WEALTH OF NATIONS. 157 



the world, at length received their demonstrative refuta- 

 tion, and that we now can look back with wonder on 

 the darkness which this great light dispelled. 



i. If the importation of any commodity is restricted, there 

 is an inducement held out to the raising or the manufactur- 

 ing of that commodity at home ; capital is drawn towards 

 its production which would not otherwise have been so em- 

 ployed, and workmen are engaged in raising or manufac- 

 turing it who would have been otherwise occupied. But 

 this is hurtful on two accounts ; men's regard for their own 

 interest is sure to make them work and employ workmen 

 in the way most likely to yield them a profit; and the 

 natural advantages of each country or district of a country 

 for raising or for manufacturing certain commodities must 

 always determine where they can be grown or made the 

 cheapest. The inducing men to cultivate one branch rather 

 than another of industry, must therefore prevent their in- 

 dustry from being most profitably employed, and the con- 

 fining the inhabitants of the country to the commodities 

 produced by its own inhabitants makes them pay dearer 

 for them than they otherwise would do ; and thus lowers 

 the real value of all the other produce of the country. 

 Dr. Smith states the exceptions to which the general rule 

 is liable. They are said by him to be two-fold, but in 

 reality he allows four exceptions. Defence being more 

 important than wealth, he greatly praises the provisions 

 of the 'Navigation Law/ whereby, in order to increase 

 the amount of British shipping, and to destroy the carry- 

 ing trade of Holland, none but British ships could be 

 employed either in the colonial, or the coasting, or the 

 carrying trade, or in importing from any foreign country 

 any article not the produce of that country, also pro- 



