第34章

类别:其他 作者:Baron Charles De Secondat Mont字数:10468更新时间:19/01/07 15:06:43
15。OftheCommerceoftheRomanswiththeBarbarians。TheRomanshavingerectedavastempireinEurope,Asia,andAfrica,theweaknessofthepeopleandthetyrannyoftheirlawsunitedallthepartsofthisimmensebody。TheRomanpolicywasthentoavoidallcommunicationwiththosenationswhomtheyhadnotsubdued:thefearofcarryingtothemtheartofconqueringmadethemneglecttheartofenrichingthemselves。 Theymadelawstohinderallcommercewithbarbarians。\"Letnobody,\" saidValensandGratian,[115]\"sendwine,oil,orotherliquorstothebarbarians,thoughitbeonlyforthemtotaste。\"\"Letnoonecarrygoldtothem,\"addGratian,Valentinian,andTheodosius;[116]\"rather,iftheyhaveany,letoursubjectsdeprivethemofitbystratagem。\"Theexportationofironwasprohibitedonpainofdeath。 Domitian,aprinceofgreattimidity,orderedthevinesinGaultobepulledup,[117]fromfear,nodoubt,lesttheirwinesshoulddrawthitherthebarbarians。ProbusandJulian,whohadnosuchfears,gaveordersfortheirbeingplantedagain。 IamsensiblethatuponthedeclensionoftheRomanempirethebarbariansobligedtheRomanstoestablishstapletowns,andtotradewiththem。ButeventhisisaproofthatthemindsoftheRomanswereaversetocommerce。[118] 16。OftheCommerceoftheRomanswithArabiaandtheIndies。ThetradetoArabiaFelix,andthattotheIndies,werethetwobranches,andalmosttheonlyones,oftheirforeigncommerce。TheArabianswerepossessedofimmenseriches,whichtheyfoundintheirseasandforests; andastheysoldmuchandpurchasedlittle,theydrewtothemselvesthegoldandsilveroftheRomans。[119]Augustus,[120]beingwellapprisedofthatopulence,resolvedtheyshouldbeeitherhisfriendsorhisenemies。Withthisviewhesent?liusGallusfromEgyptintoArabia。 Thiscommanderfoundthepeopleindolent,peaceable,andunskilledinwar。Hefoughtbattles,laidsiegestotowns,andlostbutsevenofhismenbythesword;buttheperfidyofhisguides,longmarches,theclimate,wantofprovisions,distempers,andill—conduct,causedtheruinofhisarmy。 HewasthereforeobligedtobecontentwithtradingtoArabia,inthesamemannerasothernations;thatis,withgivingthemgoldandsilverinexchangefortheircommodities。TheEuropeanstradewiththemstillinthesamemanner;thecaravansofAleppoandtheroyalvesselofSuezcarrythitherimmensesums。[121] NaturehadformedtheArabsforcommerce,notforwar;butwhenthosequietpeoplecametobenearneighbourstotheParthiansandtheRomans,theyactedasauxiliariestobothnations。?liusGallusfoundthematradingpeople;Mahomethappenedtofindthemtrainedtowar;heinspiredthemwithenthusiasm,whichledthemtogloryandconquest。 ThecommerceoftheRomanstotheIndieswasveryconsiderable。 Strabo[122]hadbeeninformedinEgyptthattheyemployedinthisnavigationonehundredandtwentyvessels;thiscommercewascarriedonentirelywithbullion。Theysentthitherannuallyfiftymillionsofsesterces。Pliny[123]saysthatthemerchandisebroughtthencewassoldatRomeatcent。percentprofit。Hespeaks,Ibelieve,toogenerally; ifthistradehadbeensovastlyprofitable,everybodywouldhavebeenwillingtoengageinit,andthenitwouldhavebeenatanend。 Itwilladmitofaquestion,whetherthetradetoArabiaandtheIndieswasofanyadvantagetotheRomans。Theywereobligedtoexporttheirbullionthither,thoughtheyhadnot,likeus,theresourceofAmerica,whichsupplieswhatwesendaway。Iampersuadedthatoneofthereasonsoftheirincreasingthevalueoftheirspeciebyestablishingbasecoinwasthescarcityofsilver,owingtothecontinualexportationofittotheIndies:andthoughthecommoditiesofthiscountryweresoldatRomeattherateofcent。percent,thisprofitoftheRomans,beingobtainedfromtheRomansthemselves,couldnotenrichtheempire。 