Fugitivesfoundthereaplaceofsafety。Itwasnecessarythattheyshouldsubsist;theydrew,therefore,theirsubsistencefromallpartsoftheworld。
6。SomeEffectsofanextensiveNavigation。Itsometimeshappensthatanation,whenengagedinaneconomicalcommerce,havingneedofthemerchandiseofonecountry,whichservesasacapitalorstockforprocuringthecommoditiesofanother,issatisfiedwithmakingverylittleprofit,andfrequentlynoneatall,intradingwiththeformer,inexpectationofgaininggreatlybythelatter。Thus,whentheDutchwerealmosttheonlynationthatcarriedonthetradefromthesouthtothenorthofEurope;theFrenchwineswhichtheyimportedtothenorthwereinsomemeasureonlyacapitalorstockforconductingtheircommerceinthatpartoftheworld。
ItisaknownfactthattherearesomekindsofmerchandiseinHollandwhich,thoughimportedfromafar,sellforverylittlemorethantheycostuponthespot。Theyaccountforitthus:acaptainwhohasoccasiontoballasthisshipwillloaditwithmarble;ifhewantswoodforstowage,hewillbuyit;and,providedhelosesnothingbythebargain,hewillthinkhimselfagainer。ThusitisthatHollandhasitsquarriesanditsforests。
Further,itmayhappensothatnotonlyacommercewhichbringsinnothingshallbeuseful,butevenalosingtradeshallbebeneficial。I
havehearditaffirmedinHollandthatthewhalefisheryingeneraldoesnotanswertheexpense;butitmustbeobservedthatthepersonsemployedinbuildingtheships,asalsothosewhofurnishtheriggingandprovisions,arejointlyconcernedinthefishery。Shouldtheyhappentoloseinthevoyage,theyhavehadaprofitinfittingoutthevessel。
Thiscommerce,inshort,isakindoflottery,andeveryoneisalluredwiththehopesofaprize。Mankindaregenerallyfondofgaming;andeventhemostprudenthavenoaversiontoit,whenthedisagreeablecircumstancesattendingit,suchasdissipation,anxiety,passion,lossoftime,andevenoflifeandfortune,areconcealedfromtheirview。
7。TheSpiritofEnglandwithrespecttoCommerce。ThetarifforcustomsofEnglandareveryunsettledwithrespecttoothernations;theyarechanged,insomemeasure,witheveryparliament,eitherbytakingoffparticularduties,orbyimposingnewones。Theyendeavourbythesemeansstilltopreservetheirindependence。Supremelyjealouswithrespecttotrade,theybindthemselvesbutlittlebytreaties,anddependonlyontheirownlaws。
Othernationshavemadetheinterestsofcommerceyieldtothoseofpolitics;theEnglish,onthecontrary,haveevermadetheirpoliticalinterestsgivewaytothoseofcommerce。Theyknowbetterthananyotherpeopleuponearthhowtovalue,atthesametime,thesethreegreatadvantages——religion,commerce,andliberty。
8。InwhatMannereconomicalCommercehasbeensometimesrestrained。Inseveralkingdomslawshavebeenmadeextremelypropertohumblethestatesthathaveenteredintoeconomicalcommerce。Theyhaveforbiddentheirimportinganymerchandise,excepttheproductoftheirrespectivecountries;andhavepermittedthemtotrafficonlyinvesselsbuiltinthekingdomtowhichtheybroughttheircommodities。
Itisnecessarythatthekingdomwhichimposestheselawsshoulditselfbeableeasilytoengageincommerce;otherwiseitwill,atleast,beanequalsufferer。Itismuchmoreadvantageoustotradewithacommercialnation,whoseprofitsaremoderate,andwhoarerenderedinsomesortdependentbytheaffairsofcommerce;withanationwhoselargerviewsandwhoseextendedtradeenablesthemtodisposeoftheirsuperfluousmerchandise;withawealthynation,whocantakeoffmanyoftheircommodities,andmakethemaquickerreturninspecie;withanationunderakindofnecessitytobefaithful,pacificfromprinciple,andthatseekstogain,andnottoconquer:itismuchbetter,Isay,totradewithsuchanotionthanwithothers,theirconstantrivals,whowillnevergrantsuchgreatadvantages。
