Sayfa 881 / 2651

His services generally perish in the very instant of their

performance, and seldom leave any trace of value behind them, for

which an equal quantity of service could afterwards be procured.

The labour of some of the most respectable orders in the society

is, like that of menial servants, unproductive of any value, and

does not fix or realize itself in any permanent subject, or

vendible commodity, which endures after that labour is past, and

for which an equal quantity of labour could afterwards be

procured. The sovereign, for example, with all the officers both

of justice and war who serve under him, the whole army and navy,

are unproductive labourers. They are the servants of the public,

and are maintained by a part of the annual produce of the

industry of other people. Their service, how honourable, how

useful, or how necessary soever, produces nothing for which an

equal quantity of service can afterwards be procured. The

protection, security, and defence, of the commonwealth, the

effect of their labour this year, will not purchase its

protection, security, and defence, for the year to come.