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a hundred and ten thousand； this exchange will equally augment
the capital of England by ten thousand pounds。 As a merchant who
has a hundred and ten thousand pounds worth of wine in his cellar
is a richer man than he who has only a hundred thousand pounds
worth of tobacco in his warehouse； so is he likewise a richer man
than he who has only a hundred thousand pounds worth of gold in
his coffers。 He can put into motion a greater quantity of
industry； and give revenue； maintenance； and employment to a
greater number of people than either of the other two。 But the
capital of the country is equal to the capitals of all its
different inhabitants； and the quantity of industry which can be
annually maintained in it is equal to what all those different
capitals can maintain。 Both the capital of the country；
therefore； and the quantity of industry which can be annually
maintained in it； must generally be augmented by this exchange。
It would； indeed； be more advantageous for England that it could
purchase the wines of France with its own hardware and broadcloth
than with either the tobacco of Virginia or the gold and silver
of Brazil and Peru。 A direct foreign trade of consumption is
always more advantageous than a roundabout one。 But a round…about
foreign trade of consumption； which is carried on with gold and
silver； does not seem to be less advantageous than any other
equally round…about one。 Neither is a country which has no mines
more likely to be exhausted of gold and silver by this annual
exportation of those metals than one which does not grow tobacco
by the like annual exportation of that plant。 As a country which
has wherewithal to buy tobacco will never be long in want of it；
so neither will one be long in want of gold and silver which has
wherewithal to purchase those metals。
It is a losing trade； it is said； which a workman carries on
with the alehouse； and the trade which a manufacturing nation
would naturally carry on with a wine country may be considered as
a trade of the same nature。 I answer； that the trade with the
alehouse is not necessarily a losing trade。 In its own nature it
is just as advantageous as any other； though perhaps somewhat
more liable to be abused。 The employment of a brewer； and even
that of a retailer of fermented liquors； are as necessary
divisions of labour as any other。 It will generally be more
advantageous for a workman to buy of the brewer the quantity he
has occasion for than to brew it himself； and if he is a poor
workman； it will generally be more advantageous for him to buy it
by little and little of the retailer than a large quantity of the
brewer。 He may no doubt buy too much of either； as he may of any
other dealers in his neighbourhood； of the butcher； if he is a
glutton； or of the draper； if he affects to be a beau among his
companions。 It is advantageous to the great body of workmen；
notwithstanding； that all these trades should be free； though
this freedom may be abused in all of them； and is more likely to
be so； perhaps； in some than in others。 Though individuals；
besides； may sometimes ruin their fortunes by an excessive
consumption of fermented liquors； there seems to be no risk that
a nation should do so。 Though in every country there are many
people who spend upon such liquors more than they can afford；
there are always many more who spend less。 It deserves to be
remarked too； that； if we consult experience； the cheapness of
wine seems to be a cause； not of drunkenness； but of sobriety。
The inhabitants of the wine countries are in general the soberest
people in Europe； witness the Spainards； the Italians； and the
inhabitants of the southern provinces of France。 People are
seldom guilty of excess in what is their daily fare。 Nobody
affects the character of liberality and good fellowship by being
profuse of a liquor which is as cheap as small beer。 On the
contrary； in the countries which； either from excessive heat or
cold； produce no grapes； and where wine consequently is dear and
a rarity； drunkenness is a common vice； as among the northern
nations； and all those who live between the tropics； the negroes；
for example； on the coast of Guinea。 When a French regiment comes
from some of the northern provinces of France； where wine is
somewhat dear； to be quartered in the southern； where it is very
cheap； the soldiers； I have frequently heard it observed are at
first debauched by the cheapness and novelty of good wine； but
after a few months' residence； the greater part of them become as
sober as the rest of the inhabitants。 Were the duties upon
foreign wines； and the excises upon malt； beer； and ale to be
taken away all at once； it might； in the same manner； occasion in
Great Britain a pretty general and temporary drunkenness among
the middling and inferior ranks of people； which would probably
be soon followed by a permanent and almost universal sobriety。 At
present drunkenness is by no means the vice of people of fashion；
or of those who can easily afford the most expensive liquors。 A
gentleman drunk with ale has scarce ever been seen among us。 The
restraints upon the wine trade in Great Britain； besides； do not
so much seem calculated to hinder the people from going； if I may
say so； to the alehouse； as from going where they can buy the
best and cheapest liquor。 They favour the wine trade of Portugal；
and discourage that of France。 The Portugese； it is said； indeed；
are better customers for our manufactures than the French； and
should therefore be encouraged in preference to them。 As they
give us their custom； it is pretended； we should give them ours。
The sneaking arts of underling tradesmen are thus erected into
political maxims for the conduct of a great empire： for it is the
most underling tradesmen only who make it a rule to employ
chiefly their own customers。 A great trader purchases his goods
always where they are cheapest and best； without regard to any
little interest of this kind。
By such maxims as these； however； nations have been taught
that their interest consisted in beggaring all their neighbours。
Each nation has been made to look with an invidious eye upon the
prosperity of all the nations with which it trades； and to
consider their gain as its own loss。 Commerce； which ought
naturally to be； among nations； as among individuals； a bond of
union and friendship； has become the most fertile source of
discord and animosity。 The capricious ambition of kings and
ministers has not； during the present and the preceding century；
been more fatal to the repose of Europe than the impertinent
jealousy of merchants and manufacturers。 The violence and
injustice of the rulers of mankind is an ancient evil； for which；
I am afraid； the nature of human affairs can scarce admit of a
remedy。 But the mean rapacity； the monopolizing spirit of
merchants and manufacturers； who neither are； nor ought to be；
the rulers of mankind； though it cannot perhaps be corrected may
very easily be prevented from disturbing the tranquillity of
anybody but themselves。
That it was the spirit of monopoly which originally both
invented and propagated this doctrine cannot be doubted； and they
who first taught it were by no means such fools as they who
believed it。 In every country it always is and must be the
interest of the great body of the people to buy whatever they
want of those who sell it cheapest。 The proposition is so very
manifest that it seems ridiculous to take any pains to prove it；
nor could it ever have been called in question had not the
interested sophistry of merchants and manufacturers confounded
the common sense of mankind。 Their interest is； in this respect；
directly opposite to that of the great body of the people。 As it
is the interest of the freemen of a corporation to hinder the
rest of the inhabitants from employing any workmen but
themselves； so it is the interest of the merchants and
manufacturers of every country to secure to themselves the
monopoly of the home market。 Hence in Great Britain； and in most
other European countries； the extraordinary duties upon almost
all goods imported by alien merchants。 Hence the high duties and
prohibitions upon all those foreign manufactures which can come
into competition with our own。 Hence； too； the extraordinary
restraints upon the importation of almost all sorts of goods from
those countries with which the balance of trade is supposed to be
disadvantageous； that is； from those against whom national
animosity happens to be most violently inflamed。
The wealth of a neighbouring nation； however； though
dangerous in war and politics； is certainly advantageous in
trade。 In a state of hostility it may enable our enemies to
maintain fleets and armies superior to our own； but in a state of
peace and commerce it must likewise enable them to exchange with
us to a greater value； and to afford a better market； either for
the immediate produce of our own industry； or for whatever is
purchased with that produce。 As a rich man is likely to be a
better custom