PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

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ranit in the thing to be sold, and where the buyer
has a compensation in the price for the risk which he
rUI.s: as where a horse; in a London re~itory, is
sold by public auction, without warranty; the want
of warranty is notice of ~ome unsoundness, and produc.es
a proportionable abatement in the price.
To this of concealing the faults of what we want
to put off, may be referred the practice ()f passing bad
Inoney.· This practice we sometimes hear defend~
by a vulgar excuse, that we have taken the money
for good, and must therefore get rid of it. Which
excuse is Inuch the same, as if one, who had been
robbed upon the highway, ~houtd allege he had a
right to reimburse hiUlself out of the pocket of the
first traveller he met; the justice of which reasoning
the traveller possibly may not comprehend.
Where there exists no monopoly or combinatioD;
the market price is al ways a fair price; because it
will always be proportionable to the use and scarcity
of the article. Hence, there need be DO scruple
about demanding or taking the market price; and
all those expressions, "proyjsions are extravagantly
dear," "corn bears an unrQsonable price,·' and the
like, import no unfairness or u..wu-easonableness in the
seller. '"
If your tailor or your draper charge, or even ask
of you more for a suit of clothes, than the market
price, you complain that you are imposed upon;
'au pronounce the tradesman who makes such a
charge dishonest: although, as the man~s goods
were his own, and he had a right to prescribe the
terms, upon -.lhich he would consent to part with
them, it may be questioned what dishonesty there
can bt: in the case, or wherein the imposition con.
sists. Whoever opens a shop, or in any manner exposes
goods to public sale, virtually engages to deal
with his customers at a tnarket price; because it is
upon the faith and opinion of such an engageQlent,
p