IS -^» Essarj on Commerce. 



shrink with disgust, if not with horror, from the perusal : — 

 and, as if all were not enough, oaths are introduced as an ad- 

 ditional barrier. A recourse' to them is most alarming to 

 every serious mind; it is s,.ipping the very pillars of virtue, 

 and with iricantic strides reuderintr the mind indifferent, 

 if not callous, to the most serious and the most useful of all 

 appeals — I mean the soleiimily of an oath. 



The closest politician may please himself witli framing 

 addiiional laws and more severe restraints, but all will be 

 found hiciTectual while the present system is pursued : the 

 more limid or conscientious will be restrained, and all their 

 exertions of industry paralysed ; but the daring and adven- 

 turous will spring i^pm every direction. This, however, with 

 some other particulars to prove and illustrate the proposition I 

 have here laid down, may be the subject of another essay, 

 if this should be thought worth the attention of the Society. 

 I will at present only mention one instance, which must be 

 in the recollection and knowledge of many — I n)ean thesniall 

 amount of the revenue on tea before the reduction of the duty 

 took place : and yet, to secure the revenue, every law and 

 regulation which human ingenuity could contrive were put 

 into practice. 



It now only remains for me to say what is the line of con- 

 duct, or plan, which a wise statesman and true patriot ought 

 to pursue. A thorough knowledge of his country is certainly 

 the first and most essential requisite; to be well acquainted 

 with all its more natural productions ; and to bring these to 

 the hitrhest possible perfection, his constant aim and study. 

 I do not mean to say that any check should be given to the 

 experimental agriculturist, — (juite the reverse, — but only that 

 the principal concern of the government should be to give 

 the ereaSest encouragement to the productions which, by 

 observing the laws of nature, there is reason to believe caij 

 be brought to the highest degree of perfection. The next 

 and most essential, I conceive to be. To study the genius of 

 the people; carefully to observe their natural disposition; to 

 note their turn of mind and principal propensity, with all the 

 anxious concern with which a wise parent would watch and 

 s'.udv the rifling dispositions, the natural talents and various 



inclinations 



