Portland Gazette, And Maine Advertiser

Of an Open Trade.

By DR. FRANKLIN.

Perhaps, in general, it would be better if government meddled no farther with trade, than to protect it, and let it take its course. Most of the statutes or acts, edicts, arrets and placarts of parliaments, princes, and states, for regulating, directing or restraining of trade, have, I think, been either political blunders, or jobs obtained by artful men for private advantage, under pretence of public good.- When Colbert assembled some wise old merchants of France, and desired their advice and opinion how he could best serve and promote commerce, their answer, after consultation, was in three words only, -Let us alone. It is said by a very solid writer of the same nation that he is well advanced in the science of politics, who knows the full force of that maxim,-not to govern too strictly which, perhaps, would be of more use when applied to trade, than in any other public concern. It were, therefore, to be wished, that commerce were as free between all the nations of the world, as it is between the several counties of England, so would all, by mutual communication, obtain more enjoyments. Those counties do not ruin each other by trade ; neither would the nations. No nation was ever ruined by trade, even seemingly the most disadvantageous.