Chap。IX
DoesnotInterestfallinProportionasWealthincreases？
Ianswerintheaffirmative:provideditbesupposedthatdissipationdonotincreaseinproportiontothewealth。Nowinageneralproposition，suchasthiswhichstandsattheheadofourchapter，thisverynecessaryprovisoisapttobeoverlooked，andthuspeopleareledtoerror。Themannersofapeople，nottheirexternalcircumstancesastoriches，arethatwhichrendersthemfrugalorextravagant。What，therefore，dependsuponthespiritofapeople，cannotbechanged，butinconsequenceofachangeofthatspirit。
Iftherateofinterestbehigh，fromatasteofdissipation，letforeigntradethrowinwhatloadsofmoneyitmay，interestwillstandhigh，untilmannersdochange。Everyclassofapeoplehastheirpeculiarspirit。Thefrugalmerchantwillaccumulatewealth，andtheprodigallordwillborrowit。Inthissituation，internalcirculationwillberapid，andlandswillshifthands。
Ifthisrevolutionshouldproveacorrectivetodissipation，byvestingpropertyinthosewhohavecontractedafirmhabitoffrugality，thenanaugmentationofwealthmaysinktherateofinterest。Butif，onthecontrary，thelawsandmannersofthecountrydodistinguishclassesbytheirmannerofliving，andmodeofexpence，itistentoonebuttheindustriousandfrugalmerchantwillputontheprodigalgentleman，themomenthegetsintoafinecountryseat，andhearshimselfcalledyourHonour。