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or of disturbing the peace of the country。 Having sold their
birthright; not like Esau for a mess of pottage in time of hunger
and necessity; but in the wantonness of plenty; for trinkets and
baubles; fitter to be the playthings of children than the serious
pursuits of men; they became as insignificant as any substantial
burgher or tradesman in a city。 A regular government was
established in the country as well as in the city; nobody having
sufficient power to disturb its operations in the one any more
than in the other。
It does not; perhaps; relate to the present subject; but I
cannot help remarking it; that very old families; such as have
possessed some considerable estate from father to son for many
successive generations are very rare in commercial countries。 In
countries which have little commerce; on the contrary; such as
Wales or the highlands of Scotland; they are very common。 The
Arabian histories seem to be all full of genealogies; and there
is a history written by a Tartar Khan; which has been translated
into several European languages; and which contains scarce
anything else; a proof that ancient families are very common
among those nations。 In countries where a rich man can spend his
revenue in no other way than by maintaining as many people as it
can maintain; he is not apt to run out; and his benevolence it
seems is seldom so violent as to attempt to maintain more than he
can afford。 But where he can spend the greatest revenue upon his
own person; he frequently has no bounds to his expense; because
he frequently has no bounds to his vanity or to his affection for
his own person。 In commercial countries; therefore; riches; in
spite of the most violent regulations of law to prevent their
dissipation; very seldom remain long in the same family。 Among
simple nations; on the contrary; they frequently do without any
regulations of law; for among nations of shepherds; such as the
Tartars and Arabs; the consumable nature of their property
necessarily renders all such regulations impossible。
A revolution of the greatest importance to the public
happiness was in this manner brought about by two different
orders of people who had not the least intention to serve the
public。 To gratify the most childish vanity was the sole motive
of the great proprietors。 The merchants and artificers; much less
ridiculous; acted merely from a view to their own interest; and
in pursuit of their own pedlar principle of turning a penny
wherever a penny was to be got。 Neither of them had either
knowledge or foresight of that great revolution which the folly
of the one; and the industry of the other; was gradually bringing
about。
It is thus that through the greater part of Europe the
commerce and manufactures of cities; instead of being the effect;
have been the cause and occasion of the improvement and
cultivation of the country。
This order; however; being contrary to the natural course of
things; is necessarily both slow and uncertain。 Compare the slow
progress of those European countries of which the wealth depends
very much upon their commerce and manufactures with the rapid
advances of our North American colonies; of which the wealth is
founded altogether in agriculture。 Through the greater part of
Europe the number of inhabitants is not supposed to double in
less than five hundred years。 In several of our North American
colonies; it is found to double in twenty or five…and…twenty
years。 In Europe; the law of primogeniture and perpetuities of
different kinds prevent the division of great estates; and
thereby hinder the multiplication of small proprietors。 A small
proprietor; however; who knows every part of his little
territory; who views it with all the affection which property;
especially small property; naturally inspires; and who upon that
account takes pleasure not only in cultivating but in adorning
it; is generally of all improvers the most industrious; the most
intelligent; and the most successful。 The same regulations;
besides; keep so much land out of the market that there are
always more capitals to buy than there is land to sell; so that
what is sold always sells at a monopoly price。 The rent never
pays the interest of the purchase…money; and is; besides;
burdened with repairs and other occasional charges to which the
interest of money is not liable。 To purchase land is everywhere
in Europe a most unprofitable employment of a small capital。 For
the sake of the superior security; indeed; a man of moderate
circumstances; when he retires from business; will sometimes
choose to lay out his little capital in land。 A man of profession
too; whose revenue is derived from。 another source; often loves
to secure his savings in the same way。 But a young man; who;
instead of applying to trade or to some profession; should employ
a capital of two or three thousand pounds in the purchase and
cultivation of a small piece of land; might indeed expect to live
very happily; and very independently; but must bid adieu forever
to all hope of either great fortune or great illustration; which
by a different employment of his stock he might have had the same
chance of acquiring with other people。 Such a person too; though
he cannot aspire at being a proprietor; will often disdain to be
a farmer。 The small quantity of land; therefore; which is brought
to market; and the high price of what is brought thither;
prevents a great number of capitals from being employed in its
cultivation and improvement which would otherwise have taken that
direction。 In North America; on the contrary; fifty or sixty
pounds is often found a sufficient stock to begin a plantation
with。 The purchase and improvement of uncultivated land is there
the most profitable employment of the smallest as well as of the
greatest capitals; and the most direct road to all the fortune
and illustration which can be acquired in that country。 Such
land; indeed; is in North America to be had almost for nothing;
or at a price much below the value of the natural produce… a
thing impossible in Europe; or; indeed; in any country where all
lands have long been private property。 If landed estates;
however; were divided equally among all the children upon the
death of any proprietor who left a numerous family; the estate
would generally be sold。 So much land would come to market that
it could no longer sell at a monopoly price。 The free rent of the
land would go nearer to pay the interest of the purchase…money;
and a small capital might be employed in purchasing land as
profitably as in any other way。
England; on account of the natural fertility of the soil; of
the great extent of the sea…coast in proportion to that of the
whole country; and of the many navigable rivers which run through
it and afford the conveniency of water carriage to some of the
most inland parts of it; is perhaps as well fitted by nature as
any large country in Europe to be the seat of foreign commerce;
of manufactures for distant sale; and of all the improvements
which these can occasion