XC ACCOUNT OF THE LIFI AND

“ individuals, a bond of union and friendfliip, hastl become the moft fertile fource of difcord ande£ animofity. The capricious ambition of Kings£C and Minifters has not, during the prefent and££ the preceding century, been more fatal to the“ repofe of Europe , than the impertinent jealoufy“ of merchants and manufacturers. The violence“ and injuftice of the rulers of mankind is an an-<£ cient evil, for which perhaps the nature of hu-“ man affairs can fcarce admit of a remedy. But“ the mean rapacity, the monopolizing fpirit of“ merchants and manufacturers, who neither are“ nor ought to be the rulers of mankind, though“ it cannot perhaps be corre&ed, may very eafily“ be prevented from difturbing the tranquillity“ of any body but themfelves.”

Such are the liberal principles which, accordingto Mr. Smith , ought to direCl the commercialpolicy of nations; and of which it ought to be thegreat objeCt of legiflators to facilitate the eftablifli-ment. In what manner the execution of the the-ory fhould be conduced in particular inftances, isa queftion of a very different nature, and to whichthe anfwer muft vary, in different countries, ac-cording to the different circumftances of the cafe.In a fpeculative work, fuch as Mr. Smith’s, theconfideration of this queflion did not fall properlyunder his general plan; but that he was abundant-ly aware of the danger to be apprehended from a