ECO 
rate history of Commerce, by Anderson, 
The decisions of the English legislature 
have usually been guided by the principles 
of these writers. 
The commercial system of political eco- 
nomy is very perspicuously explained, and 
very ably examined in the fourth book of 
Smith on the Wealth of Nations. 
The agricultural system is of compara- 
tively recent origin. It was first brought 
into vogue by Mons. Quesnai, a celebrated 
French physician. His ideas were adopted 
and diffused by several very able writers, 
and are thought to be most clearly ex- 
plained in “ L’Ordre Natural de Societes 
Politiques,” by Mercier de la Riviere. The 
■writings of Quesnai have been published, 
with remarks and illustrations in a work en- 
titled “ Physiocratie,” by Dupont de Ne- 
mours. The followers of Quesnai are styled 
the economists. There is no English wri- 
ter of celebrity by whom these prmciples 
have been adopted in their whole extent ; 
but they are stated, and in some degree 
controverted, in the last chapter of the 
fourth book of Smith. 
By far the greatest work on political 
economy is the treatise on “ The Wealth 
of Nations,” by Adam Smith. The acute- 
ness of later writers may have discovered 
some inconsiderable errors in the reason- 
ings ; may have shewn that some portions 
of it are not so completely finished as the 
rest, and that some well grounded objec- 
tions may be urged against parts of its ar- 
rangement j but the most able judges una- 
nimously regard it as a work at once origi- 
nal, accurate, and profound ; as just in its 
principles, and perspicuous in its illusb'a- 
tions; and as entitling Smith, among other 
writers on political economy, to the same 
distinguished rank wliich among astrono- 
mers is held by Newton. 
A striking and very important difference 
between the old and new systems of politi- 
cal economy consists in the former calling 
upon all occasions for tlie regulation and 
controul of laws, and regarding the legis- 
lature as best qualified to estimate the va- 
lue of any particular branches of trade, or 
inodes of conducting business ; while by the 
latter the merchant is supposed to be the 
best judge of the most eligible method of 
conducting his own affairs. The former is 
a system of restrictions and encourage- 
ments in which little is left to the choice 
gnd sagacity of individuals ; in the latter it 
is supposed that national wealth, which is 
the aggregate of individual wealth, will in- 
EDI 
trease most rapidly, where, while private 
property is rendered sacred by the laws, 
talent and enterprise are under the least 
possible restraint. 
EDDY tide, or Eddt/ water, among sea- 
men, is where the water runs back con- 
trary to the tide ; or that which hinders the 
free passage of the stream, and so causes 
it to return again. 
Eddy wind is that which returns, or is 
beat back from a sail, mountain, or any 
thing that may hinder its passage. 
EDGE, in general, denotes the side or 
border of a thing ; but is more particularly 
used for the .sharp side of some weapon, 
instrument, or tool. Thus we say, the edge 
of a sword, knife, chissel, &c. In the sea 
language, a ship is said to edge in with an- 
other, when making up to it. 
EDGINGS, among gardeners, the series 
of small but durable plants, set round the 
edges or borders of flower-beds, &c. The 
best and most durable plants for this use is 
box, which, if well planted and rightly ma- 
naged, will continue in strength and beauty 
for many years. The seasons for planting 
these are the autumn, and very early in the 
spring ; and the best species for this purpose 
is the dwarf Dutch box. 
EDICT, in matters of polity, an order 
or instrument, signed and sealed by a 
, prince, to serve as a law to his subjects. 
We find frequent mention of the edicts of 
the Praetor, the ordinances of tliat officer 
in the Roman law. In the French law, 
the edicts are of several kinds ; some im- 
porting a new law or regulation ; others, 
the erection of new offices, establishments 
of duties, rents, &c. and sometimes arti- 
cles of pacification. In France edicts are 
much the same as a proclamation is with us, 
but with this difference, tliat the former 
have the authority of a law in themselves, 
from tlie power which issues them forth ; 
whereas the latter are only declarations of 
a law, to which they refer, and have no 
power in themselves. 
Edicts can have no room in Britain, be- 
cause that the enacting of laws is lodged 
in the Parliament, and not in the King. 
Edicts are all sealed witli green wax, 
to shew that they are perpetual and irre- 
vocable. 
EDITOR, a person of learning, who has 
the cai’e of an impression of any work, 
particularly that of an ancient author. 
Thus, Erasmus was a great editor ; the 
Louvain doctors, Scaliger, Petavius, F. 
Sirmond, Bishop Walton, Mr. Hearne, Mr. 
