---
id: book-4-introduction
title: "Book 4 Introduction"
book: "4"
chapter: 0
artifact_type: content
---

BOOK IV.
OF SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY.



      Political economy, considered as a branch of the science of a statesman or
      legislator, proposes two distinct objects; first, to provide a plentiful
      revenue or subsistence for the people, or, more properly, to enable them
      to provide such a revenue or subsistence for themselves; and, secondly, to
      supply the state or commonwealth with a revenue sufficient for the public
      services. It proposes to enrich both the people and the sovereign.

      The different progress of opulence in different ages and nations, has
      given occasion to two different systems of political economy, with regard
      to enriching the people. The one may be called the system of commerce, the
      other that of agriculture. I shall endeavour to explain both as fully and
      distinctly as I can, and shall begin with the system of commerce. It is
      the modern system, and is best understood in our own country and in our
      own times.
