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！
ending it had been twice as high。
If we proceed doubling and doubling； we shall find in this progression the cause of the impotency of the wealth of Spain。
It is about two hundred years since they have worked their Indian mines。 I suppose the quantity of specie at present in the trading world is to that before the discovery of the Indies as 32 is to 1； that is； it has been doubled five times： in two hundred years more the same quantity will be to that before the discovery as 64 is to 1； that is； it will be doubled once more。 Now； at present； fifty quintals of ore yield four； five； and six ounces of gold；＇148＇ and when it yields only two； the miner receives no more from it than his expenses。 In two hundred years； when the miner will extract only four； this too will only defray his charges。 There will then be but little profit to be drawn from the gold mines。 The same reasoning will hold good of silver； except that the working of the silver mines is a little more advantageous than those of gold。
But； if mines should be discovered so fruitful as to give a much greater profit； the more fruitful they may be； the sooner the profit will cease。
The Portuguese in Brazil have found mines of gold so rich＇149＇ that they must necessarily very soon make a considerable diminution in the profits of those of Spain； as well as in their
I have frequently heard people deplore the blindness of the court of France； who repulsed Christopher Columbus； when he made the proposal of discovering the Indies。 Indeed they did； though perhaps without design； an act of the greatest wisdom。 Spain has behaved like the foolish king who desired that everything he touched might be converted into gold； and who was obliged to beg of the gods to put an end to his misery。
The companies and banks established in many nations have put a finishing stroke to the lowering of gold and silver as a sign of representation of riches； for by new fictions they have multiplied in such a manner the signs of wealth； that gold and silver having this office only in part have become less precious。
Thus public credit serves instead of mines； and diminishes the profit which the Spaniards drew from theirs。
True it is that the Dutch trade to the East Indies has increased； in some measure； the value of the Spanish merchandise： for as they carry bullion； and give it in exchange for the merchandise of the East； they ease the Spaniards of part of a commodity which in Europe abounds too much。
And this trade； in which Spain seems to be only indirectly concerned； is as advantageous to that nation as to those who are directly employed in carrying it on。
From what has been said we may form a judgment of the last order of the council of Spain； which prohibits the making use of gold and silver in gildings； and other superfluities； a decree as ridiculous as it would be for the states of Holland to prohibit the consumption of spices。
My reasoning does not hold good against all mines； those of Germany and Hungary； which produce little more than the expense of working them； are extremely useful。 They are found in the principal state； they employ many thousand men； who there consume their superfluous commodities； and they are properly a manufacture of the country。
The mines of Germany and Hungary promote the culture of land； the working of those of Mexico and Peru destroys it。
The Indies and Spain are two powers under the same master； but the Indies are the principal； while Spain is only an accessory； it is in vain for politics to attempt to bring back the principal to the accessory； the Indies will always draw Spain to themselves。
Of the merchandise； to the value of about fifty millions of livres； annually sent to the Indies； Spain furnishes only two millions and a half： the Indies trade for fifty millions； the Spaniards for two and a half。
That must be a bad kind of riches which depends on accident； and not on the industry of a nation； on the number of its inhabitants； and on the cultivation of its lands。 The king of Spain； who receives great sums from his custom…house at Cadiz； is in this respect only a rich individual in a state extremely poor。 Everything passes between strangers and himself； while his subjects have scarcely any share in it； this commerce is independent both of the good and bad fortune of his kingdom。
Were some provinces of Castile able to give him a sum equal to that of the custom…house of Cadiz； his power would be much greater； his riches would be the effect of the wealth of the country； these provinces would animate all the others； and they would be altogether more capable of supporting their respective charges； instead of a great treasury he would have a great people。
