Ch. viii. Of the Agricultural System. 121 



At the same time it should be recollected that 

 quantity always tends powerfully to counterbalance 

 any deficiency of value ; and the labourer who earns 

 the greatest number of quarters may still com- 

 mand the greatest quantity of necessaries and 

 conveniences combined, though not to the extent 

 implied by the proportions of the raw produce. 



America affords a practical instance of the agri- 

 cultural system in a state the most favourable to 

 the condition of the labouring classes. The nature 

 of the country is such as to make it answer to 

 employ a very large proportion of its capital in 

 agriculture ; and the consequence has been a very 

 rapid increase of it. This rapid increase both of 

 the quantity and value of capital has kept up a 

 steady and continued demand for labour. The 

 labouring classes have in consequence been pe- 

 culiarly well paid. They have been able to com- 

 mand an unusual quantity of the necessaries of 

 life, and the progress of population has been un- 

 usually rapid. 



Yet even here, some little drawback has been 

 felt from the relative cheapness of corn. As Ame- 

 rica till the late war imported the greatest part of 

 its manufactures from England, and as England 

 imported flour and wheat from America, the value 

 of food in America compared with manufactures 

 must have been decidedly less than in England. 

 Nor would this effect take place merely v/ith re- 

 lation to the foreign commodities imported into 

 America, but also to those of its home manufac- 

 tures, in which it has no particular advantage. 



