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wealbk04-第57章

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injustice; established that of Maryland; the Quakers; that of

Pennsylvania。 The Portuguese Jews; persecuted by the Inquisition;

stripped of their fortunes; and banished to Brazil; introduced by

their example some sort of order and industry among the

transported felons and strumpets by whom that colony was

originally peopled; and taught them the culture of the

sugar…cane。 Upon all these different occasions it was not the

wisdom and policy; but the disorder and injustice of the European

governments which peopled and cultivated America。

     In effectuating some of the most important of these

establishments; the different governments of Europe had as little

merit as in projecting them。 The conquest of Mexico was the

project; not of the council of Spain; but of a governor of Cuba;

and it was effectuated by the spirit of the bold adventurer to

whom it was entrusted; in spite of everything which that

governor; who soon repented of having trusted such a person;

could do to thwart it。 The conquerors of Chili and Peru; and of

almost all the other Spanish settlements upon the continent of

America; carried out with them no other public encouragement; but

a general permission to make settlements and conquests in the

name of the king of Spain。 Those adventures were all at the

private risk and expense of the adventurers。 The government of

Spain contributed scarce anything to any of them。 That of England

contributed as little towards effectuating the establishment of

some of its most important colonies in North America。

     When those establishments were effectuated; and had become

so considerable as to attract the attention of the mother

country; the first regulations which she made with regard to them

had always in view to secure to herself the monopoly of their

commerce; to confine their market; and to enlarge her own at

their expense; and; consequently; rather to damp and discourage

than to quicken and forward the course of their prosperity。 In

the different ways in which this monopoly has been exercised

consists one of the most essential differences in the policy of

the different European nations with regard to their colonies。 The

best of them all; that of England; is only somewhat less

illiberal and oppressive than that of any of the rest。

     In what way; therefore; has the policy of Europe contributed

either to the first establishment; or to the present grandeur of

the colonies of America? In one way; and in one way only; it has

contributed a good deal。 Magna virum Mater! It bred and formed

the men who were capable of achieving such great actions; and of

laying the foundation of so great an empire; and there is no

other quarter of the world of which the policy is capable of

forming; or has ever actually and in fact formed such men。 The

colonies owe to the policy of Europe the education and great

views of their active and enterprising founders; and some of the

greatest and most important of them; so far as concerns their

internal government; owe to it scarce anything else。

                               PART 3

              Of the Advantages which Europe has derived

                    from the Discovery of America;

             and from that of a Passage to the East Indies

                       by the Cape of Good Hope 

     SUCH are the advantages which the colonies of America have

derived from the policy of Europe。

     What are those which Europe has derived from the discovery

and colonization of America?

     Those advantages may be divided; first; into the general

advantages which Europe; considered as one great country; has

derived from those great events; and; secondly; into the

particular advantages which each colonizing country has derived

from the colonies which particularly belong to it; in consequence

of the authority or dominion which it exercises over them。

     The general advantages which Europe; considered as one great

country; has derived from the discovery and colonisation of

America; consist; first; in the increase of its enjoyments; and;

secondly; in the augmentation of its industry。

     The surplus produce of America; imported into Europe;

furnishes the inhabitants of this great continent with a variety

of commodities which they could not otherwise have possessed;

some for conveniency and use; some for pleasure; and some for

ornament; and thereby contributes to increase their enjoyments。

     The discovery and colonization of America; it will readily

be allowed; have contributed to augment the industry; first; of

all the countries which trade to it directly; such as Spain;

Portugal; France; and England; and; secondly; of all those which;

without trading to it directly; send; through the medium of other

countries; goods to it of their own produce; such as Austrian

Flanders; and some provinces of Germany; which; through the

medium of the countries before mentioned; send to it a

considerable quantity of linen and other goods。 All such

countries have evidently gained a more extensive market for their

surplus produce; and must consequently have been encouraged to

increase its quantity。

     But that those great events should likewise have contributed

to encourage the industry of countries; such as Hungary and

Poland; which may never; perhaps; have sent a single commodity of

their own produce to America; is not; perhaps; altogether so

evident。 That those events have done so; however; cannot be

doubted。 Some part of the produce of America is consumed in

Hungary and Poland; and there is some demand there for the sugar;

chocolate; and tobacco of that new quarter of the world。 But

those commodities must be purchased with something which is

either the produce of the industry of Hungary and Poland; or with

something which had been purchased with some part of that

produce。 Those commodities of America are new values; new

equivalents; introduced into Hungary and Poland to be exchanged

there for the surplus produce of those countries。 By being

carried thither they create a new and more extensive market for

that surplus produce。 They raise its value; and thereby

contribute to encourage its increase。 Though no part of it may

ever be carried to America; it may be carried to other countries

which purchase it with a part of their share of the surplus

produce of America; and it may find a market by means of the

circulation of that trade which was originally put into motion by

the surplus produce of America。

     Those great events may even have contributed to increase the

enjoyments; and to augment the industry of countries which not

only never sent any commodities to America; but never received

any from it。 Even such countries may have received a greater

abundance of other commodities from countries of which the

surplus produce had been augmented by means of the American

trade。 This greater abundance; as it must necessarily have

increased their enjoyments; so it must likewise have augmented

their industry。 A greater number of new equivalents of some kind

or other must have been presented to them to be ex
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