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from the land more than what subsists himself and family。 Furnish
him with manufactures and commodities； and he will do it of
himself。 Afterwards you will find it easy to seize some part of
his superfluous labour； and employ it in the public service；
without giving him his wonted return。 Being accustomed to
industry； he will think this less grievous； than if； at once； you
obliged him to an augmentation of labour without any reward。 The
case is the same with regard to the other members of the state。
The greater is the stock of labour of all kinds； the greater
quantity may be taken from the heap； without making any sensible
alteration in it。
A public granary of corn； a storehouse of cloth； a magazine
of arms； all these must be allowed real riches and strength in
any state。 Trade and industry are really nothing but a stock of
labour； which； in times of peace and tranquillity； is employed
for the ease and satisfaction of individuals； but in the
exigencies of state； may； in part； be turned to public advantage。
Could we convert a city into a kind of fortified camp； and infuse
into each breast so martial a genius； and such a passion for
public good； as to make every one willing to undergo the greatest
hardships for the sake of the public； these affections might now；
as in ancient times； prove alone a sufficient spur to industry；
and support the community。 It would then be advantageous； as in
camps； to banish all arts and luxury； and； by restrictions on
equipage and tables； make the provisions and forage last longer
than if the army were loaded with a number of superfluous
retainers。 But as these principles are too disinterested and too
difficult to support； it is requisite to govern men by other
passions； and animate them with a spirit of avarice and industry；
art and luxury。 The camp is； in this case； loaded with a
superfluous retinue； but the provisions flow in proportionably
larger。 The harmony of the whole is still supported； and the
natural bent of the mind being more complied with； individuals；
as well as the public； find their account in the observance of
those maxims。
The same method of reasoning will let us see the advantage of
foreign commerce； in augmenting the power of the state； as well
as the riches and happiness of the subject。 It encreases the
stock of labour in the nation； and the sovereign may convert what
share of it he finds necessary to the service of the public。
Foreign trade； by its imports； furnishes materials for new
manufactures； and by its exports； it produces labour in
particular commodities； which could not be consumed at home。 In
short； a kingdom； that has a large import and export； must abound
more with industry； and that employed upon delicacies and
luxuries； than a kingdom which rests contented with its native
commodities。 It is； therefore； more powerful； as well as richer
and happier。 The individuals reap the benefit of these
commodities； so far as they gratify the senses and appetites。 And
the public is also a gainer； while a greater stock of labour is；
by this means； stored up against any public exigency； that is； a
greater number of laborious men are maintained； who may be
diverted to the public service； without robbing any one of the
necessaries； or even the chief conveniencies of life。
If we consult history； we shall find； that； in most nations；
foreign trade has preceded any refinement in home manufactures；
and given birth to domestic luxury。 The temptation is stronger to
make use of foreign commodities； which are ready for use； and
which are entirely new to us； than to make improvements on any
domestic commodity； which always advance by slow degrees； and
never affect us by their novelty。 The profit is also very great；
in exporting what is superfluous at home； and what bears no
price； to foreign nations； whose soil or climate is not
favourable to that commodity。 Thus men become acquainted with the
pleasures of luxury and the profits of commerce； and their
delicacy and industry； being once awakened； carry them on to
farther improvements； in every branch of domestic as well as
foreign trade。 And this perhaps is the chief advantage which
arises from a commerce with strangers。 It rouses men from their
indolence； and presenting the gayer and more opulent part of the
nation with objects of luxury； which they never before dreamed
of； raises in them a desire of a more splendid way of life than
what their ancestors enjoyed。 And at the same time； the few
merchants； who possess the secret of this importation and
exportation； make great profits； and becoming rivals in wealth to
the ancient nobility； tempt other adventurers to become their
rivals in commerce。 Imitation soon diffuses all those arts； while
domestic manufactures emulate the foreign in their improvements；
and work up every home commodity to the utmost perfection of
which it is susceptible。 Their own steel and iron； in such
laborious hands； become equal to the gold and rubies of the
INDIES。
When the affairs of the society are once brought to this
situation； a nation may lose most of its foreign trade； and yet
continue a great and powerful people。 If strangers will not take
any particular commodity of ours； we must cease to labour in it。
The same hands will turn themselves towards some refinement in
other commodities； which may be wanted at home。 And there must
always be materials for them to work upon； till every person in
the state； who possesses riches； enjoys as great plenty of home
commodities； and those in as great perfection； as he desires；
which can never possibly happen。 CHINA is represented as one of
the most flourishing empires in the world； though it has very
little commerce beyond its own territories。
It will not； I hope； be considered as a superfluous
digression； if I here observe； that； as the multitude of
mechanical arts is advantageous； so is the great number of
persons to whose share the productions of these arts fall。 A too
great disproportion among the citizens weakens any state。 Every
person； if possible； ought to enjoy the fruits of his labour； in
a full possession of all the necessaries； and many of the
conveniencies of life。 No one can doubt； but such an equality is
most suitable to human nature； and diminishes much less from the
happiness of the rich than it adds to that of the poor。 It also
augments the power of the state； and makes any extraordinary
taxes or impositions be paid with more chearfulness。 Where the
riches are engrossed by a few； these must contribute very largely
to the supplying of the public necessities。 But when the riches
are dispersed among multitudes； the burthen feels light on every
shoulder； and the taxes make not a very sensible difference on
any one's way of living。
Add to this； that； where the riches are in few hands； these
must enjoy all the power； and will readily conspire to lay the
whole burthen on the poor； and oppress them still farther； to the
discouragement of all industry。
In this circumstance consists the great advantage of ENGLAND
above any nation at present in the world； or that appears in the
records of any story。 It is true； the ENGLISH feel some
disadvantages in foreign trade by the high price of labour； which
is in part the effect of the riches of their artisans； as well as
of the plenty of money： But as foreign trade is not the most
material circumstance； it is not to be put in competition with
the happiness of so many millions。 And if there were no more to
endear to them that free government under which they live； this
alone were sufficient。 The poverty of the common people is a
natural； if not an infallible effect of absolute monarchy； though
I doubt； whether it be always true； on the other hand； that their
riches are an infallible result of liberty。 Liberty must be
attended with particular accidents； and a certain turn of
thinking； in order to produce that effect。 Lord BACON； accounting
for the great advantages obtained by the ENGLISH in their wars
with FRANCE； ascribes them chiefly to the superior ease and
plenty of the common people amongst the former； yet the
government of the two kingdoms was； at that time； pretty much
al