9。OftheProhibitionofCommerce。Itisatruemaximthatonenationshouldneverexcludeanotherfromtradingwithit,exceptforverygreatreasons。TheJapanesetradeonlywithtwonations,theChineseandtheDutch。TheChinese[7]gainathousandpercentuponsugars,andsometimesasmuchbythegoodstheytakeinexchange。TheDutchmakenearlythesameprofits。EverynationthatactsuponJapaneseprinciplesmustnecessarilybedeceived;foritiscompetitionwhichsetsajustvalueonmerchandise,andestablishestherelationbetweenthem。
Muchlessoughtastatetolayitselfunderanobligationofsellingitsmanufacturesonlytoasinglenation,underapretenceoftheirtakingallatacertainprice。ThePoles,inthismanner,disposeoftheircorntothecityofDanzig;andseveralIndianprinceshavemadealikecontractfortheirspiceswiththeDutch。[8]Theseagreementsareproperonlyforapoornation,whoseinhabitantsaresatisfiedtoforegothehopesofenrichingthemselves,providedtheycanbesecureofacertainsubsistence;orfornationswhoseslaveryconsistseitherinrenouncingtheuseofthosethingswhichnaturehasgiventhem,orinbeingobligedtosubmittoadisadvantageouscommerce。
10。AnInstitutionadaptedtoeconomicalCommerce。Instatesthatcarryonaneconomicalcommerce,theyhaveluckilyestablishedbanks,whichbytheircredithaveformedanewspeciesofwealth:butitwouldbequitewrongtointroducethemintogovernmentswhosecommerceisfoundedonlyonluxury。Theerectingofbanksincountriesgovernedbyanabsolutemonarchsupposesmoneyontheoneside,andontheotherpower:thatis,ontheonehand,themeansofprocuringeverything,withoutanypower;
andontheother,thepower,withoutanymeansofprocuringatall。Inagovernmentofthiskind,nonebuttheprinceeverhad,orcanhave,atreasure;andwhereverthereisone,itnosoonerbecomesgreatthanitbecomesthetreasureoftheprince。
Forthesamereason,allassociationsofmerchants,inordertocarryonaparticularcommerce,areseldomproperinabsolutegovernments。Thedesignofthesecompaniesistogivetothewealthofprivatepersonstheweightofpublicriches。Butinthosegovernmentsthisweightcanbefoundonlyintheprince。Nay,theyarenotevenalwaysproperinstatesengagedineconomicalcommerce;for,ifthetradebenotsogreatastosurpassthemanagementofparticularpersons,itismuchbettertoleaveitopenthan,byexclusiveprivileges,torestrainthelibertyofcommerce。
11。ThesameSubjectcontinued。Afreeportmaybeestablishedinthedominionsofstateswhosecommerceiseconomical。Thateconomyinthegovernmentwhichalwaysattendsthefrugalityofindividualsis,ifI
maysoexpressmyself,thesoulofitseconomicalcommerce。Thelossitsustainswithrespecttocustomsitcanrepairbydrawingfromthewealthandindustryoftherepublic。Butinamonarchyastepofthiskindmustbeoppositetoreason;foritcouldhavenoothereffectthantoeaseluxuryoftheweightoftaxes。Thiswouldbedeprivingitselfoftheonlyadvantagethatluxurycanprocure,andoftheonlycurbwhich,inaconstitutionlikethis,itiscapableofreceiving。
12。OftheFreedomofCommerce。Thefreedomofcommerceisnotapowergrantedtothemerchantstodowhattheyplease:thiswouldbemoreproperlyitsslavery。Theconstraintofthemerchantisnottheconstraintofcommerce。Itisinthefreestcountriesthatthemerchantfindsinnumerableobstacles;andheisneverlesscrossedbylawsthaninacountryofslaves。
Englandprohibitstheexportationofherwool;coalsmustbebroughtbyseatothecapital;nohorses,exceptgeldings,areallowedtobeexported;andthevesselsofhercoloniestradingtoEuropemusttakeinwaterinEngland。[9]TheEnglishconstrainthemerchant,butitisinfavourofcommerce。
13。WhatitisthatdestroysthisLiberty。Wherevercommercesubsists,customsareestablished。Commerceistheexportationandimportationofmerchandise,withaviewtotheadvantageofthestate:customsareacertainrightoverthissameexportationandimportation,foundedalsoontheadvantageofthestate。Henceitbecomesnecessarythatthestateshouldbeneutralbetweenitscustomsanditscommerce,thatneitherofthesetwointerferewitheachother,andthentheinhabitantsenjoyafreecommerce。
