159 
Political Pconomij, 
to the Romans the struggle between the two latter remained long 
undecided, and was at last decided by superiority of tactics, and mili- 
tary genius, more perhaps than by their superior estimation of agri- 
cultural pursuits. But the agricultural Romans were themselves 
overcome by the Huns, and Vandals,*— must we therefore take 
our lessons of political economy from these ? 
Permit me to conclude my remarks in vindication of foreign 
commerce, by adding one more argument to those adduced al- 
ready, the force of which, it appears to me, cannot be easily resist- 
ed. 
The wealth of a nation, as you have stated, consists in the ag- 
gregate wealth of the individuals of which it is composed. 
Nine tenths of the population of almost every country are en- 
gaged in agriculture, and manufacturing pursuits. 
The wealth of a nation, therefore, defiends chiejly on the pros- 
perous condition of these,— The lazaroni of Naples, the fellahs of 
Egypt, the zaragottas of Mexico, the canaille of any country, add 
nothing to the wealth, or power, of the political families to whom 
they belong. 
But the condition of these, engaged in agricultural, and manu- 
facturing pursuits, cannot be prosperous, unless the rewards of 
their labour somewhat exceed the measure, indispensible for the 
^are support of animal life. 
Now in any fully peopled country, the price of any species of 
leroduce, or commodity, w ithin the reach of general competition, 
oan only be maintained above the rate, which the bare support of 
animal life requires, by means of foreign commerce. 
The reason cannot be mistaken. — Domestic consumption is li- 
mited, whilst only want of food can limit population. Therefore 
competition, or, in other words, the struggle for existence, will al- 
ways bring the supply of the great mass of domestic commodities 
full up to the demand, and prices must consequently sink dowm to 
fhe lowest rates.f 
* The Huns and Vandals had no foreign trade, T, C. 
f True : in a country overpopulated, and badly governed. It is so in 
England, where the preference in foreign markets is chiefly owing to the lov/ 
price of the commodities ; a low price, dependant on the intolerable labour,, 
and hard living of a starving manufacturing populace. The profits of the ca- 
pitalist— the commerce of the nation is supported out of the life-blood of 
labouring peasant and manufacturer, T, C. 
