W. OfN. Book IV, chap. v; vol. II, p

38. W. ofN. Book I, chap. vu; vol. I, p. 60. — Tlie nataral price... is, as il were, the central price, to which the priées of ail commodides are continually gravitating. — P. 62 : ... though the market price of eveiy particular commodity is in this manner continoally gravitating, if one may say so, towards the natural price... — Humo avait employé la même métaphore, dans son essai On the Balance of Trade : It is évident, that the same causes which would correct thèse exorbitant inequalities, were they to happen miraculously, must prevent their happening in the common course of nature, and must for cver, in ail neighbouring nations, préserve moncy ncarly proportionable to the art and industry of each nation. AU vater, wberever it oommunicates, remains always at a level. Ask naturalisls the reason ; they telL you that, were it to bc raised in any one place, the superior gravity of that part, not being balanced, must depress il, till it meets a counterpoise ; and that the same cause, which redresses the inequality when it happens must for ever prevent it, without some violent and external opération. — Et plus bas : We need not hâve recourse to a physical attraction, in order to explain the necessityof this opération. Tliere is a moral attraction, arising from the interests and passions of men, which is full as potont and in&llible. — Le « naturel » se confond dès lors avec le « nécessaire ». W. of N. Book IV, chap. vu ; vol. II, p. 208 : naturally, or rather necessarily.