Let  it  also  be  considered,  that,  either  in
the  present  confusion  you  settle  a  per-
manent contingent,  which  will  and  must  be
trifling;  and  then  you  have  no  effectual
revenue:  or  you  change  the  quota  at  every
exigency;  and  then  on  every  new  reparti-
tion you  will  have  a  new  quarrel.
Reflect,  besides,  that  when  you  have
fixed  a  quota  for  every  colony,  you  have
not  provided  for  prompt  and  punctual
payment.  Suppose  one,  two,  five,  ten
years'  arrears.  You  cannot  issue  a  treas-
ury extent  against  the  failing  colony.
You   must  make  new  Boston   Port  Bills,


new  restraining  laws,  new  acts  for  drag-
ging men  to  England  for  trial.  You  must
send  out  new  fleets,  new  armies.  All  is
to  begin  again.  From  this  day  forward
the  empire  is  never  to  know  an  hour  of
tranquillity.  An  intestine  fire  will  be
kept  alive  in  the  bowels  of  the  colonies,
which  one  time  or  other  must  consume
this  whole  empire.  I  allow,  indeed,  that
the  empire  of  Germany  raises  her  revenue
and  her  troops  by  the  quotas  and  con-
tingents; but  the  revenue  of  the  empire,
and  the  army  of  the  empire,  is  the  worst
revenue  and  the  worst  army  in  the  world.
