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the boundlefs progrefs of improvement, new wants multiply with every refinement of art, and manufactures are carried on to a degree of perfeétion, to which it is impoflible for a foci- ety more rude and with fewer wants to attan; and though from the wealth accumulated by the induftrious nation, in this ftate of refinement, the price of labour fhould be raifed fo high, as to allow another nation, lefs advanced in wealth, to bring manufaétured articles to market at a cheaper rate, yet thé rich nation will fill maintain its fuperiority, by avail- ing itfelf of the fuperior capital it pofñlefles, and of 1ts fupe- rior{kill in the divifion of labour, of which manufactures are fufceptible. If, again, the divifion of labour is not found adequate to anfwer the end, renewed exertions of fkill and capital, by calling in the aid of machinery, fo far reduces the effet of the high price of manual labour on the articles ma- nufactured, as to give a decided fuperiority to the rich and ingenious nation, over all others lefs advanced in wealth and refinement. Hence the manufactures of Britain are found fuperior to thofe of every country in Europe, and are even rivalling the fabricks of Bengal, where the money price of la- bour is about only a tenth part of what it is in England*. It being therefore obvious, that the induftrious country, whilft it preferves its fuperiority in wealth and ingenuity over other na- tions, has an evident advantage in carrying on its manufactures; there feems to be no necefhity for the manufaéturers of Great Britain obtaining a monopoly againft thofe of other nations, lefs advanced in wealth, ingenuity, and refinement; and the decided fuperiority which the manufacturers of this country

* The wages of a weaver in Bengal are only two and a half rupees, equal to 55. 7id.-2-month.

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