AMERICA is a Subject which daily becomes more and more interesting—.—I shall therefore fill these Pages with a Word upon its Past, Present and Future State.

I. First of its Past State: Time has cast a Shade upon this Scene.—Since the Creation innumerable Accidents have happened here, the bare mention of which would create Wonder and Surprize; but they are all lost in Oblivion: The ignorant Natives for Want of Letters have forgot their Stock; and know not from whence they came, or how, or when they arrived here, or what has happened since:—Who can tell what wonderful Changes have happen’d by the mighty Operations of Nature, such as Deluges, Vulcanoes, Earthquakes, &c.! —Or whether great Tracts of Land were not absorbed into those vast Lakes or inland Seas which occupy so much Space to the West of us.—But to leave the Natural, and come to the Political State: We know how the French have erected a Line of Forts from the Ohio to Nova-Scotia , including all the inestimable Country to the West of us, into their exorbitant Claim.—This, with infinite Justice, the English resented; & in this Cause our Blood has been spill’d: Which brings to our Consideration,

II. Secondly, The Present State of NORTH-AMERICA .—A Writer upon this present Time says, “The Parts of North-America which may be claimed by Great-Britain or France are of as much Worth as either Kingdom.—That fertile Country to the West of the Appalachian Mountains (a String of 8 or 900 Miles in Length) between Canada and the Missisippi , is of larger Extent than all France , Germany and Poland ; and all well provided with Rivers, a very fine wholesome Air, a rich Soil, capable of producing Food and Physick, and all Things necessary for the Conveniency and Delight of Life: In fine, the Garden of the World!”—Time was we might have been possess’d