CHAP. XXI.
143
France, but then Germany, distinguished as Al-sace. France probably increased at a pace equalto England till the latter end of the century, whenthe boasted glory of Louis XIV . terminated inthe sufferings and depression of his dominions.Spain and Portugal did not probably improve sofast as those countries to which the treasures ofAmerica passed through them. The eastern andnorthern kingdoms preserved in general a slug-gish pace, though they also advanced in sub-stantial wealth, and probably reached a height asgreat, in proportion to the station from whencethey started, as the more civilized and more culti-vated people to the westward and southward ofthem.
From the intercourse which existed throughthe greater portion of the period between the se-veral states of Europe , the precious metals couldeasily pass from one to the other. The mistakenpolicy of the several governments induced them tomake laws prohibiting their conveyance from theirdominions ; but such laws, though they might em-barrass the transfer, could not prevent it, in com-modities so compendious in proportion to theirvalue as gold and silver.
They, like all other commodities, would go wheretheir value was highest; and thus there would be atendency in them constantly to produce an equi-librium between their own quantities and the quan-