84 ON COMPARING COMMODITIES
the same rate, or by a rise in the rate, that is in
the value of a definite portion of it, while the
quantity remains the same. It is only in the
latter event (which is the one I have supposed
to take place) that the value of the commodity
would in general continue the same in relation
to other commodities, for the precise reason al-
ready assigned, that all commodities would be
affected in equal proportions. It would be a
positive not a comparative rise in the value of
the producing labour of the commodity in ques-
tion; while on the other hand, should the in-
crease in the value have arisen from an aug-
mentation in the quantity of labour, such in-
crease would be probably, although not neces-
sarily comparative.
As the misconception on the part of Mr.
Ricardo here noticed is a fundamental one, 1
make no apology for presenting the reader with
a further attempt to show it. The confu-
sion in the proposition will be more apparent
by a little alteration in the language.

“ The value of a commodity A, or the quan-