Money and Trade Considered [36]
without examining. This Proposal has not been refus'd. The essential part is now practis'd in France, for Paper is current by Law: And tho after a manner that in all appearance ought to have hindred its currency, yet I'm inform'd forreign Bills are bought with Paper money, the same as with Silver or Gold. The Example of Nations in relation to Money would be a very uncertain Rule. For as has been said page 35, opposite measures have been us'd in some Countries to what have been used in others, and contrary measures have been used in the same Countries to what was used immediately before, not because of any difference in their Circumstances, but from the Opinion, that since the Method used had not the effect design'd, a contrary would; And there are good Reasons to think that the Nature of Money is not yet rightly understood. Any other Objections that I have yet heard against this Proposal, are such as may be fully answered, and so far as I can see into it, with all the Application I have been capable of, I cannot find any Objection but what may be fully answer'd; nor any difficulty in the Execution, but what may be removed: If there is any Fallacy in the Position I lay down, or any wrong Consequences drawn from these Positions, I have not been able to discover them.
Chapter 8
The low Condition this Country is reduced to, notwithstanding its natural Advantages.
The natural Advantages the Dutch have for Trade, are, their Situation at the Mouths of the Rivers of Germany, and being near the bulky Trade. Their natural Disadvantages are, smalness of Territory, barrenness of Soil, producing little but what's forc't; want of Mines; long Winters; unwholsome Air; Marishy, so oblig'd to great Expense for Fundation to their Buildings, in making and keeping up the High-ways, and in draining the Country yearly; a dangerous Coast; difficult Entry to their Rivers; the Sea to defend against on one side, and powerful Neighbours on the other; and heavy Taxes, the Consequence of these other Disadvantages. Yet they have so improv'd their few Advantages, that they are become a rich and powerful People. What has contribut to their Riches and Power, was the early Protection and Favour the Government gave to Trade; the Liberty was given to People of different Religions; the freedom of Trade allowed to Strangers; the Example of their Rulers to OEconomy; but chiefly the neglect of Trade in other countries, particularly in Spain, who forc't the People and Trade of Flanders to Holland. Scotland has by Nature many Advantages for Trade; a large Territory; of easie defence; plenty of People; a wholsome Air; Mines; a proper Situation for the Eastern and Western Trades; near the bulky Trade; a safe Coast; Rivers of easie Entry; the Seas and Rivers stockt with Fish. But Numbers of People, the greatest Riches of other Nations, are a burden to us; the Land is not improv'd, the Product is not manufactur'd; the Fishing, and other Advantages for forreign Trade are neglected: and the Reason generally given is, that Laziness and want of Honesty are natural to us. If want of Honesty and Laziness were Natural, they would be so to Mankind; or if peculiar to a People, this would be so to the Dutch rather than to us: The Air of Holland is grosser which inclines to Laziness; and the Country not producing wherewith to maintain the Inhabitants, would force them to Rob or Cheat their Neighbours, or one another. But it is more Reasonable to think Laziness and want of Honesty are Vices, the consequences of Poverty; and Poverty the consequence of a faulty Administration. If the same measures had been taken in Scotland for encouraging Trade, as was taken in Holland, we had been a more Powerful and Richer Nation than Holland. If Spain, France and Brittain, or any one of them had apply'd to Trade, als early, and upon the same measures Holland did; Holland would not have been Inhabit. But by their early Application, and the wrong measures of other Countries, they have got such
Chapter 8
The low Condition this Country is reduced to, notwithstanding its natural Advantages.
The natural Advantages the Dutch have for Trade, are, their Situation at the Mouths of the Rivers of Germany, and being near the bulky Trade. Their natural Disadvantages are, smalness of Territory, barrenness of Soil, producing little but what's forc't; want of Mines; long Winters; unwholsome Air; Marishy, so oblig'd to great Expense for Fundation to their Buildings, in making and keeping up the High-ways, and in draining the Country yearly; a dangerous Coast; difficult Entry to their Rivers; the Sea to defend against on one side, and powerful Neighbours on the other; and heavy Taxes, the Consequence of these other Disadvantages. Yet they have so improv'd their few Advantages, that they are become a rich and powerful People. What has contribut to their Riches and Power, was the early Protection and Favour the Government gave to Trade; the Liberty was given to People of different Religions; the freedom of Trade allowed to Strangers; the Example of their Rulers to OEconomy; but chiefly the neglect of Trade in other countries, particularly in Spain, who forc't the People and Trade of Flanders to Holland. Scotland has by Nature many Advantages for Trade; a large Territory; of easie defence; plenty of People; a wholsome Air; Mines; a proper Situation for the Eastern and Western Trades; near the bulky Trade; a safe Coast; Rivers of easie Entry; the Seas and Rivers stockt with Fish. But Numbers of People, the greatest Riches of other Nations, are a burden to us; the Land is not improv'd, the Product is not manufactur'd; the Fishing, and other Advantages for forreign Trade are neglected: and the Reason generally given is, that Laziness and want of Honesty are natural to us. If want of Honesty and Laziness were Natural, they would be so to Mankind; or if peculiar to a People, this would be so to the Dutch rather than to us: The Air of Holland is grosser which inclines to Laziness; and the Country not producing wherewith to maintain the Inhabitants, would force them to Rob or Cheat their Neighbours, or one another. But it is more Reasonable to think Laziness and want of Honesty are Vices, the consequences of Poverty; and Poverty the consequence of a faulty Administration. If the same measures had been taken in Scotland for encouraging Trade, as was taken in Holland, we had been a more Powerful and Richer Nation than Holland. If Spain, France and Brittain, or any one of them had apply'd to Trade, als early, and upon the same measures Holland did; Holland would not have been Inhabit. But by their early Application, and the wrong measures of other Countries, they have got such