PART III. Of the Variations in the Propor- tion between the respective Values of that Sort of Produce which always affords Rent, and of that which fometimes does and fome- Digreffion concerning the Variations in the AN INQUIRY INTO THE NATURE AND CAUSES O F THE WEALTH OF NATIONS. INTRODUCTION AND PLAN OF THE WORK. T HE annual labour of every nation is the Introduct. fund which originally fupplies it with all the neceffaries and conveniencies of life which it annually confumes, and which confift always either in the immediate produce of that labour, or in what is purchafed with that produce from other nations. ACCORDING therefore, as this produce, or what is purchased with it, bears a greater or smaller proportion to the number of those who are to confume it, the nation will be better or worfe fupplied with all the neceffaries and conveniencies for which it has occafion. BUT this proportion muft in every nation be regulated by two different circumstances; first, by the skill, dexterity, and judgment with which VOL. I. B its |