Ch. ix. Of the Commercial System. 137 



the increase of its wealth and population on the 

 increasing wealth and demands of the countries 

 with which it trades. 



It has been sometimes said, that a manufac- 

 turing country is no more dependent upon the 

 country which supplies it with food and raw ma- 

 terials, than the agricultural country is on that 

 which manufactures for it; but this is really an 

 abuse of terms. A country with great resources 

 in land may find it decidedly for its advantage to 

 employ the main part of its capital in cultivation, 

 and to import its manufactures. In so doing, it 

 will often employ the whole of its industry most 

 productively, and most rapidly increase its stock. 

 But, if the slackness of its neighbours in manufac- 

 turing, or any other cause, should either consider- 

 ably check or altogether prevent the importation 

 of manufactures, a country with food and raw 

 materials provided at home cannot be long at a 

 loss. For a time it would not certainly be so 

 well supplied ; but manufacturers and artizans 

 would soon be found, and would soon acquire 

 tolerable skill ;* and though the capital and po- 

 pulation of the country might not, under the new 

 circumstances in which it was placed, increase so 

 rapidly as before, it would still have the power 

 of increasing in both to a great extent. 



On the other hand, if food and raw materials 

 were denied to a nation merely manufacturing, it 



* Tins lias been fully exemplified in America (1816). 



