226 Of increasing Wealth, as if Bk. iii. 



Secondly ; in the natural progress of cultiva- 

 tion and wealth, the production of an additional 

 quantity of corn will require more labour, while, 

 at the same time, from the accumulation and 

 better distribution of capital, the continual im- 

 provements made in machinery, and the facilities 

 opened to foreign commerce, manufactures and 

 foreign commodities will be produced or pur- 

 chased with less labour ; and consequently a 

 given quantity of corn will command a much 

 greater quantity of manufactures and foreign com- 

 modities than while the country was poor. Al- 

 though, therefore, the labourer may earn less 

 corn than before, the superior v^alue which every 

 portion which he does not consume in kind will 

 have in the purchase of conveniences, may more 

 than counterbalance this diminution. He will not 

 indeed have the same power of maintaining a 

 large family ; but with a small family he may be 

 better lodged and clothed, and better able to 

 command the decencies and comforts of life. 



Thirdly ; it seems to be proved by experience, 

 that the labouring classes of society seldom acquire 

 a decided taste for conveniences and comforts 

 till they become plentiful compared with food, 

 which they never do till food has become in some 

 degree scarce. If the labourer can obtain the 

 full support of himself and family by two or three 

 days' labour ; and if, to furnish himself with con- 

 veniences and comforts, he must work three or 

 four days more, he will generally think the sacri- 

 fice too great compared with the objects to be 



