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Show [49] [43] fubftance of bufinefs not to be much more im-portant than the forms in which it is conducted. Thefe forms are adapted to ordinary occafions; and therefore perfons who are nurtured in office do admirably well, as long as After the war, and in the laft years of it, the trade of America had encr‘ealed far beyond things go on in their common order; but when the high roads are broken up, and the all its prOper channels to the brim. It overflowed with a rich redundance, and breaking waters out, when a new and troubled fcene is its banks on the right and on the left, it fpread the (peculations of the molt languine imagination. It livelled out on every fide. It filled opened, and the file afi‘ords no precedent, then out upon lbme places where it was indeed im- it is that a greater knowledge of mankind, and proper, upon others where it was only irregu‘ a far more extenfive compreheufion of things, is requifite than ever office gave, or than office can ever ive. Mr. Grenville thought better of the Wifiilom and power of human legif- lar. It is the nature of all greatnefs not to be lation than in truth it defcrves. He conceived, exact; and great trade will always be attended with conl'iderable abufes. The contraband will always keep pace in f>me meafnre‘ with the fair trade. it iliould {land as a fundamen- and many conceived along with him, that the tal maxim, that no vulgar precaution ought to flourifhing trade of this country was greatly be employed in the cure of evils, which are owing to law and infiitution, and not quite f0 clolely connec‘ted with the caule ofj ourproll much to liberty; for but too many are apt to perity. believe regulation to be commerce,- and taxes eye fornewhat lefs than was jult, towards the to be revenue. incredible increale of the fair trade; and looked with fomething of too exquifite ajealoufy to- Among regulations, that which flood firl't in reputation was his idol. 1 mean the act of navigation. He has often Perhaps this great perlbn turned his 15, I readily admit, in many refpeéts well un- wards the contraband. He certainly felt a fingular degree of anxiety on the fubjeét; and even began to act from that paflion earlier than derflood. is commonly imagined. profeffed it to be {0. The policy of that a8: ButI do fay, that if the act be futL feted to, run the full length of its principle, and is not changed and modified according to the change of times and the fluctuation of circumf'cances, it mull do great mifchief, and fi'equently even defeat its oWn purpofe. For whillt he was full lord of the admiralty, though not firiétly called upon in his official line, he prefenteda very firong memorial to. the lords of the trea- fury; (my lord Bute was then at the head of the board) heavily complaining of the growth of the illicit commerce in America. After Some mifchief happened even at that time from this D over.. |