a third person left in the background. I must now bring him forward, that he may reveal to us a second loss of five francs. Then we shall have the entire results of the transaction.
James B. is the possessor of fifteen francs, the fruit of his labour. He is now free. What does he do with his fifteen francs? He purchases some article of fashion for ten francs, and with it he pays (or the intermediate pay for him) for the hundred-weight of Belgian iron. After this he has five francs left. He does not throw them into the river, but (and this is what is not seen) he gives them to some tradesman in exchange for some enjoyment; to a bookseller, for instance, for Bossuet's "Discourse on Universal History."
Thus, as far as national labour is concerned, it is encouraged to the amount of fifteen francs, viz.:—ten francs for the Paris article; five francs to the bookselling trade.
As to James B., he obtains for his fifteen francs two gratifications, viz.:—
- 1st. A hundred-weight of iron.
- 2nd. A book.
The decree is put in force. How does it effect the condition of James B.? How does it effect the national labour?
James B. pays every centime of his five francs to M. Prohibant, and therefore is deprived of the pleasure of a book, or of some other thing of equal value. He loses five francs. This must be admitted; it cannot fail to be admitted, that when the