Thefarmingofthecustomsdestroyscommercebyitsinjusticeandvexations,aswellasbytheexcessoftheimposts:butindependentofthis,itdestroysitevenmorebythedifficultiesthatarisefromit,andbytheformalitiesitexacts。InEngland,wherethecustomsaremanagedbytheking’sofficers,businessisnegotiatedwithasingulardexterity:onewordofwritingaccomplishesthegreatestaffairs。Themerchantneedsnotloseaninfinitedealoftime;hehasnooccasionforaparticularcommissioner,eithertoobviateallthedifficultiesofthefarmers,ortosubmittothem。
14。TheLawsofCommerceconcerningtheConfiscationofMerchandise。TheMagnaChartaofEnglandforbidstheseizingandconfiscating,incaseofwar,theeffectsofforeignmerchants,exceptbywayofreprisals。ItisanhonourtotheEnglishnationthattheyhavemadethisoneofthearticlesoftheirliberty。
InthelatewarbetweenSpainandEngland,theformermadealawwhichpunishedwithdeaththosewhobroughtEnglishmerchandiseintothedominionsofSpain;andthesamepenaltyonthosewhocarriedSpanishmerchandiseintoEngland。[10]Anordinancelikethiscannot,Ibelieve,findaprecedentinanylawsbutthoseofJapan。Itequallyshockshumanity,thespiritofcommerce,andtheharmonywhichoughttosubsistintheproportionofpenalties;itconfoundsallourideas,makingthatacrimeagainstthestatewhichisonlyaviolationofcivilpolity。
15。OfseizingthePersonsofMerchants。SolonmadealawthattheAtheniansshouldnolongerseizethebodyforcivildebts。[11]ThislawhereceivedfromEgypt。IthadbeenmadebyBoccoris,andrenewedbySesostris。[12]
Thislawisextremelygoodwithrespecttothegeneralityofcivilaffairs;butthereissufficientreasonforitsnotbeingobservedinthoseofcommerce。[13]Forasmerchantsareobligedtoentrustlargesums,frequentlyforaveryshorttime,andtopaymoneyaswellastoreceiveit,thereisanecessitythatthedebtorshouldconstantlyfulfilhisengagementsatthetimeprefixed;andhenceitbecomesnecessarytolayaconstraintonhisperson。
Inaffairsrelatingtocommoncivilcontracts,thelawoughtnottopermittheseizureoftheperson;becausethelibertyofonecitizenisofgreaterimportancetothepublicthantheeaseorprosperityofanother。Butinconventionsderivedfromcommerce,thelawoughttoconsiderthepublicprosperityasofgreaterimportancethanthelibertyofacitizen;which,however,doesnothindertherestrictionsandlimitationsthathumanityandgoodpolicydemand。
16。AnexcellentLaw。AdmirableisthatlawofGenevawhichexcludesfromthemagistracy,andevenfromtheadmittanceintothegreatcouncil,thechildrenofthosewhohavelivedordiedinsolvent,excepttheyhavedischargedtheirfather’sdebts。Ithasthiseffect:itcreatesaconfidenceinthemerchants,inthemagistrates,andinthecityitself。Therethecreditoftheindividualhasstillalltheweightofpubliccredit。
17。ALawofRhodes。[14]TheinhabitantsofRhodeswentfurther。SextusEmpiricusobservesthatamongthosepeopleasoncouldnotbeexcusedfrompayinghisfather’sdebtsbyrenouncingthesuccession。ThislawofRhodeswascalculatedforarepublicfoundedoncommerce。NowIaminclinedtothinkthatreasonsdrawnfromcommerceitselfshouldmakethislimitation,thatthedebtscontractedbythefathersincetheson’senteringintocommerceshouldnotaffecttheestateorpropertyacquiredbythelatter。Amerchantoughtalwaystoknowhisobligations,andtosquarehisconductbyhiscircumstancesandpresentfortune。
18。OftheJudgesofCommerce。Xenophon,inhisbookofRevenues,wouldhaverewardsgiventothoseoverseersofcommercewhodespatchedthecausesbroughtbeforethemwiththegreatestexpedition。Hewassensibleoftheneedofourmodernjurisdictionofaconsul。
Theaffairsofcommercearebutlittlesusceptibleofformalities。Theyaretheactionsofaday,andareeverydayfollowedbyothersofthesamenature。Henceitbecomesnecessarythateverydaytheyshouldbedecided。Itisotherwisewiththoseactionsoflifewhichhaveaprincipalinfluenceonfuturity,butrarelyhappen。Weseldommarrymorethanonce;deedsandwillsarenottheworkofeveryday;wearebutonceofage。
