4 THE IMPORTANCE OF 



prudence, if he but throws himself upon the cur- 

 rent, will be sure of being borne on to prosperous 

 results, — that those pursuits w^hich can be turned 

 to the quickest account in building up fortunes, 

 are followed to an unreasonable extent, and that 

 the result, under a change of circumstances, is 

 frequent distress and disappointment. 



The avidity with which the Spanish adventur- 

 ers rushed into the pursuit of the glittering trea- 

 sures of South America, absorbed all inclination 

 to cultivate those practical arts, upon w^iich ex- 

 perience shows, that the prosperity of a nation 

 mainly depends ; and its operation was to weaken 

 and undermine the very foundations of the 

 strength and glory of the Spanish monarchy. 



A prevalent desire among a people to gather 

 riches too fast, and to swell their fortunes under 

 the influence of a feverish excitement, by means 

 ill adapted to employ all the powers w^hose exer- 

 cise contributes to ultimate and permanent good, 

 is frequently cherished by an ignorance of the 

 true principles of a wise political economy. We 

 should not think it strange even in our own coun- 

 try, where so much has been done, and is now 

 being done, to ascertain the mutual connexion and 

 dependence of tlie arts of life, and their bearing 

 on general interests. We should not think it 

 strange if the importance of some of the humbler 



