tate to signalize the abuse
of a righteous principle, where in practice it degenerates into the
Japanese barbarism of almost absolute prohibition and isolation. A
comparison betwixt Switzerland and Japan, two nearly stationary states,
where all around is in progress in the industrial sense, ruled upon
economical principles so opposite and conflicting, would be a labour
both amusing and profitable; but unfortunately the adequate materials
are wanting in the one case as in the other; state-books of account and
custom-house returns, are as rare and unheard of in Nangasaki as in
Helvetia. Fiscal exactions, however, are not unknown in either, the
difference being, that the despotic majesty of Japan undertakes them
upon his own account, whilst the people of the Alps, as intractable,
with better right, impose and levy for their own use and behoof. Withal,
to the one-idea'd philosophy of your absolute theory, systematic,
uniformity men of the present day, it should seem an extraordinary
paradox, putting all speculation to rout, that despotic Japan should be
as prosperous, more powerful, more free from intestine convulsion,
although more ancient of standing, therefore to be presumed enjoying at
least as much happiness as free and unfettered Switzerland, rioting
betimes in all the freaks of liberty and revolution.

We do not propose to extend our enquiries into the history of industrial
progress in other lands further on the present occasion, than to such
external demonstrations, as measured by imports and exports, as may with
most convenient brevity and fidelity answer the purpose in view. The
possession of authentic documents in ample degree, expository of the
past and present conditions of social and material interests in almost
all the civilized states of the world, would enable us to follow out, in
minute detail, the rise, the career, the vicissitudes of each; but
although, on future and suitable occasions, we may be induced to resume
and pursue the task already commenced in former numbers, it is not
necessary now, and would far outstrip any possible space at our
disposal. Commencing with Austria, it may be shown, that even with an
ill-considered economical _regime_ of, until of late years, general
prohibitions and restrictions, with the incessant and ill-judged policy
of forcing manufacturing industry, for the hasty development of which
the natural foundations were not previously laid, whilst neglecting the
cultivation and