A TRAVELLER AT BERLIN". II9 



fions where the' public welfare demands fome little fa- 

 criflces, rfmft put felf-interefl: to filence. In general 

 too we muft do the Berliners the juftice to confefs, that 

 they have at times fome reafon to complain of the re- 

 ftraints and limitations that are fet to their liberty. The 

 king is manifeftly addicted to the phyfiocratic fyftem, 

 and places the wealth of a country, not without foun- 

 dation, in a good cultivation of the foil, and the well- 

 being of its peafantry. The former he does all in his 

 power to promote, while he encourages the latter by 

 immunities and pecuniary affiftances ; and never have 

 they been fo much at their eafe as during his reign. 

 He has erected fabrics, that his fubjecls might no lon- 

 ger be dependent on foreigners, not as the means of 

 promoting commerce : for it was never his intention that 

 the foreigner fhould draw the fame commodities from 

 his country. He granted monopolies, not for the fake 

 of enriching the individuals that had them; but that 

 his fubjects might not be deficient in thofe foreign pro- 

 duels, which are now become but too much general 

 wants, and to fupply them with them at a cheaper rate, 

 by allowing advantages to monopolies in a country 

 where no freedom of commerce fhould exift, advantages 

 which it was impoffible to allow to particular Ihops 

 without manifeft detriment to the whole. You know, 

 my friend, what a hearty averlion I bear in general to 

 all monopolies : but I do not therefore forget that there 

 may be cafes where it is advifable to grant them, and 

 even prudent, at leaft for a time. Countries whofe 

 products are but few, and have not much of their own 

 to barter with the foreigner, are fubject to different 

 laws from thofe in a contrary fituation, or which can 



1 4 purfuQ 



