UNCLE IN ENGLAND. 209 



complex operations of commerce, and by means 

 of a ship, which of itself includes the combined 

 efforts of a hundred different trades before she 

 can proceed a single mile on her voyage." 



" How rich, uncle," said I, " must any country 

 become, where the people are employed both in 

 agriculture and manufactures !" 



" Yes," he replied, " as long as they are well 

 paid, or, in other words, as long as there is a de- 

 mand for as much as they can produce. But 

 you know, Bertha, the inhabitants of any country 

 can only consume a certain quantity of food, or 

 a certain quantity of clothes ; and if the hands 

 employed raise more corn, or make more goods 

 than are wanted, they must be thrown out of 

 work until the overplus has been called for, as 

 no one will pay for what they do not want. 

 Something else, you see, is necessary to enrich 

 a nation besides agriculture and manufactures." 



" Oh yes! I know what you mean, uncle; I 

 am sure commerce by which that overplus is 

 sent to other countries, and exchanged there for 

 things which we do want." 



" You are right, Bertha. The agricultural and 

 manufacturing classes may furnish each other 

 with the necessaries, and with many of the com- 

 forts of life ; but, without the aid of commerce, 

 they can never raise a nation to any great degree 

 of wealth. Foreign commerce is the great spur 

 to their industry ; it opens a thousand channels 



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