T'^Ql. on the prosperity of states, 327 



are most in danger ot experiencing the effects of this 

 evil. This application of the means of luxury, and 

 their beirgthui procured, and in few hands, was the 

 real cause of the ruin and downfall of the Roman 

 empire. Commercial nations are not subject to so 

 speedy a destruction from this cause ; for commerce 

 diffuses the means of wealth into many hands, and 

 bj that means prevents the fatal influence of in- 

 dividuals of overgrown fortune. Commerce being 

 much attended to by many, divides the profit of it, 

 and consequently lefsens this effect. In England, 

 commerce has got the very best tendency ; for the 

 lands are many of them held from the lords by long 

 leases ; and the riches of commerce enables the 

 tradesman to purchase, and thus to emancipate him- 

 self and family ; and many of the lands are held, 

 from the feudal tenure, by payment of an arbitrary 

 fine on the death of lord and tenant ; and commerce 

 enables the landholder to buy his lands free. As the 

 means of corruption were formerly, and are greatly 

 yet, in the hands of the lords, commerce operates in 

 its effects as a check to such corruption, as it enables 

 the inferior clafs to emancipate themselves, and act 

 an honest and independent part. The lordly fortunes 

 from India indeed, in the hands of a few individuals, 

 are an objection to this reasoning ; and it is perhaps 

 doubtful whether this source of luxury and corrup- 

 tion be a good to England. 



I do not consider the luxury, or rather the means 

 of luxury, of any nation of Europe, at all threatening 

 at present in this view of the subject. For where 

 riches are in the hands of a few, and but a very few, 

 the danger from this quarter seems greatest. 



