ature concurs with human industry
in the process of cultivation, is a mere fancy. It is not
from the produce, but from the price at which the produce
is sold, that the rent is derived; and this price is got,
not because nature assists in the production, but because
it is the price which suits the consumption to the
supply."

[8] To make this obvious, and to shew the degrees in which
corn and money rent will vary, let us suppose that the
labour of ten men will, on land of a certain quality,
obtain 180 quarters of wheat, and its value to be 4_l._
per quarter, or 720_l._; and that the labour of ten
additional men will, on the same or any other land,
produce only 170 quarters in addition; wheat would rise
from 4_l._ to 4_l._ 4_s._. 8_d._ for 170: 180:: 4_l._:
4_l._ 4_s._ 8_d._; or, as in the production of 170
quarters, the labour of 10 men is necessary in one case,
and only of 9.44 in the other, the rise would be as 9.44
to 10, or as 4_l._ to 4_l._ 4_s._ 8_d._ If 10 men be
further employed, and the return be

160, the price will rise to L4 10 0
150, " " " " " 4 16 0
140, " " " " " 5 2 10

Now if no rent was paid for the land which yielded 180
quarters when corn was at 4_l._ per quarter, the value of
10 quarters would be paid as rent when only 170 could be
procured, which, at 4_l._ 4_s._ 8_d._ would be 42_l._
7_s._ 6_d._

20 qrs. when 160 were produced, which at L4 10 0 would be L 90 0 0
30 qrs. " 150 " " " " 4 16 0 " " 144 0 0
40 qrs. " 140 " " " " 5 2 10 " " 205 13 4

{100} { 100
Corn rent then would increase {200} and money rent in the { 212
in the proportion of {300} proportion of { 340
{400} { 485

[9] With Mr. Buchanan in the following passage, if it
refers to temporary states of misery, I so far agree, that
"the great evil of the labourer's condition, is poverty,
arising either from a scarcity of food or of work; and in
all countries, laws without number have been enacted for
his relief. But there are miseries in the social state
which legislation cannot relieve; and it is useful
therefore to know its limits, that we may not, by aiming
at what is impracticable, miss the good which is really in
our po