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Show 376 ON THE Il\IMEDIATE CAUSES [cu. VII. exceptions. Perhaps, indeed, it n1ay be said that no instance has occurred, in modern times, of a ] aro·e and very fertile country having made full us; of its natural1·esources ; \vhile there have been 1nany instances of sn1all and unfertile states havin<r accumulated within their narro\v lin1its, b by n1eans of foreign comn1erce, a degree of 'vealth very greatly exceeding the proportion 'vhich should belong to the1n, in reference to their physical capabilities. If a s1nall body of people were possessed of a rich and extensive inland territory, divided into large proportions, and not favourably situated with respect to markets, a very long period 1night elapse before the state becan1e wealthy and populous, not\vithstanding the fertility of the soil· and the consequent facility of production. The nature of such a soil would make it yield a profit or rent to the o"vner in its uncultivated state. l-Ie 'vould set a .value therefore upon his property, as a source of profit as vvell as of power and atnusenlent; and though it vvas capable of yielding 1nuch 1nore raw produce than he and his in1mecliate dependents could consurne, he vvould by no n1eans be disposed to allo"v others to seize on it, and divide it at their pleasure. He 'vould probably let out considerable portions of it for s1nall rents. But the tenant of these portions, if there were no forejgn vent for the raw produce, and the comn1oditieswhich contribute to the conveniences and luxuries of life were but little known, would have but s1nall incitement to call forth the resources of his land, and give encouragement to a rapid increase of SEC. I V•] OF TilE PROGRESS OF 'VEALTH. 377 population. By employ!ng ten families ~1c mio·~1t Perhaps owincr to the richness of the oil, obtain ' b . food for fifty; but he would find no proporttonat market for this additional food, and would be oon sensible that he had wasted his time and att ntion in superintending the labour of so many p r on . He would be disposed therefore to employ a n1aller number; or if, from motives of humanity, or any other reason, he vvas induced to ke p 1nor than were necessary for the supply of the market, upon the supposition of their being tolerably industrious, he would be quite indifferent to their indu try, an I his labourers would naturally acquire the rno t indolent habits. Such habits would naturally J? generated both in the n1asters and servant by sucl circumstances, and when generated, a con id rable time and considerable stimulants are nee sary to get rid of then1. It has been said, that those who have food and necessaries at their disposal 'vill not be lon<r in ' b want of workmen, who will put them in po e iot of some .of the objects most useful and d irablc to t?etn.* But this appears to be dir ctly c ntrachcted by experience. If the establi hn1 nt . ' extension, and refinen1ent of domestic manufac- . tures 'vere so easy a n1atter,- our ancestors ,vould not h~ve r~n1ained for many hundred y ar so ill suppltecl With then1; and been oblio·ed to .:p nd th . . l? 0 ~ mam p~rt of therr raw produce m the support f rdle retamers. They might be very ready, when *Ricardo's Prine. of Polit. Econ. ch. xxi. p. 363. 2d. cuit. |
