ABSTRACT
The distance of China is a physical impediment to the communication, by reducing the commerce to a few commodities; and by heightening the price of these commodities, on account of the long voyage, the monopolies and the taxes. A Chinese works for three-halfpence a day, and is very industrious. Were he as near economists as France or Spain, every thing we use would be Chinese, till money and prices came to a level; that is, to such a level as is proportioned to the numbers of people, industry, and commodities of both countries. Besides the bad effect of the paper credit in the Colonies, as it was a cheat, it must also be allowed that it banished gold and silver, by supplying their place. To prohibit the exportation of money, or the importation of commodities, is mistaken policy; and the author has the pleasure of seeing a person agree with him/her.
