For a very small expence the public can facilitate, can encourage, and can even impose upon almost the whole body of the people, the necessity of acquiring those most essential parts of education.

A sketch of a man facing to the right.

A merchant, it has been said very properly, is not necessarily the citizen of any particular country.

It is the highest impertinence and presumption, therefore, in kings and ministers to pretend to watch over the economy of private people, and to restrain their expense. They are themselves, always, and without any exception, the greatest spendthrifts in the society.

The interest of the dealers, however, in any particular branch of trade or manufactures, is always in some respects different from, and even opposite to, that of the public. To widen the market and to narrow the competition, is always the interest of the dealers.

What is prudence in the conduct of every private family can scarce be folly in that of a great kingdom.

Great nations are never impoverished by private, though they sometimes are by public prodigality and misconduct.