wealbk03-µÚ12ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
intelligent£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡most¡¡successful¡£¡¡The¡¡same¡¡regulations£»
besides£»¡¡keep¡¡so¡¡much¡¡land¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡market¡¡that¡¡there¡¡are
always¡¡more¡¡capitals¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡than¡¡there¡¡is¡¡land¡¡to¡¡sell£»¡¡so¡¡that
what¡¡is¡¡sold¡¡always¡¡sells¡¡at¡¡a¡¡monopoly¡¡price¡£¡¡The¡¡rent¡¡never
pays¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡purchase¡money£»¡¡and¡¡is£»¡¡besides£»
burdened¡¡with¡¡repairs¡¡and¡¡other¡¡occasional¡¡charges¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the
interest¡¡of¡¡money¡¡is¡¡not¡¡liable¡£¡¡To¡¡purchase¡¡land¡¡is¡¡everywhere
in¡¡Europe¡¡a¡¡most¡¡unprofitable¡¡employment¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡capital¡£¡¡For
the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡the¡¡superior¡¡security£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡moderate
circumstances£»¡¡when¡¡he¡¡retires¡¡from¡¡business£»¡¡will¡¡sometimes
choose¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡out¡¡his¡¡little¡¡capital¡¡in¡¡land¡£¡¡A¡¡man¡¡of¡¡profession
too£»¡¡whose¡¡revenue¡¡is¡¡derived¡¡from¡£¡¡another¡¡source£»¡¡often¡¡loves
to¡¡secure¡¡his¡¡savings¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡way¡£¡¡But¡¡a¡¡young¡¡man£»¡¡who£»
instead¡¡of¡¡applying¡¡to¡¡trade¡¡or¡¡to¡¡some¡¡profession£»¡¡should¡¡employ
a¡¡capital¡¡of¡¡two¡¡or¡¡three¡¡thousand¡¡pounds¡¡in¡¡the¡¡purchase¡¡and
cultivation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡small¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡land£»¡¡might¡¡indeed¡¡expect¡¡to¡¡live
very¡¡happily£»¡¡and¡¡very¡¡independently£»¡¡but¡¡must¡¡bid¡¡adieu¡¡forever
to¡¡all¡¡hope¡¡of¡¡either¡¡great¡¡fortune¡¡or¡¡great¡¡illustration£»¡¡which
by¡¡a¡¡different¡¡employment¡¡of¡¡his¡¡stock¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡had¡¡the¡¡same
chance¡¡of¡¡acquiring¡¡with¡¡other¡¡people¡£¡¡Such¡¡a¡¡person¡¡too£»¡¡though
he¡¡cannot¡¡aspire¡¡at¡¡being¡¡a¡¡proprietor£»¡¡will¡¡often¡¡disdain¡¡to¡¡be
a¡¡farmer¡£¡¡The¡¡small¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡land£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡brought
to¡¡market£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡high¡¡price¡¡of¡¡what¡¡is¡¡brought¡¡thither£»
prevents¡¡a¡¡great¡¡number¡¡of¡¡capitals¡¡from¡¡being¡¡employed¡¡in¡¡its
cultivation¡¡and¡¡improvement¡¡which¡¡would¡¡otherwise¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡that
direction¡£¡¡In¡¡North¡¡America£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡contrary£»¡¡fifty¡¡or¡¡sixty
pounds¡¡is¡¡often¡¡found¡¡a¡¡sufficient¡¡stock¡¡to¡¡begin¡¡a¡¡plantation
with¡£¡¡The¡¡purchase¡¡and¡¡improvement¡¡of¡¡uncultivated¡¡land¡¡is¡¡there
the¡¡most¡¡profitable¡¡employment¡¡of¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡of¡¡the
greatest¡¡capitals£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡most¡¡direct¡¡road¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the¡¡fortune
