The sum given to the maintenance of this branch of industry, is thus reduced (if we suppose the consumption not to be increased) to one hundred millions.
But the other fifty millions are not, therefore, withdrawn from the maintenance of _human labor_.

The buyers of hats are, from the surplus saved upon the price of that article, enabled to satisfy other wants, and thus, in the same proportion, to encourage general industry.

John buys a pair of shoes; James, a book; Jerome, an article of furniture, etc.

Human labor, as a whole, still receives the encouragement of the whole one hundred and fifty millions, while the consumers, with the same supply of hats as before, receive also the increased number of comforts accruing from the fifty millions, which the use of the machine has been the means of saving to them.

These comforts are the net gain which France has received from the invention.