CHAP. XV. CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRINCE. 411 



people. Increase the productions of youi- own country, and 

 they will put you in possession of the products of other 

 coimtries. Let your laws be just, and then the good in the 

 community will respect and obey them, and help you to 

 deter the bad from infringing them." 



" But," said the prince, " suppose we try to do this, and 

 the nation does not prosper, will they not say that the go- 

 vernment is to blame?" I said, "There are in every country 

 people who are always ready to blame their government when 

 they do not prosper. But if yom* laws are just and wise, 

 and those who administer them honest, the enlightened and 

 the upright in the community will be as ready to support 

 you in adversity as in prosperity ; and their confidence will 

 be your strength. The loyalty of the people," I also added, 

 " depends much upon the officers who administer, as well as 

 the sovereign who makes laws, and one of the Avisest of 

 kings has said ' a wicked person shall not stand before me.' " 

 The prince replied, " I know that. I am quite convinced of 

 that." 



It was past n^on when the prince and his companions left 

 me ; and I have repeated the foregoing only as a specimen of 

 the kind of conversation which he appeared anxious to intro- 

 duce as often as opportunity offered. Other topics equally 

 important to the people, and more intimately connected with 

 himself personally, as well as relating to the present and the 

 future welfare of his country, were often introduced by the 

 prince in the course of conversation. Besides my lively in- 

 terest in this young prince, and which every interview deep- 

 ened, I cannot but hope that the intercourse I had with him, 

 more frequent and unreserved than with any other indi- 

 vidual, may have been of some advantage to him, while it is 

 a source of grateful remembrance to myself. 



In the evening, a number of the chief men among my 

 friends came and proposed many inquiries respecting modes 