and¡¡illustration¡¡which¡¡can¡¡be¡¡acquired¡¡in¡¡that¡¡country¡£¡¡Such
land£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡is¡¡in¡¡North¡¡America¡¡to¡¡be¡¡had¡¡almost¡¡for¡¡nothing£»
or¡¡at¡¡a¡¡price¡¡much¡¡below¡¡the¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡produce¡¡¡a
thing¡¡impossible¡¡in¡¡Europe£»¡¡or£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡in¡¡any¡¡country¡¡where¡¡all
lands¡¡have¡¡long¡¡been¡¡private¡¡property¡£¡¡If¡¡landed¡¡estates£»
however£»¡¡were¡¡divided¡¡equally¡¡among¡¡all¡¡the¡¡children¡¡upon¡¡the
death¡¡of¡¡any¡¡proprietor¡¡who¡¡left¡¡a¡¡numerous¡¡family£»¡¡the¡¡estate
would¡¡generally¡¡be¡¡sold¡£¡¡So¡¡much¡¡land¡¡would¡¡come¡¡to¡¡market¡¡that
it¡¡could¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡sell¡¡at¡¡a¡¡monopoly¡¡price¡£¡¡The¡¡free¡¡rent¡¡of¡¡the
land¡¡would¡¡go¡¡nearer¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡the¡¡interest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡purchase¡money£»
and¡¡a¡¡small¡¡capital¡¡might¡¡be¡¡employed¡¡in¡¡purchasing¡¡land¡¡as
profitably¡¡as¡¡in¡¡any¡¡other¡¡way¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡England£»¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡fertility¡¡of¡¡the¡¡soil£»¡¡of
the¡¡great¡¡extent¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sea¡coast¡¡in¡¡proportion¡¡to¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the
whole¡¡country£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡many¡¡navigable¡¡rivers¡¡which¡¡run¡¡through
it¡¡and¡¡afford¡¡the¡¡conveniency¡¡of¡¡water¡¡carriage¡¡to¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the
most¡¡inland¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡is¡¡perhaps¡¡as¡¡well¡¡fitted¡¡by¡¡nature¡¡as
any¡¡large¡¡country¡¡in¡¡Europe¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡seat¡¡of¡¡foreign¡¡commerce£»
of¡¡manufactures¡¡for¡¡distant¡¡sale£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡improvements
which¡¡these¡¡can¡¡occasion¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of
Elizabeth¡¡too£»¡¡the¡¡English¡¡legislature¡¡has¡¡been¡¡peculiarly
attentive¡¡to¡¡the¡¡interests¡¡of¡¡commerce¡¡and¡¡manufactures£»¡¡and¡¡in
reality¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡country¡¡in¡¡Europe£»¡¡Holland¡¡itself¡¡not
excepted£»¡¡of¡¡which¡¡the¡¡law¡¡is£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡whole£»¡¡more¡¡favourable¡¡to
this¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡industry¡£¡¡Commerce¡¡and¡¡manufactures¡¡have¡¡accordingly
been¡¡continually¡¡advancing¡¡during¡¡all¡¡this¡¡period¡£¡¡The
cultivation¡¡and¡¡improvement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡has£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡been
gradually¡¡advancing¡¡too£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡followed¡¡slowly£»
and¡¡at¡¡a¡¡distance£»¡¡the¡¡more¡¡rapid¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡commerce¡¡and
manufactures¡£¡¡The¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡must¡¡probably¡¡have
been¡¡cultivated¡¡before¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡Elizabeth£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡very¡¡great
