Foreign Commerce. 5k 
is not different. The proprietor of land still 
possesses the original command of human 
labour. The capital and credit of the mer- 
chant reduce the employment of this labour to 
a system. By. thus rendering it more pro- 
ductive, he adds to the conveniences of the 
landed proprietor, and he himself is also fur- 
nished with the luxuries of life. An increase 
takes place in the proportion of persons who 
live in affluence ; but none in the sum total of 
population. 
Mr. Spence errs in considering commerce 
as a necessary spur to agriculture. In a 
country destitute of commerce, the passion of 
men of influence for increasing the number of 
their vassals, would produce the same effect. 
This principle formerly supported tillage in 
some districts ef our country from which it is 
now excluded, Formerly a chieftain was as 
well satisfied when his brave hordes supported. 
themselves amidst inaccessible mountains as 
when they subsisted on the produce of the 
open plain. Now, land will yield no profit in 
grain, unless manufactures are brought to its 
neighbourhood, or means found to convey its 
produce toa distance. On this account, under 
such circumstances, grain is not raised: We 
thus find, that the commercial spirit has had a 
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