1. Suppose the ballance last year due by us was 20000 lib. the import and expence abroad lessened 60000 l. these who propose this regulation may think a ballance will be due to us of 40000 lib. but as the bank may have supplyed us with 60000 lib. of notes, more than the money in bank: and as 20000 lib. is supposed to have been exported last year: so our money being lessened 80000 lib. the next year’s export may be so much less valuable, the want of that money having set idle a part of the people were then imployed: and a greater ballance be due than last year, notwithstanding of the regulation. 2. 40000 lib. first cost of goods imported, and 20000 lib. spent abroad, lessened the consumption of the goods of the country; and the export was by so much greater, as the consumption of the goods of the country was lessened. but this regulation occasioning a greater consumption of the goods of the country, the export will be less. 3. Several merchants may have exported goods, tho’ they had not much profit upon the export of them; but because of the profit to be made upon the import; which being lessen’d, may likewise lessen the export. 4. If Scotland discharge or put a very high duty on the goods of other nations, other nations may discharge Scots goods. Allowing there were no difficulties in regulating the ballance of trade, and that the same measures were followed as are followed in Holland; we would grow richer, but their riches would increase in the same proportion: and 50 years hence Scotland would be as poor as now, in comparison with Holland. If two countries equal in their product, people, &c. the one with a 100000 lib. of money, and living within its yearly value; so that the first year a ballance is due of 20000 l. the second year of 25000 lib. and so on. the other country with 20 millions of money, and consuming more than the yearly value; so that a million is sent out to pay the ballance, the second year 1200000 lib. and so on. this country will be soon poor, and the other be soon rich: but if that people who has 20 millions of money, will retrench in proportion to the other; they will be rich and powerful in comparison with the other. Considering how small a share we have of the money of Europe, and how much trade depends on money: it will not be found very practicable to better our condition, but by an addition to our money. or if it is practicable without it, it is much more so with it. The bank will add little to the money; for as credit is voluntary, it depends on the quantity of money in the country. and tho’ the bank had never failed, yet it could not have kept its credit much longer. because, the quantity of money in Scotland is not sufficient to give a circulation to such a sum of notes, as will pay the charges of the bank, and the interest to the owners.