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that Justus M鰏er asserts （in some passage in his works） that when
he visited those cities； and narrated to their merchants the power
and greatness which their predecessors had enjoyed； they would
scarcely believe him。 Hamburg； formerly the terror of pirates in
every sea； and renowned throughout Christendom for the services
which she had rendered to civilisation in suppressing sea…robbers；
had sunk so low that she had to purchase safety for her vessels by
paying an annual tribute to the pirates of Algiers。 Afterwards；
when the dominion of the seas had passed into the hands of the
Dutch another policy became prevalent in reference to piracy。 When
the Hanseatic League were supreme at sea； the pirate was considered
as the enemy of the civilised world； and extirpated wherever that
was possible。 The Dutch； on the contrary； regarded the corsairs of
Barbary as useful partisans； by whose means the marine commerce of
other nations could be destroyed in times of peace； to the
advantage of the Dutch。 Anderson avails himself of the quotation of
an observation of De Witt in favour of this policy to make the
laconic comment； 'Fas est et ab hoste doceri'； a piece of advice
which； in spite of its brevity； his countrymen comprehended and
followed so well that the English； to the disgrace of Christianity；
tolerated even until our days the abominable doings of the
sea…robbers on the North African coasts； until the French performed
the great service to civilisation of extirpating them。（16*）
The commerce of these Hanseatic cities was not a national one；
it was neither based on the equal preponderance and perfect
development of internal powers of production； nor sustained by
adequate political power。 The bonds which held together the members
of the League were too lax； the striving among them for predominant
power and for separate interests （or； as the Swiss or the Americans
would say； the cantonal spirit； the spirit of separate state right）
was too predominant； and superseded Hanseatic patriotism； which
alone could have caused the general common weal of the League to be
considered before the private interests of individual cities。 Hence
arose jealousies； and not unfrequently treachery。 Thus Cologne
turned to her own private advantage the hostility of England
towards the League； and Hamburg sought to utilise for her own
advantage a quarrel which arose between Denmark and L黚eck。
The Hanseatic cities did not base their commerce on the
production and consumption； the agriculture or the manufactures； of
the land to which their merchants belonged。 They had neglected to
favour in any way the agricultural industry of their own
fatherland； while that of foreign lands was greatly stimulated by
their commerce。 They found it more convenient to purchase
manufactured goods in Belgium； than to establish manufactories in
their own country。 They encouraged and promoted the agriculture of
Poland； the sheep…farming of England； the iron industry of Sweden；
and the manufactures of Belgium。 They acted for centuries on the
maxim which the theoretical economists of our day commend to all
nations for adoption they 'bought only in the cheapest market。'
But when the nations from whom they bought； and those to whom they
sold； excluded them from their markets； neither their own native
agriculture nor their own manufacturing industry was sufficiently
developed to furnish employment for their surplus commercial
capital。 it consequently flowed over into Holland and England； and
thus went to increase the industry； the wealth； and the power of
their enemies； a striking proof that mere private industry when
left to follow its own course does not always promote the
prosperity and the power of nations。 In their exclusive efforts to
gain material wealth； these cities had utterly neglected the
promotion of their political interests。 During the period of their
power； they appeared no longer to belong at all to the German
Empire。 It flattered these selfish； proud citizens； within their
circumscribed territories； to find themselves courted by emperors；
kings； and princes； and to act the part of sovereigns of the seas。
How easy would it have been for them during the period of their
maritime supremacy； in combination with the cities of North
Germany； to have founded a powerful Lower House as a counterpoise
to the aristocracy of the empire； and by means of the imperial
power to have thus brought about national unity to have united
under one nationality the whole sea…coast from Dunkirk to Riga
and by these means to have won and maintained for the German nation
supremacy in manufactures； commerce； and maritime power。 But in
fact； when the sceptre of the seas fell from their grasp； they had
not sufficient influence left to induce the German Reichstag to
regard their commerce as a matter of national concern。 On the
contrary； the German aristocracy did all in their power thoroughly
to oppress these humbled citizens。 Their inland cities fell
gradually under the absolute dominion of the various princes； and
hence their maritime ones were deprived of their inland
connections。
All these faults had been avoided by England。 Her merchant
shipping and her foreign commerce rested on the solid basis of her
native agriculture and native industry； her internal trade
developed itself in just proportion to her foreign trade； and
individual freedom grew up without prejudice to national unity or
to national power： in her case the interests of the Crown； the
aristocracy； and the people became consolidated and united in the
happiest manner。
If these historical facts are duly considered； can anyone
possibly maintain that the English could ever have so widely
extended their manufacturing power； acquired such an immeasurably
great commerce； or attained such overwhelming naval power； save by
means of the commercial policy which they adopted and pursued？ No；
the assertion that the English have attained to their present
commercial eminence and power； not by means of their commercial
policy； but in spite of it； appears to us to be one of the greatest
falsehoods promulgated in the present century。
Had the English left everything to itself 'Laiss椤aire et
laiss椤ller；' as the popular economical school recommends the
merchants of the Steelyard would be still carrying on their trade
in London； the Belgians would be still manufacturing cloth for the
English； England would have still continued to be the sheep…farm of
the Hansards； just as Portugal became the vineyard of England； and
has rem