Itmaybealleged,ontheotherhand,thatthiscommerceincreasedtheRomannavigation,andofcoursetheirpower;thatnewmerchandiseaugmentedtheirinlandtrade,gaveencouragementtothearts,andemploymenttotheindustrious;thatthenumberofsubjectsmultipliedinproportiontothenewmeansofsupport;thatthisnewcommercewasproductiveofluxury,whichIhaveprovedtobeasfavourabletoamonarchicalgovernmentasfataltoacommonwealth;thatthisestablishmentwasofthesamedateasthefalloftheirrepublic;thattheluxuryofRomehadbecomenecessary;andthatitwasextremelyproperthatacitywhichhadaccumulatedallthewealthoftheuniverseshouldrefunditbyitsluxury。 Strabosays[124]thattheRomanscarriedonafarmoreextensivecommercewiththeIndiesthanthekingsofEgypt;butitisveryextraordinarythatthosepeoplewhoweresolittleacquaintedwithcommerceshouldhavepaidmoreattentiontothatofIndiathantheEgyptiankings,whosedominionslaysoconvenientlyforit。Thereasonofthismustbeexplained。 AfterthedeathofAlexander,thekingsofEgyptestablishedamaritimecommercewiththeIndies;whilethekingsofSyria,whowerepossessedofthemoreeasternprovinces,andconsequentlyoftheIndies,maintainedthatcommerceofwhichwehavetakennoticeinthesixthchapter,whichwascarriedonpartlybyland,andpartlybyrivers,andhadbeenfurtherfacilitatedbymeansoftheMacedoniancolonies; insomuchthatEuropehadcommunicationwiththeIndiesbothbyEgyptandbySyria。Thedismemberingofthelatterkingdom,whencewasformedthatofBactriana,didnotproveinanywayprejudicialtothiscommerce。 MarinustheTyrian,quotedbyPtolemy,[125]mentionsthediscoveriesmadeinIndiabymeansofsomeMacedonianmerchants,whofoundoutnewroads,whichhadbeenunknowntokingsintheirmilitaryexpeditions。WefindinPtolemy[126]thattheywentfromPeter’stower[127]asfarasSera;andthediscoverymadebymercantilepeopleofsodistantamart,situatedinthenorth—eastpartofChina,wasakindofprodigy。Hence,underthekingsofSyriaandBactriana,merchandisewasconveyedtothewestfromthesouthernpartsofIndia,bytheriverIndus,theOxus,andtheCaspianSea;whilethoseofthemoreeasternandnorthernpartsweretransportedfromSera,Peter’stower,andotherstaples,asfarastheEuphrates。Thosemerchantsdirectedtheirroutenearlybythefortiethdegreeofnorthlatitude,throughcountriessituatedtothewestofChina,morecivilisedatthattimethanatpresent,becausetheyhadnotasyetbeeninfestedbytheTartars。 NowwhiletheSyrianempirewasextendingitstradetosuchadistancebyland,Egyptdidnotgreatlyenlargeitsmaritimecommerce。 TheParthianssoonafterappeared,andfoundedtheirempire;andwhenEgyptfellunderthepoweroftheRomans,thisempirewasatitsheight,andhadreceiveditswholeextension。 TheRomansandParthiansweretworivalnations,thatfoughtnotfordominionbutfortheirveryexistence。Betweenthetwoempiresdesertswereformedandarmieswerealwaysstationedonthefrontiers;sothatinsteadoftherebeinganycommerce,therewasnotsomuchascommunicationbetweenthem。Ambition,jealousy,religion,nationalantipathy,anddifferenceofmannerscompletedtheseparation。Thusthetradefromeasttowest,whichhadformerlysomanychannels,wasreducedtoone;andAlexandriabecomingtheonlystaple,thetradetothiscitywasimmenselyenlarged。 Weshallsaybutonewordoftheirinlandtrade。ItsprincipalbranchwasthecornbroughttoRomeforthesubsistenceofthepeople;butthiswasratherapoliticalaffairthanapointofcommerce。Onthisaccountthesailorswerefavouredwithsomeprivileges,becausethesafetyoftheempiredependedontheirvigilance。[128] 17。OfCommerceaftertheDestructionoftheWesternEmpire。AftertheinvasionoftheRomanempireoneeffectofthegeneralcalamitywasthedestructionofcommerce。