Honour is justly due to it, to be the constant place of Residence for that Knowledge, which is to be made up of the Reports and Intelligence of all Countries.
To this I will add; That we have another Help in our Hands, which almost forces this Crown on the Head of the English Nation: and that is, the noble and inquisitive Genius of our Merchants. This cannot be better shewn, than by comparing them with those of that one Country, which only stands in Competition with us for Trade. The Merchants of England live honourably in foreign Parts; those of Holland meanly, minding their Gain alone: ours converse freely, and learn from all; having in their Behaviour very much of the Gentility of the Families, from which so many of them are descended: The others when they are abroad, shew, that they are only a Race of plain Citizens, keeping themselves most within their own Cells, and Ware-houses; scarce regarding the Acquaintance of any, but those with whom they traffick. This Largeness of ours, and Narrowness of their living, does, no doubt, conduce very much to enrich them; and is, perhaps, one of the Reasons that they can so easily under-sell us: But withal it makes ours the most capable, as theirs unfit, to promote such an Enterprise, as this of which I am now speaking. For indeed, the Effects of their several Ways of Life are as different: Of the Hollanders, I need say no more, but of the English Merchants I will affirm, that in all sorts of Politeness, and Skill in the World and human Affairs, they do not only excell them, but are equal to any other sort of Men amongst us.
This I have spoken, not to lessen the Reputation of that industrious People: But, that I might (if it were possible) inflame their Minds to an Emulation of this
