prince, who, though heir-apparent to the crown,
and already arrived at years of maturity, had never been admitted to
any share of the administration, nor made acquainted with any schemes
or secrets of state. The real character of the new king was very little
known to the generality of the nation. They dreaded an abrupt change of
measures, which might have rendered useless all the advantages obtained
in the course of the war. As they were ignorant of his connexions, they
dreaded a revolution in the ministry, which might fill the kingdom with
clamour and confusion. But the greatest shock occasioned by his decease
was undoubtedly among our allies and fellow-subjects in Germany, who saw
themselves suddenly deprived of their sole prop and patron, at a time
when they could not pretend of themselves to make head against the
numerous enemies by whom they were surrounded. But all these doubts and
apprehensions vanished like mists before the rising sun; and the people
of Great Britain enjoyed the inexpressible pleasure of seeing their
loss repaired in such a manner, as must have amply fulfilled the most
sanguine wish of every friend to his country.

ACCOUNT OF THE COMMERCE OF GREAT BRITAIN.

The commerce of Great Britain continued to increase during the
whole course of this reign; but this increase was not the effect
of extraordinary encouragement. On the contrary, the necessities of
government, the growing expenses of the nation, and the continual
augmentation of the public debt, obliged the legislature to hamper trade
with manifold and grievous impositions; its increase, therefore, must
have been owing to the | natural progress of industry and adventure
extending themselves to that farthest line or limit beyond which they
will not be able to advance: when the tide of traffic has flowed to its
highest mark, it will then begin to recede in a gradual ebb, until it
is shrunk within the narrow limits of its original channel. War, which
naturally impedes the traffic of other nations, had opened new sources
to the merchants of Great Britain. The superiority of her naval power
had crushed the navigation of France, her great rival in commerce; so
that she now supplied, on her own terms, all those foreign markets, at
which, in time of peace, she was undersold by that dangerous competitor.
Thus her trade was augmented to a surprising pitch; and this great
augmentation alone enabled her to maintain the war at such an enormous
expen