the whole
trade to India, were wealthy but feeble. They had more art, policy, and
money, than other nations; but they had of themselves scarcely any
effective power, except a little exercised by the Venetians and
Genoese at sea.

The Hanse Towns, extending over the northern part of Europe and
Flanders, which had become wealthy and powerful by their own
industry, and a participation of the trade to India with the Italians,
(though at second hand,) were on the decline, through pride and
luxury.

Holland alone was advancing fast towards wealth, by industry, and an
attention to commerce and economy. Spain and Portugal had turned
their attention to new discoveries; and France and England were
endeavouring to follow, though at a great distance, those who, in this
career, had gone before them.

Of the places that enjoyed wealth, all were declining in power from
the abuse of it; and Spain, which alone had possessed much power
without wealth, was abusing it, by banishing industry from Flanders,
and the Moors from their own country. In one case, there was wealth
without power; in the other, there was power without wealth; and, in
both, mistaken views and unwise conduct had laid the foundation for
decline.

The other nations that had not yet either wealth or power were all
seeking with great energy to acquire them; and they were successful in
their attempts. Even Spain, which had unwisely banished the Moors,
and thereby laid a foundation for its own decline and fall, found that
event retarded for a century, by a most unexpected discovery: in
consequence of which discovery it fell from a greater height at a later
period. {45}

---
{45} It would not be to the purpose to speak at present either of
Poland, Sweden, or Russia, or of the German empire, in which many
of the Hanse Towns were situated. [end of page #49] The history of
the Hanse Towns is very curious, and well worth attention: perhaps, next
to that of Rome, it is the best calculated to illustrate the subject of
this inquiry; but it is too long to be entered on.
-=-

As for the eastern empire; held up by a participation of the commerce
of India, and retaining still some of the civilization of the ancient
world, it had sustained the irregular, though fierce attacks of the
barbarians till the middle of this century; when, having very
imprudently made a display of the riches of the city, and the beauty of
the women, the envy of the Mahomedan barbarians was raised to a