242 MONEY. 



proportionally j^i. ter promts. The chances of gain must 

 balance the chances of loss. If he be so skilful or so for- 

 tunate as to make more than his average share of gains, he 

 will accumulate wealth with greater rapidity than a farmer ; 

 but should either a deficiency of talents or of fortunate cir- 

 cumstances occasion an uncommon share of losses, he may 

 become a bankrupt. The rate of profits, therefore, upon 

 any employment of capital is proportioned to the risks with 

 which it is attended ; but if calculated during a sufficient 

 period of time, and upon a sufficient number of instances to 

 afford an average, these different modes of employing capital 

 will be found to yield similar profits. It is thus that the dis- 

 tribution of capital to the several branches of agriculture, 

 commerce, and manufactures, preserves a due equilibrium, 

 which, though it may be accidentally disturbed, cannot, 

 whilst allowed to pursue its natural course, be permanently 

 deranged. A remarkably abundant harvest may occasional- 

 ly raise the rate of agricultural profits, or a very bad season 

 may reduce them below their level. The opening of a trade 

 with a new country, or the breaking out of a v/ar which im- 

 pedes foreign commerce, will affect the profits of the mer- 

 chant : but these accidents disturb the equal rate of profits, 

 as the winds disturb the sea ; and when they cease, it re- 

 turns to its natural level. 



Questions. — 1. What is commerce? 2. Trade? 3. How docH 

 commerce or trade increase the wealth of a nation ? 4. To what end 

 is the whole system of commerce subservient ? 5. What are manu- 

 factures ? G. What is said of the connexion of manufactures with 

 trade ? 7. How do the sciences of mechanics and chemistry assist 

 the manufacturer ? 8. What is said of the profits arising from agricul- 

 ture, commerce, and manufactures ? 



LESSON 109. 



Money. 



Spe'^cie, gold and silver coin, distinguished from paper moSeyf 



Gold and silver, when first introduced into commerce 



were probably bartered like other commodities, by bulk 



merely ; but shortly, instead of being given loosely by bulk, 



•very portion was weighed in scales, but weight was no se- 



