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Merchants and master manufacturers are, in this order, the two

classes of people who commonly employ the largest capitals, and

who by their wealth draw to themselves the greatest share of the

public consideration. As during their whole lives they are

engaged in plans and projects, they have frequently more

acuteness of understanding than the greater part of country

gentlemen. As their thoughts, however, are commonly exercised

rather about the interest of their own particular branch of

business. than about that of the society, their judgment, even

when given with the greatest candour (which it has not been upon

every occasion), is much more to be depended upon with regard to

the former of those two objects, than with regard to the latter.

Their superiority over the country gentleman is, not so much in

their knowledge of the public interest, as in their having a

better knowledge of their own interest than he has of his.