Page:The wealth of nations, volume 3.djvu/446

 Merchants, their judgments more to be depended on respecting the interests of their particular branches of trade, than with regard to the public interest, i. 372; their capitals altogether circulating, 385–386; their dealings extended by the aid of bankers' notes, 414, 421; customs of, first established to supply the want of laws, and afterward admitted as laws, 429; the manner of negotiating bills of exchange explained, ibid.; the pernicious tendency of drawing and redrawing, 430.—In what method their capitals are employed, ii. 45–48; their capitals dispersed and unfixed, 52; the principles of foreign trade examined, 63–64; are the best of improvers, when they turn country gentlemen, 106; their preference among the different species of trade, how determined, 158; are actuated by a narrow spirit of monopoly, 215; the several branches of the corn trade specified and considered, 253; the government of a company of, the worst a country can be under, 317; of London not good economists, 378.—An unproductive class of men, according to the present agricultural system of political economy in France, iii. 15; the quick return of mercantile capitals enables merchants to advance money to government, 348; their capitals increased by lending money to the state, 349.

Mercier, M., de la Riviere, character of his Natural and Essential Order of Political Societies, iii. 31.

Metals, why the best medium of commerce, i. 68; origin of stamped coins, 70–71; why different metals became the standard of value among different nations, 86–87; the durability of, the cause of the steadiness of their price, 315; on what the quantity of precious metals in every particular country depends, 351.—Restraints upon the exportation of, ii. 436.

Metaphysics, the science of, explained, iii. 149.

Metayers, description of the class of farmers so called in France, ii. 82–83.

Methodists, the teachers among, why popular preachers, iii. 173.

Methuen, Mr., translation of the commercial treaty concluded by him between England and Portugal, ii. 282.

Mexico was a less civilized country than Peru, when first visited by the Spaniards, i. 305; present populousness of the capital city, ii. 314; low state of arts at the first discovery of that empire, ibid.

Militia, why allowed to be formed in cities, and its formidable nature, ii. 97–98.—The origin and nature of, explained, iii. 54; how distinguished from the regular standing army, ibid.; must always be inferior to a standing army, 57; a few campaigns of service may make a militia equal to a standing army, 58; instances, ibid.

Milk, a most perishable commodity, how manufactured for store, i. 337.

Mills, wind and water, their late introduction into England, i. 366.

Mines, distinguished by their fertility or barrenness, i. 255; comparison between those of coal and those of metals, 258–259; the competition between, extends to all parts of the world, 260; the working of, a lot-