按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Fourthly； in the disposal of their surplus produce； or of
what is over and above their own consumption； the English
colonies have been more favoured； and have been allowed a more
extensive market； than those of any other European nation。 Every
European nation has endeavoured more or less to monopolise to
itself the commerce of its colonies； and； upon that account； has
prohibited the ships of foreign nations from trading to them； and
has prohibited them from importing European goods from any
foreign nation。 But the manner in which this monopoly has been
exercised in different nations has been very different。
Some nations have given up the whole commerce of their
colonies to an exclusive company； of whom the colonists were
obliged to buy all such European goods as they wanted； and to
whom they were obliged to sell the whole of their own surplus
produce。 It was the interest of the company； therefore； not only
to sell the former as dear； and to buy the latter as cheap as
possible； but to buy no more of the latter； even at this low
price than what they could dispose of for a very high price in
Europe。 It was their interest； not only to degrade in all cases
the value of the surplus produce of the colony； but in many cases
to discourage and keep down the natural increase of its quantity。
Of all the expedients that can well be contrived to stunt the
natural growth of a new colony； that of an exclusive company is
undoubtedly the most effectual。 This； however； has been the
policy of Holland； though their company； in the course of the
present century； has given up in many respects the exertion of
their exclusive privilege。 This； too； was the policy of Denmark
till the reign of the late king。 It has occasionally been the
policy of France； and of late； since 1755； after it had been
abandoned by all other nations on account of its absurdity； it
has become the policy of Portugal with regard at least to two of
the principal provinces of Brazil； Fernambuco and Marannon。
Other nations； without establishing an exclusive company；
have confined the whole commerce of their colonies to a
particular port of the mother country； from whence no ship was
allowed to sail； but either in a fleet and at a particular
season； or； if single； in consequence of a particular licence；
which in most cases was very well paid for。 This policy opened；
indeed； the trade of the colonies to all the natives of the
mother country； provided they traded from the proper port； at the
proper season； and in the proper vessels。 But as all the
different merchants； who joined their stocks in order to fit out
those licensed vessels； would find it for their interest to act
in concert； the trade which was carried on in this manner would
necessarily be conducted very nearly upon the same principles as
that of an exclusive company。 The profit of those merchants would
be almost equally exorbitant and oppressive。 The colonies would
be ill supplied； and would be obliged both to buy very dear； and
to sell very cheap。 This； however； till within these few years；
had always been the policy of Spain； and the price of all
European goods； accordingly； is said to have been enormous in the
Spanish West Indies。 At Quito； we are told by Ulloa； a pound of
iron sold for about four and sixpence； and a pound of steel for
about six and ninepence sterling。 But it is chiefly in order to
purchase European goods that the colonies part with their own
produce。 The more； therefore； they pay for the one； the less they
really get for the other； and the dearness of the one is the same
thing with the cheapness of the other。 The policy of Portugal is
in this respect the same as the ancient policy of Spain with
regard to all its colonies； except Fernambuco and Marannon； and
with regard to these it has lately adopted a still worse。
Other nations leave the trade of their colonies free to all
their subjects who may carry it on from all the different ports
of the mother country； and who have occasion for no other licence
than the common despatches of the custom…house。 In this case the
number and dispersed situation of the different traders renders
it impossible for them to enter into any general combination； and
their competition is sufficient to hinder them from making very
exorbitant profits。 Under so liberal a policy the colonies are
enabled both to sell their own produce and to buy the goods of
Europe at a reasonable price。 But since the dissolution of the
Plymouth Company； when our colonies were but in their infancy；
this has always been the policy of England。 It has generally；
too； been that of France； and has been uniformly so since the
dissolution of what； in England； is commonly called their
Mississippi Company。 The profits of the trade； therefore； which
France and England carry on with their colonies； though no doubt
somewhat higher than if the competition was free to all other
nations； are； however； by no means exorbitant； and the price of
European goods accordingly is not extravagantly high in the
greater part of the colonies of either of those nations。
In the exportation of their own surplus produce too； it is
only with regard to certain commodities that the colonies of
Great Britain are confined to the market of the mother country。
These commodities having been enumerated in the Act of Navigation
and in some other subsequent acts； have upon that account been
called enumerated commodities。 The rest are called
non…enumerated； and may be exported directly to other countries
provided it is in British or Plantation ships； of which the
owners and three…fourths of the mariners are British subjects。
Among the non…enumerated commodities are some of the most
important productions of America and the West Indies； grain of
all sorts； lumber； salt provisions； fish； sugar and rum。
Grain is naturally the first and principal object of the
culture of all new colonies。 By allowing them a very extensive
market for it； the law encourages them to extend this culture
much beyond the consumption of a thinly inhabited country； and
thus to provide beforehand an ample subsistence for a continually
increasing population。
In a country quite covered with wood； where timber
consequently is of little or no value； the expense of clearing
the ground is the principal obstacle to improvement。 By allowing
the colonies a very extensive market for their lumber； the law
endeavours to facilitate improvement by raising the price of a
commodity which would otherwise be of little value； and thereby
enabling them to make some profit of what would otherwise be a
mere expense。
In a country neither half…peopled nor half…cultivated；
cattle naturally multiply beyond the consumption of the
inhabitants； and are often upon that account of little or no
value。 But it is necessary； it has already been shown； that the
price of cattle should bear a certain proportion to that of corn
before the greater part of the lands of any country can be
improved。 By allowing to American cattle； in all shapes； dead or