4i6 MEMOIR ON TUB 



clepentis equally on the produdlons of dif- 

 ferent coutitries* and the induRry of their 

 inhabitants : for commerce really is nothing 

 but an exchange of thefe produdiions, the 

 quality and price of which are determined 

 by various circumftances. 



France, by the fertility of its foil, and 

 the mildnefji of its climate, produces every 

 thing neceffary or agreeable, with a pro* 

 fufion which renders it independent of all 

 other countries. It has, thereforcj long de- 

 liberated on this important queftion, w he- 

 ther it ought to concentrate its commerce 

 within itfelf, or to extend it to foreign na- 

 tions ? This, however, is no longer a pro- 

 blem. Rearon and calculation, fupported 

 by experience (that daily leflbn the leafl 

 equivocal of any), feem to have fully re^ 

 folved it. We have even caufe to hope^ 

 that the opinions of mankind will be no 

 longer undecided in a matter^ fo interefting^ 



The 



