As Richard was excited by the grand interplay of nations, and bored by social history in general, his tutor had asked him for an essay contrasting the supposed national characteristics of the colonial powers. 
`I think Montesquieu argued that the monarchy in France had barred the nobility from commerce, whereas in England the nobility were free to do business and so to plough the wealth they had originally <tag "515647">derived</> from the land into enterprises in the Empire," Richard's reply was fluent.   

