第 3 节
作者:不受约束      更新:2022-04-14 11:07      字数:9322
  natural bent of the mind being more complied with; individuals;
  as well as the public; find their account in the observance of
  those maxims。
  The same method of reasoning will let us see the advantage of
  foreign commerce; in augmenting the power of the state; as well
  as the riches and happiness of the subject。 It encreases the
  stock of labour in the nation; and the sovereign may convert what
  share of it he finds necessary to the service of the public。
  Foreign trade; by its imports; furnishes materials for new
  manufactures; and by its exports; it produces labour in
  particular commodities; which could not be consumed at home。 In
  short; a kingdom; that has a large import and export; must abound
  more with industry; and that employed upon delicacies and
  luxuries; than a kingdom which rests contented with its native
  commodities。 It is; therefore; more powerful; as well as richer
  and happier。 The individuals reap the benefit of these
  commodities; so far as they gratify the senses and appetites。 And
  the public is also a gainer; while a greater stock of labour is;
  by this means; stored up against any public exigency; that is; a
  greater number of laborious men are maintained; who may be
  diverted to the public service; without robbing any one of the
  necessaries; or even the chief conveniencies of life。
  If we consult history; we shall find; that; in most nations;
  foreign trade has preceded any refinement in home manufactures;
  and given birth to domestic luxury。 The temptation is stronger to
  make use of foreign commodities; which are ready for use; and
  which are entirely new to us; than to make improvements on any
  domestic commodity; which always advance by slow degrees; and
  never affect us by their novelty。 The profit is also very great;
  in exporting what is superfluous at home; and what bears no
  price; to foreign nations; whose soil or climate is not
  favourable to that commodity。 Thus men become acquainted with the
  pleasures of luxury and the profits of commerce; and their
  delicacy and industry; being once awakened; carry them on to
  farther improvements; in every branch of domestic as well as
  foreign trade。 And this perhaps is the chief advantage which
  arises from a commerce with strangers。 It rouses men from their
  indolence; and presenting the gayer and more opulent part of the
  nation with objects of luxury; which they never before dreamed
  of; raises in them a desire of a more splendid way of life than
  what their ancestors enjoyed。 And at the same time; the few
  merchants; who possess the secret of this importation and
  exportation; make great profits; and becoming rivals in wealth to
  the ancient nobility; tempt other adventurers to become their
  rivals in commerce。 Imitation soon diffuses all those arts; while
  domestic manufactures emulate the foreign in their improvements;
  and work up every home commodity to the utmost perfection of
  which it is susceptible。 Their own steel and iron; in such
  laborious hands; become equal to the gold and rubies of the
  INDIES。
  When the affairs of the society are once brought to this
  situation; a nation may lose most of its foreign trade; and yet
  continue a great and powerful people。 If strangers will not take
  any particular commodity of ours; we must cease to labour in it。
  The same hands will turn themselves towards some refinement in
  other commodities; which may be wanted at home。 And there must
  always be materials for them to work upon; till every person in
  the state; who possesses riches; enjoys as great plenty of home
  commodities; and those in as great perfection; as he desires;
  which can never possibly happen。 CHINA is represented as one of
  the most flourishing empires in the world; though it has very
  little commerce beyond its own territories。
  It will not; I hope; be considered as a superfluous
  digression; if I here observe; that; as the multitude of
  mechanical arts is advantageous; so is the great number of
  persons to whose share the productions of these arts fall。 A too
  great disproportion among the citizens weakens any state。 Every
  person; if possible; ought to enjoy the fruits of his labour; in
  a full possession of all the necessaries; and many of the
  conveniencies of life。 No one can doubt; but such an equality is
  most suitable to human nature; and diminishes much less from the
  happiness of the rich than it adds to that of the poor。 It also
  augments the power of the state; and makes any extraordinary
  taxes or impositions be paid with more chearfulness。 Where the
  riches are engrossed by a few; these must contribute very largely
