"M-- having still some remains of a military disposition, and this
to be a more favourable opportunity than any he should ever meet
with again, readily embraced the offer, and sacrificed the soft
delights of love, which at that time he enjoyed without control,
to an eager, laborious, and dangerous curiosity. In that and the
following campaign, during which he was present at the siege of
Philipsburgh, and several other actions, he enlarged his acquaintance
among the French officers, especially those of the graver sort,
who had a taste for books and literature; and the friendship and
interest of those gentlemen were afterwards of singular service to
him, though in an affair altogether foreign from their profession.
"He had all along made diligent inquiry into the trade and manufactures
of the countries through which he had occasion to travel, more
particularly those of Holland, England, and France; and, as he was
well acquainted with the revenue and farms of this last kingdom,
he saw with concern the great disadvantages under which our tobacco
trade, the most considerable branch of our commerce with that
people, was carried on; what inconsiderable returns were made to
the planters, out of the low price given by the French company;
and how much it was in the power of that company to reduce it still
lower.
Pages:
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372
1373
1374
1375
1376
1377
1378
1379
1380
1381
1382