OF VALUE. 23 could suppose any object always to remain of the same value, the comparison of other com- modities with this one would clearly show which had risen, which had fallen, and which had remained the same. The value of any commodity estimated in a measure of this kind, might with propriety be called its absolute or natural value; while the value of a commodity estimated in others which were liable to varia tion, whether they were one or many, could only be considered as its nominal or relative value, that is, its value in relation to any par- ticular commodity, or to commodities in ge- neral * » We have here invariable, absolute, natural, nominal, and relative value; but, throughout the whole of the passage, the notion of value as something intrinsic or absolute is apparent. Departing at once from his own definition, he maintains, that the value of an object may be affected without affecting the value of the com- * The Measure of Value stated and illustrated, p. 1, et seq.