1® INTRODUCTORY ESSAYS. 



natural condition of man. But in the invention of these art* 

 which were necessary to improve the science of agriculture 

 mankind were gradually led to the discovery of those^whici L: 

 creased their riches ; and when by the acquisition of a surplus 

 of the produce of the earth, and the introduction of commence 

 money was invented as the representation of property, and by 

 hat means It was found practicable to purchase no['only the 

 necessaries but the conveniences of life, the natural indofence 

 «Lri^ nn"^" disposition began to yield to the fascinating 

 charms of luxurious ease. According to the christian chronof- 

 op, It was more than three tliousan°d years from the creaUon 

 troI'T^^' ^"^"'1 '^' "^^ °^ ^"^^r ^"d sold metals were n- 



ed a?d ?pl1 ^ tV '""?! u^^^'^ P^'^^^ ^"^P^*-^^ ^««e' ^nd flourish- 

 hi.CunVti' J^^'o^ld be a curious subject to investigate the 

 history ot the ongm and use of money, and its progressive in- 



practical use to Americans, in their present condition, it is 

 sufficient for them to learn whether its present use, or the 

 means which are practised to accumulate it, have a tendency 

 o advance our political happiness, or to perpetuate the dura^ 

 1.? i^'l*'' °''^'' repubhcan privileges. If the great object of 

 accumulating money is not to meliorate the condition of our 

 country, by facilitating the means of subsistence generally, and 

 making our citizens wiser and better, is it not^questionable, 

 wnfpZ -M""*!^^'^ ""^ our money capital, and our population 

 will essentia ly advance the happiness, and the durable strength 

 of our repubhc.^ It has been remarked that the strength of a 

 nation IS derived from the character, not from the weaTth, nor 

 Iroin the number of its people. And of the truth of this re- 

 mark ancient Sparta has furnished us with an example. The 

 republic of Sparta after Lycurgus had suppressed the circula- 

 tion of gold and silver corns, and introduced money made of 

 iron, as the only circulating medium, and enforced bV law such 

 a distribution of property that there were no citizens either 

 ^'.Hn''' T'' T 7'^^ ^ ^"^'^ population than the surrounding 

 ^nS V^""""'^'^^ ?' ^r^"' th^ ^"°^t powerful and happy re- 

 public of Greece, and perhaps of any other tliat has ever existed. 

 Ihe ODject of the celebrated institutions of Lycurgus was to 



Td hpjrp^''!;'^"' P^^^'^"! ^"^ ^^PP^' ^y "^^k^ng them wiser 

 and better ; by improving their manners and habiS, rather than 



,n^.r'r .f "^ ^^T "^^'"^^^^ extending their dominion and 

 Iu^'T'"^,*^^^%P°P^^'^tion. And Americans should not forget 

 that the policy of Lycurgus, so far as it related to the importance 

 Ot torramg the habitd of our citizens to industry, and their mor- 



