904 THE NATU 11E AND CAUSES, &C.

should either realize this golden dream, in which they havebeen indulging themselves, perhaps, as well as the people ;or, that they should awake from it themselves, and endeavourto awaken the people. If the project cannot be completed,it ought to be given up. If any of the provinces of the Bri­ tish empire cannot be made to contribute towards the sup-port of the whole empire, it is surely time that Great Britain should free herself from the expense of defending those pro-vinces in time of war, and of supporting any part of theircivil or military establishments in time of peace, and endea-vour to accommodate her future views and designs to thereal mediocrity of her circumstances.