Thebarbarousnationsatfirstregardeditonlyasanopportunityforrobbery;andwhentheyhadsubduedtheRomans,theyhonoureditnomorethanagriculture,andtheotherprofessionsofaconqueredpeople。 SoonwasthecommerceofEuropealmostentirelylost。Thenobility,whohadeverywherethedirectionofaffairs,wereinnopainaboutit。 ThelawsoftheVisigoths[129]permittedprivatepeopletooccupyhalfthebedsofgreatrivers,providedtheotherhalfremainedfreefornetsandboats。Theremusthavebeenverylittletradeincountriesconqueredbythesebarbarians。 Inthosetimeswereestablishedtheridiculousrightsofescheatageandshipwrecks。Thesementhoughtthat,asstrangerswerenotunitedtothembyanycivillaw,theyowedthemontheonehandnokindofjustice,andontheothernosortofpity。 Inthenarrowboundswhichnaturehadoriginallyprescribedtothepeopleofthenorth,allwerestrangerstothem:andintheirpovertytheyregardedallonlyascontributingtotheirriches。Beingestablished,beforetheirconquest,onthecoastsofaseaofverylittlebreadth,andfullofrocks,fromtheseveryrockstheydrewtheirsubsistence。 ButtheRomans,whomadelawsforalltheworld,hadestablishedthemosthumaneoneswithregardtoshipwrecks。[130]Theysuppressedtherapineofthosewhoinhabitedthecoasts,andwhatwasmorestill,therapacityoftheirtreasuries。[131] 18。AparticularRegulation。ThelawoftheVisigothsmade,however,oneregulationinfavourofcommerce。[132]Itordainedthatforeignmerchantsshouldbejudged,inthedifferencesthataroseamongthemselves,bythelawsandbyjudgesoftheirownnation。Thiswasfoundedonanestablishedcustomamongallmixedpeople,thateverymanshouldliveunderhisownlaw——acustomofwhichIshallspeakmoreatlargeinanotherplace。 19。OfCommerceaftertheDecayoftheRomanPowerintheEast。TheMahomedansappeared,conquered,extended,anddispersedthemselves。 Egypthadparticularsovereigns;thesecarriedonthecommerceofIndia,andbeingpossessedofthemerchandiseofthiscountry,drewtothemselvestherichesofallothernations。ThesultansofEgyptwerethemostpowerfulprincesofthosetimes。Historyinformsuswithwhataconstantandwell—regulatedforcetheystoppedtheardour,thefire,andtheimpetuosityofthecrusades。 20。HowCommercebrokethroughtheBarbarismofEurope。Aristotle’sphilosophybeingcarriedtothewest,pleasedthesubtlegeniuseswhowerethevirtuosiofthosetimesofignorance。Theschoolmenwereinfatuatedwithit,andborrowedfromthatphilosopher[133]agreatmanynotionsonlendinguponinterest,whereasitssourcemighthavebeeneasilytracedinthegospel;inshort,theycondemneditabsolutelyandinallcases。Hencecommerce,whichwastheprofessiononlyofmeanpersons,becamethatofknaves;forwheneverathingisforbidden,whichnaturepermitsornecessityrequires,thosewhodoitarelookeduponasdishonest。 Commercewastransferredtoanationcoveredwithinfamy,andsoonrankedwiththemostshamefulusury,withmonopolies,withthelevyingofsubsidies,andwithallthedishonestmeansofacquiringwealth。 TheJews,enrichedbytheirexactions,werepillagedbythetyrannyofprinces;whichpleasedindeed,butdidnotease,thepeople。[134] WhatpassedinEnglandmayservetogiveusanideaofwhatwasdoneinothercountries。KingJohn[135]havingimprisonedtheJews,inordertoobtaintheirwealth,therewerefewwhohadnotatleastoneoftheireyespluckedout。Thusdidthatkingadministerjustice。AcertainJew,whohadatoothpulledouteverydayforsevendayssuccessively,gavetenthousandmarksofsilverfortheeighth。HenryIIIextortedfromAaron,aJewatYork,fourteenthousandmarksofsilver,andtenthousandforthequeen,inthosetimestheydidbyviolencewhatisnowdoneinPolandwithsomesemblanceofmoderation。Asprincescouldnotdiveintothepursesoftheirsubjectsbecauseoftheirprivileges,theyputtheJewstothetorture,whowerenotconsideredascitizens。 AtlastacustomwasintroducedofconfiscatingtheeffectsofthoseJewswhoembracedChristianity。