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science。 Though in representing the labour which is employed upon
land as the only productive labour； the notions which it
inculcates are perhaps too narrow and confined； yet in
representing the wealth of nations as consisting； not in the
unconsumable riches of money； but in the consumable goods
annually reproduced by the labour of the society； and in
representing perfect liberty as the only effectual expedient for
rendering this annual reproduction the greatest possible； its
doctrine seems to be in every respect as just as it is generous
and liberal。 Its followers are very numerous； and as men are fond
of paradoxes； and of appearing to understand what surpasses the
comprehension of ordinary people； the paradox which it maintains；
concerning the unproductive nature of manufacturing labour； has
not perhaps contributed a little to increase the number of its
admirers。 They have for some years past made a pretty
considerable sect； distinguished in the French republic of
letters by the name of The Economists。 Their works have certainly
been of some service to their country； not only by bringing into
general discussion many subjects which had never been well
examined before； but by influencing in some measure the public
administration in favour of agriculture。 It has been in
consequence of their representations； accordingly； that the
agriculture of France has been delivered from several of the
oppressions which it before laboured under。 The term during which
such a lease can be granted； as will be valid against every
future purchaser or proprietor of the land； has been prolonged
from nine to twenty…seven years。 The ancient provincial
restraints upon the transportation of corn from one province of
the kingdom to another have been entirely taken away； and the
liberty of exporting it to all foreign countries has been
established as the common law of the kingdom in all ordinary
cases。 This sect； in their works； which are very numerous； and
which treat not only of what is properly called Political
Economy； or of the nature and causes of the wealth of nations；
but of every other branch of the system of civil government； all
follow implicitly and without any sensible variation； the
doctrine of Mr。 Quesnai。 There is upon this account little
variety in the greater part of their works。 The most distinct and
best connected account of this doctrine is to be found in a
little book written by Mr。 Mercier de la Riviere； some time
intendant of Martinico； entitled； The Natural and Essential Order
of Political Societies。 The admiration of this whole sect for
their master； who was himself a man of the greatest modesty and
simplicity； is not inferior to that of any of the ancient
philosophers for the founders of their respective systems。 〃There
have been； since the world began；〃 says a very diligent and
respectable author； the Marquis de Mirabeau； 〃three great
inventions which have principally given stability to political
societies； independent of many other inventions which have
enriched and adorned them。 The first is the invention of writing；
which alone gives human nature the power of transmitting； without
alteration； its laws； its contracts； its annals； and its
discoveries。 The second is the invention of money； which binds
together all the relations between civilised societies。 The third
is the Economical Table； the result of the other two； which
completes them both by perfecting their object； the great
discovery of our age； but of which our posterity will reap the
benefit。〃
As the political economy of the nations of modern Europe has
been more favourable to manufactures and foreign trade； the
industry of the towns； than to agriculture； the industry of the
country； so that of other nations has followed a different plan；
and has been more favourable to agriculture than to manufactures
and foreign trade。
The policy of China favours agriculture more than all other
employments。 In China the condition of a labourer is said to be
as much superior to that of an artificer as in most parts of
Europe that of an artificer is to that of a labourer。 In China；
the great ambition of every man is to get possession of some
little bit of land； either in property or in lease； and leases
are there said to be granted upon very moderate terms； and to be
sufficiently secured to the lessees。 The Chinese have little
respect for foreign trade。 Your beggarly commerce！ was the
language in which the Mandarins of Pekin used to talk to Mr。 de
Lange； the Russian envoy； concerning it。 Except with Japan； the
Chinese carry on； themselves； and in their own bottoms； little or
no foreign trade； and it is only into one or two ports of their
kingdom that they even admit the ships of foreign nations。
Foreign trade therefore is； in China； every way confined within a
much narrower circle than that to which it would naturally extend
itself； if more freedom was allowed to it； either in their own
ships； or in those of foreign nations。
Manufactures； as in a small bulk they frequently contain a
great value； and can upon that account be transported at less
expense from one country to another than most parts of rude
produce； are； in almost all countries； the principal support of
foreign trade。 In countries； besides； less extensive and less
favourably circumstanced for inferior commerce than China； they
generally require the support of foreign trade。 Without an
extensive foreign market they could not well flourish； either in
countries so moderately extensive as to afford but a narrow home
market or in countries where the communication between one
province and another was so difficult as to render it impossible
for the goods of any particular place to enjoy the whole of that
home market which the country could afford。 The perfection of
manufacturing industry； it must be remembered； depends altogether
upon the division of labour； and the degree to which the division
of labour can be introduced into any manufacture is necessarily
regulated； it has already been shown； by the extent of the
market。 But the great extent of the empire of China； the vast
multitude of its inhabitants； the variety of climate； and
consequently of productions in its different provinces； and the
easy communication by means of water carriage between the greater
part of them； render the home market of that country of so great
extent as to be alone sufficient to support very great
manufactures； and to admit of very considerable subdivisions of
labour。 The home market of China is； perhaps； in extent； not much
inferior to the market of all the different countries of Europe
put together。 A more extensive foreign trade； however； which to
this great home market added the foreign market of all the rest
of the world… especially if any considerable part of this trade
was carried on in Chinese ships… could scarce fail to increase
very much the manufactures of China； and to improve very much the
productive powers of its manufacturing industry。 By a more
extensive navigation； the Chinese would naturally lear