Commerce Defended

In this book, James Mill defends international trade (which he refers to as "commerce"). He attacks anti-trade doctrines in general and in particular the ideas of two of their exponents, entomologist William Spence and publisher William Cobbett. Mill also criticizes French economists of the so-called "Physiocratic" school, who claimed that land is the only source of wealth. But, Mill believed, it is equally a mistake to think that wealth comes only from trade and manufacturing. Wealth comes from all production.