...convinced to relinquish their empires, Smith ended the Wealth of Nations with the disdainful charge that the "rulers of Great Britain have, for more than a...a great empire on the west side of the Atlantic"; he called for British leaders to awake from their "golden dream" of empire and restrict themselves...

...in fighting expensive colonial wars. He ends the book with a damning indictment of British policy: The rulers of Great Britain have, for more than a...empire; not a gold mine, but the project of a gold mine; a project which has cost, which continues to cost, and which, if pursued in the same way as it has...

...government. " They were also examples of the frivolity of British governments, who over more than a century, "amused the people with the imagination that they...great empire on the west side of the Atlantic." This was not security but childishness. The people in the capital are not in danger of violence, but "enjoy,...

...project that was little more than a fantasy. "The rulers of Great Britain have, for more than a century, amused the people with the imagination that they possessed...a great empire on the west side of the Atlantic," but this empire "has hitherto existed in imagination only." Colonies that "contribute neither revenue...

...colonies. Smith published his work in part as an intervention in the debate on the future of Britain's "great empire on the west side of the Atlantic. This empire, however, has existed in imagination only." In the closing pages of the Wealth of Nations, Smith demanded that "this...

...some future war, may cost Great Britain as great an expense as it ever has done in any former war. c industry, in any particular art or manufacture,...a useless or a hurtful regulation. If the produce a project which has cost, which continues to cost, and which, if pursued in the same way as it has...

...in some future war may cost Great Britain as great an expence as it ever has done in any former war. The rulers of Great Britain have, for more than a...past, amused the people with the imagination that they possess a great empire on the west side of the Atlantic. This empire, however, has hitherto existed...