8 
Introductory Paper . 
in other words, labour will be most productive where the 
objects it aims at, and the form and manner of its appli¬ 
cation, are in strictest accordance with the conditions 
which Nature has previously established. 
In the case of nations which have advanced by imper¬ 
ceptible degrees, and during a long series of ages, from a 
state of barbarism to one of civilization, this adaptation 
of the people’s industry and habits of life to their physi¬ 
cal circumstances is usually the slow result of experience; 
and has too frequently been thwarted, or altogether de¬ 
feated, by the obstacles which ignorance and prejudice 
have thrown in its way. The misdirection of industry, 
together with the inappropriate and disadvantageous 
customs and institutions founded upon it, has been a 
principal cause of the permanent depression of nations 
below the natural level of prosperity and strength to 
which they would otherwise have risen. One most im¬ 
portant as well as most difficult branch of the business 
of Science, in such countries, is to point out the practical 
errors into which men have been betrayed, and to assist 
them in retracing their steps, and returning to a wiser and 
more economical employment of their powers. The na¬ 
tions of modern Europe, for example, have long been 
endeavouring, under the direction of enlarged and scien¬ 
tific views, to free their trade and commerce from those 
unnatural and mischievous restrictions which a false 
policy had imposed ; and, in proportion as they have suc¬ 
ceeded, their wealth has been consolidated and increased. 
In settling in an entirely new country, on the other 
hand, men have not only to guard against those absolute 
errors which proceed from the violation of general and 
universal laws, and are independent of particular situa¬ 
tions or occasions, but they require to be even more on 
their guard against relative errors—which are errors only 
in reference to the circumstances under which they are 
