26a On Commerce. 



the better. I have long been of opinion, .that freedom of 

 discussion is the highest privilege that either a nation or an 

 individual can enjoy, whether in regard to commerce, poli- 

 tics, or religion. Let error hide its haggard face, shrink 

 from inquiry, or shelter itself under laws, pains, or penal- 

 ties. Truth has nothing to fear : the more it is tried, the 

 more it is examined, like a fair and upright character it will 

 only appear more amiable, and shine with a brighter lustre. 



It would appear from the remarks of Mr. Lapis, that I 

 had not expressed myself in so clear a manner, but that some 

 doubt might arise as to the real meaning of the proposition 

 1 laid down relative to the laws of nature, pointing out the 

 true principles of commerce, and that in all our commercial 

 regulations we ought to keep those laws in the order of na- 

 ture constantly in view. In the diversified productions of 

 the world which we inhabit, I endeavoured to trace the first 

 principle? of commerce, by every country having some su- 

 perfluities, and that there was no country but had s.orne 

 wants ; that a mutual intercourse was of reciprocal advantage ; 

 that all prohibitory laws, or excessive duties, were counteract- 

 ing the benevolent dispensations of the Supreme Being, that 

 no laws however severe, nor any regulations however mul- 

 tiplied, would prevent illicit trade where there was too strong 

 a temptation ; that this was encouraged, and supported by the 

 present impolitic laws, and such had a very bad effect on 

 the morals of the people. To have illustrated all these in a 

 full and proper manner would have required a volume : I 

 only mentioned what struck me at the time as being most 

 evident, and generally understood by the middling class of 

 society. 



I will now endeavour to answer some of Mr. Lapis's ob- 

 jections. He says that the laws or order of nature are the re- 

 verse of what 1 had stated, because every country does, or 

 with proper cultivation will, produce all those articles neces- 

 sary for the support, Sec, of the inhabitants, and that the 

 natural produce of every country is the most congenial to the 

 health and support of the people. 



Now I fully admit the truth of Mr. Lapis's observation in 

 a certain degree, but I do not conceive that it in the least 



either 



