Political economy, considered as a branch of the science of a statesman or legislator, proposes two distinct objects; first, to provide a plentiful revenue or subsistence for the people, or, more properly, to enable them to provide such a revenue or subsistence for themselves; and, secondly, to supply the state or commonwealth with a revenue sufficient for the public services. It proposes to enrich both the people and the sovereign.
       The different progress of opulence in different ages and nations, has given occasion to two different systems of political economy, with regard to enrichiug the people. The one may be called the system of commerce, the other that of agriculture. I shall endeavour to explain both as fully and distinctly as I can, and shall begin with the system of commerce. It is the modern system, and is best understood in our own country and in our own times.

Introduction and Plan of the Work
book i
   Chapter I. Of the Division of Labour
   Chapter II. Of the Principle which gives occasion to the Division of Labour
   Chapter III. That the Division of Labour is limited by the Extent of the Market
   Chapter IV. Of the Origin and Use of Money
   Chapter V. Of the Real and Nominal Price of Commodities, or their Price in Labour, and their Price in Money
   Chapter VI. Of the Component Parts of the Price of Commodities
   Chapter VII. Of the Natural and Market Price of Commodities
   Chapter VIII. Of the Wages of Labour
   Chapter IX. Of the Profits of Stock
   Chapter X. Of Wages and Profit in the different Employments of Labour and Stock
   Chapter XI. Of the Rent of Land
book ii
   Introduction.
   Chapter I. Of the Division of Stock
   Chapter II. Of Money, considered as a particular Branch of the general Stock of the Society, or of the Expense of maintaining the National Capital.
   Chapter III. Of the Accumulation of Capital, or of Productive and Unproductive Labour
   Chapter IV. Of Stock Lent at Interest
   Chapter V. Of the Different Employment of Capitals
book iii
   Chapter I. Of the Natural Progress of Opulence
   Chapter II. Of the Discouragement of Agriculture in the ancient State of Europe after the Fall of the Roman Empire.
   Chapter III. Of the Rise and Progress of Cities and Towns after the Fall of the Roman Empire.
   Chapter IV. How the Commerce of the Towns Contributed to the Improvement of the Country
book iv
   Introduction
   Chapter I. Of the Principle of the Commercial, or Mercantile System
   Chapter II. Of Restraints upon the Importation from Foreign Countries of such Goods as can be produced at Home
   Chapter III. Of the extraordinary Restraints upon the Importation of Goods of almost all kinds from those Countries with which the Balance is supposed to be disadvantageous
   Chapter IV. Of Drawbacks
   Chapter V. Of Bounties
   Chapter VI. Of Treaties of Commerce
   Chapter VII. Of Colonies
   Chapter VIII. Conclusion of the Mercantile System
   Chapter IX. Of the Agricultural Systems, or of those Systems of Political Economy which represent the Produce of Land as either the sole or the principal Source of the Revenue and Wealth every Country
   Appendix
book v
   Chapter I. Of the Expenses of the Sovereign or Commonwealth
   Chapter II. Of the Sources of the General or Public Revenue of the Society
   Chapter III. Of Public Debts.