100 POLITICAL ECONOMY. 



apparently new to him, is not new to the country, 

 as it must have existed in it before, and is of course 

 abstracted from other employment. Had they not 

 advanced this capital to government, there would 

 have been two capitals ; the one immediately ad- 

 vanced, and the other for which the annuity was 

 sold. Funding actually destroys part of the previ- 

 ously existing productive capital. 



Capital. 



It is quite as vain (with a view to the permanent 

 increase of wealth) to continue converting revenue 

 into capital, when there is no adequate demand for 

 the products of such capital, as to continue to encou- 

 rage marriage and the birth of children without a 

 demand for labour and an increase of funds for its 

 maintenance. 



Wages. 



Corn rises in price because it is scarce ; but wages, 

 we are told, rise in proportion. For what purpose ? 

 Is it that the labourer shall consume the same quan- 

 tity as before ? This is impossible ; for no rise of 

 wages will enable him to consume the same quantity 

 of a scarce commodity. 



Money. 



The nature of wealth, and the best instruments to 

 measure its increase are such that precision is unat- 

 tainable ; but for short periods, such as four years, 

 money is sufficiently accurate. 



General Rise of Price. 



If, in consequence of a rise in the price of corn, 

 four shillings will purchase no more home-made 

 goods, of any kind, than three shillings and sixpence 