Plato[15]saysthatinacitywherethereisnomaritimecommercethereoughtnottobeabovehalfthenumberofcivillaws:thisisverytrue。
Commercebringsintothesamecountrydifferentkindsofpeople;itintroducesalsoagreatnumberofcontractsandspeciesofwealth,withvariouswaysofacquiringit。
Thusinatradingcitytherearefewerjudges,andmorelaws。
19。ThataPrinceoughtnottoengagehimselfinCommerce。
Theophilus,[16]seeingavesselladenwithmerchandiseforhiswifeTheodora,orderedittobeburned。"Iamemperor,"saidhe,"andyoumakemethemasterofagalley。Bywhatmeansshallthesepoormengainalivelihoodifwetaketheirtradeoutoftheirhands?"Hemighthaveadded。Whoshallsetboundstousifwemonopoliseallourselves?Whoshallobligeustofulfilourengagements?Ourcourtierswillfollowourexample;theywillbemoregreedyandmoreunjustthanwe:thepeoplehavesomeconfidenceinourjustice,theywillhavenoneinouropulence:allthesenumerousduties,thecauseoftheirwants,arecertainproofsofours。
20。ThesameSubjectcontinued。WhenthePortugueseandCastiliansboreswayintheEastIndies,commercehadsuchopulentbranchesthattheirprincesdidnotfailtoseizethem。Thisruinedtheirsettlementsinthosepartsoftheworld。
TheviceroyofGoagrantedexclusiveprivilegestoparticularpersons。
Thepeoplehadnoconfidenceinthesemen;andthecommercedeclined,bytheperpetualchangeofthosetowhomitwasentrusted;nobodytookcaretoimproveit,ortoleaveitentiretohissuccessor。Inshort,theprofitcentredinafewhands,andwasnotsufficientlyextended。
21。OftheCommerceoftheNobilityinaMonarchy。Inamonarchicalgovernment,itiscontrarytothespiritofcommercethatanyofthenobilityshouldbemerchants。"This,"saidtheEmperorsHonoriusandTheodosius,[17]"wouldbepernicioustocities;andwouldremovethefacilityofbuyingandsellingbetweenthemerchantsandtheplebeians。"
Itiscontrarytothespiritofmonarchytoadmitthenobilityintocommerce。ThecustomofsufferingthenobilityofEnglandtotradeisoneofthosethingswhichhastheremostlycontributedtoweakenthemonarchicalgovernment。
22。AsingularReflection。PersonsstruckwiththepracticeofsomestatesimaginethatinFrancetheyoughttomakelawstoengagethenobilitytoenterintocommerce。Buttheselawswouldbethemeansofdestroyingthenobility,withoutbeingofanyadvantagetotrade。Thepracticeofthiscountryisextremelywise;merchantsarenotnobles,thoughtheymaybecomeso。Theyhavethehopesofobtainingadegreeofnobility,unattendedwithitsactualinconveniences。Thereisnosurerwayofbeingadvancedabovetheirprofessionthantomanageitwell,orwithsuccess;theconsequenceofwhichisgenerallyanaffluentfortune。
Lawswhichobligeeveryonetocontinueinhisprofession,andtodevolveituponhischildren,neitherarenorcanbeofuseinanybutdespotickingdoms;wherenobodyeithercanoroughttohaveemulation。[18]
Letnonesaythateveryonewillsucceedbetterinhisprofessionwhenhecannotchangeitforanother:Isaythatapersonwillsucceedbestwhenthosewhohaveexcelledhopetorisetoanother。
Thepossibilityofpurchasinghonourwithgoldencouragesmanymerchantstoputthemselvesincircumstancesbywhichtheymayattainit。Idonottakeituponmetoexaminethejusticeofthusbarteringformoneythepriceofvirtue。Therearegovernmentswherethismaybeveryuseful。
