hume.essay1ofcommerce

7/27/2019 Hume.essay1ofCommerce

1/7


2/7

I th"u*ht this intr"du$ti"n ne$essar' be#"re the #"ll"/in* dis$"urses "n $"er$e, "ne', interest,

balan$e "# trade, ;$a /here, +erha+s, there /ill "$$ur s"e +rin$i+les /hi$h are un$""n, and

/hi$h a' see t"" re#ined and subtile #"r su$h .ul*ar sub3e$ts I# #alse, let the be re3e$ted2 8ut

n" "ne "u*ht t" entertain a +re3udi$e a*ainst the, erel' be$ause the' are "ut "# the $""n

r"ad

III Ma' n"t the s".erei*n

la' $lai t" the, and e+l"' the in #leets and aries, t" en$rease the d"ini"ns "# the state

abr"ad, and s+read its #ae ".er distant nati"ns> It is $ertain that the #e/er desires and /ants are

#"und in the +r"+riet"rs and lab"urers "# land, the #e/er hands d" the' e+l"'0 and $"nseuentl'

the su+er#luities "# the land, instead "# aintainin* tradesen and anu#a$turers, a' su++"rt

#leets and aries t" a u$h *reater e4tent, than /here a *reat an' arts are reuired t" inister t"

the lu4ur' "# +arti$ular +ers"ns )ere there#"re sees t" be a -ind "# "++"siti"n bet/een the

*reatness "# the state and the ha++iness "# the sub3e$t A state is ne.er *reater than /hen all its

su+er#lu"us hands are e+l"'ed in the ser.i$e "# the +ubli$ The ease and $"n.enien$e "# +ri.ate

+ers"ns reuire, that these hands sh"uld be e+l"'ed in their ser.i$e The "ne $an ne.er besatis#ied, but at the e4+en$e "# the "ther As the abiti"n "# the s".erei*n ust entren$h "n? the

lu4ur' "# indi.iduals0 s" the lu4ur' "# indi.iduals ust diinish the #"r$e, and $he$- the abiti"n

"# the s".erei*n

III@

N"r is this reas"nin* erel' $hieri$al0 but is #"unded "n hist"r' and e4+erien$e The re+ubli$ "#

SPARTA /as $ertainl' "re +"/er#ul than an' state n"/ in the /"rld, $"nsistin* "# an eual

nuber "# +e"+le0 and this /as "/in* entirel' t" the /ant "# $"er$e and lu4ur' The )ELOTES


3/7

/ere the lab"urers2 The SPARTANS /ere the s"ldiers "r *entleen It is e.ident, that the lab"ur "#

the )ELOTES $"uld n"t ha.e aintained s" *reat a nuber "# SPARTANS, had these latter li.ed

in ease and deli$a$', and *i.en e+l"'ent t" a *reat .ariet' "# trades and anu#a$tures The li-e

+"li$' a' be rear-ed in ROME And indeed, thr"u*h"ut all an$ient hist"r', it is "bser.able, that

the sallest re+ubli$s raised and aintained *reater aries, than states $"nsistin* "# tri+le the

nuber "# inhabitants, are able t" su++"rt at +resent It is $"+uted, that, in all EROPEAN

nati"ns, the +r"+"rti"n bet/een s"ldiers and +e"+le d"es n"t e4$eed "ne t" a hundred 8ut /e read,that the $it' "# ROME al"ne, /ith its sall territ"r', raised and aintained, in earl' ties, ten

le*i"ns a*ainst the LATINS:< AT)ENS, the /h"le "# /h"se d"ini"ns /as n"t lar*er than

YORBS)IRE, sent t" the e4+editi"n a*ainst SICILY near #"rt' th"usand en:= DIONYSIS the

elder, it is said, aintained a standin* ar' "# a hundred th"usand #""t and ten th"usand h"rse,

besides a lar*e #leet "# #"ur hundred sail0:5 th"u*h his territ"ries e4tended n" #arther than the $it'

"# SYRACSE, ab"ut a third "# the island "# SICILY, and s"e sea&+"rt t"/ns and *arris"ns "n

the $"ast "# ITALY and ILLYRICM:@ It is true, the an$ient aries, in tie "# /ar, subsisted

u$h u+"n +lunder2 8ut did n"t the ene' +lunder in their turn> /hi$h /as a "re ruin"us /a'

"# le.'in* a ta4, than an' "ther that $"uld be de.ised In sh"rt, n" +r"bable reas"n $an be assi*ned

