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generally allowed； are superior to the English。 The law； so far
as it gives some weak protection to the slave against the
violence of his master； is likely to be better executed in a
colony where the government is in a great measure arbitrary than
in one where it is altogether free。 In every country where the
unfortunate law of slavery is established； the magistrate； when
he protects the slave； intermeddles in some measure in the
management of the private property of the master； and； in a free
country； where the master is perhaps either a member of the
colony assembly； or an elector of such a member； he dare not do
this but with the greatest caution and circumspection。 The
respect which he is obliged to pay to the master renders it more
difficult for him to protect the slave。 But in a country where
the government is in a great measure arbitrary； where it is usual
for the magistrate to intermeddle even in the management of the
private property of individuals； and to send them； perhaps； a
lettre de cachet if they do not manage it according to his
liking； it is much easier for him to give some protection to the
slave； and common humanity naturally disposes him to do so。 The
protection of the magistrate renders the slave less contemptible
in the eyes of his master； who is thereby induced to consider him
with more regard； and to treat him with more gentleness。 Gentle
usage renders the slave not only more faithful； but more
intelligent； and therefore； upon a double account； more useful。
He approaches more to the condition of a free servant； and may
possess some degree of integrity and attachment to his master's
interest； virtues which frequently belong to free servants； but
which never can belong to a slave who is treated as slaves
commonly are in countries where the master is perfectly free and
secure。
That the condition of a slave is better under an arbitrary
than under a free government is； I believe； supported by the
history of all ages and nations。 In the Roman history； the first
time we read of the magistrate interposing to protect the slave
from the violence of his master is under the emperors。 When
Vedius Pollio； in the presence of Augustus； ordered one of his
slaves； who had committed a slight fault； to be cut into pieces
and thrown into his fish pond in order to feed his fishes； the
emperor commanded him； with indignation； to emancipate
immediately； not only that slave； but all the others that
belonged to him。 Under the republic no magistrate could have had
authority enough to protect the slave； much less to punish the
master。
The stock； it is to be observed； which has improved the
sugar colonies of France； particularly the great colony of St。
Domingo； has been raised almost entirely from the gradual
improvement and cultivation of those colonies。 It has been almost
altogether the produce of the soil and of the industry of the
colonies； or； what comes to the same thing； the price of that
produce gradually accumulated by good management； and employed in
raising a still greater produce。 But the stock which has improved
and cultivated the sugar colonies of England has； a great part of
it； been sent out from England； and has by no means been
altogether the produce of the soil and industry of the colonists。
The prosperity of the English sugar colonies has been； in a great
measure； owing to the great riches of England； of which a part
has overflowed； if one may say so； upon those colonies。 But the
prosperity of the sugar colonies of France has been entirely
owing to the good conduct of the colonists； which must therefore
have had some superiority over that of the English； and this
superiority has been remarked in nothing so much as in the good
management of their slaves。
Such have been the general outlines of the policy of the
different European nations with regard to their colonies。
The policy of Europe； therefore； has very little to boast
of； either in the original establishment or； so far as concerns
their internal government； in the subsequent prosperity of the
colonies of America。
Folly and injustice seem to have been the principles which
presided over and directed the first project of establishing
those colonies； the folly of hunting after gold and silver mines；
and the injustice of coveting the possession of a country whose
harmless natives； far from having ever injured the people of
Europe； had received the first adventurers with every mark of
kindness and hospitality。
The adventurers； indeed； who formed some of the later
establishments； joined to the chimerical project of finding gold
and silver mines other motives more reasonable and more laudable；
but even these motives do very little honour to the policy of
Europe。
The English Puritans； restrained at home； fled for freedom
to America； and established there the four governments of New
England。 The English Catholics； treated with much greater
injustice； established that of Maryland； the Quakers； that of
Pennsylvania。 The Portuguese Jews； persecuted by the Inquisition；
stripped of their fortunes； and banished to Brazil； introduced by
their example some sort of order and industry among the
transported felons and strumpets by whom that colony was
originally peopled； and taught them the culture of the
sugar…cane。 Upon all these different occasions it was not the
wisdom and policy； but the disorder and injustice of the European
governments which peopled and cultivated America。
In effectuating some of the most important of these
establishments； the different governments of Europe had as little
merit as in projecting them。 The conquest of Mexico was the
project； not of the council of Spain； but of a governor of Cuba；
and it was effectuated by the spirit of the bold adventurer to
whom it was entrusted； in spite of everything which that
governor； who soon repented of having trusted such a person；
could do to thwart it。 The conquerors of Chili and Peru； and of
almost all the other Spanish settlements upon the continent of
America； carried out with them no other public encouragement； but
a general permission to make settlements and conquests in the
name of the king of Spain。 Those adventures were all at the
private risk and expense of the adventurers。 The government of
Spain contributed scarce anything to any of them。 That of England
contributed as little towards effectuating the establishment of
some of its most important colonies in North America。
When those establishments were effectuated； and had become
so considerable as to attract the attention of the mother
country； the first regulations which she made with regard to them
had always in view to secure to herself the monopoly of their
commerce； to confine their market； and to enlarge her own at
their expense； and； consequently； rather to damp and discourage
than to quicken and forward the course of their prosperity。 In
the different ways in which this monopoly has been exercised
consists one of the most essential differences in the policy of
the different European nations with regard to their colonies。 The
best of them all； that of England； is only somewhat less
illiberal and oppressive than that of any of the rest。
In what way； therefore； has the policy of Europe contributed
either to the first establishment； or to the present grandeur of
the colonies of America？ In one way； and in one way only； it has
contributed a good deal。 Magna virum Mater！ It bred and formed
the men who were capable of achieving such great actions； and of
laying the foundation of so great an empire； and there is no
other quarter of the world of which the policy is capable of
forming； or has ever actually and in fact formed such men。 The
colonies owe to the policy of Europe the education and great
views of their active and enterprising founders； and some of the
greatest and most important of them； so far as concerns their
internal government； owe to it scarce anything else。
PART 3
Of the Advantages which Europe has derived
from the Discovery of America；
and from that of a Passage to the East Indies
by the Cape of Good Hope
SUCH are the advantages which the colonies of America have
derived from the policy of Europe。
What are those which Europe has derived from the discovery
and colonization of America？
Those advantages may be divided； first； into the general
advantages which Europe； considered as one great country； has
derived from those great events； and； secondly； into the
particular advantages which each colonizing country has derived
from the colonies which particularly belong to it； in consequence
of the authority or dominion which it exercises over them。
The general advantages which Europe； considered as one great
country； has derived from the discovery and colonisation of
America； consist； first； in the increase of its enjoyments； and；
secondly； in the augmentation of its industry。
The sur