abridging labour by improvements in machinery. Our country can boatt of academies of painting, and focieties for the encouragement of arts; but yet it wants a practical inftitution of this kind, conducted upon an extenfive and liberal feale. By collecting and comparing the experiments made in thefe various places, great advantages might be gained and for this purpofe, a periodical publication of tranfactions would be highly ufeful, as a repofitory and vehicle of obfervations. By the admiffion of honorary members, this fociety might likewife carry on an extenfive correfpondence, include the patrons of the agricultural intereft in all parts of the world, and compare their different proceffes, difcoveries, and plans of operation for the purpofe of general utility.

.

Abundance of food is the only wealth of the induftrious poor, as other poffeffions, confifting in ample revenues, fplendid houfes and equipages, exclufively belong to the rich. Upon the quantity and cheapnefs of the common neceffaries of life, the health, ftrength, and induftry of the people, and of courfe the general comfort of fociety, muft ever depend. It is therefore the duty, as well as the intereft of government, to take every poffible method to prevent their dearnefs, by guarding against their fcarcity. Manufactures and commerce are the great fources of wealth; and in order to prevent them from being dried up and exhaufted, it is neceffary that Agriculture fhould be an object of the firft attention, and that its produce fhould

be attainable at a cheap rate. It is an excellent obfervation, "that neither Agriculture nor Trade can flourish, where the general ease does not begin with the clafs of labourers"."

Nature will not fuffer her laws to be violated: the call of the appetites is more importunate, than the folicitations of fashion; and the means of fubfiftence must be fecured to mankind before they go in fearch of fuperfluities. The arts of neceffity are antecedent to thofe of elegance.

From the preceding obfervations may be deduced fome of the moft ufeful principles of Political Economy. The real power and opulence of a nation confift in the number of its inhabitants well fupplied with the neceffaries of life ;-fubfiftence is the proper measure of population,-and the earth is the fource of fubfiftence. All other means of wealth and dominion, fuch as commerce, abundance of the precious metals, and extent of colonies, promote the true profperity of a state, only in proportion as they encourage AGRICULTURE, which is the most valuable of the arts, as well as the most folid and moft durable basis of Plenty, Power, and Profperity.

Priestley's Lectures on Hiftory, p. 367.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER III.

Commerce

Is well defcribed to be "an operation, by which

the wealth or work either of individuals or of focieties may be exchanged by merchants for an equivalent, proper for fupplying every want without interruption to induftry, or check to confumption." This fubject will be confidered with an immediate reference to the particular ftate and circumftances of our own country.

The natural advantages enjoyed by an ISLAND are fuperior to thofe which belong to any country, which forms a part of a continent. The foil of the former is commonly more rich, fertile, and various, than that of the latter. The fea affords the inhabitants fecurity againft the invafion of enemies, and furnishes them with inexhaustible fupplies of provifion. The fisheries on their coafts difpofe iflanders to navigation, and hence they are led to eftablish an extenfive intercourfe with the most diftant places. From their general propenfity to

* See Encyclop. Britann. vol. ii. p. 195. Pricftley's Lectures on Hiftory, p. 386.

5

maritime

maritime affairs, they acquire a fpirit of enterprise, and diftinguish themfelves by their courage in the maintenance of their own cuftoms and forms of government; and frequently gain a permanent afcendency over neighbouring and even remote ftates.

To thefe general advantages, which were poffeffed in ancient times by Crete, and at a lefs diftant period by Rhodes, Great Britain adds fome, which are peculiar to herfelf. Her line of fea-coaft is very extenfive in proportion to the fize of the whole ifland, and abounds with deep bays and capacious harbours. Her ports are convenient, and good for anchorage. Thofe on the western fide of the inland are nearly as well fituated for the fouthern trade, as the French; and they are far fuperior in number, fafety, and depth of water. With respect to the northern and the Baltic trades, the fituation of France before the laft and prefent war, when it had not the command of the Coafts of Holland, admitted of no comparison. Rivers and canals afford the convenience of water-carriage to the inland counties of England, and not only connect them with each other by the internal circulation of trade, but afford an cafy and cheap conveyance to the ocean °.

Thefe

"The fea coaft of Britain from the figure in fome measure of the island, but chiefly from the inlets of the fea, and the very irregular indented line which forms its fhore, comprehends, allowing for thefe finuofities, at leaft 800 marine leagues. In

Thefe various advantages have for fucceffive ages been carefully improved, as the great works of public utility, completed in our fea-port towns, fufficiently atteft. Harbours have been deepened, piers and moles have been erected to break the force of the waves, and form a fafe asylum for ships. Wet and dry docks have been conftructed for the building and reparation of fhips, and commodious quays to unload their freights. In every place where neceffity requires fuch aid, light-houses have been raised upon the lofty cliffs, to guide the mariner in the darkeft nights along the dangerous coafts. All these expenfive and laborious works have been completed to promote navigation in every direction, as Liverpool, Briftol, Whitby, Yarmouth, Ramfgate, and Falmouth, fully prove ; fo that British veffels can fail from fome port or other by every wind that blows; and the fhips of foreign nations are invited, by fuch conveniences, to bring their numerous articles of commerce to every part of our fhores. As London takes the precedence in all works wherein grandeur is united to utility, fo it is confpicuous for thefe improvements. The ground now occupied by the West India Docks was a few years ago a mere inarth. Here is now formed an immenfe harbour, and fuch lofty and fpacious edifices are erected around it, that when the whole plan is completed, it will vie

this refpect it is (was) fuperior to France, and equal to Spain and Portugal, though Britain is not half the size of that noble Peninfula which forms the laft." Campbell's Political Survey, vol. i. p. 274.

VOL. II.

Ꮓ

with