An Essay on Commerce. 13 



melinations of his children, and put them to such profes- 

 sions as there is good reason to think they would most excel 

 in. I am fully persuaded that it is as impossible for the in- 

 habitants of any country to excel in the manufactory of 

 every article, as it would he by any degree of cultivation to 

 cause the earth in any one country to produce or brin"- 

 forth the various productions of other climates. To inquire 

 into the cause of tliis is not the design of the present essay ; 

 I only mean to state facts. The gin in Holland, the brandy 

 in France, the rum in the West Indies, occur to ray mind, 

 at present, as in point. Nt)lwithstanding the great capital 

 of the English distillers, their persevering industry and 

 diligence, aided by every chemical knowledge and im- 

 provement, — how different are our productions from those 

 mentioned! Yet in France, Holland, and the West In- 

 di<=>s-, these operations are often carried on by mere no- 

 vices (li' I may so speak) in the profession, f will now 

 contrast English malt liquor with whatis made any where 

 in Europe. I believe it will be generallv fuund iliat our 

 ale and porter as far exceed those of all other countries, as 

 the brandies in France and the gin in Holland excel ours. 

 I would likewise mention our excelling in almost every arti- 

 cle in the manufacturing of iron : I ijjight contrast some of 

 what may be c.illcd the loom manufactory. I am wxll aware 

 that in many of these we either excel or have arrived at a 

 great degree of perfection : stiil in many others we fall far 

 short. I have, however, at present only mentioned those 

 which I think are almost generally known and acknow- 

 ledged. 



From a review of the whole, it appears tome self-evident, 

 that the true interest and real riches of every country consist 

 in having a reciprocal intercourse with each other j to have 

 no prohibitory duties, nor any so high as to create too great 

 a temptation to illicit trade. By these means the whole re- 

 venue or duty could be easily collected, and with less than 

 half the present number of officers. Traders and merchants 

 would then be mueh more upon an equal fooling in rei^ard 

 ^0 exciv,' rtpulalions; the more liniid and conscientious 



would 



