duction of any new branch of industry should be left to the experience and discretion of the individuals concerned in it, and not attempted to be regulated or enforced by government. James I. attempted to compel his subjects to dye their woollen cloths in this country, instead of sending them to the Netherlands, as had been the usual practice; but the English-dyed woollen cloths proved both of worse quality and dearer than those of the Netherlands, and James was obliged to abandon his plan. Had the sovereign not interfered, dyers would have established themselves in this country as soon as the people had acquired sufficent skill to undertake the business; but the discouragement produced by an unsuccessful attempt probably retarded the natural period of adopting it,

If it were possible for a country both to cultivate and manufacture all kinds of produce with as little labour as it costs to purchase them from other countries, there would be no occasion for foreign commerce: but the remarkable manner in which Providence has varied the productions of nature in different climates, appears to indicate a design to promote an intercourse between nations, even to the most distant regions of the earth; an intercourse which would ever prove a source of reciprocal benefit and happiness, were it not often perverted by the bad passions and blind policy of man.

CAROLINE.

And independently of the diversity of soils, climates, and natural productions, I do not suppose that it would be possible for any single country to succeed in all branches of industry, any more than for a single individual to acquire any considerable skill in a great variety of pursuits?

MRS. B.

Certainly not. The same kind of division of labour which exists among the individuals of a community, is also in some degree observable among different countries; and when particular branches of industry are not formed by local circumstances, it will generally be found the best po licy to endeavour to excel a neighbouring nation in those manufactures in which we are nearly on a par, rather than to attempt competition in those in which by long habit and skill they have acquired a decided superiority. Thus will the common stock of productions be most improved, and all countries most benefited. Nothing can be more illiberal and short-sighted than a jealousy of the progress of neighbouring countries, either in agriculture or manufactures. Their demand for our commodities, so far from diminishing, will always be found to increase with the means of purchasing them. It is the idleness and poverty, not the wealth and in

dustry of neighbouring nations, that should excite alarm.

CAROLINE.

A tradesman would consider it more for his interest to set up his shop in the neighbourhood of opulent customers than of poor people who could not afford to purchase his goods; and why should not countries consider trade in the same point of view.

MRS. B.

Mirabeau, in his "Monarchie Prussienne," has carried this principle so far, that it has made him doubt whether the trade of France was injured by the revocation of the edict of Nantz, which drove so many skilful manufacturers and artificers out of the country.

"Il est en général un principe sûr en commerce: "plus vos acheteurs seront riches, plus vous leur "vendrez; ainsi les causes qui enrichissent un peu"ple augmentent toujours l'industrie de ceux qui "ont des affaires à négocier avec lui. Sans doute "c'est une démence frénétique de chasser 200,000 "individus de son pays pour enrichir celui des "autres; mais la nature qui veut conserver son 66 ouvrage ne cesse de réparer, par des compensa❝tions insensibles, les erreurs des hommes; et les "fautes les plus désastreuses ne sont pas sans "remèdes. La grande vérité que nous offre cet

66

"détruire l'industrie et le commerce de ses voisins, puisqu'on anéantit en même tems chez soi-même ❝ces trésors. Si de tels efforts pouvoient jamais "produire leur effet, ils dépeupleroient le monde, "et rendroient très-infortunée la nation qui auroit "eu le malheur d'engloutir toute l'industrie, tout "le commerce du globe, et de vendre toujours "sans jamais acheter. Heureusement la Provi"dence a tellement disposé les choses que les délires "des souverains ne sauroient arrêter entièrement "ses vues de bonheur notre espèce."

CAROLINE.

The more I learn upon this subject, the more I feel convinced that the interest of nations, as well as those of individuals, so far from being opposed to each other, are in the most perfect unison.

MRS. B.

Liberal and enlarged views will always lead to similar conclusions, and teach us to cherish sentiments of universal benevolence towards each other; hence the superiority of science over mere practical knowledge.

429

CONVERSATION XXI.

Subject of FOREIGN TRADE continued.

OF BILLS OF EXCHANGE.

OF THE BALANCE OF CAUSE OF THE REAL VARIATION OF

I HOPE that you are now quite satisfied of the advantages which result from foreign commerce?

CAROLINE.

Perfectly so; but there is one thing which per... plexes me. In a general point of view I conceive that trade consists in an exchange of commodities; but I do not understand how this exchange takes place between merchants. The wine-merchant,