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The whole quantity, therefore, of the cheap commodity, must

commonly be greater in proportion to the whole quantity of the

dear one, than the value of a certain quantity of the dear one,

is to the value of an equal quantity of the cheap one. When we

compare the precious metals with one another, silver is a cheap,

and gold a dear commodity. We ought naturally to expect,

therefore, that there should always be in the market, not only a

greater quantity, but a greater value of silver than of gold. Let

any man, who has a little of both, compare his own silver with

his gold plate, and he will probably find, that not only the

quantity, but the value of the former, greatly exceeds that of

the latter. Many people, besides, have a good deal of silver who

have no gold plate, which, even with those who have it, is

generally confined to watch-cases, snuff-boxes, and such like

trinkets, of which the whole amount is seldom of great value.