not distinct from that of their foldiery: For the ufe of ftanding armies has deprived a military people of the advantages they before had over others; and though it has been often said, that civil wars give power, because they render all men foldiers, I believe this has only been found true in internal wars following civil wars, and not in external ones; for now, in foreign wars, a fmall army with ample means to fupport it, is of greater force than one more numerous, with lefs. This laft fact has often happened between France and Germany.

The means of fupporting armies, and, confequently, the power of exerting external strength, are best found in the industry and frugality of the body of a people living under a government and laws that encourage Commerce; for commerce is at this day almost the only ftimulus that forces every one to contribute a fhare of labour for the public benefit.

But fuch is the human frame, and the world is so constituted, that it is a hard matter to poffefs ones-felf of a benefit, without laying onesfelf open to a lofs on fome other fide; the improvements of manners of one fort, often deprave those of another: Thus we fee induftry and frugality under the influence of commerce, (which I call a commercial spirit) tend to destroy, as well as fupport, the government it flourishes under. Commerce perfects the arts, but more the mechanical than the liberal, and this for an obvious reafon; it foftens and enervates the man

ners..

ners. Steady virtue, and unbending integrity, are feldom to be found where a spirit of commerce pervades every thing; yet the perfection of commerce is, that every thing fhould have its price. We every day fee its progrefs, both to our benefit and detriment here. Things that boni mores forbid to be fet to fale, are become its objects, and there are few things indeed extra commercium. The legislative power itself has been in commercio; and church livings are seldom given without confideration, even by fincere Chriftians; and for confideration, not feldom to very unworthy perfons. The rudeness of ancient military times, and the fury of more modern enthusiastic ones, are worn off; even the fpirit of forenfic contention is aftonishingly diminished (all marks of manners foftening;) but luxury and corruption have taken their places, and feem the infeparable companions of Commerce and the Arts.

I cannot help observing, however, that this is: much more the cafe in extenfive countries, ef→ pecially at their metropolis, than in other places. It is an old obfervation of politicians,, and frequently made by hiftorians, that small ftates always best preserve their manners.-Whether this: happens from the greater room there is for attention in the legislature, or from the less room. there is for ambition and avarice; it is a strong, argument, among others, against an incorporating Union of the colonies in America, or even a federal one, that may tend to the future re

ducing

ducing them under one government. Their power, while difunited, is lefs, but their liberty, as well as manners, is more fecure; and, confidering the little danger of any conqueft to be made upon them, I had rather they fhould fuffer fomething through difunion, than fee them under a general administration lefs equitable than that concerted at Albany *.-I take it, the inhabitants of Penfylvania are both frugal and induftrious beyond thofe of any province in America. If luxury fhould fpread, it cannot be extirpated by laws. We are told by Plutarch, that Plato used to say, It was a hard thing to make laws for the Cyrenians, a people abounding in plenty and opulence.

But from what I fet out with, it is evident, if I be not mistaken, that education only can ftem the torrent, and, without checking either true industry or frugality, prevent the fordid frugality and lazinefs of the old Irish, and many of the modern Scotch, (I mean the inhabitants of that country, those who leave it for another being generally industrious) or the industry mixed with luxury of this capital, from getting ground; and, by rendering ancient manners familiar, produce a reconciliation between difinterestedness and commerce; a thing we often fee, but almost always in men of a liberal education.

To conclude; when we would form a people, foil and climate may be found at leaft fufficiently

[The reader will fee an account of this plan in the subsequent fheets. E.]

good;

good; inhabitants may be encouraged to fettle, and even fupported for a while; a good government and laws may be framed, and even arts may be established, or their produce imported; but many neceffary moral habits are hardly ever found among those who voluntarily offer themselves in times of quiet at home, to people new colonies; befides that the moral, as well as mechanical habits, adapted to a mother-country, are frequently not fo to the new-fettled one, and to external events, many of which are always unforeseen. Hence it is we have seen such fruitlefs attempts to fettle colonies, at an immense public and private expence, by feveral of the powers of Europe: And it is particularly obfervable that none of the English colonies became any way confiderable, till the neceffary manners were born and grew up in the country, excepting those to which fingular circumftances at home forced manners fit for the forming a new state.

I am, Sir, &c.

R. J.

THE

THE WAY TO WEALTH,

As clearly fhewn in the Preface of an old Penfylvania Almanack, intitled, POOR RICHARD IMPROVED. *

Courteous Reader,

HAVE heard, that nothing gives an author fo great pleasure, as to find his works refpectfully quoted by others. Judge, then, how much I must have been gratified by an incident I am going to relate to you. I ftopped my horse lately, where a great number of people were collected, at an auction of merchants goods. The hour of the fale not being come, they were converfing on the badness of the times; and one of the company called to a plain, clean Old Man, with white locks, Pray, Father Abraham, what think you of the times? Will not these heavy taxes quite ruin the country? How shall we ever be

[Dr. Franklin, as I have been made to understand, for many years published the Penfylvania Almanack, called Poor Richard [Saunders], and furnished it with various fentences and proverbs, which had principal relation to the topics of "industry, attention "to one's own bufinefs, and frugality." The whole or chief of thefe fentences and proverbs, he at last collected and digested in the above general preface, which his countrymen read with much avidity and profit.

M. Dubourg, the French translator of Dr. Franklin's works, entitles this Penfylvanian Almanack, Le pauvre Henri a fon aife; to avoid the jeu de mots, in cafe he had written Pauvre Richard. E.]

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