पृष्ठ 500 / 2651

The increase of security would naturally increase industry and

improvement; and the demand for the precious metals, as well as

for every other luxury and ornament, would naturally increase

with the increase of riches. A greater annual produce would

require a greater quantity of coin to circulate it; and a greater

number of rich people would require a greater quantity of plate

and other ornaments of silver. It is natural to suppose, too,

that the greater part of the mines which then supplied the

European market with silver might be a good deal exhausted, and

have become more expensive in the working. They had been wrought,

many of them, from the time of the Romans.