First I have heard of this one Dobbs.

The phrase is attributed to Napoleon as far as most people are concerned, but did not originate with Napoleon, It first appears in "The Wealth of Nations" published in 1776 by Adam Smith, who wrote this: "To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people of customers may at first sight appear a project fit only for a nation of shopkeepers. It is, however, a project altogether unfit for a nation of shopkeepers; but extremely fit for a nation whose government is influenced by shopkeepers". Your Benjamin Franklin also used it to describe the Dutch at a slightly later date. This could be the source of Napoleon's use of it.

Rob.