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Show 464 ON THE ll\11\IEDIATE CAUSES (CH. ''II. if this beneficent offer be not accepted by an adequate nun1ber of individuals, not only 'vill a posi- · tive good, which n1ight have been so attained, be lost, but the rest of the society, so far from being benefited by such self-denial, will be decidedly injured by it. What the proportion is between the productive and unproductive classes .of a society, which affords the greatest encouragen1ent to the continued increase of wealth, it has before been said that the resources of political econon1y are unequal to determine. It must depend upon a great variety of circun1stances, particularly upon fei.tility of soil and the progress of invention in Inachinery. A fertile soil and an ingenious people can n·ot only support a considerable proportion of unproductive consumers \Vithout injury, but 1nay , absolutely require such a body of demanders, in order to give effect to their powers of production. . While, with a poor soil and a people of little ingenuity, an attempt to support such a body would throw land out of cultivation, and lead infallibly to impoverishment and ruin: Another cause, which makes it irnpossible to say 'vhat proportion of the unproductive to the productive classes is tnost favourable to the increase of wealth, is the difference in the degrees of consurnption which may prevail an1ong the producers themselves. Perhaps it will be said that there can be no occasion for unproductive consutners, if a consumption sufficient to keep up the value of the produce SEC. IX.] OF THE PROGR~SS OF 'VEALTH. 465 takes place arnong those who are engaged in production. With regard to the capitalists who are so engaged, they have certainly the povver of consun1ino· their profits, or the revenue 'vhich they make b; the etnployrr1ent of their capitals; and if they 'vere to consutne it, 'vith the exception of \vhat could be beneficially added to their capitals, so as to provide in the best way both for an increased production and increased consumption, there might be little occasion for unproductive consumers. But such consumption is not consistent \Vith the actual habits of the generality of capitalists. The great object of their lives is to save a fortune, both because it is their duty to make a provision for their fan1ilies, and because they cannot spend an income with so much con1fort to themselves, 'vhile they are obliged perhaps to attend a countinghouse for seven or eight hours a day. It has been laid do\vn as a sort of axiom atnong some writers that the wants of tnankind may be considered as at all times comn1ensurate 'vith their povvers; but this position is not always true, even in those cases 'vhere a fortune comes 'vithout trouble; and in reference to the great n1ass of capitalists, it is con1pletely contradicted by experience. Almost all merchants and 1nanufacturers save, in prosperous tin1es, much more rapidly than it 'vould he possible for the national capital to increase, so as to keep up the value of the produce. But if this be true of them as a body, taken one \Vith another, it is quite obvious that, 'vith their actual HII |