InFrancethedignityofthelongrobe,whichplacesthosewhowearitbetweenthegreatnobilityandthepeople,andwithouthavingsuchshininghonoursastheformer,hasalltheirprivileges;adignitywhich,whilethisbody,thedepositaryofthelaws,isencircledwithglory,leavestheprivatemembersinamediocrityoffortune;adignityinwhichtherearenoothermeansofdistinctionbutbyasuperiorcapacityandvirtue,yetwhichstillleavesinviewonemuchmoreillustrious:thewarlikenobility,likewise,whoconceivethat,whateverdegreeofwealththeyarepossessedof,theymaystillincreasetheirfortunes;whoareashamedofaugmenting,iftheybeginnotwithdissipating,theirestates;whoalwaysservetheirprincewiththeirwholecapitalstock,andwhenthatissunkmakeroomforothers,whofollowtheirexample;whotakethefieldthattheymayneverbereproachedwithnothavingbeenthere;who,whentheycannolongerhopeforriches,liveinexpectationofhonours;andwhentheyhavenotobtainedthelatter,enjoytheconsolationofhavingacquiredglory:allthesethingstogetherhavenecessarilycontributedtoaugmentthegrandeurofthiskingdom;andiffortwoorthreecenturiesithasbeenincessantlyincreasinginpower,thismustbeattributednottoFortune,whowasneverfamedforconstancy,buttothegoodnessofitslaws。
23。TowhatNationsCommerceisprejudicial。Richesconsisteitherinlandsorinmovableeffects。Thesoilofeverycountryiscommonlypossessedbythenatives。Thelawsofmoststatesrenderforeignersunwillingtopurchasetheirlands;andnothingbutthepresenceoftheownerimprovesthem:thiskindofriches,therefore,belongstoeverystateinparticular;butmovableeffects,asmoney,notes,billsofexchange,stocksincompanies,vessels,and,infine,allmerchandise,belongtothewholeworldingeneral;inthisrespect,itiscomposedofbutonesinglestate,ofwhichallthesocietiesuponeartharemembers。
Thepeoplewhopossessmoreofthesemovableeffectsthananyotherontheglobearethemostopulent。Somestateshaveanimmensequantityacquiredbytheircommodities,bythelabouroftheirmechanics,bytheirindustry,bytheirdiscoveries,andevenbychance。Theavariceofnationsmakesthemquarrelforthemovablesofthewholeuniverse。Ifwecouldfindastatesounhappyastobedeprivedoftheeffectsofothercountries,andatthesametimeofalmostallitsown,theproprietorsofthelandswouldbeonlyplanterstoforeigners。Thisstate,wantingall,couldacquirenothing;therefore,itwouldbemuchbetterfortheinhabitantsnottohavetheleastcommercewithanynationuponearth,forcommerceinthesecircumstancesmustnecessarilyleadthemtopoverty。
Acountrythatconstantlyexportsfewermanufacturesorcommoditiesthanitreceiveswillsoonfindthebalancesinking;itwillreceivelessandless,until,fallingintoextremepoverty,itwillreceivenothingatall。
Intradingcountriesthespecie,whichsuddenlyvanishes,quicklyreturns;becausethosenationsthathavereceiveditareitsdebtors。
Butitneverreturnsintothosestatesofwhichwehavejustbeenspeaking,becausethosewhohavereceiveditowethemnothing。
Polandwillserveusforanexample。Ithasscarcelyanyofthosethingswhichwecallthemovableeffectsoftheuniverse,exceptcorn,theproduceofitslands。Someofthelordspossessentireprovinces;theyoppressthehusbandmen,inordertohavegreaterquantitiesofcorn,whichtheysendtostrangers,toprocurethesuperfluousdemandsofluxury。IfPolandhadnoforeigntrade,itsinhabitantswouldbehappier。Thegrandees,whowouldhaveonlytheircorn,wouldgiveittotheirpeasantsforsubsistence;astheirtooextensiveestateswouldbecomeburdensome,theywoulddividethemamongtheirpeasants;everyonewouldfindskinsorwoolintheirherdsorflocks,sothattheywouldnolongerbeatanimmenseexpenseinprovidingclothes;thegreat,whoareeverfondofluxury,notbeingabletofinditbutintheirowncountry,wouldencouragethelabourofthepoor。Thisnation,Iaffirm,wouldthenbecomemoreflourishing,atleastifitdidnotbecomebarbarous;andthisthelawsmighteasilyprevent。
LetusnextconsiderJapan。Thevastquantityofwhattheyreceiveisthecauseofthevastquantityofmerchandisetheysendabroad。Thingsarethusinasniceanequilibriumasiftheimportationandexportationwerebutsmall。Besides,thiskindofexuberanceinthestateisproductiveofathousandadvantages;thereisagreaterconsumption,agreaterquantityofthosethingsonwhichtheartsareexercised;moremenemployed,andmorenumerousmeansofacquiringpower;exigenciesmayalsohappenthatrequireaspeedyassistance,whichsoopulentastatecanbetteraffordthananyother。Itisdifficultforacountrytoavoidhavingsuperfluities;butitisthenatureofcommercetorenderthesuperfluoususeful,andtheusefulnecessary。Thestatewillbe,therefore,abletoaffordnecessariestoamuchgreaternumberofsubjects。
