34} BALANCE OF TRADE. CHAP. XVI. 



other wealth, unless it be more advantageous to 

 the community or to the richest bodies of indi- 

 viduals to exchange such metallic wealth for other 

 commodities, the product of foreign countries. 

 When commerce is free from restrictions, the gold 

 and silver will thus flow in or issue forth accord- 

 ing as it shall best serve the interests of the coun- 

 try. If it be of less value at home, it will go 

 abroad ; if it be of more value at home, it will come 

 back 5 and in either case it will be a beneficial 

 operation. As the most compendious of all com- 

 modities, and as the least liable to be injured by 

 keeping, and as the storing it is attended with 

 the least expense, the greatest portion will remain 

 in the richest countries, even though it should not 

 be all needed to perform the function of money. 

 A part will be applied to articles of furniture and 

 personal ornaments, and the rich country will 

 possess a quantity of these greater in proportion 

 to the extent of its general wealth in all com- 

 modities. 



We find this to have been the ease with the 

 several countries of Europe in the period we have 

 been contemplating. Italy was the most flourish- 

 ing in commerce and the most abundant in every 

 species of wealth, and whilst the inhabitants, who 

 had probably learned much from the Greeks, 

 were making a progress in the fine arts, which 

 their wealth enabled them to pursue with success, 

 they appear to have decorated their superb palaces 



