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and the means of their subsistence。 The quantity of the finished
work which they sell to the inhabitants of the country
necessarily regulates the quantity of the materials and
provisions which they buy。 Neither their employment nor
subsistence； therefore； can augment but in proportion to the
augmentation of the demand from the country for finished work；
and this demand can augment only in proportion to the extension
of improvement and cultivation。 Had human institutions；
therefore； never disturbed the natural course of things； the
progressive wealth and increase of the towns would； in every
political society； be consequential； and in proportion to the
improvement and cultivation of the territory or country。
In our North American colonies； where uncultivated land is
still to be had upon easy terms； no manufactures for distant sale
have ever yet been established in any of their towns。 When an
artificer has acquired a little more stock than is necessary for
carrying on his own business in supplying the neighbouring
country； he does not； in North America； attempt to establish with
it a manufacture for more distant sale； but employs it in the
purchase and improvement of uncultivated land。 From artificer he
becomes planter； and neither the large wages nor the easy
subsistence which that country affords to artificers can bribe
him rather to work for other people than for himself。 He feels
that an artificer is the servant of his customers； from whom he
derives his subsistence； but that a planter who cultivates his
own land； and derives his necessary subsistence from the labour
of his own family； is really a master； and independent of all the
world。
In countries； on the contrary； where there is either no
uncultivated land； or none that can be had upon easy terms； every
artificer who has acquired more stock than he can employ in the
occasional jobs of the neighbourhood endeavours to prepare work
for more distant sale。 The smith erects some sort of iron； the
weaver some sort of linen or woollen manufactory。 Those different
manufactures come； in process of time； to be gradually
subdivided； and thereby improved and refined in a great variety
of ways； which may easily be conceived； and which it is therefore
unnecessary to explain any further。
In seeking for employment to a capital； manufactures are；
upon equal or nearly equal profits； naturally preferred to
foreign commerce； for the same reason that agriculture is
naturally preferred to manufactures。 As the capital of the
landlord or farmer is more secure than that of the manufacturer；
so the capital of the manufacturer； being at all times more
within his view and command； is more secure than that of the
foreign merchant。 In every period； indeed； of every society； the
surplus part both of the rude and manufactured produce； or that
for which there is no demand at home； must be sent abroad in
order to be exchanged for something for which there is some
demand at home。 But whether the capital； which carries this
surplus produce abroad； be a foreign or a domestic one is of very
little importance。 If the society has not acquired sufficient
capital both to cultivate all its lands； and to manufacture in
the completest manner the whole of its rude produce； there is
even a considerable advantage that rude produce should be
exported by a foreign capital； in order that the whole stock of
the society may be employed in more useful purposes。 The wealth
of ancient Egypt； that of China and Indostan； sufficiently
demonstrate that a nation may attain a very high degree of
opulence though the greater part of its exportation trade be
carried on by foreigners。 The progress of our North American and
West Indian colonies would have been much less rapid had no
capital but what belonged to themselves been employed in
exporting their surplus produce。
According to the natural course of things； therefore； the
greater part of the capital of every growing society is； first；
directed to agriculture； afterwards to manufactures； and last of
all to foreign commerce。 This order of things is so very natural
that in every society that had any territory it has always； I
believe； been in some degree observed。 Some of their lands must
have been cultivated before any considerable towns could be
established； and some sort of coarse industry of the
manufacturing kind must have been carried on in those towns；
before they could well think of employing themselves in foreign
commerce。
But though this natural order of things must have taken
place in some degree in every such society； it has； in all the
modern states of Europe； been； in many respects； entirely
inverted。 The foreign commerce of some of their cities has
introduced all their finer manufactures； or such as were fit for
distant sale； and manufactures and foreign commerce together have
given birth to the principal improvements of agriculture。 The
manners and customs which the nature of their original government
introduced； and which remained after that government was greatly
altered； necessarily forced them into this unnatural and
retrograde order。
CHAPTER II
Of the Discouragement of Agriculture in the ancient State of
Europe after the Fall of the Roman Empire
WHEN the German and Scythian nations overran the western
provinces of the Roman empire； the confusions which followed so
great a revolution lasted for several centuries。 The rapine and
violence which the barbarians exercised against the ancient
inhabitants interrupted the commerce between the towns and the
country。 The towns were deserted； and the country was left
uncultivated； and the western provinces of Europe； which had
enjoyed a considerable degree of opulence under the Roman empire；
sunk into the lowest state of poverty and barbarism。 During the
continuance of those confusions； the chiefs and principal leaders
of those nations acquired or usurped to themselves the greater
part of the lands of those countries。 A great part of them was
uncultivated； but no part of them； whether cultivated or
uncultivated； was left without a proprietor。 All of them were
engrossed； and the greater part by a few great proprietors。
This original engrossing of uncultivated lands； though a
great； might have been but a transitory evil。 They might soon
have been divided again； and broke into small parcels either by
succession or by alienation。 The law of primogeniture hindered
them from being divided by succession： the introduction of
entails prevented their being broke into small parcels by
alienation。
When land； like movables； is considered as the means only of
subsistence and enjoyment； the natural law of succession divides
it； like them； among all the children of the family； of an of
whom the subsistence and enjoyment may be supposed equally dear
to the father。 This natural law of succession accordingly took
place among the Romans； who made no more distinction between
elder and younger； between male and female； in the inheritance of