A philosophical and political History of the Settlements, &c. 633 our artists to employ them too generally, and scatter them with too bountiful a hand over the walls of our apartments.

It ought to be remembered that Herculaneum was destroyed at a time when the decay of taste, in the fine arts, was lamented by the best Roman writers; that in every place, and in every age, there are a hundred ugly things called ornaments for one good defign or compofition that ornament, from its nature as ornament, requires to be used very fparingly; that much space fhould always be left for the repole of the eye; that all objects of fight fhould bear a due proportion to the magnitude of the space in or upon which they are to be feen, and to the distance at which they are to be viewed; and, laftly, that no compofition can be good which has not a fuitable effect; that is, that does not pleafe, move, or properly exercife the mind of an intelligent fpectator.

It is with pleafure we obferve the rapid progrefs which the fine arts have lately made in this country; and we believe nothing has contributed more to it than the study of the antique but at the fame time we beg leave earnestly to recommend to our artifts a clofe attention to the principles of beauty, as they are founded in Nature, and inveftigated by many ingenious authors, who have written particularly on this tubject; that they may know how to choofe and apply the materials they poffefs to the beft advantage; and then we fhall not fo frequently be disgusted with cielings and walls of faloons, and drawing-rooms painted all over with ftrings of flowers and grotefque fcrawls, better calculated for the embellifhment of toys and fan-mounts; nor fee huge draperies and heavy wreaths borrowed from the ftonemafon, overwhelming our veffels of filver, often as destitute of beauty in the form, as of proportion in the ornaments.

Nor fhould we, did our painters understand the true principles of their art, and efpecially the divine beauty of fimplicity, fee in our exhibitions fo many laboured and well-pencilled works, which have no fault but the want of effect upon the spectator.

Hiftoire philofophique et politique, des Etabliffemens et du Commerce des Europiens dans les deux Indes.-A philofophical and political History of the Settlements and Commerce of the Europeans in the East and Weft Indies. 8vo. 6 Vols. Amfterdam.

OMMERCE, which connects the moft diftant countries,

and is productive of the most important and interesting confequences, cannot fail of affording a fruitful fource of reflection to the philofopher and the politician. But, in general, it has been treated by men who understood only its mechanifm or practice, and who were unable thoroughly to invefti

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gate the alterations which it will naturally occafion in the condition and arrangements of nations.

This, however, we obferve with pleasure, is not the cafe with the Author of the prefent performance. The advantages and the calamity which have accrued to the ftates of Europe, from their fettlements and trade to the East and West Indies, he has explained with fingular ability. He appears to have perufed, with much attention, every work from which he could gather information; and his penetration and ingenuity have enabled him to make the best use of the ample materials which he had collected. It is difficult to determine whether his Readers will be more enlightened by his facts, or by his reflections. Nothing can exceed his accuracy in the former, or the depth and juftness of his views in the latter. Of his narration, it is fufficient to fay, that it is generally fpirited, and that it fometimes exhibits ftrokes of a manly and pathetic eloquence.

As the great extent of this work does not permit us to attempt an analysis of it, we shall present only a single specimen to our Readers; and with this view we fhall give an extract from our Author's deduction of the rife and progress of commerce in England.

It is not known, fays he, at what period the Britannic islands were peopled; and the origin of their first inhabitants is involved in obfcurity. All that we learn from those historical monuments which are the most worthy of credit, is, that they were fucceffively frequented by the Phenicians, the Carthaginians, and the Gauls. The traders of these nations went there to exchange earthen vafes, falt, and inftruments made of iron and brass, for hides, flaves, dogs, and tin. But in these early times the Britains were in the itate of favages, who are equally ignorant of the value of what they receive, and of what they part with.

If we give way to vague fpeculation we may fuppofe that iflanders arrive the fooneft at refinement. The inhabitants of a continent can at the fame time Ay from danger, and find the neceffaries of life. But in islands, the calamities of war, and of a confined intercourse, we fhould imagine, would almost inftantly produce a neceffity for conventions and laws. It happens, notwithstanding, that manners and government are there formed flowly, and exift imperfectly. Hiftory and tradition attest this fact; and it is particularly applicable to Great Britain.

The dominion of the Romans in this island was too much difputed, and lafted not long enough, to advance the industry of the inhabitants. Even the fmall progrefs which, during this period, they had made in civilization and the arts, was annihilated as foon as these fierce conquerors abandoned them.

Befides,

Befides, the fervile fpirit which the inhabitants of the southern provinces had contracted, reftrained them from repelling the incurfions of the Picts, who had faved themselves from the Roman yoke by retreating to the northern extremities of the island, and made them give way to the obftinate valour of those bands, that came to overwhelm them from the most northern quarters of Europe.

No country escaped the ravages of the barbarians; ravages the most destructive of which history has preserved the remembrance; but in Britain, the calamities that were suffered are inexpreffible. Every year its fields were laid waste, the houses of its inhabitants were burned, their wives and daughters were ravished, the churches were, fpoiled of their ornaments and riches; its people were maffacred, tortured, or reduced to the condition of flaves. When the country was defolated, and offered nothing to excite the avidity of thefe enemies, they ftill contended for its poffeffion. Nation fucceeded to nation; the invading hord or tribe chafed before them or exterminated that which had already established itself. A crowd of revolutions perpetuated idleness, miftruft, and mifery. There is reafon to think, that during these unfortunate times, the Britains carried on no trade with the continent. Barter, or the exchange of commodities became even fo rare among them, that witnesses were neceffary to give validity to the meanest purchase.

