345 



root of all evil. On the other hand, an induftrious temper, and a fpirit of 

 exertion, are mod favourable to fobriety, good order, and a difplay of all 

 the moral difpofitions, and chriftian virtues. It is hard to fay, what price 

 would be too great, to be paid, by a wife and virtuous legiflator, for the 

 general diffufion of fuch habits, and fuch a fpirit. I think it is a great ob- 

 je£lion, to Dr. Smith's book, admirable as it is, in many refpefts, that he 

 does not advert, fufEciently, to moral objefts ; but feems to form his 

 theory wholly independent of them ; and to underate the influence, 

 and potency, of moral caufes, in producing, or countenancing, the. wel- 

 fare of nations. 



To clofe this feftion, with an argument of the utmofl: ftrength, and au- 

 thority, I would requeft the reader to turn his eyes to the praftice, and fitu- 

 ation of Britain, with refpeft to her manufactures — What has been her po- 

 licy, during the laft century ? Shall we be ready to condemn thofe maxims, 

 as unwife, under the praffice of which, a nation has profpered, beyond all 

 pail example, and grown, to fuch a flupendous degree of wealth, and great- 

 nefs ? The fleece, in particular, has been the boaft and treafure, of the 

 people of England. — We know, with what a tender care, and fond folici- 

 tude, they have cheriflied their woollen manufafture ; and, with what jealous 

 precautions they have (ludied, to guard the exclufive pofl"effion of this im- 

 portant fource of national wealth, and profperity. A firailar fpirit, and max- 

 ims of policy, diftated the famous Navigation Aft ;* to which, itmuft be 

 acknowledged, that Britain, at this hour, owes the fovereignty of the feas : 

 and, it is manifeft, that all the abflraft principles, of the wealth of nations, 

 refpefting the falfe policy, of prohibitory, and protefting fyftems, might be 

 applied, with much plaufibility, and gravity, to demonftrate the utter inex- 

 pediency of this grand meafure, which has ever been confidered, from the 

 time of its enaftion, as the corner flone of Englifli greatnefs — of the magni- 

 ficent ftrufture of the Britilh commerce, and naval power. 



Vol. IX. ( Xx ) Sect. 



* The reader will fee the grand effefts of the Navigation Afl, acknowledged, in a late 

 publication of Citizen Hauter'me, on the prefent flate of France. 