part¡¡of¡¡it¡¡still¡¡remains¡¡uncultivated£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cultivation¡¡of¡¡the
far¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡much¡¡inferior¡¡to¡¡what¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡£¡¡The¡¡law¡¡of
England£»¡¡however£»¡¡favours¡¡agriculture¡¡not¡¡only¡¡indirectly¡¡by¡¡the
protection¡¡of¡¡commerce£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡several¡¡direct¡¡encouragements¡£
Except¡¡in¡¡times¡¡of¡¡scarcity£»¡¡the¡¡exportation¡¡of¡¡corn¡¡is¡¡not¡¡only
free£»¡¡but¡¡encouraged¡¡by¡¡a¡¡bounty¡£¡¡In¡¡times¡¡of¡¡moderate¡¡plenty£»
the¡¡importation¡¡of¡¡foreign¡¡corn¡¡is¡¡loaded¡¡with¡¡duties¡¡that¡¡amount
to¡¡a¡¡prohibition¡£¡¡The¡¡importation¡¡of¡¡live¡¡cattle£»¡¡except¡¡from
Ireland£»¡¡is¡¡prohibited¡¡at¡¡all¡¡times£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is¡¡but¡¡of¡¡late¡¡that
it¡¡was¡¡permitted¡¡from¡¡thence¡£¡¡Those¡¡who¡¡cultivate¡¡the¡¡land£»
therefore£»¡¡have¡¡a¡¡monopoly¡¡against¡¡their¡¡countrymen¡¡for¡¡the¡¡two
greatest¡¡and¡¡most¡¡important¡¡articles¡¡of¡¡land¡¡produce£»¡¡bread¡¡and
butcher's¡¡meat¡£¡¡These¡¡encouragements£»¡¡though¡¡at¡¡bottom£»¡¡perhaps£»
as¡¡I¡¡shall¡¡endeavour¡¡to¡¡show¡¡hereafter£»¡¡altogether¡¡illusory£»
sufficiently¡¡demonstrate¡¡at¡¡least¡¡the¡¡good¡¡intention¡¡of¡¡the
legislature¡¡to¡¡favour¡¡agriculture¡£¡¡But¡¡what¡¡is¡¡of¡¡much¡¡more
importance¡¡than¡¡all¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡the¡¡yeomanry¡¡of¡¡England¡¡are¡¡rendered
as¡¡secure£»¡¡as¡¡independent£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡respectable¡¡as¡¡law¡¡can¡¡make
them¡£¡¡No¡¡country£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡right¡¡of¡¡primogeniture
takes¡¡place£»¡¡which¡¡pays¡¡tithes£»¡¡and¡¡where¡¡perpetuities£»¡¡though
contrary¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡law£»¡¡are¡¡admitted¡¡in¡¡some¡¡cases£»
can¡¡give¡¡more¡¡encouragement¡¡to¡¡agriculture¡¡than¡¡England¡£¡¡Such£»
however£»¡¡notwithstanding£»¡¡is¡¡the¡¡state¡¡of¡¡its¡¡cultivation¡£¡¡What
would¡¡it¡¡have¡¡been¡¡had¡¡the¡¡law¡¡given¡¡no¡¡direct¡¡encouragement¡¡to
agriculture¡¡besides¡¡what¡¡arises¡¡indirectly¡¡from¡¡the¡¡progress¡¡of
commerce£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡left¡¡the¡¡yeomanry¡¡in¡¡the¡¡same¡¡condition¡¡as¡¡in
most¡¡other¡¡countries¡¡of¡¡Europe£¿¡¡It¡¡is¡¡now¡¡more¡¡than¡¡two¡¡hundred
years¡¡since¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡reign¡¡of¡¡Elizabeth£»¡¡a¡¡period¡¡as
long¡¡as¡¡the¡¡course¡¡of¡¡human¡¡prosperity¡¡usually¡¡endures¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡France¡¡seems¡¡to¡¡have¡¡had¡¡a¡¡considerable¡¡share¡¡of¡¡foreign
commerce¡¡near¡¡a¡¡century¡¡before¡¡England¡¡was¡¡distinguished¡¡as¡¡a
commercial¡¡country¡£¡¡The¡¡marine¡¡of¡¡France¡¡was¡¡considerable£»
according¡¡to¡¡the¡¡notions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡times£»¡¡before¡¡the¡¡expedition¡¡of
Charles¡¡VIII¡¡to¡¡Naples¡£¡¡The¡¡cultivation¡¡and¡¡improvement¡¡of
France£»¡¡however£»¡¡is£»¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡whole£»¡¡inferior¡¡to¡¡that¡¡of¡¡England¡£
