82. The lowering of interest proves, that in Europe oeconomy
has in general prevailed over luxury.
Since the interest of money has been constantly diminishing
in Europe for several centuries, we must conclude, that the
spirit of oeconomy has been more general than the spirit of
luxury. It is only people of fortune who run into luxury, and
among the rich, the sensible part of them confine their expences
within their incomes, and pay great attention not to touch their
capital. Those who wish to become rich are far more numerous in a
nation than those which are already so. Now, in the present state
of things, as all the land is occupied, there is but one way to
become rich it is either to possess, or to procure in some way or
other, a revenue or an annual profit above what is absolutely
necessary for subsistence, and to lay up every year in reserve to
form a capital, by means of which they may obtain an increase of
revenue or annual profit, which will again produce another
saving, and become capital. There are consequently a great number
of men interested and employed in amusing capitals.
