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The expense of maintaining the fixed capital in a great country,

may very properly be compared to that of repairs in a private

estate. The expense of repairs may frequently be necessary for

supporting the produce of the estate, and consequently both the

gross and the neat rent of the landlord. When by a more proper

direction, however, it can be diminished without occasioning any

diminution of produce, the gross rent remains at least the same

as before, and the neat rent is necessarily augmented.