Book XIX.
Chap. 27.longer; their burthens are heavy, but they do not feel their weight: while in other states the uneasiness is infinitely greater than the evil.
This nation must therefore have a fixed and certain credit, because it borrows of itself and pays itself. It is possible for it to undertake things above its natural strength, and employ against its enemies immense sums of fictitious riches which the credit and nature of its government may render real.
To preserve its liberty, it borrows of its subjects; and its subjects seeing that its credit would be lost, if ever it was conquered, have a new motive to make fresh efforts in defence of its liberty.
This nation inhabiting an island is not fond of conquering, because it would be weakened by distant conquests: especially as the soil of the island is good; because it has then no need of enriching itself by war; and as no citizen is subject to another, each sets a greater value on his own liberty, than on the glory of one, or any number of citizens.
Military men are there regarded as belonging to a profession which may be useful, but is often dangerous; and as men whose very services are burthensome to the nation: civil qualifications are therefore more esteemed than the military.
This nation, which liberty and the laws render easy, on being freed from pernicious prejudices, is become a trading people; and as it has some of those primitive materials of trade, out of which are made such things as from the artist's hand receive a considerable value, it has made settlements proper to procure the enjoyment of this gift of heaven in its fulled extent.
