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Show 39~ . 0 N T II E I lU l\1 ED I ATE CAUSES [ C H. VI I. n1ent, if the riches of the soil had been called forth by a better division of landed prope~~ty, or a greater and more constant demand for raw pro- . cluce. H utnboldt observes that " Les personnes qui ont reflechi serieusement sur la richesse du sol lVIexicain savent que, par le n1oyen d'une culture plus soignee, et sans supposer des travaux extraordinaires pour !'irrigation des chan1ps, la portion de terrain deja defriche pourroit fournir de la subsistance . pour une population huit a dix fois plus non1breuse." He then adds, very justly, " Si les plaines fertiles d'Atalisco, de Cholula et de Puebla ne produisent pas des recoltes plus abondantes, la cause principale doit ~tre cherchee dans le manque des conson11nateurs, et dans les entraves que les itH~galites du sol opposent au con1merce interieur des grains, surtout a leur transport vers les cotes qui sont baignees par la mer des Antilles."* In the actual state of these districts, the main and imtnediate cause which retards their cultivation is indeed the want of consumers, that is, the want of po,ver to sell the produce at such a price as will at once encourage good cultivation, and enable the farn1ers to give the landlords something that they vvant, for the use of their land. And nothing is so likely to prevent this price fron1 beino· ob- • 0 tatned, as any obstacles natural or artificial to in-ternal and external commerce. rfhat the slo\v progress of New Spain in wealth *'I' ... I . . 0111, 111 •• IV. C. JX. p. 89. SEC. IV.] OF THE PROGRESS OF WEALTH. 393 and population, con1pared with its prodigious resources, has been more owing to want of demand than want of capital, tnay fairly be inferred1fron1 the actual state of its capital, which, according to H umbolclt, is rather redundant than deficient. Speaking of the cultivation of sugar, \vhich he thinks might be successfully carried on in New Spain, he says, " La Nouvelle Espagne, outre l'avantage de sa population, en a encore un autre tres important, eel ui d'une masse enorn1e de capitaux an1onceles chez les proprietaires des 1nines ou entre les l11ains de negocians qui se sont retires du com-merce.''* Altogether the state of New Spain, as described by I-Iurnboldt, clearly sbe,vs-lst. 'fhat the po,vcr of supporting labour tnay exist to a much greater extent than the will. 2dly. That the time en1ployed in \Vorking for conveniences and luxuries is not ahvays great in proportion as the tin1e en1ployed in working for food is sn1all. 3dly. That the deficient \Vealth of a fertile country n1ay be more O\Ving to \vant of demand than want of capital. And, in general, that fertility of soil alone is not an adequate stimulus to the continued increase of wealth. It !s not necessary, however, to go so far as the Spanish dominions in America, to illustrate these propositions. The state of the n1other-country Itself, and of most of the countries of Europe, *Tom. iii. I. iv. c. x. p. 178. |
