صفحة 331 من 2651

The government of towns-corporate was altogether in the hands of

traders and artificers, and it was the manifest interest of every

particular class of them, to prevent the market from being

overstocked, as they commonly express it, with their own

particular species of industry; which is in reality to keep it

always understocked. Each class was eager to establish

regulations proper for this purpose, and, provided it was allowed

to do so, was willing to consent that every other class should do

the same. In consequence of such regulations, indeed, each class

was obliged to buy the goods they had occasion for from every

other within the town, somewhat dearer than they otherwise might

have done. But, in recompence, they were enabled to sell their

own just as much dearer; so that, so far it was as broad as long,

as they say; and in the dealings of the different classes within

the town with one another, none of them were losers by these

regulations.