Digression concerning the Variations in the Value of Silver during the course of the four last centuries ib. First Period ib. Second Period 81 Third Period ib. Variations in the Proportion between the respective Values of Gold and Silver 89 Grounds of the Suspicion that the Value of Silver still continues to decrease 91 Different Effects of the Progress of Improvement upon the real Price of three different sorts of rude Produce ib. First Sort 92 Second Sort ib. Third Sort 97 Conclusion of the Digression concerning the Variations in the Value of Silver 101 Effects of the Progress of Improvement upon the real Price of Manufactures 103 Conclusion of the Chapter 105 BOOK II. OF THE NATURE, ACCUMULATION, AND EMPLOYMENT OF STOCK. Introduction 111 CHAP. I. Of the Division of Stock 112 CHAP. II. Of Money considered as a particular Branch of the general Stock of the Society, or of the Expense of maintaining the National Capital 115 CHAP. III. Of the Accumulation of Capital, or of productive and unproductive Labour 135 CHAP. IV. Of Stock lent at Interest 144 CHAP. V. Of the different Employment of Capitals 147 BOOK III. OF THE DIFFERENT PROGRESS OF OPULENCE IN DIFFERENT NATIONS. CHAP. I. Of the Natural Progress of Opulence 155 CHAP. II. Of the Discouragement of Agriculture in the ancient States of Europe, after the fall of the Roman Empire 157 CHAP. III. Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns, after the fall of the Roman Empire 162 CHAP. IV. How the Commerce of the Towns contributed to the Improvement of the Country 167 BOOK IV. OF THE SYSTEMS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY. Introduction 173 CHAP. I. Of the Principle of the Commercial or Mercantile system ib. CHAP. II.