279 
Moderation in Expence indifpenjibly necejfary. 
If it is by useful articles of commerce, either exports or im- 
ports, fuch as promote induftry, provide necessaries, orbring 
in gold or filver, that a nation becomes oppulent; by fuch 
imports as tea, which obftruds induftry, and is all for home 
confumption, a date mud be impoverished. 
People who are wife confider farther, that a great part of 
the riches of this nation depends on mutual confidence and na- 
tional fafety. This alfo fhould teach us to proportion our 
expences to our income, and the nature of fuch income. A 
merchant who gains a thoufand pounds yearly, ought not there- 
fore to spend a thoufand pounds : knowing that he is fubjed to 
accidents, lofies, and the diminution of his capital, he will cal- 
culate accordingly, and fpend fo much lefs. But the more 
precarious our income is, we do not therefore incline to fpend 
the lefs. All who have money in the funds are merchants, and 
are fubjed to fuch contingences as afied the political interefi 
as well as the real commerce of the nation. 
We are a trading people in more fenfes than one. Whild fo 
vaft a property confifts in a national debt, the ftate muft be 
eonfidered as the bank or fountain, whence a great part of our 
trade is fupplied ; and therefore we ought to be watchful of all 
opportunities of promoting the interefi: of the date. How 
greatly we might afiid it by abridging our superfluous ex- 
pences ; and how necessary fuch afiiftance is, efpecially if it 
fhould be our fortune to be again involved in a war, no lover 
of his country, no virtuous perfon of common fenfe, can hefi- 
tate a moment to pronounce. 
TeM" 
