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population, is likewife the only proper foun- 

 dation of arts, manufactures, and commerce. 

 This is likewife manifeft from the example 

 of the Chinefe, among whom commerce is 

 carried to an incredible height ; and the arts 

 are come to as great perfe&ion as can poflibly 

 be fuppofed in a country where the felf-con- 

 ceit of the inhabitants makes them think 

 themfelves fuperior to all the reft of the 

 world. 



In all countries thefe muft be fomewhat 

 unfavourable to population. Commerce is 

 particularly fo, by carrying people out of 

 their own country into foreign climates, 

 which is more definitive than even the 

 fword of an enemy. This is evident even 

 from the accounts which, from time to time, 

 are publiihed by authority, of thofe aboard 

 his Majefty's navy who die natxiral deaths, 

 and thofe killed in battle. 



From an account of this kind, publifhed 

 in January 1781, it appears, that from the 

 year 1774 to 1780, there were raifedfor the 

 fervice of the navy 175,990 feamen : Of 

 thefe, from the beginning of 1776, to the be- 

 ginning of 1 78 1 , there had fallen in battle on- 



