has assumed. In so extensive a range of narrative, it would be presumption in him to indulge the hope that many inaccuracies may not have been committed; but it has certainly not been for want, either of original attention, or of scrupulous revisal. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION CHAP. I. PAGE i Historical account of the Company, ter CHAP. II. From the year 1748 to the year CHAP. III. From the year 1766-7 to the passing CHAP. IV.A summary view of the changes in 1 276 346 INTRODUCTION. THE celebrated author of The Wealth of Nations, in speaking of that order of men who, according to the term adopted throughout his work, live on the profits of stock, and more especially alluding to the class of merchants and master-manufac turers, makes the following remarks. "The pro 66 posal of any new law or regulation of com "merce, which comes from this order, ought al 66 ways to be listened to with great precaution, "and ought never to be adopted till after having "been long and carefully examined, not only with "the most scrupulous, but with the most suspicious "attention. It comes from an order of men, "whose interest is never exactly the same with "that of the public, who have generally an in"terest to deceive and even to oppress the pub. "lic, and who accordingly have, upon many oc"casions, both deceived and oppressed it."* From other parts of the same work, it appears. that the laws into the enactment of which the au B Book I. Ch. xi. |