An Essay on Commerce. § 



likely means of bringing commerce to its highest degree of 

 perfection, is the desigaof this essay. 



If we take a survey of this earth, even those places where 

 nature seems to liave been most bountiful, and to have 

 poured out her whole luxuriance, even there we shall find 

 some wants, some articles or produce, which, if obtained, 

 would add either to the ease^r comfort of the inhabitants. 

 If we cast our eyes on the more northerly climates, where the 

 sterility of the soil is rendered more barren, from the small 

 degree of that solar warmth which gives life to the whole cre- 

 ation, yet even there we find a superfluity of some articles 

 extremely necessary to the inhabitants of 'more favoured si- 

 tuations. Such indeed is thediversified nature of the earth we 

 inhabit, that there is no country, however highly it may be 

 favoured, which can produce all that is necessary for the 

 comfort, health, protection, and security of its inhabitants. 



From these cau!«es commerce is certainly nearly coeval 

 with nian : and if men had duly observed these immutable 

 laws of their Creator, and regulated their conduct accord- 

 mgly, all intercourse would have been so reciprocal, that 

 both national and individual interest, as well as social hap- 

 piness, would long have continued to bless the world.— But 

 jealousy, envy, and ambition, the most dangerous passions 

 of the human breast, soon made man lose srght of his true 

 interest. When kings, governors or rulers, by whatever name 

 they are called, once turned their attention to raising a re- 

 venue, whether for the support of their own kingdom, or to 

 gratify their own ambition, and increase their greatness, the 

 idea of taxing the produce of ncighbourino- states seems 'very 

 soon to have engrossed that attention. "To a weak short- 

 sighted politician the idea is no doubt flattering : he vainly 

 thinks he shall raise a revenue and increase the'^resources of 

 his own people by taxing Ins neighbours, not recollecting 

 how soon and how easily all will be retaliated. Whoever may 

 have had but small opportuniliesof observing the intercourse 

 of difi'erent nations, and comparing the commercial laws and 

 regulations by which they are governed, will easily see with 

 w hat exactness they endeavour to counteract each other. I 

 could illustrate this m a variety of instances, but it would 



lead . 