Thisridiculouscustomisknownonlybythelawwhichsuppressedit。[136]Themostvainandtriflingreasonsweregiveninjustificationofthatproceeding;itwasallegedthatitwaspropertotrythem,inordertobecertainthattheyhadentirelyshakenofftheslaveryofthedevil。Butitisevidentthatthisconfiscationwasaspeciesoftherightofamortisation,torecompensetheprince,orthelords,forthetaxesleviedontheJews,whichceasedontheirembracingChristianity。[137]Inthosetimes,men,likelands,wereregardedasproperty。Icannothelpremarking,bytheway,howthisnationhasbeensportedwithfromoneagetoanother:atonetime,theireffectswereconfiscatedwhentheywerewillingtobecomeChristians; andatanother,iftheyrefusedtoturnChristians,theywereorderedtobeburned。 Inthemeantime,commercewasseentoarisefromthebosomofvexationanddespair。TheJews,proscribedbyturnsfromeverycountry,foundoutthewayofsavingtheireffects。Thustheyrenderedtheirretreatsforeverfixed;forthoughprincesmighthavebeenwillingtogetridoftheirpersons,yettheydidnotchoosetogetridoftheirmoney。 TheJewsinventedlettersofexchange;[138]commerce,bythismethod,becamecapableofeludingviolence,andofmaintainingeverywhereitsground;therichestmerchanthavingnonebutinvisibleeffects,whichhecouldconveyimperceptiblywhereverhepleased。 TheTheologianswereobligedtolimittheirprinciples;andcommerce,whichtheyhadbeforeconnectedbymainforcewithknavery,reentered,ifImaysoexpressmyself,thebosomofprobity。 Thusweowetothespeculationsoftheschoolmenallthemisfortuneswhichaccompaniedthedestructionofcommerce;[139]andtotheavariceofprinces,theestablishmentofapracticewhichputsitinsomemeasureoutoftheirpower。 Fromthistimeitbecamenecessarythatprincesshouldgovernwithmoreprudencethantheythemselvescouldeverhaveimagined;forgreatexertionsofauthoritywere,intheevent,foundtobeimpolitic;andfromexperienceitismanifestthatnothingbutthegoodnessandlenityofagovernmentcanmakeitflourish。 WebegintobecuredofMachiavelism,andrecoverfromiteveryday。 Moremoderationhasbecomenecessaryinthecouncilsofprinces。Whatwouldformerlyhavebeencalledamaster—strokeinpoliticswouldbenow,independentofthehorroritmightoccasion,thegreatestimprudence。 Happyisitformenthattheyareinasituationinwhich,thoughtheirpassionspromptthemtobewicked,itis,nevertheless,totheirinteresttobehumaneandvirtuous。 21。TheDiscoveryoftwonewWorlds,andinwhatMannerEuropeisaffectedbyit。Thecompassopened,ifImaysoexpressmyself,theuniverse。AsiaandAfricawerefound,ofwhichonlysomeborderswereknown;andAmerica,ofwhichweknewnothing。 ThePortuguese,sailingontheAtlanticOcean,discoveredthemostsouthernpointofAfrica;theysawavastsea,whichcarriedthemtotheEastIndies。Theirdangeruponthissea,thediscoveryofMozambique,Melinda,andCalicut,havebeensungbyCamoens,whosepoemsmakeusfeelsomethingofthecharmsoftheOdysseyandthemagnificenceofthe?neid。 TheVenetianshadhithertocarriedonthetradeoftheIndiesthroughtheTurkishdominions,andpursueditinthemidstofoppressionsanddiscouragements。BythediscoveryoftheCapeofGoodHope,andthosewhichweremadesometimeafter,Italywasnolongerthecentreofthetradingworld;itwas,ifImaybepermittedtheexpression,onlyacorneroftheuniverse,andissostill。ThecommerceevenoftheLevantdependingnowonthatofthegreattradingnationstoboththeIndies,Italyeveninthatbranchcannolongerbeconsideredasaprincipal。 ThePortuguesetradedtotheIndiesinrightofconquest。TheconstraininglawswhichtheDutchatpresentimposeonthecommerceofthelittleIndianprinceshadbeenestablishedbeforebythePortuguese。[140] ThefortuneofthehouseofAustriawasprodigious。