172 CAPITAL— THE MOTHER OF LABOUR iv 



where capital is said to be that part of wealth 

 " which is devoted to the aid of production " (p. 

 28) ; and yet again it is said to be 



wealth in course of exchange,'^ understanding exchange to 

 include, not merely the passing from hand to hand, hut also 

 such transmutations as occur Avhcn the reproductive or trans- 

 forming forces of nature are utilised for the increase of wealth 

 (p. 32). 



But if too much pondering over the possible 

 senses and scope of these definitions should weary 

 the reader, he will be relieved by the following 

 acknowledgment : — 



Nor is the definition of capital I have suggested of any 

 importance (p. 33). 



The author informs us, in fact, that he is " not 

 writing a text-book," thereby intimating his 

 opinion that it is less important to be clear and 

 accurate when you are trying to bring about a 

 political revolution than when a merely academic 

 interest attaches to the subject treated. But he 

 is not busy about anything so serious as a text- 

 book : no, he " is only attempting to discover the 

 laws which control a great social problem" — a 

 mode of expression which indicates perhaps the 

 high-water mark of intellectual muddlement. I 

 have heard, in my time, of " laws " which control 

 other *' laws " ; but this is the first occasion on 

 which " laws " which " control a problem " have 

 come under my notice. Even the disquisitions " of 

 ^ The italics are the author's. 



