Its naval strength would decay.

Merchants, manufacturers and others would come to beggary.

But in this deplorable situation they would expect to be indemnified for their losses.
Compensation indeed must follow.

It could not be withheld.

But what would be the amount of it?
The country would have no less than from eighty to a hundred millions to pay the sufferers; and it would be driven to such distress in paying this sum us it had never before experienced.
The last attempt was to show them that a regulation of the trade was all that was now wanted.