279 



rations ; thefe mufl be left to artifts, by profeflion. It will prove fuf- 

 ficient, as I apprehend, for me, to fuggell fome general principles, and 

 comprehenfive views, which may, perhaps, deferve the notice of the 

 legiflature, and prove the means of exciting men of wealth and influ- 

 ence, to extend pecuniBry aid, to the encouragement of induftry and 

 arts ; and to employ the force of their authority and example, for the 

 fame falutary purpofe. Much of the encouragement of manufaftures 

 muft depend on the operations of moral caufes, it would not be very 

 difficult, to fill volumes, with minute details of mechanical operations, 

 and with tables and calculations, which would have little influence on 

 the main queftion. Man has been too much confidered, as a mere 

 machine, aduated only by phyfical impulfes ; and thus have moft eco- 

 nomicaP writers endeavoured to reduce his exertions, his value and po- 

 litical importance, to abftraft calculations and arithmetical tables. Fi- 

 gures only exprefllng quantities can be applied only to objects, which 

 are fufceptiple of addition and fubtraftion ; but when numbers are 

 employed, to calculate, with exaftnefs national profperity, when they 

 are applied to develope the fecrets of government, and the fprings of 

 human aftion, on which national induftry and exertion depend, they 

 lead to the mod abfurd confequences. It is much to be lamented, 

 that politicians and legiflators do not attend fufficiently to the force of 

 moral caufes. — The confideration of their operation and value, fhould, 

 in particular, have great weight, with thofe who pretend to difcufs the 

 fubjeft of rational induflry. 



CHAP. 



