dimensions, than New Jersey, the least of their Colonies by above 2000 square Miles) in later Times, and they will be soon convinced that Commerce is the shortest and surest Way to Wealth and Power!

I have above cited a passage from the ancient Universal History, in which the Writer appears inclined to believe the reality of Prince Madog’s Voyages.  But the Author of the History of America, Modern Part, Vol. 38, p. 5. treats them with contempt.  “To recite, says he, the fabulous story of Madog, a Welsh Prince, and the Tale related by William of Newbury, of two green Children, who were found in a Field, in the Reign of King Stephen, would afford the judicious Reader as little Amusement as Instruction.”

This voluminous Work, upon the whole, seems well executed, but like all others of great Length, is very unequal; because written by persons of different Abilities and Opinions.  Gentlemen of great eminence in the literary World, and of unimpeached Integrity were engaged; and others, though of acknowledged Abilities, yet, to say the least, of very suspicious Characters, were employed.  Among the latter, Psalmanazar, who, if he was a Spanish Jesuit, as has been said, and wrote this article, might be induced by the Amor Patriae, to ascribe to his Countrymen the honour of having, first discoved America.  The Author of the above paragraph, whoever he was, affected to look upon the Tradition concerning Madog, and the Tale of the two green Children, as equally ill founded, and unworthy of credit.  Whereas in Truth, the one is plainly an idle monkish Tale, the other a simple Narrative of an Event.  One is a Fact supported by numerous authorities, the other evidently is one of those prodigies, pretended miracles, and priestly Inventions, which are to be found in most Authors who wrote during the dark ages of Popery.

We have above seen, that one has been favourably thought of by several Writers, at home and abroad, and is confirmed by circumstances and memorials in America:  the other I have not seen mentioned by any Writer, but by William of Newbury, and by a few who have cited him.[yy]