Literature , tic, with Commerce. 17 
burn within him, when he reads of the glorious 
ftruggles which our anceftors, through many ages, 
have made to fecure to us that liberty we now fo 
amply enjoy! How clofely fhould he grafp that 
ineflimable jewel which has been purchafed by 
the blood of fo many heroes ! How muft he glory 
in that conftitution which renders Great Britain 
the objedt of univerfal envy and admiration ! 
Nor are the objedts of hiflory confined to the 
atchievements of war, the revolutions of govern¬ 
ments, and the intrigues of ftatefmen. The origin 
and progrefs of commerce and of arts, come alfo 
within her province. And the philofophical 
hiftorian does not content himfelf with the mere 
relation of fadts; he endeavours to trace effedts 
to their caufes, to fhew the principles by which 
commerce ihould be adluated; how the various 
interefls, fituations and connedtions of different 
countries fhould lead to different kinds of traf¬ 
fic ; and in what manufaclures the particular 
genius of a people may fit them to excel. Such 
difquifitions as thefe have lately tended to the 
eflablifhment of a new fyftem which may be, not 
improperly, denominated commercial philofo- 
phy. Here the tradefman is more immediately 
concerned. Thefe are fubjedts which come di- 
redlly within the fphere of his inquiries. 
The Englifh Clafiics will be a rich fund of 
entertainment and improvement. Shakefpeare, 
Milton, Pope, Addifon, Thomfon, Gray, Mafon, 
Vol. I. C with 
