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wealbk03-第13章

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or of disturbing the peace of the country。 Having sold their

birthright; not like Esau for a mess of pottage in time of hunger

and necessity; but in the wantonness of plenty; for trinkets and

baubles; fitter to be the playthings of children than the serious

pursuits of men; they became as insignificant as any substantial

burgher or tradesman in a city。 A regular government was

established in the country as well as in the city; nobody having

sufficient power to disturb its operations in the one any more

than in the other。

     It does not; perhaps; relate to the present subject; but I

cannot help remarking it; that very old families; such as have

possessed some considerable estate from father to son for many

successive generations are very rare in commercial countries。 In

countries which have little commerce; on the contrary; such as

Wales or the highlands of Scotland; they are very common。 The

Arabian histories seem to be all full of genealogies; and there

is a history written by a Tartar Khan; which has been translated

into several European languages; and which contains scarce

anything else; a proof that ancient families are very common

among those nations。 In countries where a rich man can spend his

revenue in no other way than by maintaining as many people as it

can maintain; he is not apt to run out; and his benevolence it

seems is seldom so violent as to attempt to maintain more than he

can afford。 But where he can spend the greatest revenue upon his

own person; he frequently has no bounds to his expense; because

he frequently has no bounds to his vanity or to his affection for

his own person。 In commercial countries; therefore; riches; in

spite of the most violent regulations of law to prevent their

dissipation; very seldom remain long in the same family。 Among

simple nations; on the contrary; they frequently do without any

regulations of law; for among nations of shepherds; such as the

Tartars and Arabs; the consumable nature of their property

necessarily renders all such regulations impossible。

     A revolution of the greatest importance to the public

happiness was in this manner brought about by two different

orders of people who had not the least intention to serve the

public。 To gratify the most childish vanity was the sole motive

of the great proprietors。 The merchants and artificers; much less

ridiculous; acted merely from a view to their own interest; and

in pursuit of their own pedlar principle of turning a penny

wherever a penny was to be got。 Neither of them had either

knowledge or foresight of that great revolution which the folly

of the one; and the industry of the other; was gradually bringing

about。

     It is thus that through the greater part of Europe the

commerce and manufactures of cities; instead of being the effect;

have been the cause and occasion of the improvement and

cultivation of the country。

     This order; however; being contrary to the natural course of

things; is necessarily both slow and uncertain。 Compare the slow

progress of those European countries of which the wealth depends

very much upon their commerce and manufactures with the rapid

advances of our North American colonies; of which the wealth is

founded altogether in agriculture。 Through the greater part of

Europe the number of inhabitants is not supposed to double in

less than five hundred years。 In several of our North American

colonies; it is found to double in twenty or five…and…twenty

years。 In Europe; the law of primogeniture and perpetuities of

different kinds prevent the division of great estates; and

thereby hinder the multiplication of small proprietors。 A small

proprietor; however; who knows every part of his little

territory; who views it with all the affection which property;

especially small property; naturally inspires; and who upon that

account takes pleasure not only in cultivating but in adorning

it; is generally of all improvers the most industrious; the most

intelligent; and the most successful。 The same regulations;

besides; keep so much land out of the market that there are

always more capitals to buy than there is land to sell; so that

what is sold always sells at a monopoly price。 The rent never

pays the interest of the purchase…money; and is; besides;

burdened with repairs and other occasional charges to which the

interest of money is not liable。 To purchase land is everywhere

in Europe a most unprofitable employment of a small capital。 For

the sake of the superior security; indeed; a man of moderate

circumstances; when he retires from business; will sometimes

choose to lay out his little capital in land。 A man of profession

too; whose revenue is derived from。 another source; often loves

to secure his savings in the same way。 But a young man; who;

instead of applying to trade or to some profession; should employ

a capital of two or three thousand pounds in the purchase and

cultivation of a small piece of land; might indeed expect to live

very happily; and very independently; but must bid adieu forever

to all hope of either great fortune or great illustration; which

by a different employment of his stock he might have had the same

chance of acquiring with other people。 Such a person too; though

he cannot aspire at being a proprietor; will often disdain to be

a farmer。 The small quantity of land; therefore; which is brought

to market; and the high price of what is brought thither;

prevents a great number of capitals from being employed in its

cultivation and improvement which would otherwise have taken that

direction。 In North America; on the contrary; fifty or sixty

pounds is often found a sufficient stock to begin a plantation

with。 The purchase and improvement of uncultivated land is there

the most profitable employment of the smallest as well as of the

greatest capitals; and the most direct road to all the fortune

and illustration which can be acquired in that country。 Such

land; indeed; is in North America to be had almost for nothing;

or at a price much below the value of the natural produce… a

thing impossible in Europe; or; indeed; in any country where all

lands have long been private property。 If landed estates;

however; were divided equally among all the children upon the

death of any proprietor who left a numerous family; the estate

would generally be sold。 So much land would come to market that

it could no longer sell at a monopoly price。 The free rent of the

land would go nearer to pay the interest of the purchase…money;

and a small capital might be employed in purchasing land as

profitably as in any other way。

     England; on account of the natural fertility of the soil; of

the great extent of the sea…coast in proportion to that of the

whole country; and of the many navigable rivers which run through

it and afford the conveniency of water carriage to some of the

most inland parts of it; is perhaps as well fitted by nature as

any large country in Europe to be the seat of foreign commerce;

of manufactures for distant sale; and of all the improvements

which these can occasion
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