l82 



irrigate and fertilize the foil, — they facilitate the communication of the 

 inhabitants, with each other, the tranfportation of heavy and bulky 

 commodities, from place to place ; and become the means of car- 

 rying on various manufaftures, to which a free fupply, and con- 

 flant command of water are neceflary, both for the purpofe of work- 

 ing mills and machinery, and for the ufe of various other operations, 

 which occur, in the progrefs of different fabrics and manufaftures to a 

 ftate of perfeftion. 



The natural advantages of a country, with regard to foreign rela- 

 tions, are — an infular fituation, which (ceteris paribus) promifes peace 

 and fecurity to the inhabitants, and affords great commercial advantages,— 

 a confiderable extent of coafl deeply indented with bays — a number 

 of fafe and capacious harbours : thefe endowments of a country dif- 

 pofe its inhabitants, in the firll inflancc, to the occupation of fiflaing, 

 whereby they are fitted, to become flout and experienced mariners j 

 in the next place, the poffeffion of thefe naval advantages affording a 

 ready intercourfe with every quarter of the globe, ftimulates the peo- 

 ple to maritime adventures, awakens among them a commercial fpirit, 

 and diffufcs the fea-faring charafter. 



It is an unfpeakable advantage to a country, in regard to its foreign 

 relations, if it fliaU have been fb placed by nature, as to become an 

 emporium, for the carrying on of fbme confiderable branch of com- 

 merce — a refting place, in the profecution of fome long but neccffary 

 or highly lucrative voyage — a depot for the materials of fome very 

 profitable or extenfive commercial intercourfe. 



The natural fituation of that country is advantageous, which either 

 has in its immediate neighbourhood, or poffeffes ready means of com- 

 municating with, thofe countries, which produce the neceffaries of life 

 and the prima of manufactures, which flie herfclf wants, or which, being 

 populous, from indolence, from employment of capital, in fome other 

 branch of induftry, which they find or think more gainful, do not ex- 

 ercife the fame manufactures, which itie carries on, and are difpofed to 

 become her cuflomers for them. 



In 



