15 



of Poland is distributed, bear, however, but a small 

 proportion to that which passes by the mouths of the 

 Vistula, at Dantzic and Elbing ; and the manner in 

 which the trade by these places is carried on, may 

 deserve detailed notices. 



The cultivators of that Corn which is supplied 

 to trade, are almost universally both owners and 

 occupiers of the soil on which it grows. They culti- 

 vate it by the labour of their tenants or subjects, who 

 raise sufficient for their own support, but have 

 scarcely any surplus. It does not, as in most other 

 countries, come to the several markets in small 

 parcels. As Wheat particularly can scarcely be 

 there considered an article of food, it would scarcely 

 ever find purchasers among the inhabitants of the 

 countries in which it is grow r n, if it were brought 

 to the weekly or other markets in their own tow r ns. 

 It is almost exclusively an article for foreign con- 

 sumption. 



The whole of the internal commerce of Poland is 

 in the hands of the Jews, who are very numerous, 

 comprehending nearly one seventh of the whole popu- 

 lation, and not being engaged in cultivation, nor 

 inhabiting villages, forming the majority in most of 

 the market towns. They are acute, temperate, eco- 

 nomical, rather active than industrious, and are said 

 to be possessors of the far larger proportion of the 

 floating capital of the country. Almost every trans- 

 action passes through their hands, and few persons 

 can either buy or sell, borrow or lend, without the 

 aid of some individuals of that race. Though not 

 allowed by the law to call themselves brokers or 

 factors, they are effectually such to the whole of the 

 nation. 



They are accused of nourishing a most implacable 

 hatred towards all other people, and of deeming it no 

 moral crime to deceive and cheat Christians. What- 

 ever of truth there may be in these charges, these 



