COMMERCE, 
133 
cotton made into cloth; and thus, both we and 
they are best supplied, "Tea, again, comes from 
China, and sugar from the West Indies. Neither 
of them could be raised here without a hot-house; 
NO more can oranges, which come from Portugal, 
But we get all these tlıings in exchange for knives 
and scissors, and cloth, which we can make 
Much better and cheaper than the Chinese, West 
Indians, or Portuguese; and so both parties are 
better off than if they made every thing at home. 
How useful water is for commerce! "The sea 
Scems to keep different countries separate; but, 
for the purpose of commerce, it rather brings 
them together. If there were only land between 
this Country and America, we should have no cot- 
ton; for the carriage of it would cost more than 
It is worth. "Think how many horses would be 
Wanted to draw such a load as comes in one ship; 
and then they must eat and rest while they were 
travelling. But the winds are the horses which 
Carry the ship along, and they cost us nothing but 
to Spread a sail, Then, too, the ship moves 
easily, because it floats on the water, instead of 
dragging on the ground likea waggon. For this 
Feason, we have canals in many places, for the 
Purpose of bringing goods by water. One or two 
horses can easily draw a barge along a canal with 
a load which twice as many could not move if it 
Were on the ground, 
What folly, as well as sin, 1t. is, for different 
Nations to be jealous of one another, instead of 
trading together peacecably, by which all would 
be richer and better off. But the best gifts of 
God are given in vain to those who are perverse.