wherefore, her boundless forests, her tar, iron, and
cordage are only articles of commerce.

In point of safety, ought we to be without a fleet? We are not the
little people now, which we were sixty years ago; at that time we might
have trusted our property in the streets, or fields rather; and slept
securely without locks or bolts to our doors or windows. The case now
is altered, and our methods of defense ought to improve with our
increase of property. A common pirate, twelve months ago, might have
come up the Delaware, and laid the city of Philadelphia under instant
contribution, for what sum he pleased; and the same might have happened
to other places. Nay, any daring fellow, in a brig of fourteen or
sixteen guns might have robbed the whole continent, and carried off
half a million of money. These are circumstances which demand our
attention, and point out the necessity of naval protection.

Some, perhaps, will say, that after we have made it up with Britain,
she will protect us. Can we be so unwise as to mean, that she shall
keep a navy in our harbours for that purpose? Common sense will tell
us, that the power which hath endeavoured to subdue us, is of all
others the most improper to defend us. Conquest may be effected under
the pretence of friendship; and ourselves after a long and brave
resistance, be at last cheated into slavery. And if her ships are not
to be admitted into our harbours, I would ask, how is she to protect
us? A navy three or four thousand miles off can be of little use, and
on sudden emergencies, none at all. Wherefore, if we must hereafter
protect ourselves, why not do it for ourselves?

The English list of ships of war, is long and formidable, but not a
tenth part of them are at any one time fit for service, numbers of them
not in being; yet their names are pompously continued in the list, if
only a plank be left of the ship: and not a fifth part of such as are
fit for service, can be spared on any one station at one time. The
East and West Indies, Mediterranean, Africa, and other parts over which
Britain extends her claim, make large demands upon her navy. From a
mixture of prejudice and inattention, we have contracted a false notion
respecting the navy of England, and have talked as if we should have
the whole of it to encounter at once, and for that reason, supposed,
that we must have one as large; which not being instantly practicable,
have been made use of by a set of dis