442 Inquiry into the Effects 
the poor. Tam inclined, however, to question 
whether so large a sum has ever been expended 
upon the poor in the space of one year. But 
even admitting the fact, it will be found, 
that eight millions, so distributed, do not 
amount to more than one shilling per week, 
to each individual labourer. During emer- 
gencies, however, the working poor them- 
selves are virtually contributing a much lar- 
ger amount, by the sacrifice of a consider- 
able part of their wages; for while the indi- 
vidual receives one shilling from the poor- 
rate, he is perhaps deprived of two or three 
shillings by the reduced price of his labour ; 
and this sacrifice benefits the consumer, by 
enabling him to obtain the produce of labour 
at a cheaper rate. In Scotland and Ireland, 
on the other hand, the prevailing system of 
vagrancy has a tendency to enhance, on the | 
consumer, the price of articles, by withdraw- 
ing a large portion of labour from the mar- 
ket.. For labour is like all other commodities, 
and will at all times bear a price regulated by 
the demand for it, and the quantity which 
the market affords. Nor is the labour, to 
which vagrant gangs have occasional recourse 
in other countries, of much efficacy in regu- 
lating its price, for it is always found that the 
habits of such persons effectually prevent 
