ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION. S555 1822. v.l THE first edition of the following work was printed in the end of the year 1775, and in the beginning of the year 1776. Through the greater part of the book, therefore, whenever the present state of things is mentioned, it is to be understood of the state they were in, either about that time, or at some earlier period, during the time I was employed in writing the book. To the third edition, however, I have made several additions, particularly to the chapter upon drawbacks, and to that upon bounties; likewise a new chapter entitled, The Conclusion of the Mercantile System; and a new article to the chapter upon the expenses of the Sovereign. In all these additions, the present state of things means always the state in which they were during the year 1783 and the beginning of the year 1784. 361 ADVERTISEMENT TO THE FOURTH EDITION. In this fourth edition I have made no alte rations of any kind. I now, however, find myself at liberty to acknowledge my very great obligations to Mr. HENRY HOPE, of Amsterdam. To that gentleman I owe the most distinct, as well as liberal information, concerning a very interesting and important subject, the Bank of Amsterdam; of which no printed account had ever appeared to me satisfactory, or even intelligible. The name of that gentleman is so well known in Europe, the information which comes from him must do so much honour to whoever has been favoured with it, and my vanity is so much interested in making this acknowledgment, that I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of prefixing this advertisement to this new edition of my book. Of the Causes of Improvement in the Productive Powers of Labour, and of the Order according to which its |