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their industry。 A greater number of new equivalents of some kind
or other must have been presented to them to be exchanged for the
surplus produce of that industry。 A more extensive market must
have been created for that surplus produce so as to raise its
value； and thereby encourage its increase。 The mass of
commodities annually thrown into the great circle of European
commerce； and by its various revolutions annually distributed
among all the different nations comprehended within it； must have
been augmented by the whole surplus produce of America。 A greater
share of this greater mass； therefore； is likely to have fallen
to each of those nations； to have increased their enjoyments； and
augmented their industry。
The exclusive trade of the mother countries tends to
diminish； or； at least； to keep down below what they would
otherwise rise to； both the enjoyments and industry of all those
nations in general； and of the American colonies in particular。
It is a dead weight upon the action of one of the great springs
which puts into motion a great part of the business of mankind。
By rendering the colony produce dearer in all other countries； it
lessens its consumption； and thereby cramps the industry of the
colonies； and both the enjoyments and the industry of all other
countries； which both enjoy less when they pay more for what they
enjoy； and produce less when they get less for what they produce。
By rendering the produce of all other countries dearer in the
colonies； it cramps； in the same manner the industry of all other
countries； and both the enjoyments and the industry of the
colonies。 It is a clog which； for the supposed benefit of some
particular countries； embarrasses the pleasures and encumbers the
industry of all other countries； but of the colonies more than of
any other。 It not only excludes； as much as possible； all other
countries from one particular market； but it confines； as much as
Possible； the colonies to one particular market； and the
difference is very great between being excluded from one
particular market； when all others are open； and being confined
to one particular market； when all others are shut up。 The
surplus produce of the colonies； however； is the original source
of all that increase of enjoyments and industry which Europe
derives from the discovery and colonization of America； and the
exclusive trade of the mother countries tends to render this
source much less abundant than it otherwise would be。
The particular advantages which each colonizing country
derives from the colonies which particularly belong to it are of
two different kinds； first； those common advantages which every
empire derives from the provinces subject to its dominion； and；
secondly； those peculiar advantages which are supposed to result
from provinces of so very peculiar a nature as the European
colonies of America。
The common advantages which every empire derives from the
provinces subject to its dominion consist； first； in the military
force which they furnish for its defence； and； secondly； in the
revenue which they furnish for the support of its civil
government。 The Roman colones furnished occasionally both the one
and the other。 The Greek colonies； sometimes； furnished a
military force； but seldom any revenue。 They seldom acknowledged
themselves subject to the dominion of the mother city。 They were
generally her allies in war； but very seldom her subjects in
peace。
The European colonies of America have never yet furnished
any military force for the defence of the mother country。 Their
military force has never yet been sufficient for their own
defence； and in the different wars in which the mother countries
have been engaged； the defence of their colonies has generally
occasioned a very considerable distraction of the military force
of those countries。 In this respect； therefore； all the European
colonies have； without exception； been a cause rather of weakness
than of strength to their respective mother countries。
The colonies of Spain and Portugal only have contributed any
revenue towards the defence of the mother country； or the support
of her civil government。 The taxes which have been levied upon
those of other European nations； upon those of England in
particular； have seldom been equal to the expense laid out upon
them in time of peace； and never sufficient to defray that which
they occasioned in time of war。 Such colonies； therefore； have
been a source of expense and not of revenue to their respective
mother countries。
The advantages of such colonies to their respective mother
countries consist altogether in those peculiar advantages which
are supposed to result from provinces of so very peculiar a
nature as the European colonies of America； and the exclusive
trade； it is acknowledged； is the sole source of all those
peculiar advantages。
In consequence of this exclusive trade； all that part of the
surplus produce of the English colonies； for example； which
consists in what are called enumerated commodities； can be sent
to no other country but England。 Other countries must afterwards
buy it of her。 It must be cheaper therefore in England than it
can be in any other country； and must contribute more to increase
the enjoyments of England than those of any other country。 It
must likewise contribute more to encourage her industry。 For all
those parts of her own surplus produce which England exchanges
for those enumerated commodities； she must get a better price
than any other countries can get for the like parts of theirs；
when they exchange them for the same commodities。 The
manufacturers of England； for example； will purchase a greater
quantity of the sugar and tobacco of her own colonies than the
like manufactures of other countries can purchase of that sugar
and tobacco。 So far； therefore； as the manufactures of England
and those of other countries are both to be exchanged for the
sugar and tobacco of the English colonies； this superiority of
price gives an encouragement to the former beyond what the latter
can in these circumstances enjoy。 The exclusive trade of the
colonies； therefore； as it diminishes； or at least keeps down
below what they would otherwise rise to； both the enjoyments and
the industry of the countries which do not possess it； so it
gives an evident advantage to the countries which do possess it
over those other countries。
This advantage； however； will perhaps be found to be rather
what may be called a relative than an absolute advantage； and to
give a superiority to the country which enjoys it rather by
depressing the industry and produce of other countries than by
raising those of that particular country above what they would
naturally rise to in the case of a free trade。
The tobacco of Maryland and Virginia； for example； by means
of the monopoly which England enjoys of it； certainly comes
cheaper to England than it can do to France； to whom England
commonly sells a considerable part of it。 But had France； and all
other Europea