. A philosophical and political history of the settlements and trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies . ftate of perpetual contention is difpleafingto mod of the Afiatic nations, and they ardentlywi(h for a happier change. The diforder of ouraffairs mufl have infpired us with the fame fen-timents. If we are all in the fame difpofitions, andif one common intereft really inclines us to peaceand harmony, the mod effectual way to attain thisdefirable end would perhaps be, that all theEuropean nations, who trade to India, fhould agreeamong themfelves to preferve a neutrality in thoferem
. A philosophical and political history of the settlements and trade of the Europeans in the East and West Indies . ftate of perpetual contention is difpleafingto mod of the Afiatic nations, and they ardentlywi(h for a happier change. The diforder of ouraffairs mufl have infpired us with the fame fen-timents. If we are all in the fame difpofitions, andif one common intereft really inclines us to peaceand harmony, the mod effectual way to attain thisdefirable end would perhaps be, that all theEuropean nations, who trade to India, fhould agreeamong themfelves to preferve a neutrality in thoferemote feas, which (hould never be interruptedby the diflurbances that fo frequently happen onour own continent. If we could once confider ourfeives as members of one great commonwealth,we fhould not want thofe forces which make usodious abroad, and ruin us at home. But, as ourprefent fpirit of difcord will not permit us to ex-peft that fuch a change can foon take place, it re-mains only that we now confider, whether Europeought ftill to carry on the India trade by chartercompanies, or to make it a free trade. If. IN THE EAST AND WEST INDIES. If this queftion were to be decided upon gene-ral principles, it would be eafily anfwered. If weaik whether, in a (late which allows any particu-lar branch of trade, every citizen has a right topartake of it; the anfwer is fo plain as to kave no theStleroom for difcuHion. It would be unnatural, that ^° l^-^^^* , or carry iubjed:s who ihare alike the burden and public it on byexpence of civil fociety, fhould not be alike par- charters^takers of the benefits arifmg from the compa<51: thatunites them; they would have caufe to complain,that they fuflain all the inconveniences of fociety,and are deprived of the advantages they expedtedto receive from it. On the other hand, political notions are per-fectly reconcileable with thefe ideas of juftice. Itis well known that freedom is the very foul of com-merce, and that nothing elfe can bring it to
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