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extraordinary encouragements to draw towards a particular species
of industry a greater share of the capital of the society than
what would naturally go to it； or； by extraordinary restraints；
force from a particular species of industry some share of the
capital which would otherwise be employed in it； is in reality
subversive of the great purpose which it means to promote。 It
retards； instead of accelerating； the progress of the society
towards real wealth and greatness； and diminishes； instead of
increasing； the real value of the annual produce of its land and
labour。
All systems either of preference or of restraint； therefore；
being thus completely taken away； the obvious and simple system
of natural liberty establishes itself of its own accord。 Every
man； as long as he does not violate the laws of justice； is left
perfectly free to pursue his own interest his own way； and to
bring both his industry and capital into competition with those
of any other man； or order of men。 The sovereign is completely
discharged from a duty； in the attempting to perform which he
must always be exposed to innumerable delusions； and for the
proper performance of which no human wisdom or knowledge could
ever be sufficient； the duty of superintending the industry of
private people； and of directing it towards the employments most
suitable to the interest of the society。 According to the system
of natural liberty； the sovereign has only three duties to attend
to； three duties of great importance； indeed； but plain and
intelligible to common understandings： first； the duty of
protecting the society from violence and invasion of other
independent societies； secondly； the duty of protecting； as far
as possible； every member of the society from the injustice or
oppression of every other member of it； or the duty of
establishing an exact administration of justice； and； thirdly；
the duty of erecting and maintaining certain public works and
certain public institutions which it can never be for the
interest of any individual； or small number of individuals； to
erect and maintain； because the profit could never repay the
expense to any individual or small number of individuals； though
it may frequently do much more than repay it to a great society。
The proper performance of those several duties of the
sovereign necessarily supposes a certain expense； and this
expense again necessarily requires a certain revenue to support
it。 In the following book； therefore； I shall endeavour to
explain； first； what are the necessary expenses of the sovereign
or commonwealth； and which of those expenses ought to be defrayed
by the general contribution of the whole society； and which of
them by that of some particular part only； or of some particular
members of the society； secondly； what are the different methods
in which the whole society may be made to contribute towards
defraying the expenses incumbent on the whole society； and what
are the principal advantages and inconveniences of each of those
methods； and thirdly； what are the reasons and causes which have
induced almost all modern governments to mortgage some part of
this revenue； or to contract debts； and what have been the effects
of those debts upon the real wealth； the annual produce of the
land and labour of the society。 The following book； therefore；
will naturally be divided into three chapters。