STUDY XIII. 129 



are told, introduce millions into a State ; but the 

 fine wools, the dye-ftufFs, the gold and filver, and 

 the other preparatives imported from foreign coun- 

 tries, are tributes which muft be paid back. The 

 people would not have manufailured the lefs of 

 the wools of the country on their own account; 

 and if it's cloths had been of the loweft quality, 

 they would have been, at leaft, converted to their 

 ufe. The unlimited commerce of a country is 

 adapted only to a people pofleffing an ungracious 

 and contrafled territory, fuch as the Dutch ; 

 they export, not their own fuperfluity, but that 

 of other nations ; and they run no rifk of wanting 

 neceflaries, an evil which frequently befals many 

 territorial powers. What does it avail a people to 

 clothe all Europe with their woollens, if they them- 

 felves go naked ; to colleâ; the befl wines in the 

 World, if they drink nothing but water; and to 

 export the fined of flour, if they eat only bread 

 made of bran ? Examples of fuch abufes might 

 eafily be adduced from Poland, from Spain, and 

 from other countries, which pafs for the mod re- 

 gularly governed. 



It is in agriculture chiefly that France ought to 

 look for the principal means of fubfiftence for her 

 inhabitants. Befides, agriculture is the great fup- 

 port of morals and religion. It renders marriages 

 eafy, neceflary, and happy. It contributes toward 



VOL. IV. K r^^^i^g 



