IG2 THE NATUHE AND CAUSES OF

The demand of wealther nations, however, sometimes enableshim to get a rent for it. The paving of the streets of Londonhas enabled the owners of some barren rocks on the const ofScotland to draw a rent from what never afforded any before.The woods of Norway and of the coasts of the Baltic find amarket in many parts of Great Britain which they could notfind at home, and thereby afford some rent to their proprietors.

Countries arc populous, not in proportion to the numberof people whom their produce can clothe and lodge, but inproportion to that of those whom it can feed. When food isprovided, it is easy to find the necessary clothing and lodg-ing. But though these are at hand, it may often be difficultto find food. In some parts of the British dominions whatis called A House, may be built by one day’s labour of oneman. The simplest species of clothing, the skins of animals,require somewhat more labour to dress and prepare them foruse. They do not, however, require a great deal. Amongsavage or barbarous nations a hundredth or little more thanthe hundredth part of the labour of the whole year, will besufficient to provide them with such clothing and lodging assatisfy the greater part of the people. All the other ninety-nine parts are frequently no more than enough to providethem with food.

But when by the improvement and cultivation of land thelabour of one family can provide food for two, the labour ofhalf the society becomes sufficient to provide food for thewhole. The other half, therefore, or at least the greater partof them, can be employed in providing other things, or insatisfying the other wants and fancies of mankind. Clothingand lodging, household furniture, and what is called equi-page, are the principal objects of the greater part of thosewants and fancies. The rich man consumes no more foodthan his poor neighbour. In quality it may be very different,and to select and prepare it may require more labour andart; but in quantity it is very nearly the same. But comparethe spacious palace and great wardrobe of the one, with thehovel and the few rags oi the other, and you will be sensiblethat the difference between their clothing, lodging, andhousehold furniture, is almost as great in quantity as it is inquality. The desire of food is limited in every man by thenarrow capacity of the human stomach; but the desire of theconveniencies and ornaments of building, dress, equipage,and household furniture, seems to have no limit or certain