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OF THE CONTINENTALequal distribution of wealth in the countries which formedthe complicated political system of Europe and for;thatreason necessarily extended itself more and more in proportion as this inequality increased. Since the westerncountries of this part of the globe, by the advantage of theirposition, drew to themselves the most extensive commerce,wealth became accumulated in specie, and enabled thesecountries to furnish the subsidies of which the others stoodin need. Not only England, but France and Holland followed this system. But England, by reason of her positionand her relations, was manifestly most frequently placed ina condition to adopt it.The granting of subsidiesmay prove a great gain, or agreat evil, as well to the state which furnishes them as tothat which receives them, accordingly as it may be directedby a sound policy, by despicable passions, or by mere political caprice : its effects, if pernicious, may even extend tothe whole political system.Independence and security are more valuable than money,and if both of them can be purchased or maintained for astate itself and its confederates by money, such an expenditure certainly cannot be without advantage. In a systemcomposed of such different elements as the political systemof Europe, that nicely-adjusted balance of power which canafford the only security for the perpetuity of the whole, cannot possibly be maintained without reciprocal support. It isclear, however, from the preceding observations, that thosestates which had been accustomed to receive supplies ofmoney rather than of men, must unavoidably be subsidisedas soon as they themselves experience a greater deficiencyin money than in men. To rich states, therefore, whospared their own subjects, which they might otherwisehave been compelled to sacrifice, the granting of subsidiesbecame under such circumstances an almost necessarycondition for the maintenance of this balance. But considered in another point of view, it is unquestionable thatsuch a resource is likely to be scandalously abused, whenever blind passion resorts to it for satiating its animosity,or even that execrable policy is followed which sees its owninterest in the protraction of war amongst others, and doesnot shrink from making considerable sacrifices in order