62 On the Importance of 
just ; but in the illustration which the reviewer 
subjoins, he shows himself in some measure 
aware of the reply to which the application of 
that argument was open. He adds, “ Nor do 
we think that Mr. Spence will succeed in 
convincing the people of England to go 
without wine, and to hoard Birmingham ma- 
nufactures.” This also may be true: but it 
only shows that the taste of consumers may 
not take that turn which a particular author 
might recommend. It cannot probably be 
directed, and its changes may not be easily 
foreseen. But there is one principle in human 
nature to which it is of the utmost importance 
for us to attend; that as long as a spirit for 
active labour exists in the country, and as long 
as that spirit is encouraged by a love of luxury 
among the rich, those of the latter, who are 
deprived of the opportunity of purchasing one 
luxury, will find some means of spending their 
superfluous income ; and these means will call 
into a different field of exertion, the labour of 
those persons who were employed in importing 
luxuries from abroad, or in preparing manu- 
factures to pay for them in the foreign market. 
The most serious disadvantage that arises, 
consists in the temporary embarrassment pro- 
duced by the sudden change given to the great 
machme of commerce, and the uncertainty 
