Pagina 521 di 2651

When, on the contrary, the wealth of any country increases, when

the annual produce of its labour becomes gradually greater and

greater, a greater quantity of coin becomes necessary in order to

circulate a greater quantity of commodities: and the people, as

they can afford it, as they have more commodities to give for it,

will naturally purchase a greater and a greater quantity of

plate. The quantity of their coin will increase from necessity;

the quantity of their plate from vanity and ostentation, or from

the same reason that the quantity of fine statues, pictures, and

of every other luxury and curiosity, is likely to increase among

them. But as statuaries and painters are not likely to be worse

rewarded in times of wealth and prosperity, than in times of

poverty and depression, so gold and silver are not likely to be

worse paid for.