Benjamin Franklin

This kind of after-wisdom is indeed so common with us, as to occasion the vulgar, though very insignificant saying, When the steed is stolen, you shut the stable door.

As the scriptures are given for our reproof, instruction and warning, may we make a due use of this example, before it be too late!

We have, it is true, had a long peace with the Indians: but it is a long peace indeed, as well as a long lane, that has no ending.

The French know the power and importance of the Six Nations, and spare no artifice, pains or expence, to gain them to their interest.

If such should be the case, which God forbid, how soon may the mischief spread to our frontier countries?

And what may we expect to be the consequence, but desertion of plantations, ruin, bloodshed and confusion!

When the feet are wounded, shall the head say, it is not me; I will not trouble myself to contrive relief!

Or if the head is in danger, shall the hands say, we are not affected, and therefore will lend no assistance!

For so would the body be easily destroyed: but when all parts join their endeavours for its security, it is often preserved.

And such should be the union between the country and the town; and such their mutual endeavours for the safety of the whole.

But whatever different opinions we have of our security in other respects, our TRADE, all seem to agree, is in danger of being ruined in another year.

The great success of our enemies, in two different cruizes this last summer in our bay, must give them the greatest encouragement to repeat more frequently their visits, the profit being almost certain, and the risk next to nothing.

Will not the first effect of this be, an enhancing of the price of all foreign goods to the tradesman and farmer, who use or consume them?

For the rate of insurance will increase, in proportion to the hazard of importing them; and in the same proportion will the price of those goods increase.

If the price of the tradesman's work, and the farmer's produce, would increase equally with the price of foreign commodities, the damage would not be so great: but the direct contrary must happen.

But to refuse defending one's self, or one's country, is so unusual a thing among mankind, that possibly they may not believe it, till by experience, they find they can come higher and higher up our river, seize our vessels, land and…

I think it my duty to warn you: judge for yourselves.

But most unhappily circumstanced indeed are we, the middling people, the tradesmen, shopkeepers, and farmers of this province and city!

We cannot all fly with our families; and if we could, how shall we subsist?

No; we and they, and what little we have gained by hard labour and industry, must bear the brunt: the weight of contributions, extorted by the enemy (as it is of taxes among ourselves) must be surely borne by us.

Nor can it be avoided, as we stand at present; for though we are numerous, we are quite defenceless, having neither forts, arms, union, nor discipline.

The government we are immediately under denies it to us; and if the enemy comes, we are far from Zidon, and there is no deliverer near.

Our case is dangerously bad; but perhaps there is yet a remedy, if we have but the prudence and the spirit to apply it.

If this new flourishing city, and greatly improving colony, is destroyed and ruined, it will not be for want of numbers of inhabitants able to bear arms in its defence.

It is computed, that we have at least (exclusive of the Quakers) sixty thousand fighting men, acquainted with fire arms, many of them hunters and marksmen, hardy and bold.