Science, and made ufe of in this Book. As to Navigation, Care has been taken to avoid as much as 
poffible* making ufe of fuch Terms in that Art, as are not commonly underftood, and rather than do 
this, and thereby introduce a Multitude of harth Words, and difficult Phrafes, we have chbfen to 
cxprefs Things more at large, fo as to render them perfectly plain, even to ordinary UnderftandingS; 
\v e may fay the fame Thing with regard to natural Hiftory, wherein we have ftudied chiefly Perfpi- 
cuity, and thereby the Information of the Reader, which we conceived would be more accept- 
able than if from a vain Affectation of Learning, we had ufed Words familiar in the Schools, and 
no where elfe. It is proper, and even neceffary to mention thefe Things, that what was purely the 
EffeCt of Choice, may not be attributed to any other Caufe. It is one Thing to write exprefsly upon 
a particular Science, and another to mention occafionally Things that relate to that Science, and our 
Bufinefsin this Collection is, not only to convey all the JnftruCtion we can, but Jikewife to convey it 
in the eafieff and plaineft Manner we may, as not affeCting to be thought learned, but defirlng to 
make Knowledge as familiar as poffible. 
With this View, we have infilled largely on the Policy of Countries, in order to fhew, both the 
Nature of feveral Kinds of Government, and their Effects, more efpecially in the Eajl , the Spirit of 
which feems hitherto but indifferently underffood. We have alfo bad Occafion to reprefent very fully 
the four antient Empires, the Influence they had on the Manners of Mankind, which we have like- 
wife fhewn, is not yet wholly effaced. By purfuing this Method, we flatter ourfelves, that many great 
Advantages have been gained, and that the Reader will perceive, that what he has perufed in this Vo- 
lume, will throw a prodigious Light on what follows in the next, more efpecially with regard to the 
fundamental Principles of true and lafling Dominion. 
The Power attained either by Policy, or Arms, is but of fhort Continuance, in Comparifon of 
what is acquired by Trade. If we refled: on the Reafon of the Thing, it will appear, that Com- 
merce is founded on Induftry, and cherifhed by Freedom. Thefe are fuch folid Pillars, that whate- 
ver SuperltruCture is ereCted upon them, cannot eafily be overthrown by Force, but muff be ruined 
by Sap : This too we find juftified by Hiftory and Experience. The antient Kingdom of Eyre owed 
its extenfive and lafling Power to its Commerce, and all the Accounts we have of the Progrefs of 
Alexanders Army agree in this, tho’ hardly in any Thing elfe ; that the DeftruCtion of Eyre coft 
him more than the over-running the Perfian Empire, tho’ the Territories of the former fcarce en- 
tered into Comparifon with the prodigious Dominions of the latter. Carthage , the moil formidable 
Enemy of Rome , flood likewife indebted to Trade for that Strength which was fo long reputed invinci- 
ble, and which had always proved fo, if the Virtues neceffary to a State fupported and ever fubfifting 
by Commerce, had not been greatly impaired by that Luxury which her Riches induced before fh« 
was attacked by her formidable Enemy. The Hiftory of the middle Ages likewife fhew the Repub- 
licks of Venice and Genoa riling to an amazing Height, by the diligent Profecution of foreign Trade, 
and Maritime Power, and finking again into a low Condition, and that not fo much by a fuperior 
Force of foreign Enemies, as by the Negligence of thofe Arts, and Diminution of thofe Virtues by 
which their Empire was attained. 
According to the prefent Syflem, Wealth is the Source of Power, and the Attainment of Wealth 
can only be brought about by a wife and happy Attention to Commerce. This it was that enabled 
the United-Provinces, not only to (hake off the Dominion of Spain, but to raife themfelves into the 
firft Rank among the Powers of Europe. If we purfue this Thought a little farther, we fhall find, 
that the peculiar Advantages which the little Province of Holland poffeffes in this refpeCt, has rendered 
herinfome Meafure the Miftrefsof the other Six; and if we pry further into Things, we fhall difeover 
fuch a Degree of Wealth and Power in the City of Amjlerdam alone, as might put her upon a Level 
with fome Kingdoms. I fhall but juft mention the Dutch Eaft-India Company, which, in a diftant 
Part of the World, not only gives Laws to barbarous Nations, but has trampled upon thofe Powers 
that were terrible to the States at Home. It is indeed wonderful, that Truths fo evident as thefe, 
fhould for a long Time efcape, not only vulgar Obfervation, but the penetrating Eyes of the pro- 
founded: Politicians. 
By Degrees, however. Experience has made almoft all Nations fenfible of the Importance of Trade, 
which is the Reafon we fee it purfued now with fo much Ardour in every Corner of the European 
World. This being the Cafe, whoever would have a competent Knowledge of the Weight and In- 
fluence of any People, muft be well acquainted with their Character and Circumftances in this re- 
fpeCt ; and yet this is a Point unaccountably neglected by almoft all the Writers who have underta- 
ken to fet before their Readers the prefent State of Kingdoms and Commonwealths. They mention 
it, we muft confefs, but fuperficially ; they throw it amongft a Groupe of inconfiderable Particulars 
and if they juft take Notice of a principal Port, or two, in any Country, they think they have done 
all that is requifite in regard to an Affair, the Knowledge of which, is of much more Importance 
than moft of thofe on the copious Explication of which they value themfelves. 
As our Bufinefs lay in a great Meafure with Authors that dealt not much in Reflection, we have 
in the firft Part of this Work, endeavoured to fupply that DefeCt, in order to render it as fyftematical 
as poffible, and in the fucceeding Volume, we fhall, for the fame Reafon, be more fparing on that 
Head, and leave Things more to the Reader’s own Obfervation, taking Care, however, to fupply them 
with proper Materials, for the ranging of which, in order to extrad from this Collection a general 
Hiftory of Trade, a very few Rules may fuffice, which, for that Reafon, we fhall here lay down 
being throughly perfwaded, that as they will be found both proper and ufeful in their Application fo 
they will be found even here both natural and agreeable. 
The only Means, by which we can arrive at diftind and accurate Notices on this Head, is by fol- 
lowing that plain and natural Method, which the Nature of Commerce in general points out. We 
muff 
