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The competition, therefore, would everywhere be as great, and,

consequently, the ordinary profit as low as possible.

But, perhaps, no country has ever yet arrived at this degree of

opulence. China seems to have been long stationary, and had,

probably, long ago acquired that full complement of riches which

is consistent with the nature of its laws and institutions. But

this complement may be much inferior to what, with other laws and

institutions, the nature of its soil, climate, and situation,

might admit of. A country which neglects or despises foreign

commerce, and which admits the vessel of foreign nations into one

or two of its ports only, cannot transact the same quantity of

business which it might do with different laws and institutions.