BETWEEN VALUE AND RICHES. 169
admitted, that if the whole were estimated in
this one commodity, the aggregate value would
be unaltered. In this hypothetical case, ne-
vertheless, it still remains to be determined
how we are to estimate the value of the com-
modity chosen as the medium, In estimating
the whole produce in this medium, we neces-
sarily include the latter, and compute it as
being worth itself. But value is a relation
between two objects, and had we in any case
to express the value of the medium, we must
have recourse to one of the other commodities,
when its value would appear to be doubled.
Hence, although according to the supposed
estimate, the aggregate value of the other
commodities would be the same, the value
of the medium would be twice as great as
before ; and thus it might be truly said, that
let us adopt what medium of estimation we
please, no increase of riches can take place
without an increase of value.