The Wealth of Nations by Part 4 Chapter 7 Page 27

Danish colonies, none have ever yet been discovered; at least none that are at present supposed to be worth the working.

The first English settlers in North America, however, offered a fifth of all the gold and silver which should be found there to the king, as a motive for granting them their patents. In the patents to Sir Walter Raleigh, to the London and Plymouth Companies, to the Council of Plymouth, etc., this fifth was accordingly reserved to the crown. To the expectation of finding gold and silver mines, those first settlers, too, joined that of discovering a northwest passage to the East Indies. They have hitherto been disappointed in both.

2. Causes of Prosperity of New Colonies

The colony of a civilised nation which takes possession either of