labourers ; fo that the fixing the price of labour too high, though 

 intended for a benefit, would be a real injury to the peafant himfelf. 

 The variations of wages, determined, according to a compound ratio, 

 of what the price of provifions, and the fcarcity of workmen require, 

 on the one hand, and the profits of farming will bear, on the other; 

 though differing, from each other, in diiferent places, by a fmall frac- 

 tion only, will, neverthelefs, through the whole extent of a country, 

 or a province, and the whole duration of a year, have a very fenfi- 

 ble effect, in the encouragement or difcouragement of induftry. 



By the prefent preffure of the times, and the encreafed expence of 

 living, the poor of every defcription are forely pinched: — " Marriage 

 " is difcouraged (I ufe the words of Mr. Pitt, fpeaking of England) 

 " and in the domeftic circle, the birth of a child, inftead of being 

 ." confidered as a blelfing, is regarded as a curre. To enable the ma- 

 " nufacturer to feed, clothe, and lodge his wife and children, and pre- 

 '* vent the youth of the country from being driven into the array and 

 " navy, for fubfiftence, it is neceffary to augment the price of labour." 

 But let this be done by the operation of principles. 



When the legiflature has proceeded, to fix the price of labour, and 

 reftrained the workman, from trying to augment it ; it has been 

 governed, by an idea, that large bodies of men, by confpiring to raife 

 their wages, may injure induflry, and leave no room for fuperior ex- 

 ertion and excellence. When this legiflative interference fucceeds, it 

 only does what might better be effected, by principle, were labour left 

 to find its own level. When it fails, it produces, on the one hand, 

 the fevcreft opprefilon ; it encourages, on the other, the moft profligate 

 idlenefs and extravagance. 1 his interference, has (hackled induflry ; and the 

 beft intentions produced the worll effects to trade ; fettered the circulation 

 of labour, and fubftituted a fyftem of complicated abufes, in place of the 

 abufes it means to remove. This is a fubjeft which, of itfelf, would re- 

 quire a volume ; and, confcious of my inability to do it juftice, I fhall not 

 add any thing more, but proceed to the fubject <)f the next fection. 



Sect^ 