  to the supplying of the public necessities。 But when the riches
  are dispersed among multitudes; the burthen feels light on every
  shoulder; and the taxes make not a very sensible difference on
  any one's way of living。
  Add to this; that; where the riches are in few hands; these
  must enjoy all the power; and will readily conspire to lay the
  whole burthen on the poor; and oppress them still farther; to the
  discouragement of all industry。
  In this circumstance consists the great advantage of ENGLAND
  above any nation at present in the world; or that appears in the
  records of any story。 It is true; the ENGLISH feel some
  disadvantages in foreign trade by the high price of labour; which
  is in part the effect of the riches of their artisans; as well as
  of the plenty of money: But as foreign trade is not the most
  material circumstance; it is not to be put in competition with
  the happiness of so many millions。 And if there were no more to
  endear to them that free government under which they live; this
  alone were sufficient。 The poverty of the common people is a
  natural; if not an infallible effect of absolute monarchy; though
  I doubt; whether it be always true; on the other hand; that their
  riches are an infallible result of liberty。 Liberty must be
  attended with particular accidents; and a certain turn of
  thinking; in order to produce that effect。 Lord BACON; accounting
  for the great advantages obtained by the ENGLISH in their wars
  with FRANCE; ascribes them chiefly to the superior ease and
  plenty of the common people amongst the former; yet the
  government of the two kingdoms was; at that time; pretty much
  alike。 Where the labourers and artisans are accustomed to work
  for low wages; and to retain but a small part of the fruits of
  their labour; it is difficult for them; even in a free
  government; to better their condition; or conspire among
  themselves to heighten their wages。 But even where they are
  accustomed to a more plentiful way of life; it is easy for the
  rich; in an arbitrary government; to conspire against them; and
  throw the whole burthen of the taxes on their shoulders。
  It may seem an odd position; that the poverty of the common
  people in FRANCE。 ITALY; and SPAIN; is; in some measure; owing to
  the superior riches of the soil and happiness of the climate; yet
  there want not reasons to justify this paradox。 In such a fine
  mould or soil as that of those more southern regions; agriculture
  is an easy art; and one man; with a couple of sorry horses; will
  be able; in a season; to cultivate as much land as will pay a
  pretty considerable rent to the proprietor。 All the art。 which
  the farmer knows; is to leave his ground fallow for a year; as
  soon as it is exhausted; and the warmth of the sun alone and
  temperature of the climate enrich it; and restore its fertility。
  Such poor peasants; therefore; require only a simple maintenance
  for their labour。 They have no stock or riches; which claim more;
  and at the same time; they are for ever dependant on their
  landlord; who gives no leases; nor fears that his land will be
  spoiled by the ill methods of cultivation。 In ENGLAND; the land
  is rich; but coarse; must be cultivated at a great expence; and
  produces slender crops; when not carefully managed; and by a
  method which gives not the full profit but in a course of several
  years。 A farmer; therefore; in ENGLAND must have a considerable
  stock; and a long lease; which beget proportional profits。 The
  fine vineyards of CHAMPAGNE and BURGUNDY that often yield to the
  landlord above five pounds per acre; are cultivated by peasants;
  who have scarcely bread: The reason is; that such peasants need
  no stock but their own limbs; with instruments of husbandry;
  which they can buy for twenty shillings。 The farmers are commonly
  in some better circumstances in those countries。 But the grasiers
  are most at their ease of all those who cultivate the land。 The
  reason is still the same。 Men must have profits proportionable to
  their expence and hazard。 Where so considerable a number of the
  labouring poor as the peasants and farmers are in very low
  circumstances; all the rest must partake of their poverty;
  whether the government of that nation be monarchical or
  republican。
  We may form a similar remark with regard to the general
  history of mankind。 What is the reason; why no people; living
  between the tropics; could ever yet attain to any art or
  civility; or reach even any police in their government; and any
  military discipline; while few nations in the temperate climates
  have been altogether deprived of these advantages? It is probable
  that one cause of