16 March 1804

Polit. Economy

Ch.2. Leading Features

'. 2.6 Wealth. 2. Non Agenda

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2

{ 3. Measures which present themselves in the character of Non Agenda, may be

distinguished into Broad Measures, and Narrow Measures: broad measures, having

for their object or their effect the augmentation of wealth in all its shapes,

without distinction, by the encrease of profit-seeking industry in all its

branches without destruction: narrow measures, which have for their object the

augmentation of wealth, by the encrease of profit-seeking industry in this or

that particular branch, in preference to others, under the notion of its

producing more wealth in that than in others.

4. Examples of Broad Measures -

1. Forced Frugality: - Natural Opulence promoted or endeavoured to be promoted

at the expence of justice. National wealth, without regard to the particular

shape, encreased or endeavoured to be encreased, by the application of money in

the shape of capital, that money raised (as of course it must be) by taxes: -

taxes imposed on property or expenditure, as the case may be. Necessity, viz:

for the application, of the wealth thus produced, to the purpose either of

subsistence or defence, is here out of the question: for necessity, in either of

those its branches, constitutes a distinct grounds mentioned further on.+ -

Injustice the first - forcing a man to labour, though it were for his own

benefit, where he wishes to enjoy. Injustice the second - forcing one man to

labour for the sake of encreasing the enjoyments of another man, or rather, of

encreasing the stock of the instruments of enjoyment in his hands: for all that

government can do in behalf of enjoyment, otherwise than by security, is - to

encrease the quantity of the matter /mass[?] of instruments/ of enjoyment:

application of these instruments in such manner as to produce actual enjoyment,

depends altogether upon the individual, and is an effect altogether out of the

reach of government.(a)

[+] See Agenda.

(a) Note p.1.

Take a fresh Price[?] for the next.