productions have been greatly increased from the same cause, namely, the increased ability of our people to consume. As a general principle it would seem to be far better to levy a small impost on the entire wealth of an individual rather than to fasten a tax on particular objects, which if produced would constitute wealth, but which are not made because of the threatened impost. The remaining duty on carriages seems to me to be one of this description. Were there no tax, almost every one who keeps one carriage would keep more, while large numbers would have one who now have none. By their use locomotion would be increased threefold, and hence much valuable time would be saved. Besides, a large number of the best description of artisans would be called into existence for their manufacture—a class, too, who are well able to turn their hand, in cases of necessity, to other employment. If, therefore, it is desirable for a nation to possess wealth in carriages, it is a mistake for legislation to prevent it.
Formerly, when the wealth of a nation was produced, as it were, by hand labour, a different state of things existed to that of the present day. As I have shown, our means of production are now increased in some cases more than a hundred and in others more than a thousand fold; and this will go on, just in proportion as the masses of
