ces with so high an Hand at this Day. In short,
_Divide et impera_, explains the whole Mystery of this Affair:--And
_Great-Britain_ may here see her own Picture, drawn to the Life, if ever
she should consent to the Erection of Parliaments in _North-America_, to
be _co-ordinate_ with her own; and at the same Time should allow these
_North-Americans_ to be _Co-partners_ with herself in one common Empire.

But why do I labour to prove this Point? Mr. BURKE himself is as
conscious, as I can be, of the dreadful Effects, which must necessarily
attend the Execution of his Scheme. Hear him therefore in his own
Words:--[8]"We know that the Emulations of such Parties [to be created by
the independent Parliaments of _North-America_] their Contradictions,
their reciprocal Necessities, their Hopes and their Fears, _must_ send
them all in their Turns to him who holds the BALANCE of the State. The
Parties are the Gamesters, but Government keeps the Table, and is sure to
be the Winner in the End. When this Game is played, I really think, it is
more to be feared, that the [_American_] People will be exhausted, than
that Government will not be supplied."

Now, my Lords and Gentlemen! be pleased to compare these _Fears_ of Mr.
BURKE, "that the _Americans_ will be too _lavish_ in their Grants,--with
the _Hopes_ entertained by the Agent (just quoted from Monsieur De LOLME)
that the _Americans_ by Means of _liberal Grants_ may recommend themselves
to the good Graces of their Prince;"--and then you will have full
Possession of all Dr. FRANKLIN's favourite Speculation for removing the
Seat of Empire from hence to _North-America_, and for abandoning the
_British_ Isles to the Care of Deputies, Vice Roys, and Lord Lieutenants.
Many of you, I make no Doubt, have heard him declare, that the great
Continent of _British America_ (which, according to his Computation, will
contain nearly ONE HUNDRED MILLIONS of Inhabitants in little more than a
Century) ought to become the Seat of general Empire. And it might be
easily gathered from the whole Turn of his Conversation, that he thought
it no very difficult Matter in the Course of Things to bring this
important Point to bear;--that is, to induce some future Sovereign of this
Country to make the wished for Exchange;--partly by the Obstacles which
might be thrown in his Way, were he to persist in remaining here
[Obstacles, of which we have an _egregious Specimen_ already] and partly
by the alluring Temptat