#"r the *reat +"/er "# the "re an$ient states ab".e the "dern, but their /ant "# $"er$e and

lu4ur' (e/ artians /ere aintained b' the lab"ur "# the #arers, and there#"re "re s"ldiers

i*ht li.e u+"n it LIY sa's, that ROME, in his tie, /"uld #ind it di##i$ult t" raise as lar*e anar' as that /hi$h, in her earl' da's, she sent "ut a*ainst the 9ALS and LATINS:7 Instead "#

th"se s"ldiers /h" #"u*ht #"r libert' and e+ire in CAMILLSS tie, there /ere, in

A9STSS da's, usi$ians, +ainters, $""-s, +la'ers, and tail"rs0 and i# the land /as euall'

$ulti.ated at b"th +eri"ds, it $"uld $ertainl' aintain eual nubers in the "ne +r"#essi"n as in the

"ther The' added n"thin* t" the ere ne$essaries "# li#e, in the latter +eri"d "re than in the

#"rer

III7

It is natural "n this "$$asi"n t" as-, /hether s".erei*ns a' n"t return t" the a4is "# an$ient

+"li$', and $"nsult their "/n interest in this res+e$t, "re than the ha++iness "# their sub3e$ts> I

ans/er, that it a++ears t" e, al"st i+"ssible0 and that be$ause an$ient +"li$' /as .i"lent, and

$"ntrar' t" the "re natural and usual $"urse "# thin*s It is /ell -n"/n /ith /hat +e$uliar la/sSPARTA /as *".erned, and /hat a +r"di*' that re+ubli$ is 3ustl' esteeed b' e.er' "ne, /h" has

$"nsidered huan nature as it has dis+la'ed itsel# in "ther nati"ns, and "ther a*es ere the

testi"n' "# hist"r' less +"siti.e and $ir$ustantial,? su$h a *".ernent /"uld a++ear a ere

+hil"s"+hi$al /hi "r #i$ti"n, and i+"ssible e.er t" be redu$ed t" +ra$ti$e And th"u*h the

ROMAN and "ther an$ient re+ubli$s /ere su++"rted "n +rin$i+les s"e/hat "re natural, 'et /as

there an e4tra"rdinar' $"n$urren$e "# $ir$ustan$es t" a-e the subit t" su$h *rie."us

burthens? The' /ere #ree states0 the' /ere sall "nes0 and the a*e bein* artial, all their

nei*hb"urs /ere $"ntinuall' in ars (reed" naturall' be*ets +ubli$ s+irit, es+e$iall' in sall

states0 and this +ubli$ s+irit, this a"r +atriF,? ust en$rease, /hen the +ubli$ is al"st in

$"ntinual alar, and en are "bli*ed, e.er' "ent, t" e4+"se thesel.es t" the *reatest dan*ers

#"r its de#en$e A $"ntinual su$$essi"n "# /ars a-es e.er' $itien a s"ldier2 )e ta-es the #ield in his

turn2 And durin* his ser.i$e he is $hie#l' aintained b' hisel# This ser.i$e is indeed eui.alent t"a hea.' ta40 'et is it less #elt b' a +e"+le addi$ted t" ars, /h" #i*ht #"r h"n"ur and re.en*e "re

than +a', and are una$uainted /ith *ain and industr' as /ell as +leasure:G N"t t" enti"n the

*reat eualit' "# #"rtunes a"n* the inhabitants "# the an$ient re+ubli$s, /here e.er' #ield,

bel"n*in* t" a di##erent +r"+riet"r, /as able t" aintain a #ail', and rendered the nubers "#

$itiens .er' $"nsiderable, e.en /ith"ut trade and anu#a$tures

IIIG


4/7

8ut th"u*h the /ant "# trade and anu#a$tures, a"n* a #ree and .er' artial +e"+le, a'

s"eties ha.e n" "ther e##e$t than t" render the +ubli$ "re +"/er#ul, it is $ertain, that, in the

$""n $"urse "# huan a##airs, it /ill ha.e a uite $"ntrar' tenden$' S".erei*ns ust ta-e

an-ind as the' #ind the, and $ann"t +retend t" intr"du$e an' .i"lent $han*e in their +rin$i+les

and /a's "# thin-in* A l"n* $"urse "# tie, /ith a .ariet' "# a$$idents and $ir$ustan$es, are

reuisite t" +r"du$e th"se *reat re."luti"ns, /hi$h s" u$h di.ersi#' the #a$e "# huan a##airs And

the less natural an' set "# +rin$i+les are, /hi$h su++"rt a +arti$ular s"$iet', the "re di##i$ult' /illa le*islat"r eet /ith in raisin* and $ulti.atin* the It is his best +"li$' t" $"+l' /ith the

