OF VALUE. 
10 
most convenient of all, yet any other commo- 
dity might answer the purpose. 
Such a measure as this, however, has not 
contented political economists; it is only, they 
say, a measure of commodities at the same 
time: they have wished for something to mea- 
sure the value of commodities at different 
periods. 
Let us see what this amounts to: if it is 
wished to measure or compare the value of corn 
and cloth at one period with their value at ano- 
ther period, money will evidently answer the 
purpose. We have only to inquire the prices 
of corn and cloth at each period, and we shall 
then be able to ascertain how they have varied 
relatively to each other. If, in the year 1600, 
cloth was 20s. a yard, and corn 10s. a bushel, 
and in the year 1800, cloth was 10s. and corn 
10s., then it would manifestly appear, that in 
1600 a yard of cloth would command in ex- 
change or be worth two bushels of corn, and in 
1800 only one bushel. Thus by inquiring the 
prices of the commodities we should ascertain