174 
Political Arithmetic . 
labours of agriculture, gains can be made but slowly, gradually, 
and by the regular exertions of habitual, wholesome industry— the 
commercial speculator, often gets rich by accident, by imprudent 
and unfair venturing, by sudden exertions. Wealth thus sudden- 
ly obtained, is, in many respects, detrimental to the community. It 
operates as a lottery : it tempts capital into trade beyond prudent 
bounds : it entices to unjustifiable boldness : it too often intro- 
duces ostentatious luxury, not warranted by the sober dictates of 
moderate and regular gains. 
9thly. The merchant is of no country. That is, lie is not neces- 
sarily attached to any. His connections are as much out of his 
native country, as in it ; he has frequently inducements to sojourn 
abroad : the domicil of nativity, and the mercantile domicil, are 
3o often different, that the distinction with the privileges belonging 
to it, are recognized and settled in the laws of all commercial 
countries. His property is moveable, transportable ; that is his 
country, where his interest calls him, where his means of gain 
have located his investments. Where the treasure is, there will 
the heart be also. 
Nor is it to be expected that mercantile speculations, will be 
voluntarily regulated by national expedience. It is the merchant’s 
business to attend to his own concerns ; let the governors of the nation, 
attend to the national concerns. Of what consequence is it to the 
merchant, at what expense the commerce of his country is sup- 
ported r the nation, the home consumer, pays for all. Increased 
expence s are always and reasonably laid on the price of the commo- 
dity : the merchant therefore cares little about them, provided they 
are common to the body of merchants. It is his interest to mag- 
nify the great importance of foreign commerce ; to obtain protec- 
tion for it though at ten times its value to the nation; to engage 
government on his side ; and this unfortunately he is generally 
enabled to do, by his importance to revenue, to loans, to banks, to 
finance operations ; men in power and merchants are always allies. 
However clear sighted as an individual, the statesman , sees no- 
thing but revenue. The merchant sees and steadily pursues his 
own interest. Is not this too natural to be blameable ? 
Moreover, the merchant’s occupation is always liable, not only 
to the temptation of illicit pursuit, but to the jealousies of foreign 
mercantile interests, to quarrels and controversies involving nation- 
al feeling*. Let the reader reflect on the cover our professed xieu- 
