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manufactured goods in Belgium； than to establish manufactories in
their own country。 They encouraged and promoted the agriculture of
Poland； the sheep…farming of England； the iron industry of Sweden；
and the manufactures of Belgium。 They acted for centuries on the
maxim which the theoretical economists of our day commend to all
nations for adoption they 'bought only in the cheapest market。'
But when the nations from whom they bought； and those to whom they
sold； excluded them from their markets； neither their own native
agriculture nor their own manufacturing industry was sufficiently
developed to furnish employment for their surplus commercial
capital。 it consequently flowed over into Holland and England； and
thus went to increase the industry； the wealth； and the power of
their enemies； a striking proof that mere private industry when
left to follow its own course does not always promote the
prosperity and the power of nations。 In their exclusive efforts to
gain material wealth； these cities had utterly neglected the
promotion of their political interests。 During the period of their
power； they appeared no longer to belong at all to the German
Empire。 It flattered these selfish； proud citizens； within their
circumscribed territories； to find themselves courted by emperors；
kings； and princes； and to act the part of sovereigns of the seas。
How easy would it have been for them during the period of their
maritime supremacy； in combination with the cities of North
Germany； to have founded a powerful Lower House as a counterpoise
to the aristocracy of the empire； and by means of the imperial
power to have thus brought about national unity to have united
under one nationality the whole sea…coast from Dunkirk to Riga
and by these means to have won and maintained for the German nation
supremacy in manufactures； commerce； and maritime power。 But in
fact； when the sceptre of the seas fell from their grasp； they had
not sufficient influence left to induce the German Reichstag to
regard their commerce as a matter of national concern。 On the
contrary； the German aristocracy did all in their power thoroughly
to oppress these humbled citizens。 Their inland cities fell
gradually under the absolute dominion of the various princes； and
hence their maritime ones were deprived of their inland
connections。
All these faults had been avoided by England。 Her merchant
shipping and her foreign commerce rested on the solid basis of her
native agriculture and native industry； her internal trade
developed itself in just proportion to her foreign trade； and
individual freedom grew up without prejudice to national unity or
to national power： in her case the interests of the Crown； the
aristocracy； and the people became consolidated and united in the
happiest manner。
If these historical facts are duly considered； can anyone
possibly maintain that the English could ever have so widely
extended their manufacturing power； acquired such an immeasurably
great commerce； or attained such overwhelming naval power； save by
means of the commercial policy which they adopted and pursued？ No；
the assertion that the English have attained to their present
commercial eminence and power； not by means of their commercial
policy； but in spite of it； appears to us to be one of the greatest
falsehoods promulgated in the present century。
Had the English left everything to itself 'Laiss椤aire et
laiss椤ller；' as the popular economical school recommends the
merchants of the Steelyard would be still carrying on their trade
in London； the Belgians would be still manufacturing cloth for the
English； England would have still continued to be the sheep…farm of
the Hansards； just as Portugal became the vineyard of England； and
has remained so till our days； owing to the stratagem of a cunning
diplomatist。 Indeed； it is more than probable that without her
commercial policy Eng1and would never have attained to such a large
measure of municipal and individual freedom as she now possesses；
for such freedom is the daughter of industry and of wealth。
In view of such historical considerations； how has it happened
that Adam Smith has never attempted to follow the history of the
industrial and commercial rivalry between the Hanseatic League and
England from its origin until its close？ Yet some passages in his
work show clearly that he was not unacquainted with the causes of
the fall of the League and its results。 'A merchant；' he says； 'is
not necessarily the citizen of any particular country。 It is in a
great measure indifferent to him from what place he carries on his
trade； and a very trifling disgust will make him remove his
capital； and together with it all the industry which it supports；
from one country to another。 No part of it can be said to belong to
any particular country till it has been spread； as it were； over
the face of that country； either in buildings or in the lasting
improvement of lands。 No vestige now remains of the great wealth
said to have been possessed by the greater part of the Hanse Towns
except in the obscure histories of the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries。 it is even uncertain where some of them were situated；
or to what towns in Europe the Latin names given to some of them
belong。'（17*）
How strange that Adam Smith； having such a clear insight into
the secondary causes of the downfall of the Hanseatic League； did
not feel himself compelled to examine into its primary causes！ For
this purpose it would not have been at all necessary to have
ascertained the sites where the fallen cities had stood； or to
which cities belonged the Latin names in the obscure chronicles。 He
need not even have consulted those chronicles at all。 His own
countrymen； Anderson； Macpherson； King； and Hume could have
afforded him the necessary explanation。
How； therefore； and for what reason could such a profound
inquirer permit himself to abstain from an investigation at once so
interesting and so fruitful in results？ We can see no other reason
than this that it would have led to conclusions which would have
tended but little to support his principle of absolute free trade。
He would infallibly have been confronted with the fact that after
free commercial intercourse with the Hansards had raised English
agriculture from a state of barbarism； the protective commercial
policy adopted by the English nation at the expense of the
Hansards； the Belgians； and the Dutch helped England to attain to
manufacturing supremacy； and that from the latter； aided by her
Navigation Acts； arose her commercial supremacy。
These facts； it would appear； Adam Smith was not willing to
know or to acknowledge； for indeed they belong to the category of
those inconvenient facts of which J。B。 Say observes that they would
have proved very adverse to his system。
NOTES：
1。 Anderson； Origins of Commerce； pt。 I； p。 46。
2。 Wealth of Nations； Book IV； ch。 ii。
3。 Hume； History of England； Part IV； ch。 xxi。
4。 The revenues of the kings of England were derived at that time
more from export duties than from import duties。 Freedom of export
and duties on imports （viz。 of manufactures） betoken at once an
advanced state of industry and an enlightened State administration。
The governments and countries of the North stood at about the same
stage of culture and statemanship as the Sublime Porte does in our
day。 The Sultan has； notably； only recently concluded commercial
treaties； by which he engages not to tax exports of raw materials
and manufactures higher than fourteen per cent but imports not
higher than five per cent。 And there accordingly that system of
finance which professes to regard revenue as its chief object
continues in full operation。 Those statesmen and public writers who
follow or advocate that system ought to betake themselves to
Turkey； there they might really stand at the head of the times。
5。 The Hansards were formerly termed 'Easterlings' or Eastern
merchants； in England； in contradistinction to those of the West；
or the Belgians and Dutch。 From this term is derived 'sterling' or
'pound sterling'； an abbreviation of the word 'Easterlings' because
formerly all the coin in circulation in England was that of the
Hanseatic League。
6。 Hume； History of England； ch。 xxxv。
7。 M。 I。 Sartorius； Geschichte der Hansa。
