Page:An answer to a pamphlet, intitled, "Thoughts on the causes and consequences of the present high price of provisions" in a letter, addressed to the supposed author of that pamphlet.djvu/17

( 15 ) being able to work for lower wages, will of consequence undersell it at all foreign markets. It is only its sudden increase or sudden decrease that has any influence upon the internal state of a kingdom: the former, by raising the price of commodities, before the price of labour can be raised, naturally tends to quicken the industry of the people, and to make them active, alert, and vigorous; the latter, by lowering the price of commodities, before the price of labour can be lowered, as naturally tends to slacken their industry, and to make them lazy, indolent, and slothful. So that the sudden increase of money is advantageous, and its sudden decrease disadvantageous to a state, though the first certainly raises, and the last as certainly lowers the price of Provisions: but matters are best suffered to proceed in their natural course; for every thing violent is dangerous, as well to the political as to the animal body.

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