Such was the fituation of affairs when William the Conqueror fubdued Great Britain, a little after the middle of the eleventh century. Thofe who followed his fortunes had been. bred in countries more polifhed, more active and industrious. than that in which they were to fettle. The natural confequence of this communication ought to have been the extending the ideas of the vanquished. But, as this did not happen, it must be ascribed to the introduction of the feudal government, which, at this period, was the fource both of the ftability and diforder of the kingdoms of Europe. Under these imperfect inftitutions England continued to languish; and its civil wars were a new calamity that repreffed and retarded its refinement.

The whole of its commerce was managed by Jews, and bankers from Lombardy, whom they encouraged and plundered, whom they regarded as useful and neceffary, yet punished; whom they alternately fent into exile, and recalled from it.. Thefe diforders were augmented by the audacity of pirates, who indifferently attacked all veffels, and were fometimes under the protection of government, which fhared in their spoils. The intereft of money was at fifty per cent. It exported for a fmall fum, hides, fur, butter, lead, and tin; and thirty thousand bags of wool brought it a profit more confiderable. But, as the

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English understood not at this time the art of dying and preparing wool, the greatest part of this money repaffed the fea. To remedy this inconvenience, they invited to them foreign manufacturers, and prohibited the wearing of ftuffs fabricated at home. It was also enacted, that no manufactured wool, and no wrought iron fhould be exported. Thefe laws were worthy of the age, which produced them.

Henry VII. permitted the Barons to alienate their lands, and the Commons to purchase them. This law diminished the inequality, which had fubfifted between the great and their vaffals. It made them lefs dependent on each other; it fpread among the people the defire of getting riches, and gave them the hope of enjoying them.

This defire and this hope had powerful obftacles to struggle with --Destructive combinations were formed, and trade was fe ered by them. The profits of intereft and exchange were interpreted to be ufury, and were prohibited. It was commanded, that money fhould not be exported under any fhape whatever; and that foreign merchants might not carry it off in a clandeftine manner, they were obliged to invest in English merchandize, the produce of their fales in England, Nor was it permitted to export horfes; they did not perceive, that this prohibition would render them lefs common and difcourage the breed. in fine, they created corporations in all the towns; that is, they authorized all those who followed the fame profeffion, to make what regulations they conceived might operate to their advantage. The nation groaned under an abuse sa contrary to induftry, and which introduced a kind of monopoly in every branch of trade.

From the abfurd laws which prevailed, one would be apt to conclude, that Henry was indifferent to the profperity of his kingdom, or that he was totally deftitute of capacity. It is notwithstanding very certain, that this Prince, though his avarice was extreme, often furnished confiderable fums, and without intereft to merchants, whofe funds were not equal to the enterprizes they meditated. The wildom alfo of his administration is fo generally admitted, that he juftly pafles for one of the greatest monarchs, that ever fwayed the fceptre in England. But in fpite of all the efforts of his genius, it was neceflary that feveral centuries fhould pafs, before this science, could be reduced to certain and fimple principles. It is with theories as with machines, which at firft are always compli cated, and arrive not at fimplicity, but with time, and after much experience and obfervation.

Succeeding reigns were not better informed with regard to the fubject that we treat. The Flemings, who had come to refide in England, were its ableft artifans; and on this account,"

they

they were infulted and oppreffed by the English artificers, who were jealous of them, but without emulation. The latter complained that all the bufinels of the kingdom went to the former, and that they had raised the price of provifions. The government imbibed these abfurd prejudices, and a law was made, prohibiting foreigners to have above two workmen in their houses. Nor were the foreign merchants better treated than the artifans: thofe of them who had been naturalized were obliged to pay the duties which had been impofed on aliens. The ignorance that prevailed was fo great, that they abandoned the cultivation of their best lands, in order to keep them in pafturage, though the law fixed at two thoufand, the number of fheep of which a flock was to confift. The exportation trade was confined to the Low Countries: the inhabitants of thefe provinces bought up the English commodities, and circulated them through the different quarters of Europe. It is probable, that, without the aid of favourable circumstances, the nation would have continued long in an inferior and low condition.

The cruelties of the Duke of Alva engaged a number of artificers to leave Flanders to refide in London, and they imported with them the arts of their manufactures. The perfe cutions which the reformed underwent in France were also favourable in this refpect to England. Elizabeth, who could not bear contradictions, but who had at heart the good of her country, and knew how to act for it; and who was defpotic, yet popular; who was enlightened, and obeyed; Elizabeth, I fay, made a proper ufe of that fermentation of mind, which was no lefs general in her dominions, than in the other states of Europe: while in other nations, it produced the disputes of theology and civil or foreign wars, the excited by it in England an emulation for commerce, and the advancement of navigation.

The English learnt to build their own veffels, and no longer thought of purchafing them from Lubec or Hamburgh. They drew to themselves the whole trade of Muscovy in confequence of the discovery of Archangel; and they delayed not to form connexions with the Hanfé- Towns. They alfo commenced a trade with Turkey, Several of their navigators attempted, but without fuccefs, the difcovery of the north-weft paffage to the Indies. At length Drake, Stephens, Cavendish and fome others. arrived there; fome by the fouth fea; and fome by doubling the Cape of Good Hope.

The confequences of thefe voyages determined the more intelligent merchants to form a company; and they obtained an exclufive privilege of trading to the Eaft Indies. The patent granted to them confined their affociation within fifteen years. It declared, that if this privilege proved hurtful to the State,