CHAP, xxxil] ill effects of competition. 477 



pressing us will get ahead, and national ruin will follow/' 

 (Some of this is true, some Mlacious. It is undoubtedly 

 a difficulL problem whicli we have to solve ; and 1 am 

 ineliued to tiduk it is tkU dillieulty that makes men con- 

 clude that wliat seems a necessary and unalterable state of 

 things must be good— that its benefits must be greater 

 than its evils. This was the feeling of tlie American 

 advocates of slavery \ they coidd not see an easy, comfort- 

 able way out of it. In our own case, however, it is to he 

 hoped, tliat if a fair consideration of tiie matter in all its 

 bearings shows that a prepondemncc of L*vd arises from 

 the innnensity of our manufactures and commerce— evil 

 which must go on increasing vvilli their increase — there is 

 enough botli of political wisdom and tme piiil.anthi'oj.iy in 

 Knglishmen, to induce them to turn their superabundant 

 wealth into other channels. The fact that has led to these 

 remarks is surely a striking one ; that in one of the most 

 remote comers of the earth savages can buy clothing 

 cheaper than the people of the conniry wliere it is made ; 

 that the weaver's child should shiver in tlie wintiy wind, 

 unable to purchase articles altaiunble by the wild natives 

 of a tropical climate, where clotliiug is mere ornament or 

 luxury, should make us pause ere we regard with unmixed 

 admiration the system which has led to such a result, and 

 cause us to look with some suspicion on tlie further exten- 

 sion of that system. It must be remembered too that our 

 commerce is not a purely natural gruwtiL It has been 

 ever fostered by tlic legislatim^, and iorced to an uimatural 

 luxuriance by the protection of our fleets and armies. The 

 wisdom and the justice of this policy have been already 

 doubted 80 soon, therefore, as it is seen that the fuilher 

 extension of our manufactures and coiumerce would be an 

 evil, tiie remedy is not far to seek. 



After six weeks' confinement to the house I was at 

 length well, aud could resume my daily walks in the 

 forest. 1 did not, however, find it so productive as wlien 

 I had first arrived at Uobbo, There was a damp stagna- 

 tion about the paths, aud insects were very scarce. In 

 6ome of my best collecting places 1 now found a mass of 

 rotting wood, mingled with young shoots, and overgrown 



