ON THE NATURE

tance of the earth from the sun could be altered,
 while the distance of the sun from the
earth remained as before.
Suppose that at some former period, when the
value of commodities was determined by the
quantity of labour required to produce them,
a and B were the only exchangeable commodities
 in existence, and that they were of
equal value. If, from any circumstances, a
should, at a subsequent period, require double
the quantity of labour for its production, while
B continued to require only the same, a
would become of double value to B; or, in
other words, one A would exchange for two =.
But although B continued to be produced by
the same labour, it would not continue of the
same value, for it would exchange for only
half the quantity of a, the only commedity,
by the supposition, with which it could be compared.


It may be objected to this representation of
the relative nature of value, that when we say
the value of A is equal to the value of B, the
expression implies a quality intrinsic and abso-