第156页 / 共2651页

The market price of any particular commodity, though it may

continue long above, can seldom continue long below, its natural

price. Whatever part of it was paid below the natural rate, the

persons whose interest it affected would immediately feel the

loss, and would immediately withdraw either so much land or so

much labour, or so much stock, from being employed about it, that

the quantity brought to market would soon be no more than

sufficient to supply the effectual demand. Its market price,

therefore, would soon rise to the natural price; this at least

would be the case where there was perfect liberty.