23。 A Problem； it is not for me to decide the question whether； if Spain be not herself able to carry on the trade of the Indies； it would not be better to leave it open to strangers。 I will only say that it is for their advantage to load this commerce with as few obstacles as politics will permit。 When the merchandise which several nations send to the Indies is very dear； the inhabitants of that country give a great deal of their commodities； which are gold and silver； for very little of those of foreigners； the contrary to this happens when they are at a low price； it would perhaps be of use that these nations should undersell each other； to the end that the merchandise carried to the Indies might be always cheap。 These are principles which deserve to be examined； without separating them； however； from other considerations： the safety of the Indies； the advantages of only one custom…house； the danger of making great alterations； and the foreseen inconveniences； which are often less dangerous than those which cannot be foreseen。
______
1。 Pliny； vi。 23。
2。 See Pliny； vi。 19； and Strabo； xv。
3。 Book vi。 4； 5。
4。 Book xi。
5。 Diodorus； ii。
6。 Ibid。； 7； 8； 9。
7。 Pliny； vi。 16； and Strabo； xi。
8。 Strabo； xi。
9。 Ibid。
10。 The authority of Patroclus is of great weight； as appears from a passage in Strabo； ii。
11。 Pliny； vi。 17。 See also Strabo； xi； upon the passage by which the merchandise was conveyed from the Phasis to the Cyrus。
12。 There must have been very great changes in that country since the time of Ptolemy； who gives us an account of so many rivers that empty themselves into the east side of the Caspian Sea。 In the Czar's chart we find only the river of Astrabat： in that of M。 Bathaisi there is none at all。
13。 See Jenkinson's account of this； in the Collection of Voyages to the North； iv。
14。 I am disposed to think that hence Lake Aral was formed。
15。 Claudius C？sar； in Pliny； vi。 11。
16。 He was slain by Ptolemy Ceraunus。
17。 See Strabo； xi。
18。 They founded Tartessus； and made a settlement at Cadiz。
19。 I Kings； 9。 26； II Chron。； 8。 17。
20。 Against Appian。
21。 Chapter 1 of this book。
22。 The proportion between gold and silver； as settled in Europe； may sometimes render it profitable to take gold instead of silver into the East Indies； but the advantage is very trifling。
23。 See Pliny； vi。 22； and Strabo； xv。
24。 They are mostly shallow； but Sicily has excellent ports。
25。 I say the province of Holland； for the ports of Zealand are deep enough。
26。 That is； to compare magnitudes of the same kind； the action or pressure of the fluid upon the ship will be to the resistance of the same ship as； &c。
27。 The King of Persia。
28。 On the Athenian Republic； 2。
29。 See Strabo； viii。
30。 Iliad； ii。 668。
31。 Ibid。； 570。
32。 Strabo； ix； p。 414。
33。 Strabo； xv。
34。 Herodotus； Melpomene； iv。 44。
35。 Strabo； xv。
36。 Ibid。； xv。
37。 Pliny； vi。 33； Strabo； xv。
38。 They sailed not upon the rivers； lest they should defile the elements Hyde； Religion of the Persians。 Even to this day they have no maritime commerce。 Those who take to the sea are treated by them as Atheists。
39。 Strabo； xv。
40。 Herodotus； Melpomene； iv。 44； says that Darius conquered the Indies； this must be understood only to mean Ariana； and even this was only an ideal conquest。
41。 Strabo； xv。
42。 This cannot be understood of all the Ichthyophagi； who inhabited a coast of ten thousand furlongs in extent。 How was it possible for Alexander to have maintained them？ How could he command their submission？ This can be only understood of some particular tribes。 Nearchus； in his book Rerum Indicarum； says that at the extremity of this coast； on the side of Persia； he had found some people who were less Ichthyophagi than the others。 I should think that Alexander's prohibition related to these people； or to some other tribe still more bordering on Persia。
43。 Alexandria was founded on a flat shore； called Rhacotis； where； in ancient times； the kings had kept a garrison to prevent all strangers； and more particularly the Greeks； from entering the country。 Pliny； vi。 10； Strabo； xviii。
44。 Arrian； De Expedit。 Alex。 vii。
45。 Ibid。
46。 Strabo； vi； towards the end。
47。 Seeing Babylon overflowed； he looked upon the neighbouring country of Arabia as an island。 Aristobulus； in Strabo； xvi。
48。 See Rerum Indicarum。
49。 Strabo； xvi。
50。 Strabo； xvi。
51。 These gave them an aversion to stranger