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Show 4 INTRODUCTION. The level of the precious n1etals in different I countries-'The principles of taxation, &c. On all these points, and n1any others an1ong the nun1erous subjects \vhich belong to political .econon1~r, differences have prevailed an1ong persons \V hose opinions are entitled to attention. Son1e of these questions are to a certain degree tl~e~retical; and the solution of then1, though oLv.1ously necessary to the ilnprovement of the science, 1night not essentially affect its practical rules; but others are of such a nature, that the determination of them one \vay or the other vvill necessarily influence the conduct both of individuals and of governn1ents; and their correct detcrInination therefore tnust be a n1atter of the hio·hest practical importance. 0 . !n a science such as that of political econon1y, It Is not to be expected that an universal assent shou~d be obtained to all its important propositions; but, 1n order to give thetn their proper \Veio·ht and j~stify ~heir being acted upon, it is extrem 0 ely destrable, Indeed aln1ost necessary, that a considerable majority of those vv ho, fron1 their attention to the subject, are considered by the public as likely to be t.he n1ost competent judges, should agree in the truth of thern. i\n1ong those \Vri ters \V ho ba ve treated the subject scientifically, there is not perhaps, at the present tnoment, so general an agreen1ent as \vould be desirable to give effect to their conclusions · and ~he writers who peculiarly call themselve~ practical, either dra \V no general inferences or are so much influenced by narrow, partial, and some- INTRODUCTION. 5 tin1es interested vie\vs, that no reliance can be placed on then1 for' the establishment of general rules. The last t'venty or thirty years have besides been n1arked by a train of events of a n1ost extraordinary kind; and there has hardly yet been tin1e so to arrange and exan1ine them as to see to ,vbat extent they confirtn or i.nvalidate the received principles of the science to \vhich they relate. The present period, therefore, seen1s to be un-propitious to the publication of a ne\V systematic treatise on political economy. The treatise which \Ve already possess is still of the very highest value; and till a n1ore general agreen1ent sh'!-ll be found to take place, both with respect to the controverted points of Adatn Sn1ith's \vork, and the nature and extent of the additions to it, '\\7hich the n1ore advanced stage of the science has rendered necessary, it is obviously more advisable that the · different subjects which adn1it of doubt' should be treated separately. When these discussions have been for son1e tin1e before the public, and a sufficient opportunity has been given, by the collision of different opinions and an appeal to experience, to separate what is true frotn what is false, the different parts n1ay then be con1bined into a consistent ,vhole, and n1ay be expected to carry with it such weight and authority as to produce the n1ost useful practical results. The principal cause of error, and of the differences 'vhich prevail at ])resent among the scientific writers on political econotny, appears to me to be B 3 |
