the laft war, may, from irrefiftible neceffity, render the British fyftem of taxation as oppreffive as that of HOLLAND, or even as that of SPAIN.-To the honour of our present system of taxation, indeed, it has hitherto given fo little embarraffment to industry, that, during the course even of the most expensive wars, the frugality and good conduct of individuals seem to have been able, by saving and accumulation, to repair all the breaches which the wafte and extravagance of GOVERNMENT had made in the general capital of the fociety.-At the conclufion of the late war, the most expensive that GREAT BRITAIN ever waged, her agriculture was as flourishing, her manufacturers as numerous and as fully employed, and her commerce as extenfive, as they had ever been before. The capital, therefore, which fupported all those different branches of industry, must have been equal to what it had ever been before. Since the

peace, agriculture has been still further improved, the rents of houses have risen in every town and village of the country, a proof of the increafing wealth

It has proved, more expensive than any of our former wars; and has involved us in an additional debt of more than one hundred millions! During a profound peace of eleven years, little more than ten millions of debt was paid; during a war of seven years, more than one hundred millions was contracted.

VOL. II.

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and

and revenue of the people; and the annual amount of the greater part of the old taxes, of the principal branches of the excife and customs in particular, has been continually increasing; an equally clear proof of an increasing confumption, and confequently of an increasing produce, which could alone fupport that confumption.-GREAT BRITAIN feems to support with ease, a burden which, half a century ago, nobody believed her capable of fupporting.LET US NOT, HOWEVER, UPON THIS ACCOUNT RASHLY CONCLUDE THAT SHE IS CAPABLE OF SUPPORTING ANY BURDEN; NOR EVEN BE TOO CONFIDENT THAT SHE COULD SUPPORT, WITHOUT GREAT DISTRESS, A BURDEN A LITTLE GREATER THAN WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN LAID UPON HER *.

Adam Smith.

SECT.

SECT. VI.

ON WAR.

IN ancient times, men went to war without much ceremony or pretence: it was thought reafon good enough to justify the deed, if one man liked what another man had; and war and robbery were the honourable profeffions; nothing was dishonourable but the arts of peace and induftry; this is HERODOTUS's account of the manner of living of the barbarians of Thrace: and this, with very fmall alterations, might serve to characterise all other barbarians, either of ancient or modern times.

and

But at prefent, we, who choose to call ourselves civilized nations, generally affect a more ceremonious parade, many pretences,-Complaints are first made of fome injury received, fome right violated, fome encroachment, detention, or ufurpation, and none will acknowledge themfelves the aggreffors; nay, a folemn appeal is made to HEAVEN

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HEAVEN for the truth of each affertion, and the FINAL AVENGER OF THE OPPRESSED, and SEARCHER OF ALL HEARTS, is called upon to maintain the righteous caufe, and to punish the wrong-doer.—Thus it is with both parties; and while neither of them will own the true motives, perhaps it is apparent to all the world, that, on one fide, if not on both, A THIRST OF GLORY, A LUST OF DOMINION, THE CABALS OF STATESMEN, OR THE RAVENOUS APPETITES OF INDIVIDUALS FOR POWER

OR PLUNDER, FOR WEALTH WITHOUT INDUSTRY, AND GREATNESS WITHOUT TRUE MERIT, were the only real and genuine fprings of action.

Now the aims of princes in these wars are partly the fame with, and partly different from, thofe of their subjects; as far as RENOWN is concerned, their views are alike, for heroifm is the wifh and envy of all mankind; and to be a nation of heroes, under the conduct of an heroic leader, is regarded both by prince and people, as the fummit of all earthly happiness.

It is really aftonishing to think with what applause and eclat the feats of fuch inhuman monsters are tranfmitted down, in all the pomp of profe and verse, to diftant genera tions: nay, let a prince but feed his subjects with the empty dict of military fame, it matters not what he does befides, in

regard

regard to themselves as well as others; for the lives and liberties, and every thing that can render fociety a bleffing, are willingly offered up as a facrifice to this idol, GLORY.Were the fact to be examined into, you would find, perhaps without a fingle exception, that the greatest conquerors abroad have proved the heaviest tyrants at home. -However, as victory, like charity, covereth a multitude of fins, thus it comes to pafs that reasonable beings will be content to be flaves themselves, provided they may enflave others; and while the people can look up to the glorious hero on the throne, they will be dazzled with the splendour that furrounds him, and forget the deeds of the oppreffor.

Now, from this view of things, one would be tempted to imagine, that a practice fo univerfally prevailing was founded in the course and conftitution of nature. - One would be tempted to fuppofe, that mankind were created on purpose to be engaged in deftructive wars, and to worry and devour one another. —And yet, when we examine into this affair, neither REASON nor EXPERIENCE will give the least countenance to this supposition.

The REASON of the thing we will confider now, and referve THE FACT till by and by.-Thus, for example, the inhabitants of one county, or one city, have not fo