. 
1792. won the coal duties in Scotland. 297 
As it is not easy to trace matters of such a complicated 
nature as the operations of finance upon industry, and the 
zeciprocal influence of industry upon revenue, it is not 
surprising that men who have never reflected on these 
fum total of money paid for hire of goods and carriages now may be 
rated at 2 couple of millions at leaft. What a miferable ftate then muit 
we now be in, in comparifon of that which we experienced at the for- 
mer period? How rich muft the people have then been, when not a iota 
on this article was raifed on induftry? How poor muft they zow be, 
when fuch immenfe fums are dedudted from the income of labour and in- 
dufiry!!! 
Such are the ridiculous conclufions to be drawn from the abfurd rea- 
fenings of iJl-informed men, who pretend to judge of matters, with the 
nature-of which they are unacquainted. Nor fhould 1 have taken the 
trouble of expofing their abfurdity,at prefent, had it not been: with a 
view to convince many well-intentioned men, that when they fuffer 
themfelves to be led by fuch blind guides, they are in great danger of 
‘being drawn on to their own undoing. 
In the account above quoted, it is obvious that many of thofe articles 
flated as burthens upon induftry, are in fact premiums upon tt; and are the 
principal caufes of national wealth. ‘Without roads, as was the cafe 
fifty years ago, neither manufactures nor commerce could have almoft 
an exiftence among us; and next to thefe, canals, we now know, are 
‘among the moft effectual means of augmenting national profperity,— 
Even national taxes, ftrictly fo called, when properly applied, ftand m 
‘the fame predicament. Government may be confidered, with regard 
“to man, nearly in the fame light as centinels appointed, by many claffes 
of wild animals, to watch over their general fafety. While thefe centi- 
nels are awake, the others are allowed to pafture in peace and fafety ; 
with this remarkable difference, however, between men and other ani- 
‘mals, that thefe centinels have it not in their power either to reprefs 
infults committed by individuals upon each other, nor to protect the 
whole body from external injury. All they can do is to give the alarm 
when external danger appears, and then to leave every individual to 
provide for his own fatety the beft way he can. But with regard to 
government among men, it extends, not only to the warning of danger 
from without, but alfo to the warding it off; not only does it afford 
protection from foreign rapacity, but alfo provides perfect fecurity 
agaiuft the injuflice of neighbours, the rapacity of vagabonds, and the 
infults of power. Under the protection of this unobferved fhield, 
‘every man is allowed to mind his own affairs, in tranquillity and peace; 
and to follow them in what manner he judges moft proper. Were 
he deprived for a-moment of this protecting fhield, his whole time 
would be lefs than fufficient for guarding his perfonal fafety ; and all 
other bulinefs muft of coyrfe be at anend. At prefent he has never 
®ccafion to {pend a fingle thought on that momentous fubjeét. Go- 
wernment is therefore the fource of all induftry and wealth , and the 
WOL, Xil, PP t 
