120 
Political Economif. 
The real tacit aim of all national exertions, so far as they con- 
sist in the sum general of individual efforts — ; and the aim, to 
which all measures of government, with regard to national indus» 
try, ought ultimately, and unequivocally to tend, is, the attain- 
TVIENT OF THE GREATEST RESULTS, AT THE L E A S T f OS S I B L E 
EXPENCE. 
Whenever this point has been accomplished, a limited number 
of inhabitants, in any given country, will exist in the greatest state 
of prosperity, and wealth, of which, with their soil, their moral 
and physical qualifications, they are susceptible ; or, the largest 
possible number will be supported by the same country, in a state — ^ 
exempt at least from wretchedness. 
Since misery limits population, both these tests of the good 
economical organisation of a country, are, in fact, the same. The 
government which should have caused, either a truly living, not 
starving, and languishing population, to attain its maximum — or a 
limited population to enjoy the greatest share of affluence-— would 
have reached perfection in the eye of the political economist. N® 
government can do more. 
If, therefore, the respective value of the different kinds of com- 
merce, and the true policy of governments, with regard to com- 
merce, are under consideration, we must refer to the same rule, the 
decision of the abstract question. 
And, with the abstract question, examined on theoretical 
grounds, I shall occupy myself in the first instance. Not from any 
particular predilection for this mode of investigation, but from a 
conviction, that we are, generally speaking, less liable to err, by 
reasoning closely, from correct principles, than by appealing at 
once to a mass of facts, always difficult to collect correctly^ and 
extremely difficult correctly to understand. 
All commerce arisies from division of labour. If every fami- 
ly, by their own industry, could provide for the gratification of all 
their wants, there would be no need for exchanges. Nothing 
would be sold, or bought. But experience has taught mankind 
that their condition improves by their working for each other. 
The greatest degree of civilization, and prosperity, implies mutual 
dependence. The individual who should attempt to realize a strici 
independence, would soon, like his prototype of old, become dirty- 
sulky, churlish, gross. The perfectability of human nature is on- 
ly developed in the social state ; and f]*om this first glance of the 
