252 Conftderatious on Regulating the Value of Labour, Aug, 



pondent (Sir George S. Mackenzie, Bart.), refpedling the pre- 

 fent price of labour in the Highlands. 



The price of labour, generally fpeaking, is one of the mod 

 important objccis which can fall under the confideration of the 

 political cconotniil ; not only as being that which is moll nearly 

 and intim.itely conn^cled with the wellare, happinefs and fupport 

 of the moll t^umerous and moll important claiTes of fociety, but al- 

 fo ai that which, forming a component part of the price of all com- 

 modities, mull confcquently have confiderable efFe£l in determin- 

 inc: the profits and advantages of every particular fpeculation con- 

 nccled with any of tliC different branches of trade or manufac- 

 ture, and as that which, from its wonderful influence in llimu- 

 lating iiidullry, and encouraging population, by holding forth a 

 libeial reward to the workman, may juflly be confidered as the 

 main fpring wliich moves the complicated mechanifm of every 

 agricultural and commercial community. 



Impreiled, th.n, with the importance of the fubjefl, I trull 

 you will not hefirate at infcrting a few obfervations which are 

 intended to obviate the impreflion which may have been made 

 on the public mind by your correfpondent's letter, as well as to 

 dillipate thofe apprehenfions which appear to be entertained 

 by many HighJand proprietors, regarding the efFt;6ls which, 

 they fuppofe, mull enfue from the execution of the grand Cale- 

 donian Canal, in producing a general enhancement of the price 

 of labour, and oppofmg a barrier to every agricultural improve^- 

 ment. 



Witiiout enlarging en that dlfcovery which feems to have ex- 

 cited fo much furprife in your correfpondcnt's mind, viz. That 

 the eflimate of farm building?, houfe, offices, S^c. S:c. exceeded 

 confiderably one year's rent of the cftate, it may juft be obferv- 

 Cd, what an indefinite idea this ftatement conveys to the mind, 

 when neither the extent of the eftate, nor the prefent rent of 

 the land, the two main hinges upon which the argument mud 

 turn, are at all mentioned. But fuppofing the former mode- 

 rate, and the latter fuch as we know to be the common return 

 of Highland improveable eftates. Hill I can perceive no jull caufe 

 for complaint. That agriculture is a trade which, like all other 

 trades, requires, in the iirll inllance, a certain outlay of capital 

 in order to render it fuccefsfui, is a problem which will require 

 no demonflration •, that the lefs improved the land is in its pre- 

 sent flate, the greater mud be the capital employed in order to 

 Tender it ufefully produ£live, is equally obvious -, and that the 

 improvement will be dire£lly proportional to the capital judici- 

 oufly expended, even your correfpondent will not deny. A 

 very extenlive territory comprifing the different varieties of 



* nKjfs-quaking 



