33. Commerce gives in all merchandize a current value with
respect to any other merchanize; from whence it follows that all
merchandize is the equivalent for a certain quantity of any other
merchandize, and may be looked on as a pledge to represent it.
Corn is not only exchanged for wine, but also for any object
which the proprietors of the corn may stand in need of as wood,
leather, woollen, cotton, etc. it is the same with wine and every
other particular species. If a bushel of corn is equivalent to
six pints of wine, and a sheep is equivalent to three bushels of
corn, the same sheep will be equivalent to eighteen pints of
wine. He who having the corn, wants the wine, may, without
inconvenience, exchange his corn for a sheep, in order afterwards
to exchange the sheep for the wine he stands in need of.
