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Editorial
February 5, 1813
The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser
Providence, Providence County, Rhode Island
What is this article about?
Editorial cautions against over- or under-estimating Great Britain's power, comparing its superior military (600,000 troops vs. America's 10,000-55,000) and financial strength (annual revenues 4x America's total debt, loans filled instantly) to America's 7 million population and empty treasury during war.
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THE POWER OF GREAT-BRITAIN
We ought not to over estimate, nor to undervalue the power of our enemies. To do either, may be productive of evil consequences. Some men talk flippantly of the falling fortunes of the British empire, so did her own statesmen, and those of some other nations, nearly a century before the first adventurer set his foot on this (at that period) savage wilderness. We have seven millions of people—she sixteen millions—her power ought not to be but little more than double to ours. What is the fact? Including militia who are always embodied in Great-Britain. and are equal to regular troops, at least equal to what our regulars, enlisted for one year, can become. ; Great-Britain has on foot more than 600,000 well-appointed men We were unable to raise 10,000 regular troops during the last campaign. We do not talk of raising more than 55,000, which are at least 30,000 more than we can raise. We have 5500 men in our Navy she has 120,000. We boast of having paid off in eleven years thirty-five millions of dollars. of our debt besides our annual expenses, which in eleven years have amounted to about one hundred and thirty millions more, making in the whole about one hundred and sixty-five millions, which the American people have raised, Our Treasury is now empty, and at war, with extreme difficulty a loan of eleven millions of dollars was completed. In Great-Britain the least annual sum raised and expended for eleven years past. were fifty-eight millions of pounds sterling. equal to two hundred and seventy millions of dollars, or four times as great as our whole National debt—the greatest sum was one hundred and five million pounds equal to four hundred and fifty millions of dollars, and the whole aggregate of money expended and raised by the British people in eleven years, is forty-one hundred and fifty millions of dollars, or twenty-five times as great as our expenditures, and sums raised, in the-same period of time. Yet, notwithstanding this immense sum so raised, such is the opulence of her subjects, and such her credit, that she can fill a loan of one hundred millions of dollars in twenty minutes, nay, there is a competition who shall get it. It is a privilege to lend.
We ought not to over estimate, nor to undervalue the power of our enemies. To do either, may be productive of evil consequences. Some men talk flippantly of the falling fortunes of the British empire, so did her own statesmen, and those of some other nations, nearly a century before the first adventurer set his foot on this (at that period) savage wilderness. We have seven millions of people—she sixteen millions—her power ought not to be but little more than double to ours. What is the fact? Including militia who are always embodied in Great-Britain. and are equal to regular troops, at least equal to what our regulars, enlisted for one year, can become. ; Great-Britain has on foot more than 600,000 well-appointed men We were unable to raise 10,000 regular troops during the last campaign. We do not talk of raising more than 55,000, which are at least 30,000 more than we can raise. We have 5500 men in our Navy she has 120,000. We boast of having paid off in eleven years thirty-five millions of dollars. of our debt besides our annual expenses, which in eleven years have amounted to about one hundred and thirty millions more, making in the whole about one hundred and sixty-five millions, which the American people have raised, Our Treasury is now empty, and at war, with extreme difficulty a loan of eleven millions of dollars was completed. In Great-Britain the least annual sum raised and expended for eleven years past. were fifty-eight millions of pounds sterling. equal to two hundred and seventy millions of dollars, or four times as great as our whole National debt—the greatest sum was one hundred and five million pounds equal to four hundred and fifty millions of dollars, and the whole aggregate of money expended and raised by the British people in eleven years, is forty-one hundred and fifty millions of dollars, or twenty-five times as great as our expenditures, and sums raised, in the-same period of time. Yet, notwithstanding this immense sum so raised, such is the opulence of her subjects, and such her credit, that she can fill a loan of one hundred millions of dollars in twenty minutes, nay, there is a competition who shall get it. It is a privilege to lend.
What sub-type of article is it?
War Or Peace
Military Affairs
Economic Policy
What keywords are associated?
British Power
American Military
War Finances
British Credit
National Debt
Troop Numbers
Navy Strength
Loan Competition
What entities or persons were involved?
Great Britain
British Empire
American People
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Comparative Power Of Great Britain And America
Stance / Tone
Caution Against Underestimating British Power
Key Figures
Great Britain
British Empire
American People
Key Arguments
Britain's Population Of 16 Million Gives It Power More Than Double America's 7 Million
Britain Has Over 600,000 Well Appointed Men Including Militia Equal To Regulars
America Unable To Raise More Than 10,000 Regular Troops Last Campaign, Plans 55,000 But Can Raise Only 25,000
America Has 5,500 In Navy, Britain 120,000
America Paid Off 35 Million Dollars Debt Plus 130 Million Annual Expenses Totaling 165 Million In 11 Years, Treasury Now Empty
Britain Raised And Expended At Least 58 Million Pounds Sterling Annually (270 Million Dollars) For 11 Years, Up To 105 Million Pounds (450 Million Dollars)
Britain's Total Expenditures In 11 Years: 4,150 Million Dollars, 25 Times America's
Britain Can Fill A 100 Million Dollar Loan In 20 Minutes Due To Opulence And Credit