第54章

The various powers of the material world, seem to be connected at some common centre, and its several parts to exercise reciprocal influences on each other.Hence, a discovery of new properties in any one material, or more easy modes of bringing the old into play, generally extends the power of man over a great range of the other materials, which he had been in the habit of before applying to his purposes.When art, therefore, has made considerable progress, and comprehends within its dominion a multiplicity of materials, the variety of effects that may be generated, from the action, and reaction, on each other, of the numerous powers at its disposal, becomes illimitable.As in numbers, every addition multiplies amazingly the possible antecedent combinations, until at length the amount becomes too great to be ascertained.Hence it is, that, though among barbarous nations, the ability of man to increase the amount of instruments he possesses may be bounded, among nations having made considerable advance in art, there seems no assigning any limit to it, other than that indicated in the second part of the proposition, the necessary gradual passage of the instruments constructed, to orders of slower and slower return.

It is hence, that, if we turn to any community where art has advanced, we invariably see, that however much industry may have already exerted itself, on the materials within its reach, the field for its possible future action seems rather increased than diminished, and that the farther we stretch our view over it, to the greater distance its extreme circumference recedes from us.The industry of the people of Great Britain, has probably been as largely applied to the materials which its limited territory possesses, as that of any other community presently existing; yet certainly, there is no lack of matters on which it might be farther exercised.A large portion of its surface, and which wants not, nevertheless, all the requisites for the sustenance of vegetable life, lies yet uncultivated.With the exception of the mountainous and rocky regions, heat, light, air and water, in sufficient abundance rest on every part of it, nor is the presence of many of the earths, the mixture of which forms a proper shelter for the tender radicle fibres, and a commodious storehouse for an important part of their nourishment,.any where wanting.There is also in general a considerable supply diffused over the surface, of the decomposing remains of former vegetables, and animals, the material which constitutes nearly the whole solid food, that the organic life of plants requires; and, even when this is deficient at one point, there are larger collections of it at some other.The outlay requisite, in many instances, to give such form to these materials, as to fit them for the purposes of the agriculturist, would, no doubt, be very great, still, whatever it might be, as the instrument formed would be of unlimited duration, the annual returns from it, would, in time, exceed the cost of formation, and bring it within the limits of our series.

Were we to go over the various other instruments, the returns from which supply the wants of this community, we should perceive, that every where, their capacities are capable of being greatly increased.One would not find it very easy to say, how much might be added, to the durability and efficiency, of dwelling-houses alone.The amount of the capacity for the facilitation of future transport, which might be embodied in railroads, returning ultimately much more than the cost of their formation, is incalculable;as is also, the degree to which mining operations might be extended.Even supposing all these, and many other instruments, to have acquired a vastly increased extent, both as concerns durability and efficiency; instead of limiting their further increase, it would seem likely, rather to open up a still wider space, for the exertion of future industry in the formation of others.Were the soil universally cultivated, were railroads extended and ramified throughout the country, and were the riches of the mineral kingdom more fully brought out, the additional facility given to the formation of instruments, by the command afforded of the materials necessary for their construction, and the ease with which they might be transported from point to point, would, it may well be supposed, be sufficient, to give the means of a still greater increased construction of them, and a still farther advance, of the amount of the capacities for the supply of futurity, embodied in the various instruments, spread over the surface of the territory, or lying above, or beneath it.In short, the more we consider the subject, the more clearly shall we perceive the impossibility of fixing any limit to the amount of the labor which may be expended in the formation of instruments, in this, or any other community, where art has made considerable advance.

This progress, while art itself remained stationary, would, however, undoubtedly, gradually carry instruments to more and more slowly returning orders, and would not therefore take place, unless the society were inclined to construct instruments of those orders.What the circumstances are, which determine individuals, and societies, to stop at this, or that order of instruments, will form the subject of the next chapter.

CHAPTER VI.OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH DETERMINE THE STRENGTH OF THEEFFECTIVE DESIRE OF ACCUMULATION.