-2^6 Cofifideyailons en Regulating the' Value of Labour. Aug. 



and wherever they exlft, they occafion a variation in the price of 

 labour, as well between the dilFerent countries of the world, as 

 between the different counties of the fame kingdom. Hence 

 we may perceive the fallacy of fixing on the price of labour, in 

 any particular part of the country, as a criterion by which we 

 are to denominate the rates, at other places, either moderate 

 or extravagant, according as they fink below, or exceed if. This, 

 however, is not always attended to. The apparent effeds are 

 contrailed, but the exiting circumftances are overlooked; and 

 a decifion is made, which mull be erroneous. Nothing, how- 

 ever, is fo common as to hear country wages termed exorbitant, 

 becaufe they either approach to, or equal, the wages of the 

 towns. Thus, your correfpondent after lamenting the extrava- 

 gance of mafon work in Rofslhire, in order to convey to us fome 

 jdea of it, mentions that * he believes it is equal to what ir, giv- 

 en to the bed hands in Edinburgh. ' But this is no proof of 

 the extravagance of the Highland mafon. Encountering diffi- 

 culties, of which the town mafon is ignorant, — ftruggling againft 

 a ftream which almoft overwhelms him, — the wages which he de- 

 mands, are a moderate compenfation for the difficulties and dif- 

 advantages by which he is furrounded. 



I. The Inconflancy of Employment. 



That the wages of labour vary continually, in diilerent em- 

 toloyments, with the conltancy or inconrtancy of employment, 

 ms been pointed out by the profound author of the Wealth of 

 Nations. * A mafon or bricklayer * (fays Dr Smith) * can nei- 

 ther work in hard froft, nor in foul weather ; and his employ- 

 ment at all other times depends upon the occafional calls of his 

 icul\omers. He is liable, in confequencc, to be frequently with- 

 out any. What he earns, therefore, while employed, nuifl: not 

 only maintain him while he is idle, bnt make him fome compen- 

 fation for thole anxious and defponding moments which the 

 thought of fo precarious a fituation muft fomtimes occafion. 

 While the computed earnings of the greater part of manufac- 

 turer?, accordingly, are merely upon a level with the ordinary 

 wages of common labourers, thofe of mafons and bricklayers are 

 ^eiicrally from a half more to double thofe wages. ' On the 

 fame principle, it may be obferved, that difference of fitua- 

 tion Sec. v.'ill occafion a difference of wages even in the 

 fame occupation ; and that tlje employment of a mafon or 

 bricklayer in a thriving and populous city, where public works 

 and private buildings are daily fpringjng up, from commercial 

 opulence, with a rapidity proportioned to their fplendour and 

 titility, mult be more certani and conitant, than of one fituated 

 in a remote and uncultivated province, and Itruggling -"'th all 

 the diiFiculties of unaifillcd nature, who could only look forward 



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