...Smith allowed in more general terms that 'the profits of a sugar plantation in any of our West Indian colonies are generally much greater than those of...cultivation that is known either in Europe or America'. Much of this emphasis on the West Indies is, of course, the verdict of later generations on the fulfilled...

...three-quarters of a century later, that, 'The profits of a sugar plantation in any one of our West Indian colonies are generally much greater than those of...cultivation that is known either in Europe or America.' The mainland colonies, though they too attained modest prosperity in the later seventeenth century,...

...of West Indian sugar estates which, with slave labour, had been claimed by Adam Smith (1776) to be 'generally much greater than those of any other cultivation that is known either in Europe or America' (at least, that is, for prudent planters), became much more difficult to sustain at former levels;...

...virtually doubled." In 1776, Adam Smith wrote: "The profits of a sugar plantation in any of our West Indian colonies are generally much greater than those of...other cultivation that is known either in Europe or America."12 During the first half of the seventeenth century, West Indian sugar plantations provided...

...was succinctly expressed by Adam Smith: "The profits of a sugar-plantation in any of our West Indian colonies are generally much greater than those of...inferior to those of sugar, are superior to those of corn."20 Although at first glance it might appear natural to consider the wealth measure used in the...

...to a long debate. Adam Smith wrote that the profits of a sugar-plantation in any of our West Indian colonies are generally much greater than those of...other cultivation that is known either in Europe or in America. And the profits of a tobacco plantation though inferior to those of sugar, are superior...

...tobacco colonies a very great part of it. The profits of a sugar-plantation in any of our West Indian colonies are generally much greater than those of...are superior to those of corn, as has already been observed.4 Since Smith considered self-interest to be the governing principle of life, it was inconceivable...

...Smith asserted that the profits of a sugar plantation in any of the British West Indian colonies were 'generally much greater than those of any other cultivation that is known either in Europe or America'. Smith had in mind the high profits accruing to sugar planters in the period t749-75, which were considerably...

...very great part of it." In this instance: "The profits of a sugar-plantation in any of our West Indian colonies are generally much greater than those of...profits of a tobacco plantation, though inferior to sugar, are superior to those of corn . . . Both can afford the expense of slave cultivation, but sugar...

...labor, and still survive in the marketplace. "The profits of a sugarplantation in any of our West Indian colonies are generally much greater than those of...cultivation that is known either in Europe or America," Smith explained. "And the profits of a tobacco plantation, though inferior to those of sugar, are superior...