190 Preface to “ The Natural History 
cominerce, which is greatly facilitated by the safety and prodi- 
gious extent of her sea-coasts, the depth and numbers of her 
rivers, and the depth and numbers of her bays and sinuses all 
round the island.—Her forests produce the hardiest oaks for 
ship=building, and her sea-ports the best and hardiest sailors, who 
are ina manner bred upon the water ; and no island in the world 
ever yet arrived at such commercial “eminence, and, in conse- 
quence, at such a height of power, wealth, and grandeur. 
But it is not all the external productions of this island put to- 
gether, favoured as she is by the goodness of her soil and situa- 
tion, and assisted by the excellence of her constitution, and the. 
utmost exertion of the genius of her sons, that ever was, or ever 
wil] be able to raise her to such a height of power and wealth, 
or to such commercial and political consequence in the world. 
The soil of some other countries is as good as that of Britain, 
The island of Sicily produces as excellent grain and better fruits, 
and some parts of Spain as good, if not better fleeces. But Bri- 
tain has other valuable sources of commerce and wealth. The 
materials of many of the various and extensive manufactures of 
the island, are derived from the bowels of the earth, from her 
plentiful mines and coal-works. 
This is the source of the materials of our most numerous and 
extensive manufactures, and of the utensils of them all; and it 
is our manufactures that fill and extend the channels of com- 
merce, and bring home our wealth from afar. 
This island is a nursery of arts, as well as of manufactures and 
commerce. 
It is a curious and entertaining amusement to reflect upon the 
connexion and dependence of the arts upon one another, and 
upon the improvements and advances of society in a polished 
commercial country. A man of genius and of judgement, equal 
to the task, with a stock of information and scope of thought 
like Raynal, who would write a book to show us the progress 
and improvements of the useful arts, the zra of remarkable dis- 
coveries and their effects, and the influence which the improve- 
ments of the useful arts have upon the commercial and political _ 
state of the nation, and of the world in general, would deserve 
the thanks of his country for the extensive information, useful 
instruction, and national entertainment which his book would 
afford. 
Perhaps it would then appear, that the great quantity and va- 
riety of metal which this island produces has more influence upen 
the commerce, wealth, and power of the nation than we are ac- 
customed to imagine at present. But as I have neither abilities * 
nor materials for such inquiries, [ will leave them to be investi- 
gated 
