190 Of Corn-Laws. Bk. iii. 



govern the progress of population, have nothing 

 to spare for others. An extensive foreign trade 

 in corn beyond what arises from the variableness 

 of the seasons in different countries is rather a 

 temporary and incidental trade, depending chiefly 

 upon the different stages of improvement which 

 different countries may have reached, and on other 

 accidental circumstances, than a trade which is 

 in its nature permanent, and the stimulus to which 

 will remain in the progress of society unabated. 

 In the wildness of speculation it has been sug- 

 gested (of course more in jest than in earnest), 

 that Europe ought to grow its corn in America, 

 and devote itself solely to manufactures and com- 

 merce, as the best sort of division of the labour 

 of the globe. But even on the extravagant sup- 

 position that the natural course of things might 

 lead to such a division of labour for a time, and 

 that by such means Europe could raise a popula- 

 tion greater than its lands could possibly support, 

 the consequences ought justly to be dreaded. It 

 is an unquestionable truth that it must answer to 

 every territorial state, in its natural progress to 

 wealth, to manufacture for itself, unless the coun- 

 tries from which it had purchased its manufactures 

 possess some advantages peculiar to them besides 

 capital and skill. But when upon this principle 

 America began to withdraw its corn from Europe, 

 and the agricultural exertions of Europe were 

 inadequate to make up for the deficiency, it would 

 certainly be felt that the temporary advantages of 

 a greater degree of wealth and population (sup- 