The¡¡law¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡has¡¡never¡¡given¡¡the¡¡same¡¡direct
encouragement¡¡to¡¡agriculture¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡foreign¡¡commerce¡¡of¡¡Spain¡¡and¡¡Portugal¡¡to¡¡the¡¡other
parts¡¡of¡¡Europe£»¡¡though¡¡chiefly¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡in¡¡foreign¡¡ships£»¡¡is
very¡¡considerable¡£¡¡That¡¡to¡¡their¡¡colonies¡¡is¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡in¡¡their
own£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡much¡¡greater£»¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡riches¡¡and
extent¡¡of¡¡those¡¡colonies¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡has¡¡never¡¡introduced¡¡any
considerable¡¡manufactures¡¡for¡¡distant¡¡sale¡¡into¡¡either¡¡of¡¡those
countries£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡part¡¡of¡¡both¡¡still¡¡remains
uncultivated¡£¡¡The¡¡foreign¡¡commerce¡¡of¡¡Portugal¡¡is¡¡of¡¡older
standing¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡any¡¡great¡¡country¡¡in¡¡Europe£»¡¡except¡¡Italy¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Italy¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only¡¡great¡¡country¡¡of¡¡Europe¡¡which¡¡seems¡¡to
have¡¡been¡¡cultivated¡¡and¡¡improved¡¡in¡¡every¡¡part¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of
foreign¡¡commerce¡¡and¡¡manufactures¡¡for¡¡distant¡¡sale¡£¡¡Before¡¡the
invasion¡¡of¡¡Charles¡¡VIII£»¡¡Italy¡¡according¡¡to¡¡Guicciardin£»¡¡was
cultivated¡¡not¡¡less¡¡in¡¡the¡¡most¡¡mountainous¡¡and¡¡barren¡¡parts¡¡of
the¡¡country¡¡than¡¡in¡¡the¡¡plainest¡¡and¡¡most¡¡fertile¡£¡¡The
advantageous¡¡situation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡great¡¡number¡¡of
independent¡¡states¡¡which¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡subsisted¡¡in¡¡it£»¡¡probably
contributed¡¡not¡¡a¡¡little¡¡to¡¡this¡¡general¡¡cultivation¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not
impossible¡¡too£»¡¡notwithstanding¡¡this¡¡general¡¡expression¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of
the¡¡most¡¡judicious¡¡and¡¡reserved¡¡of¡¡modern¡¡historians£»¡¡that¡¡Italy
was¡¡not¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡better¡¡cultivated¡¡than¡¡England¡¡is¡¡at
present¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡capital£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡acquired¡¡to¡¡any¡¡country¡¡by
commerce¡¡and¡¡manufactures¡¡is¡¡all¡¡a¡¡very¡¡precarious¡¡and¡¡uncertain
possession¡¡till¡¡some¡¡part¡¡of¡¡it¡¡has¡¡been¡¡secured¡¡and¡¡realized¡¡in
the¡¡cultivation¡¡and¡¡improvement¡¡of¡¡its¡¡lands¡£¡¡A¡¡merchant£»¡¡it¡¡has
been¡¡said¡¡very¡¡properly£»¡¡is¡¡not¡¡necessarily¡¡the¡¡citizen¡¡of¡¡any
particular¡¡country¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡in¡¡a¡¡great¡¡measure¡¡indifferent¡¡to¡¡him
from¡¡what¡¡place¡¡he¡¡carries¡¡on¡¡his¡¡trade£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡very¡¡trifling
disgust¡¡will¡¡make¡¡him¡¡remove¡¡his¡¡capital£»¡¡and¡¡together¡¡with¡¡it
all¡¡the¡¡industry¡¡which¡¡it¡¡supports£»¡¡from¡¡one¡¡country¡¡to¡¡another¡£
No¡¡part¡¡of¡¡it¡¡can¡¡be¡¡said¡¡to¡¡belong¡¡to¡¡any¡¡particular¡¡