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CHAP. XV. CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PRINCE. 411 people. Increase the productions of your own country, and they will put you in possession of the products of other countries. Let your laws be just, and then the good in the community will respect and obey them, and help you to deter the bad from infringing them.” “ But,” said the prince, “ suppose we try to do this, and the nation does not prosper, will they not say that the go vernment is to blame?” I said, “There are in every country people who are always ready to blame their government when they do not prosper. But if your laws are just and wise, and those who administer them honest, the enlightened and the upright in the community will be as ready to support you in adversity as in prosperity; and their confidence will be your strength. The loyalty of the people,” I also added, “ depends much upon the officers who administer, as well as the sovereign who makes laws, and one of the wisest of kings has said ‘ a wicked person shall not stand before me.’ ” The prince replied, “ I know that. I am quite convinced of that.” It was past noon when the prince and his companions left me ; and I have repeated the foregoing only as a specimen of the kind of conversation which he appeared anxious to intro duce as often as opportunity offered. Other topics equally important to the people, and more intimately connected with himself personally, as well as relating to the present and the future welfare of his country, were often introduced by the prince in the course of conversation. Besides my lively in terest in this young prince, and which every interview deep ened, I cannot but hope that the intercourse I had with him, more frequent and unreserved than with any other indi vidual, may have been of some advantage to him, while it is a source of grateful remembrance to myself. In the evening, a number of the chief men among my friends came and proposed many inquiries respecting modes