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sell as much as possible to other nations and to buy from them as
little as possible。
As respects the former objection； it cannot be truly alleged of
either Colbert's administration or of that of the English since
George I。 that they have attached an unreasonable degree of
importance to the importation of the precious metals。
To raise their own native manufactures； their own navigation；
their foreign trade； was the aim of their commercial policy； which
indeed was chargeable with many mistakes； but which on the whole
produced important results。 We have observed that since the Methuen
Treaty （1703） the English have annually exported great quantities
of the precious metals to the East Indies； without considering
these exports as prejudicial。
The Ministers of George I when they prohibited （in 1721） the
importation of the cotton and silk fabrics of India did not assign
as a reason for that measure that a nation ought to sell as much as
possible to the foreigner； and buy as little as possible from him；
that absurd idea was grafted on to the industrial system by a
subsequent school； what they asserted was； that it is evident that
a nation can only attain to wealth and power by the export of its
own manufactured goods； and by the import from abroad of raw
materials and the necessaries of life。 England has followed this
maxim of State policy to the present day； and by following it has
become rich and mighty； this maxim is the only true one for a
nation which has been long civilised； and which has already brought
its own agriculture to a high degree of development。
NOTES：
1。 Stewart says （book 1。 chapter xxix。）： 'In order to promote
industry； a nation must act as well as permit； and protect。 Could
ever the woollen manufacture have been introduced into France from
the consideration of the great advantage which England had drawn
from it。 if the king had not undertaken the support of it by
granting many privileges to the undertakers； and by laying strict
prohibitions on all foreign cloths？ Is there any other way of
establishing a new manufacture anywhere？'
Chapter 30
The Physiocratic or Agricultural System
Had the great enterprise of Colbert been permitted to succeed
had not the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes； the love of
splendour and false ambition of Louis XIV； and the debauchery and
extravagance of his successors； nipped in the bud the seeds which
Colbert had sown if consequently a wealthy manufacturing and
commercial interest had arisen in France； if by good fortune the
enormous properties of the French clergy had been given over to the
public； if these events had resulted in the formation of a powerful
lower house of Parliament； by whose influence the feudal
aristocracy had been reformed the physiocratic system would
hardly have ever come to light。 That system was evidently deduced
from the then existing circumstances of France； and was only
applicable to those circumstances。
At the period of its introduction the greater part of the
landed property in France was in the hands of the clergy and the
nobility It was cultivated by a peasantry languishing under a state
of serfdom and personal oppression； who were sunk in superstition；
ignorance； indolence； and poverty The owners of the land； who
constituted its productive instruments； were devoted to frivolous
pursuits； and had neither mind for； nor interest in； agriculture。
The actual cultivators had neither the mental nor material means
for agricultural improvements。 The oppression of feudalism on
agricultural production was increased by the insatiable demands
made by the monarchy on the producers； which were made more
intolerable by the freedom from taxation enjoyed by the clergy and
nobility。 Under such circumstances it was impossible that the most
important branches of trade could succeed； those namely which
depend on the productiveness of native agriculture； and the
consumption of the great masses of the people； those only could
manage to thrive which produced articles of luxury for the use of
the privileged classes。 The foreign trade was restricted by the
inability of the material producers to consume any considerable
quantity of the produce of tropical countries； and to pay for them
by their own surplus produce； the inland trade was oppressed by
provincial customs duties。
Under such circumstances； nothing could be more natural than
that thoughtful men； in their investigations into the causes of the
prevailing poverty and misery； should have arrived at the
conviction； that national welfare could not be attained so long as
agriculture was not freed from its fetters； so long as the owners
of land and capital took no interest in agriculture； so long as the
peasantry remained sunk in personal subjection； in superstition；
idleness； and ignorance； so long as taxation remained undiminished
and was not equally borne by all classes； so long as internal
tariff restrictions existed； and foreign trade did not flourish。
But these thoughtful men （we must remember） were either
physicians to the King and his Court； Court favourites； or
confidants and friends of the aristocracy and the clergy they could
not and would not declare open war against either absolute power or
against clergy and nobility： There remained to them but one method
of disseminating their views； that of concealing their plan of
reform under the obscurity of a profound system； just as； in
earlier as well as later times； ideas of political and religious
reform have been embedded in the substance of philosophical
systems。 Following the philosophers of their own age and country；
who； in view of the total disorganisation of the national condition
of France； sought consolation in the wider field of philanthropy
and cosmopolitanism （much as the father of a family； in despair at
the break…up of his household； goes to seek comfort in the tavern）；
so the physiocrats caught at the cosmopolitan idea of universal
free trade； as a panacea by which all prevailing evils might be
cured。 When they had got hold of this point of truth by exalting
their thoughts above； they then directed them beneath； and
discovered in the 'nett revenue' of the soil a basis for their
preconceived ideas。 Thence resulted the fundamental maxim of their
system； 'the soil alone yields nett revenue' therefore agriculture
is the sole source of wealth。 That is a doctrine from which
wonderful consequences might be inferred first feudalism must
fall； and if requisite； landowning i