Ch. iv. Of Emigration. 61 



depend mainly upon the industry, skill, and suc- 

 cess of individuals, and upon the state and de- 

 mands of other countries. Consequently, in all 

 countries great variations may take place at dif- 

 ferent times in the rate at which wealth increases, 

 and in the demand for labour. But though the 

 progress of population is mainly regulated by the 

 effective demand for labour, it is obvious that the 

 number of people cannot conform itself immedi- 

 ately to the state of this demand. Some time is 

 required to bring more labour into the market 

 when it is wanted ; and some time to check the 

 supply when it is flowing in with too great rapi- 

 dity. If these variations amount to no more than 

 that natural sort of oscillation noticed in an early 

 part of this work, which seems almost always to 

 accompany the progress of population and food, 

 they should be submitted to as apart of the usual 

 course of things. But circumstances may occa- 

 sionally give them great force, and then, during 

 the period that the supply of labour is increasing 

 faster than the demand, the labouring classes are 

 subject to the most severe distress. If, for in- 

 stance, from a combination of external and inter- 

 nal causes, a very great stimulus should be given 

 to the population of a country for ten or twelve 

 years together, and it should then comparatively 

 cease, it is clear that labour will continue flov^^ing 

 into the market with almost undiminished rapi- 

 dity, while the means of employing and paying it 

 have been essentially contracted. It is precisely 

 under these circumstances that emigration is most 



