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That commerce and manufactures are the 

 rnoft effectual, if not the only means, by 

 which any nation can be enriched^ or ren- 

 dered potent and flourifhing, has been fup- 

 pofed an undoubted truth ; and, in fupport 

 of this, the examples of antient Tyre, Car- 

 thage, the Venetians, Dutch, and Britifh are 

 adduced. 



Indeed, if by riches and power, we mean 

 the poffeflion of money, or having among 

 us a vaft quantity of it in circulation, the 

 maxim, in fome refpedls, may be allowed to 

 hold good ; but, if to thefe words we annex 

 the ideas of happinefs, and plentiful means 

 of fubfiflence univerfally diffufed among a 

 vaft number of inhabitants, we ihall fcarce 

 find any thing more inadequate to fuch de- 

 lirable piirpofes, or rather, more inconfiftent, 

 if not totally oppofite to them. 



The richeft and moft powerful people We 

 read of in hiftory were the Jews. The whole 

 of their territories, even in their moft ex- 

 tended ftate, did not exceed the kingdom of 

 Scotland in magnitude, but the population 

 was prodigioufly greater. From the account 

 we have of David's numbering the people, it 



appears 



