ANNALS 



OF 



COMMERCE, 



C 



lOMMERCE exchanges what we have to fpare for what we want, 

 in whatever part of the world it is produced ; and it enables agricultors, 

 labourers, manufadurers, feamen, and, in Ihort, every defcription of 

 induflrious people, to live comfortably and independently upon their 

 own acquifitions. The animation, which it gives to manufadures, 

 brings on a divifion of labour, whereby they are carried to a degree of 

 perfection, not otherways attainable, and makes the purchafe of every 

 article comparatively eafy to the individual, for whom a hundred thou- 

 fand hands, difperfed ■over the furface of the globe, are employed in 

 providing food, lodging, clothing, and other neceflaries, comforts, and 

 enjoyments. Without commerce every family mufl be agricultors for 

 themfelves, and for them/elves only : and they mufl alfo build their own 

 houfes, or rather huts, make their own furniture, their own clothes, 

 and every article, they Hand in need of. Some wretched nations in 

 this mofl abje6l flate of favage life exift, even at this time, in parts of 

 the world hitherto fcarcely ever viiited by navigation. In a country 

 deftitute of commerce fuperior talents are of little value, and induftry 

 would toil in vain : a redundance of produce is ufelefs ; a deficiency is 

 death. But wherever commerce extends its beneficial influence, every 

 country, which is acceflible, is in fome degree placed on a level with i^e- 

 fpeft to the fupply of provifions, the neceflaries, the comforts, and the 

 elegancies, of life. 



The origin of commerce, if we comprehend under that name the 

 fimple exchanges, which took place, as foon as different taftes, or talents, 

 direded people to employ their induftry in different purfuits, muft un- 

 doubtedly be nearly co-eval with the creation of the world. As paflur- 



VoL. I. A 



