Excerpt from Industries and Wealth of Nations

IT is unquestionably of the highest importance to ascertain approximately the earnings and wealth of the various nations of Christendom. In all leading countries, within the last fifty years, numerous economists and statisticians have published essays on the subject as far as concerned their respective countries, which is sufficient evidence that a careful and com prehensive work of this description is most desirable. The method to be adopted for carrying out such a task must depend on the taste and judgment of the author. It may, meantime, be questioned whether the work might not be better done if undertaken collectively by three or four European Governments, each appointing a Commissioner for the purpose, and the Commissioners holding session for two years in suc cession at Paris and London. If they were to work barmo niously, the result of their labours would be of the highest value, but it is possible that some points of discord might arise and render their labours nugatory.

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