130 Political Economy, 
Shall those, who are thus supported, be abandoned to misery, that 
the anticommercial system may flourish ? 
The agriculture of Sweden is inadequate to the maintain^ 
ance of her people ; — shall part of them be driven off, because 
thev cannot learn to digest copper and iron? — must the island of 
Madeira be evacuated, because no longer permitted to send abroad 
her forty thousand pipes of wine ?— -must Geneva become a vil- 
lage, because no longer allowed to supply the world with watch- 
es 
Due efforts will be attended with the greatest success, when 
bestowed on that branch of industry for which the country from its 
physical condition is best calculated. The more this can be ex- 
clusively followed, the greater will be the wealth acquired. It 
must therefore be the interest of every nation to extend the mark- 
ets for her staple commodity to the most distant regions. 
In the same manner, intellectual and moral acquirements will 
become productive of greater national benefits, when displayed 
on the theatre of the world, than confined to the narrow sphere of 
domestic concerns. The probity and fairness in dealing, for which 
It is said, that British manufacturers are distinguished, promises 
to them no exclusive advantage at home, but insures a preference 
among foreign customers. Confidence abroad, and the command 
of foreign funds, are happy results of an impartial execution of the 
laws. Public faith makes public credit an exportable commodity ; 
and insures to younger nations, a participation of the benefits ari- 
sing from the large capitals of the old. Banking is not less lu- 
crative and eligible when transacted among nations, than as a bu- 
siness among individuals. — Skill, credit, character, ingenuity, ac- 
tivity, prudence, which lead to fortune in private pursuits, must 
yield still greater results when nationally pre-eminent in extensive 
- commercial concerns. Correct, and minute information of the 
wants of mankind in every spot, is of itself, a most powerful engine 
of wealth, but it can neither be acquired) nor rendered valuable, 
without a foreign trade. 
* It is a great misfortune wlien the existence of a people depends upon the 
sale of articles, which their customers can dispense with whenever they please 
and without iaconve’ ience ; and in which, other nations may so easily become 
competitors. This I have already averted to. T. C. 
