ABSTRACT
Canning had called in the New World to redress the balance of the Old, and English loan-mougers, merchants and promoters, as we have seen, put their own interpretation on the epigram. All considerations of geography, climate, native character, and disposition were thrown to the winds. Money wa-s to be lent at good interest, merchandise was to be !!hipped to large profit, mines were to be opened to pay an unheard-of percent;age in countries concerning which little or nothing wa.<> known to the majority of the speculators. The mo~t ridiculous blunders were made by the class which was supposed to be carrying on business for the general benefit. Warming-pans were shipped to cities well within the tropics, and Sheffield carefully provided skaters with the means of enjoying their favourite exercise in regions where ice had never been seen. The best glass and porcelain were thoughtfully provided for naked savages, who bad hitherto found horns and cocoa-nut shells quite hollow enough to hold all the drink they wanted.