CharlesVsucceededtothepossessionofBurgundy,Castile,andAragon;hearrivedafterwardsattheimperialdignity;andtoprocurehimanewkindofgrandeur,theglobeextendeditself,andtherewasseenanewworldpayinghimobeisance。 ChristopherColumbusdiscoveredAmerica;andthoughSpainsentthitheronlyaforcesosmallthattheleastprinceinEuropecouldhavesentthesame,yetitsubduedtwovastempires,andothergreatstates。 WhiletheSpaniardsdiscoveredandconqueredthewest,thePortuguesepushedtheirconquestsanddiscoveriesintheeast。Thesetwonationsmeteachother;theyhadrecoursetoPopeAlexanderVI,whomadethecelebratedlineofpartition,anddeterminedthegreatsuit。 ButtheothernationsofEuropewouldnotsufferthemquietlytoenjoytheirshares。TheDutchchasedthePortuguesefromalmostalltheirsettlementsintheEastIndies;andseveralothernationsplantedcoloniesinAmerica。 TheSpaniardsconsideredthesenewly—discoveredcountriesasthesubjectofconquest;whileothers,morerefinedintheirviews,foundthemtobethepropersubjectsofcommerce,anduponthisprincipledirectedtheirproceedings。Henceseveralnationshaveconductedthemselveswithsomuchwisdomthattheyhavegivenakindofsovereigntytocompaniesofmerchants,who,governingthesefar—distantcountriesonlywithaviewtotrade,havemadeagreataccessorypowerwithoutembarrassingtheprincipalstate。 Thecoloniestheyhaveformedareunderakindofdependence,ofwhichtherearebutveryfewinstancesinallthecoloniesoftheancients; whetherweconsiderthemasholdingsofthestateitself,orofsometradingcompanyestablishedinthestate。 Thedesignofthesecoloniesistotradeonmoreadvantageousconditionsthancouldotherwisebedonewiththeneighbouringpeople,withwhomalladvantagesarereciprocal。Ithasbeenestablishedthatthemetropolis,[141]ormothercountry,aloneshalltradeinthecolonies,andthatfromverygoodreason;becausethedesignofthesettlementwastheextensionofcommerce,notthefoundationofacityorofanewempire。 ThusitisstillafundamentallawofEuropethatallcommercewithaforeigncolonyshallberegardedasameremonopoly,punishablebythelawsofthecountry;andinthiscasewearenottobedirectedbythelawsandprecedentsoftheancients,whicharenotatallapplicable。[142] Itislikewiseacknowledgedthatacommerceestablishedbetweenthemothercountriesdoesnotincludeapermissiontotradeinthecolonies; forthesealwayscontinueinastateofprohibition。 Thedisadvantageofacolonythatlosesthelibertyofcommerceisvisiblycompensatedbytheprotectionofthemothercountry,whodefendsitbyherarms,orsupportsitbyherlaws。 HencefollowsathirdlawofEurope,thatwhenaforeigncommercewithacolonyisprohibited,itisnotlawfultotradeinthoseseas,exceptinsuchcasesasareexceptedbytreaty。Nationswhoare,withrespecttothewholeglobe,whatindividualsareinastate,aregovernedlikethelatterbythelawsofnature,andbyparticularlawsoftheirownmaking。Onenationmayresigntoanotherthesea,aswellastheland。 TheCarthaginiansforbadetheRomanstosailbeyondcertainlimits,[143] astheGreekshadobligedtheKingofPersiatokeepasfardistantfromthesea—coastasahorsecouldgallop。[144] Thegreatdistanceofourcoloniesisnotaninconveniencethataffectstheirsafety;forifthemothercountry,onwhomtheydependfortheirdefence,isremote,nolessremotearethosenationswhorivalthemothercountry,andbywhomtheymaybeafraidofbeingconquered。 Besides,thisdistanceisthecausethatthosewhoareestablishedtherecannotconformtothemanneroflivinginaclimatesodifferentfromtheirown;theyareobligedthereforetodrawfromthemothercountryalltheconveniencesoflife。TheCarthaginians,[145]torendertheSardiniansandCorsicansmoredependent,forbadetheirplanting,sowing,ordoinganythingofthekind,underpainofdeath;sothattheysuppliedthemwithnecessariesfromAfrica。 