mons, then undoubtedly they are gods, in whom we are to confide, to whom to sacrifice and pray," and Apuleius (de deo Socratis, p. 675.)

"Cuncta coelestium voluntate, numine et authoritate, sed dæmonum obsequio et opera et ministerio fieri arbitrandum est."

Also, the expression, "--- not to God"-is not to be found in the Hebrew text, where the Prepos. to is wanting. Besides, we cannot find a single authority in the original text, for the translation devils, nay, not even for damons, or any kind of spirits. True, the same expression is found in Psal. cvi. 26, but there it is a mere quotation from Deuteronomy, as is clear from the contents of the whole Psalm. We find that Æneas brought from Troy into Italy his households gods, who probably were the Samothracian deities, styled "Cabiri," (Hebrew powerful); so, we also find that God was called (Almighty), (Num. xxiv. 4), (Ruth i. 21), (Job. vi. 4), the plural of which, is necessarily ; the meaning of the phrase is now plain, "they sacrificed to gods which are no deity; to gods unknown to them," &c. Many are in doubt, with regard to the correct pronunciation of the (Shin), whether the sound be sh when the point is found upon the right head (), or upon the left (); the authority for its correct pronunciation may be taken from Jud. xii. 6, where the word Shibolet is spelled with ", and the word Sibolet with D, consequently the sound of a point upon the right head, must be sh, for otherwise there would have been no difference in the pronunciation of the two mentioned words.

with

Mr Mr Gaffer of Okin

ART. II.-The Elements of Political Economy, in two parts. By DANIEL RAYMOND, Counsellor at Law. Second Edition. 8vo. 2 Vols. Baltimore, 1823.

THE large number of discoveries in the Sciences, and of their useful application to the Arts, which have had their origin in the first quarter of the nineteenth century, should perhaps reconcile our minds to the existence of many absurdities, and cause us to bear with patience at least, the novelties which are daily ushered into the world. There are some errors, however, which have an important bearing on the welfare of society; and in no science do erroneous notions exercise a more baleful influence, than in that of Political Economy. In our own country, particularly, where the sovereignty resides in the people, it is of the utmost importance that correct opinions on this science should be widely diffused; and we deem it our duty, pro viribus, to be aiding in this great object. We feel it to be more imperiously binding upon us at present, because in a subject, like that before us, where unremitted thought is absolutely necessary to carry out its various bearings, words may pass for things, and thus very gross fallacies may be imposed on those, whose habits and employments do not afford leisure for their accurate investigation:-and because the work, of which the title is given above, has reached a second edition. This latter circumstance gives us pleasure, inasmuch as it shows that a taste for subjects, certainly not the best adapted to attract the generality of readers, has prevailed extensively throughout the community; but at the same time it increases our obligation to perform the task of examining the opinions of the author. We do not ex

pect that we will be able to offer much that is new on the science: we hope that our remarks may be recommended to our readers rather by their justness than their novelty.

The rapid progress of Political Economy during the last half century, presents to all who have at heart the well being of the human race, the most cheering prospects. This science may be regarded as, in a peculiar manner, the offspring of the age:"potius temporis partus quam ingenii." Until men had ceased to look on plunder as the only source of gain, it was impossible that there should be that enjoyment of quiet, and security of property, necessary for the cultivation of Political Economy.But even after the increased knowledge of mankind had directed their attention to the more certain method of obtaining VOL. V.-No. 9. 4

the necessaries anos by dusty for any, ages The the improper interference of the public authorities in the private concerns of individuals, greatly retarded the march of national wealth, and thus defeated their own purposes. The Economists in France, and, especially Dr. Smith, in Britain, about the middle of the eighteenth century, reduced the science of the wealth of nations to a system, and showed very clearly that the proper course for governments to pursue, is, to protect the rights of all their citizens, and give exclusive privileges to none :-to preserve inviolate the natural right of every man to follow that employment which he may deem most profitable, provided that he does not interfere with the rightful claims of others, and that his occupation be not incompatible with the laws of justice. Thus individual interests are identified with those of the state. "Le monde alons va de lui meme.”

It would have been unreasonable to expect, that opinions which had prevailed so long, and had been incorporated with the policy of governments, should fall at once before even the clearest reason. Hence writers on Political Economy were distinguished into two classes, each marked by the practical conclusions which were drawn from their speculative inquiries, and this distinction still exists. The school of Adam Smith has adopted the broad and liberal principles of the Economists; and to that meddling spirit of rulers which has so often led them to make regulations for the industry of the governed, they reply, laissez faire et laissez passer: "for as the public interest consists in the union of all individual interests, individual interest will guide each man more surely to the public interest than any government can do." The mercantilists, or partisans of the commercial, or restrictive system, hold that the interference of government is useful and necessary since by this means the capital and industry of the community may be directed into those channels which will prove most beneficial to society. They maintain the position therefore, that the most advantageous employment to the individual, may not be so, as to the nation at large, even in those departments of industry by which neither the laws of nature, nor private rights, are violated.

Mr. Raymond appears to be a disciple of the latter school, so far as it is possible to class him with former writers. He does not, however, receive the principles of any party; and the chief marks of resemblance to the mercantilists, are his maintaining the identity of money and wealth; and the propriety of legisla

Vol. 1, p. 299. Vol. 2, p. 97. The apparent contradictions of Vol. 1, p. 267 and 310, respect the obnoxious word “accumulation" only.