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All Collections > The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition. > Volume II. > body > book xx.: of laws in relation to commerce, considered in its nature and distinctions. > chap. XXI.: of the commerce of the nobility in a monarchy.
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The Complete Works of Montesquieu. Electronic Edition.
cover
Volume II.
Body
BOOK XX.: OF LAWS IN RELATION TO COMMERCE, CONSIDERED IN ITS NATURE AND DISTINCTIONS.
CHAP. XXI.: Of the Commerce of the Nobility in a Monarchy.

CHAP. XXI.: Of the Commerce of the Nobility in a Monarchy.

IN a monarchical government, it is contrary to the spirit of commerce, that any of the nobility should be merchants. “This,” said the Emperors†17 Honorius and Theodosius, “would be pernicious to cities; and would remove the facility of buying and selling between the merchants and the plebeians.”

It is contrary to the spirit of monarchy, to admit the nobility into commerce. The custom of suffering the nobility of England to trade, is one of those things which has there mostly contributed to weaken the monarchical government.

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