PROPOSED BY MR, MALTHUS. 141

another time, without reference to any other
commodity ; which is absurd, value denoting
a relation between two things at the same time:
and it has likewise been shown, that in no sense
could an object of invariable value, if attain-
able, be of any peculiar service in the capacity
of a measure.

These considerations are quite sufficient to
overturn the claims of the proposed measure,
as maintained by its advocate, but it may be
inquired, how far would it be useful in the sense
of a medium of comparison. In order to sa-
tisfy this inquiry, let us suppose a simple case.
I wish to know, for instance, the mutual value
of corn and cloth in the year 1600 ; and in the
ordinary way I find, that corn was 6s. a bushel
and cloth 12s. a yard, and I thence perceive,
that a bushel of corn was worth half a yard of
cloth. This appears to be the only informa-
tion wanted; but this is using money as the
medium of comparison; and to apply Mr. Mal-
thus’s measure, we must find the value of corn
and cloth in relation to labour. Of this, how-
ever, I probably shall find no record, and there-