$""n bent "# an-ind, and *i.e it all the i+r".eents "# /hi$h it is sus$e+tible N"/,

a$$"rdin* t" the "st natural $"urse "# thin*s, industr' and arts and trade en$rease the +"/er "#

the s".erei*n as /ell as the ha++iness "# the sub3e$ts0 and that +"li$' is .i"lent, /hi$h a**randies

the +ubli$ b' the +".ert' "# indi.iduals This /ill easil' a++ear #r" a #e/ $"nsiderati"ns, /hi$h

/ill +resent t" us the $"nseuen$es "# sl"th and barbarit'

IIIH

here anu#a$tures and e$hani$ arts are n"t $ulti.ated, the bul- "# the +e"+le ust a++l'

thesel.es t" a*ri$ulture0 and i# their s-ill and industr' en$rease, there ust arise a *reat

su+er#luit' #r" their lab"ur be'"nd /hat su##i$es t" aintain the The' ha.e n" te+tati"n,

there#"re, t" en$rease their s-ill and industr'0 sin$e the' $ann"t e4$han*e that su+er#luit' #"r an'$""dities, /hi$h a' ser.e either t" their +leasure "r .anit' A habit "# ind"len$e naturall'

+re.ails The *reater +art "# the land lies un$ulti.ated hat is $ulti.ated, 'ields n"t its ut"st #"r

/ant "# s-ill and assiduit' in the #arers I# at an' tie the +ubli$ e4i*en$ies reuire, that *reat

nubers sh"uld be e+l"'ed in the +ubli$ ser.i$e, the lab"ur "# the +e"+le #urnishes n"/ n"

su+er#luities, b' /hi$h these nubers $an be aintained The lab"urers $ann"t en$rease their s-ill

and industr' "n a sudden? Lands un$ulti.ated $ann"t be br"u*ht int" tilla*e #"r s"e 'ears The

aries, ean /hile, ust either a-e sudden and .i"lent $"nuests, "r disband #"r /ant "#

subsisten$e A re*ular atta$- "r de#en$e, there#"re, is n"t t" be e4+e$ted #r" su$h a +e"+le, and

their s"ldiers ust be as i*n"rant and uns-il#ul as their #arers and anu#a$turers

III1

E.er' thin* in the /"rld is +ur$hased b' lab"ur0 and "ur +assi"ns are the "nl' $auses "# lab"urhen a nati"n ab"unds in anu#a$tures and e$hani$ arts, the +r"+riet"rs "# land, as /ell as the

#arers, stud' a*ri$ulture as a s$ien$e, and red"uble their industr' and attenti"n The su+er#luit',

/hi$h arises #r" their lab"ur, is n"t l"st0 but is e4$han*ed /ith anu#a$tures #"r th"se

$""dities, /hi$h ens lu4ur' n"/ a-es the $".et 8' this eans, land #urnishes a *reat deal

"re "# the ne$essaries "# li#e, than /hat su##i$es #"r th"se /h" $ulti.ate it In ties "# +ea$e and

tranuillit', this su+er#luit' *"es t" the aintenan$e "# anu#a$turers, and the i+r".ers "# liberal

arts 8ut it is eas' #"r the +ubli$ t" $"n.ert an' "# these anu#a$turers int" s"ldiers, and aintain

the b' that su+er#luit', /hi$h arises #r" the lab"ur "# the #arers A$$"rdin*l' /e #ind, that this

is the $ase in all $i.ilied *".ernents hen the s".erei*n raises an ar', /hat is the

$"nseuen$e> )e i+"ses a ta4 This ta4 "bli*es all the +e"+le t" retren$h? /hat is least ne$essar'

t" their subsisten$e Th"se, /h" lab"ur in su$h $""dities, ust either enlist in the tr""+s, "r turn

thesel.es t" a*ri$ulture, and thereb' "bli*e s"e lab"urers t" enlist #"r /ant "# business And t"$"nsider the atter abstra$tedl', anu#a$tures en$rease the +"/er "# the state "nl' as the' st"re u+

s" u$h lab"ur, and that "# a -ind t" /hi$h the +ubli$ a' la' $lai, /ith"ut de+ri.in* an' "ne "#

the ne$essaries "# li#e The "re lab"ur, there#"re, is e+l"'ed be'"nd ere ne$essaries, the "re

+"/er#ul is an' state0 sin$e the +ers"ns en*a*ed in that lab"ur a' easil' be $"n.erted t" the +ubli$

ser.i$e In a state /ith"ut anu#a$tures, there a' be the sae nuber "# hands0 but there is n"t

the sae uantit' "# lab"ur, n"r "# the sae -ind All the lab"ur is there best"/ed u+"n ne$essaries,

/hi$h $an adit "# little "r n" abateent?