TheEuropeanshavecompassedthesamething,withouthavingrecoursetosuchseverelaws。OurcoloniesintheCaribbeanislandsareunderanadmirableregulationinthisrespect;thesubjectoftheircommerceiswhatweneitherhavenorcanproduce;andtheywantwhatisthesubjectofours。 AconsequenceofthediscoveryofAmericawastheconnectingAsiaandAfricawithEurope;itfurnishedmaterialsforatradewiththatvastpartofAsiaknownbythenameoftheEastIndies。Silver,thatmetalsousefulasthemediumofcommerce,becamenowasmerchandisethebasisofthegreatestcommerceintheworld。Infine,thenavigationtoAfricabecamenecessaryinordertofurnishuswithmentolabourinthemines,andtocultivatethelandsofAmerica。 Europehasarrivedatsohighadegreeofpowerthatnothinginhistorycanbecomparedwithit,whetherweconsidertheimmensityofitsexpenses,thegrandeurofitsengagements,thenumberofitstroops,andtheregularpaymentsevenofthosethatareleastserviceable,andwhicharekeptonlyforostentation。 FatherDuHaldesays[146]thattheinteriortradeofChinaismuchgreaterthanthatofallEurope。Thatmightbe,ifourforeigntradedidnotaugmentourinlandcommerce。Europecarriesonthetradeandnavigationoftheotherthreepartsoftheworld;asFrance,England,andHollanddonearlythatofEurope。 22。OftheRicheswhichSpaindrewfromAmerica。IfEuropehasderivedsomanyadvantagesfromtheAmericantrade,itseemsnaturaltoimaginethatSpainmusthavederivedmuchgreater。[147]Shedrewfromthenewly— discoveredworldsoprodigiousaquantityofgoldandsilver,thatallwehadbeforecouldnotbecomparedwithit。 But(whatonecouldneverhaveexpected)thisgreatkingdomwaseverywherebaffledbyitsmisfortunes。PhilipII,whosucceededCharlesV,wasobligedtomakethecelebratedbankruptcyknowntoalltheworld。 Thereneverwasaprincewhosufferedmorefromthemurmurs,theinsolence,andtherevoltoftroopsconstantlyill—paid。 FromthattimethemonarchyofSpainhasbeenincessantlydeclining。 Thishasbeenowingtoaninteriorandphysicaldefectinthenatureofthoseriches,whichrendersthemvain——adefectwhichincreaseseveryday。 Goldandsilverareeitherafictitiousorarepresentativewealth。Therepresentativesignsofwealthareextremelydurable,and,intheirownnature,butlittlesubjecttodecay。Butthemoretheyaremultiplied,themoretheylosetheirvalue,becausethefewerarethethingswhichtheyrepresent。 TheSpaniards,aftertheconquestofMexicoandPeru,abandonedtheirnaturalriches,inpursuitofarepresentativewealthwhichdailydegradeditself。GoldandsilverwereextremelyscarceinEurope,andSpainbecomingallofasuddenmistressofaprodigiousquantityofthesemetals,conceivedhopestowhichshehadneverbeforeaspired。Thewealthshefoundintheconqueredcountries,greatasitwas,didnot,however,equalthatoftheirmines。TheIndiansconcealedpartofit; andbesides,thesepeople,whomadenootheruseofgoldandsilverthantogivemagnificencetothetemplesoftheirgodsandtothepalacesoftheirkings,soughtnotforitwithanavaricelikeours。Inshort,theyhadnotthesecretofdrawingthesemetalsfromeverymine;butonlyfromthoseinwhichtheseparationmightbemadewithfire:theywerestrangerstothemannerofmakinguseofmercury,andperhapstomercuryitself。 However,itwasnotlongbeforethespecieofEuropewasdoubled;thisappearedfromthepriceofcommodities,whicheverywherewasdoubled。 TheSpaniardsrakedintothemines,scoopedoutmountains,inventedmachinestodrawoutwater,tobreaktheore,andseparateit;andastheysportedwiththelivesoftheIndians,theyforcedthemtolabourwithoutmercy。ThespecieofEuropesoondoubled,andtheprofitofSpaindiminishedinthesameproportion;theyhadeveryyearthesamequantityofmetal,whichhadbecomebyone—halflessprecious。 Indoublethetimethespeciestilldoubled,andtheprofitstilldiminishedanotherhalf。