GOLD AND SILVER. 



231 



solely by the process of exchanging them for goods 

 and services which they stood in need of, that 

 either wealth or power could arise from the pre- 

 cious metals, of which they had more than they 

 wanted. Juster notions, it is true, were by this 

 time beginning to be disseminated amongst them, 

 and the government perceived the importance of 

 viewing the precious metals as mercantile commo- 

 dities of exchangeable value ; and since they were 

 the staple produce of the country, of encouraging 

 their production and export. That enlarged 

 views should at once take deep and effective 

 root, in the minds of such infant governments, 

 was hardly to be looked for ; and, accordingly, 

 we invariably found the same erroneous but se- 

 ductive idea prevailing, more or less, that gold 

 and silver were in themselves national wealth, and 

 that they ought not, therefore, to be allowed to 

 leave the country. These notions obtained uni- 

 versally amongst the lower orders, and generally 

 amongst the upper classes, excepting the princi- 

 pal merchants, whose habits of business led them 

 directly to the truth. 



As the greater part of the treasure was export- 



