's Industry is sufficient to his own Occasions. That the mutual Assistance denominated Commerce is, therefore, necessary to the Well-being of all People. That the reciprocal Advantage of this Commerce consists in supplying mutual Wants with mutual Redundancies. That this Commerce, however, cannot be carried on without a Medium for the Conveyance of such Supplies. That such a Medium, by Land, even where it is practicable, is tedious, toilsome, expensive, extremely discouraging, and cannot be pushed to any considerable Extent or Effect. That God, however, hath opened for the Purpose, an easy, speedy and universal Medium of Seas, Lakes, and Rivers, Part of which he hath left unnavigable, that Man might finish, by Art, what Nature had prepared, and contribute in some Degree to his own Advantages. That accordingly
China
and
Holland
(and
France
of late) have pursued the Path so divinely appointed, and that Power, Wealth and Prosperity have flowed in upon them, in Proportion as they have opened the Medium of Water-carriage for their Reception. And, that Causes which have produced their concomitant Effects, without Variation, from the earliest Ages to the present Period, must be presumed to produce the like Effects, through all Countries and Ages to the End of Time.
I protest, Mr.
Meekly,
exclaimed the Earl, you have pushed this Matter into mathematical Demonstration. What a happy, what a glorious Prospect now opens to my View! How easily, how speedily, how profitably might this Method be put in Execution, throughout the Earth! There is no Deficiency of Rivers, or collateral Streams for the Purpose. The Sinking into the Earth would give Vent to new Springs, and extract Plenty of Water in all Places for an inland Navigation; and Half the Number of Hands, that perish through War and Want, might be peacefully and plentifully employed in accomplishing this Weal of Mankind. Famine and Depredation would then cease. Nation would no longer rise up against Nation, nor Man against Man. The Earth, by Culture, would soon become capable of sustaining tenfold the Number of its present Inhabitants. We should no more be tempted to push Each Other from Existence. We should find ourselves mutually interested in preserving and multiplying the Lives of All from whose Labours we were to derive such Advantages. All would be Plenty, All Peace and Benevolence throughout the Globe. The Number of Inhabitants, instead of being a Burden, would then become the Riches of every Climate. All Hands would be set to Work, when thus assured of a Purchaser for every Effect of Labour.