5/7

III11

Thus the *reatness "# the s".erei*n and the ha++iness "# the state are, in a *reat easure, united

/ith re*ard t" trade and anu#a$tures It is a .i"lent eth"d, and in "st $ases i+ra$ti$able, t"

"bli*e the lab"urer t" t"il, in "rder t" raise #r" the land "re than /hat subsists hisel# and

#ail' (urnish hi /ith anu#a$tures and $""dities, and he /ill d" it "# hisel# A#ter/ards

'"u /ill #ind it eas' t" seie s"e +art "# his su+er#lu"us lab"ur, and e+l"' it in the +ubli$ ser.i$e,

/ith"ut *i.in* hi his /"nted? return 8ein* a$$ust"ed t" industr', he /ill thin- this less*rie."us, than i#, at "n$e, '"u "bli*ed hi t" an au*entati"n "# lab"ur /ith"ut an' re/ard The

$ase is the sae /ith re*ard t" the "ther ebers "# the state The *reater is the st"$- "# lab"ur "#

all -inds, the *reater uantit' a' be ta-en #r" the hea+, /ith"ut a-in* an' sensible alterati"n

in it

III1

A +ubli$ *ranar' "# $"rn, a st"reh"use "# $l"th, a a*aine "# ars0 all these ust be all"/ed real

ri$hes and stren*th in an' state Trade and industr' are reall' n"thin* but a st"$- "# lab"ur, /hi$h,

in ties "# +ea$e and tranuillit', is e+l"'ed #"r the ease and satis#a$ti"n "# indi.iduals0 but in the

e4i*en$ies "# state, a', in +art, be turned t" +ubli$ ad.anta*e C"uld /e $"n.ert a $it' int" a -ind

"# #"rti#ied $a+, and in#use int" ea$h breast s" artial a *enius, and su$h a +assi"n #"r +ubli$

*""d, as t" a-e e.er' "ne /illin* t" under*" the *reatest hardshi+s #"r the sa-e "# the +ubli$0these a##e$ti"ns i*ht n"/, as in an$ient ties, +r".e al"ne a su##i$ient s+ur t" industr', and

su++"rt the $"unit' It /"uld then be ad.anta*e"us, as in $a+s, t" banish all arts and lu4ur'0

and, b' restri$ti"ns "n eui+a*e and tables, a-e the +r".isi"ns and #"ra*e last l"n*er than i# the

ar' /ere l"aded /ith a nuber "# su+er#lu"us retainers 8ut as these +rin$i+les are t""

disinterested and t"" di##i$ult t" su++"rt, it is reuisite t" *".ern en b' "ther +assi"ns, and

aniate the /ith a s+irit "# a.ari$e and industr', art and lu4ur' The $a+ is, in this $ase, l"aded

/ith a su+er#lu"us retinue0 but the +r".isi"ns #l"/ in +r"+"rti"nabl' lar*er The har"n' "# the

/h"le is still su++"rted0 and the natural bent "# the ind bein* "re $"+lied /ith, indi.iduals, as

/ell as the +ubli$, #ind their a$$"unt in the "bser.an$e "# th"se a4is

III1 It is +r"bable that "ne $ause "# this

+hFn"en"n is the /arth and eualit' "# /eather in the t"rrid "ne, /hi$h render $l"thes and

h"uses less reuisite #"r the inhabitants, and thereb' re".e, in +art, that ne$essit', /hi$h is the

*reat s+ur t" industr' and in.enti"n Curis a$uens "rtalia $"rda:11 N"t t" enti"n, that the

#e/er *""ds "r +"ssessi"ns "# this -ind an' +e"+le en3"', the #e/er uarrels are li-el' t" arise

a"n*st the, and the less ne$essit' /ill there be #"r a settled +"li$e "r re*ular auth"rit' t" +r"te$t

and de#end the #r" #"rei*n eneies, "r #r" ea$h "ther

hume.essay1ofcommerce

Documents