ADAM SMITH. 91 



The earliest of these writings, which lay down sound 

 principles to guide commercial legislation, is the Memoir 

 ('Discorso Economico') of Antonio Bandini of Siena, 

 addressed in 1737 to the Grand Duke of Tuscany upon 

 the improvement of the great Maremma district. The 

 author recommended free trade in corn ; advised the 

 granting of leases to tenants, that they might have an 

 interest in the soil ; and proposed the repeal of all vexa- 

 tious imposts, and a substitution in their stead of one 

 equal tax upon all real property, without excepting either 

 the lands of the nobles or of the church. This able and 

 enlightened work, in which the germs of the French 

 economical doctrines are plainly unfolded, was only pub- 

 lished in 1775; but when Leopold succeeded his brother 

 in 1765, he showed his accustomed wisdom and virtue 

 in the government of Tuscany, by adopting many of 

 Bandini's suggestions for improving the Maremma. Other 

 writers followed in the same course. Fernando Galiaui, 

 of Naples, published in 1750 his treatise, 'Delia Moneta/ 

 explained on sound principles that the precious metals 

 are only to be regarded as merchandise, and shewed 

 clearly the connexion between value and labour. The 

 discourse, Sopra i Bilanci delle Nazione, by Oarli, of 

 Capo dlstria, in 1771, laid down the true doctrine 

 respecting the balance of trade. Genovesi, a Neapolitan, 

 in 1768, supported the position of perfect freedom in 

 the corn trade, though not in that of other merchandise 

 or of manufactures. But in 1769, Pillo Verri, a Milan- 

 ese, in his work, * Sutte Leggi Vincolanti,' maintained 

 the doctrine of absolute and universal freedom of com- 

 merce. The same thing was mentioned about the same 



