article of doathing, any tool, or utenfil, which he wants from his 

 neighbour, probably gives him, in exchange, fomething of value, 

 which he himfcif has reared, produced, or made, and receives, or 

 pays the difference in money. The peafant gives a pig, potatoes, or 

 com to the weaver, and receives linen for fliirts, in return. The 

 weaver of linen, goes to the weaver of frize or flannel, and barters 

 with him, in like manner. The flioemaker, or tlie hatter, goes to 

 the carpenter, and exchanges Ihoes or hats, for a bench, a chair, 

 a table, or a bedftead. Thus, the labouring poor, mutually excite 

 each other, by example, and reward, to the exertions of induftry. 

 Premiums and bounties, drive manufactures into channels, which are 

 not yet prepared for their reception. The filent, infenfible operation, 

 of phyfical and moral caufes, gradually leads them, in the moft falu- 

 t^ry manner. 



Though I am an advocate, for encreafing the wages of the labour- 

 ing poor, I do not wifli to fee the augmentation made, by the in- 

 terference of the legiflature. I wifli to fee it proceed, from the wif- 

 dom and humanity, of the gentiy and opulent farmers, through the 

 country, acting according to circumftances, and adapting themfelves to 

 the peculiar fituation of each particular neighbourhood. Were the le- 

 giflature to interfere, it muft proceed on general reprefentations, and 

 be guided by feme common rules, applicable indifcriminately to all cafes. 

 It cannot provide for the mifchief, in detail ; or advert to all the 

 local circumftances, which ought to vary the price of labour, per- 

 haps, in every barony in the kingdom. One common rule would do 

 too much for the poor, in fome places ; too little in others. It would 

 be as injurious to the country, to do too much, as too little. Were 

 the price of the peafant's labour too high, it would operate, as a 

 tax, on the induftry of the farmer ; he would employ fewer hands, ■ 

 in the cultivation of his farm ; he would make fewer experiments in 

 agriculture ; he would not keep his grounds and enclofures fo neat 

 aad trim. Thus would he be enabled, to difcharge a number of his 



labourers ; 



