THE FARMER AT HOME. 279 



as such is generally considered favorable to health as well as nutri- 

 tious. But the products of it, when distilled, are most deleterious, 

 especially if freely used as a beverage. 



MONEY. The circulation of gold and silver in different ages 

 and in different parts of the world, is a curious and interesting, but, 

 in some respects, a difficult subject oJ investigation. It appears that 

 those metals were used as a medium of commerce so early as in the 

 time of Abraham ; and that they served as ornamental articles of 

 dress, in a period little less remote ; and, indeed, although we have 

 no authentic information relative to this particular, it is extremely 

 probable that gold and silver were used as ornaments before they were 

 established as a medium of commerce, and the standard whereby to 

 estimate the comparative value of other articles. We may collect 

 from sacred history, that gold and silver, as well as divers kinds of 

 precious stones, were sufficiently plentiful in Egypt at the time of the 

 egress of the Israelites ; and the valuable offerings of the people for 

 the construction of the tabernacle, with all the rich materials of which 

 that structure was composed, as well as those used for the high priest's 

 garment, and in the whole apparatus of religion, were furnished out 

 of those treasures which they had carried from that country ; for no 

 other channel can be discovered, or even with any appearance of pro- 

 bability imagined, by which the Israelites could at that period be sup- 

 plied with such plenty of those valuable commodities ; for they had 

 not then obtained any wealth by the plunder of enemies ; the spoils 

 of Midian being the first considerable acquisition of this kind after 

 their departure from Egypt ; and the Midianitish war was an event 

 posterior to the construction of the tabernacle. 



In regard to commerce, there is no mention made, nor the least 

 appearance of any being carried on by the Israelites, whereby they 

 could have obtained such a stock of valuable materials so soon after 

 their entrance into the wilderness. In their conquests of the land of 

 Canaan, they appear to have sometimes obtained a considerable 

 booty ; but it is not until the reign of David that we observe that 

 profusion of wealth, which seems astonishing in a period of such 

 remote antiquity. And the abundance of gold and silver which Jeru- 

 salem displayed in the succeeding reign of Solomon, has staggered the 

 credulity of some readers of the Jewish history. It appears, however, 

 that those metals were at that time very plentiful in Egypt, and in 

 several countries of Asia. The history of David's wars and conquests, 

 make it appear evident that very considerable quantities of gold and 

 silver had, by some means, been introduced into the countries situated 

 between the Euphrates and the Levant Sea ; and it seems that this 

 influx of wealth must have been, in a great measure, the effects of 

 the trade carried on by the Tyrians and Egyptians with the eastern 

 and southern parts of the world. In whatever parts of Africa or 

 Asia these metak \vere found, it is probable, that they were introduced 



