Four Essays

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. It appears, then, that human industry 13 concerned, more or less, in the production of almost every thing that we consume, or that 1s of any utility for the support, the comfort, or the convenience of life; it follows that whatever cause may afect that industry in such a manner as to influence the quantity, the quality, or the nature of its productions, must necessarily par take of the importance of that industry itself. It IS necessary here to point out a distinction which has been wholly overlooked by political economists, but which nevertheless 1s essential to a knowledge of the true nature of the science of political economy. We mean the distinction between the causes which influence industry, and those which influence production. The former are to the latter as a part to the whole. Whatever influences industry, influences production, but it does not follow, that, whatever in fluences production, influences industry.

It appears, then, that human industry 13 concerned, more or less, in the production of almost every thing that we consume, or that 1s of any utility for the support, the comfort, or the convenience of life; it follows that whatever cause may afect that industry in such a manner as to influence the quantity, the quality, or the nature of its productions, must necessarily par take of the importance of that industry itself. It IS necessary here to point out a distinction which has been wholly overlooked by political economists, but which nevertheless 1s essential to a knowledge of the true nature of the science of political economy. We mean the distinction between the causes which influence industry, and those which influence production. The former are to the latter as a part to the whole. Whatever influences industry, influences production, but it does not follow, that, whatever in fluences production, influences industry.