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projects。 But the rate of profit does not； like rent and wages；
rise with the prosperity and fall with the declension of the
society。 On the contrary； it is naturally low in rich and high in
poor countries； and it is always highest in the countries which
are going fastest to ruin。 The interest of this third order；
therefore； has not the same connection with the general interest
of the society as that of the other two。 Merchants and master
manufacturers are； in this order； the two classes of people who
commonly employ the largest capitals； and who by their wealth
draw to themselves the greatest share of the public
consideration。 As during their whole lives they are engaged in
plans and projects； they have frequently more acuteness of
understanding than the greater part of country gentlemen。 As
their thoughts； however； are commonly exercised rather about the
interest of their own particular branch of business； than about
that of the society； their judgment； even when given with the
greatest candour （which it has not been upon every occasion） is
much more to be depended upon with regard to the former of those
two objects than with regard to the latter。 Their superiority
over the country gentleman is not so much in their knowledge of
the public interest； as in their having a better knowledge of
their own interest than he has of his。 It is by this superior
knowledge of their own interest that they have frequently imposed
upon his generosity； and persuaded him to give up both his own
interest and that of the public； from a very simple but honest
conviction that their interest； and not his； was the interest of
the public。 The interest of the dealers； however； in any
particular branch of trade or manufactures； is always in some
respects different from； and even opposite to； that of the
public。 To widen the market and to narrow the competition； is
always the interest of the dealers。 To widen the market may
frequently be agreeable enough to the interest of the public； but
to narrow the competition must always be against it； and can
serve only to enable the dealers； by raising their profits above
what they naturally would be； to levy； for their own benefit； an
absurd tax upon the rest of their fellow…citizens。 The proposal
of any new law or regulation of commerce which comes from this
order ought always to be listened to with great precaution； and
ought never to be adopted till after having been long and
carefully examined； not only with the most scrupulous； but with
the most suspicious attention。 It comes from an order of men
whose interest is never exactly the same with that of the public；
who have generally an interest to deceive and even to oppress the
public； and who accordingly have； upon many occasions； both
deceived and oppressed it。
TABLES REFERRED TO IN CHAPTER 11； PART 3
Price of the Average of The average Price
Quarter of the different of each Year in
Years Wheat Prices of Money of the
XII each Year the same Year present Times
L s。 d。 L。 s。 d。 L。 s。
d。
1202 … 12 … … … … 1 16 …
1205 … 12 … … 13 5 2 … 3
… 13 4
… 15 …
1223 … 12 … … … … 1 16 …
1237 … 3 4 … … … … 10 …
1243 … 2 … … … … … 6 …
1244 … 2 … … … … … 6 …
1246 … 16 … … … … 2 8 …
1247 … 13 4 … … … 2 … …
1257 1 4 … … … … 3 12 …
1258 1 … … … 17 … 2 11 …
… 15 …
… 16 …
1270 4 16 … 5 12 … 16 16 …
6 8 …
1286 … 2 8 … 9 4 1 8 …
… 16 …
…
Total L35 9 3
…
Average Price L2 19 1
1/4
Price of the Average of The average Price
Quarter of the different of each Year in
Years Wheat Prices of Money of the
XII each Year the same Year present Times
L s。 d。 L。 s。 d。 L。 s。
d。
1287 … 3 4 … … … … 10 …
1288 … … 8 … 3 … 1/4 … 9 …
3/4
… 1 …
… 1 4
… 1 6
… 1 8
… 2 …
… 3 4
… 9 4
1289 … 12 … … 10 1 3/4 1 10 4
1/2
… 6 …
… 2 …
… 10 8
1 … …
1290 … 16 … … … … 2 8 …
1294 … 16 … … … … 2 8 …
1302 … 4 … … … … … 12 …
1309 … 7 2 … … … 1 1 6
1315 1 … … … … … 3 … …
1316 1 … … 1 10 6 4 11 6
1 10 …
1 12 …
2 … …
1317 2 4 … 1 19 6 5 18 6
… 14 …
2 13 …
4 … …
… 6 8
1336 … 2 … … … … … 6 …
1338 … 3 4 … … … … 10 …
…
Total L23 4 11
1/4
…
Average Price L1 18 8
Price of the Average of The average Price
Quarter of the different of each Year in
Years Wheat Prices of Money of the
XII each Year the same Year present Times
L s。 d。 L。 s。 d。 L。 s。 d。
1339 … 9 … … … … 1 7 …
1349 … 2 … … … … … 5 2
1359 1 6 8 … … … 3 2 2
1361 … 2 … … … … … 4 8
1363 … 15 … … … … 1 15 …
1369 1 … … 1 2 … 2 9 4
1 4 …
1379 … 4 … … … … … 9 4
1387 … 2 … … … … … 4 8
1390 … 13 4 … 14 5 1 13 7
… 14 …
… 16 …
1401 … 16 … … … … 1 17 4
1407 … 4 4 3/4 … 3 10 … 8 11
… 3 4
1416 … 16 … … … … 1 12 …
…
Total L15 9 4
…
Average Price L1 5 9
1/3
Price of the Average of The average Price
Quarter of the different of each Year in
Years Wheat Prices of Money of the
XII each Year the same Year present Times
L s。 d。 L。 s。 d。 L。 s。 d。
1423 … 8 … … … … … 16 …
1425 … 4 … … … … … 8 …
1434 1 6 8 … … … 2 13 4
1435 … 5 4 … … … … 10 8
1439 1 … … 1 3 4 2 6 8
1 6 8
1440 1 4 … … … … 2 8 …
1444 … 4 4 … 4 2 … 8 4
… 4 …
1445 … 4 6 … … … … 9 …
1447 … 8 … … … … … 16 …
1448 … 6 8 … … … … 13 4
1449 … 5 … … … … … 10 …
1452 … 8 … … … … … 16 …
…