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That that increase in the quantity of the precious metals, which

arises in any country from the increase of wealth, has no

tendency to diminish their value, I have endeavoured to shew

already. Gold and silver naturally resort to a rich country, for

the same reason that all sorts of luxuries and curiosities resort

to it; not because they are cheaper there than in poorer

countries, but because they are dearer, or because a better price

is given for them. It is the superiority of price which attracts

them; and as soon as that superiority ceases, they necessarily

cease to go thither.