For I suppose there is no mathematical, still less an arithmetical demonstration, that the road to the Holy Land was not the road to paradise, as there is, that the endless increase of national debts is the direct road to national ruin.

But having now completely reached that goal, it is needless at present to reflect on the past.

It will be found in the present year, 1776, that all the revenues of this island north of Trent and west of Reading, are mortgaged or anticipated forever.

Could the small remainder be in a worse condition were those provinces seized by Austria and Prussia?
There is only this difference, that some event might happen in Europe, which would oblige these great monarchs to disgorge their acquisitions.

But no imagination can figure a situation which will induce our creditors to relinquish their claims, or the public to seize their revenues.