Letussay,then,thatitisnotthosenationswhohaveneedofnothingthatmustlosebytrade;itisthosewhohaveneedofeverything。Itisnotsuchpeopleashaveasufficiencywithinthemselves,butthosewhoaremostinwant,thatwillfindanadvantageinputtingastoptoallcommercialintercourse。
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1。C?sarsaidoftheGaulsthattheywerespoiledbytheneighbourhoodandcommerceofMarseilles;insomuchthattheywhoformerlyalwaysconqueredtheGermanshadnowbecomeinferiortothem。——DeBelloGall。,vi。23。
2。Holland。
3。Etquimodohospesfuerat,monstratorhospitii。——DeMoribusGermanorum,21。SeeC?sar,DeBelloGall。vi。21。
4。Tit。38。
5。Cicero,DeRep。,iv。
6。Justin,xliii。3。
7。FatherDuHalde,ii,p。170。
8。ThiswasfirstestablishedbythePortuguese。——Pirard,Voyages,partII,15。
9。ActsofNavigation,1660。ItisonlyintimeofwarthatthemerchantsofBostonandPhiladelphiasendtheirvesselsdirectlytotheMediterranean。
10。PublishedinCadizinMarch,1740。
11。Plutarch,AgainstLendingUponUsury,4。
12。Diodorus,i,partII,79。
13。TheGreeklegislatorsweretoblameinpreventingthearmsandploughofanymanfrombeingtakeninpledge,andyetpermittingthetakingofthemanhimself。——Ibid。
14。Hypotiposes,i。14。
15。Laws,viii。
16。Zonaras。
17。Leg。,Nobiliores,Cod。deComm。;Leg。ult。derescind,vendit。
18。Thisisactuallyveryoftenthecaseinsuchgovernments。
BookXXI。OfLawsinrelationtoCommerce,consideredintheRevolutionsithasmetwithintheWorld1。SomegeneralConsiderations。Thoughcommercebesubjecttogreatrevolutions,yetitispossiblethatcertainphysicalcauses,asthequalityofthesoil,ortheclimate,mayfixitsnatureforever。
WeatpresentcarryonthetradeoftheIndiesmerelybymeansofthesilverwhichwesendthither。TheRomanscarriedannuallythitheraboutfiftymillionsofsesterces;[1]andthissilver,asoursisatpresent,wasexchangedformerchandise,whichwasbroughttothewest。EverynationthatevertradedtotheIndieshasconstantlycarriedbullionandbroughtmerchandiseinreturn。
Itisnatureitselfthatproducesthiseffect。TheIndianshavetheirheartsadaptedtotheirmannerofliving。Ourluxurycannotbetheirs;
northeirsourwants。Theirclimatedemandsandpermitshardlyanythingwhichcomesfromours。Theygoinagreatmeasurenaked;suchclothesastheyhavethecountryitselffurnishes;andtheirreligion,whichisdeeplyrooted,givesthemanaversionforthosethingsthatserveforournourishment。Theywant,therefore,nothingbutourbulliontoserveasthemediumofvalue;andforthistheygiveusmerchandiseinreturn,withwhichthefrugalityofthepeopleandthenatureofthecountryfurnishthemingreatabundance。ThoseancientauthorswhohavementionedtheIndiesdescribethemjustaswenowfindthem,astotheirpolicy,customs,andmanners。[2]TheIndieshaveeverbeenthesameIndiestheyareatpresent;andineveryperiodoftimethosewhotradedwiththatcountrycarriedspeciethitherandbroughtnoneinreturn。
2。OfthePeopleofAfrica。ThegreatestpartofthepeopleonthecoastofAfricaaresavagesandbarbarians。Theprincipalreason,Ibelieve,ofthisis,becausethesmallcountriescapableofbeinginhabitedareseparatedfromeachotherbylargeandalmostuninhabitabletractsofland。Theyarewithoutindustryorarts。Theyhavegoldinabundance,whichtheyreceiveimmediatelyfromthehandofnature。Everycivilisedstateisthereforeinaconditiontotrafficwiththemtoadvantage,byraisingtheiresteemforthingsofnovalue,andreceivingaveryhighpriceinreturn。
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