first opened the eyes of modern Europe upon commercial subjects.[1] Men of letters in different countries contributed their aid to develop and extend the principles of free trade. Ministers of the first eminence in a neighbouring country adopted and pushed them still further, more or less, as suited their different views of considering the subject. The old calculations so much dwelt upon by the reverend prelate, gradually became exploded; and the idea of estimating the balance of each trade was given up."
He then proceeded to ridicule the notion that France had always been inimical to England, and alluded in support of his position to the conduct of Queen Elizabeth, Cromwell, and Sir Robert Walpole, who had all valued the French alliance. He acknowledged that William III. had adopted a very different system, but, he said, as there might be spots in the sun, it must be allowed, with all possible admiration of King William, that his foreign politics did not make the brightest part of his character as an English King, for his conduct was entirely governed by his aversion to Louis XIV.
To those who argued that France was our natural enemy and never could be otherwise, he replied, that the circumstances were entirely changed since the time of William III. England, he said, had no natural enemy, except the powers that kept 300,000 men under arms, maintained for the sake of conquests, and not for defence; they were the enemies of mankind, and merited that all Europe should join against them. He then proceeded to condemn the partition of Poland and the conduct of the Northern Powers.
After thus pronouncing on the policy of the measure, he proceeded to criticize some or the details, amongst which he specified the choice of the articles on which the French import duties were to be lowered, but he confessed that in making these observations he was bound to
- ↑ In the opinion of Monsieur W. H. de Beaufort the allusion to the great Minister in Holland probably refers to the porto franco of the Stadtholder William IV., or to John de Witt, to whom was attributed the part authorship of de la Court's Interest van Holland, with regard to the chapters on trade.
