Cli. xiv. General Observations. . 233 



middle of the last century, the price of corn was 

 very low; and, for twenty years together, from 

 1735 to 1755 a day's labour would, on an average, 

 purchase a peck of wheat. During this period, 

 population increased at a moderate rate ; but not 

 by any means with the same rapidity as from 

 1790 to 1811, when the average wages of day- 

 labour would not in general purchase so much 

 as a peck of wheat. In the latter case, however, 

 there was a more rapid accumulation of capital, 

 and a greater demand for labour; and though the 

 continued rise of provisions still kept them rather 

 ahead of wages, yet the fuller employment for 

 every body that would work, the greater quantity 

 of task-work done, the higher relative value of 

 corn compared with manufactures, the increased 

 use of potatoes, and the greater sums distributed 

 in parish allowances, unquestionably gave to the 

 lower classes of society the power of commanding 

 a greater quantity of food, and will account for 

 the more rapid increase of population in the latter 

 period, in perfect consistency with the general 

 principle. 



On similar grounds, if, in some warm climates 

 and rich soils, where corn is cheap, the quantity 

 of food earned by a day's labour be such as to 

 promise a more rapid progress in population than 

 is really known to take place, the fact will be fully 

 accounted for, if it be found that inveterate habits 

 of indolence fostered by a vicious government, 

 and a slack demand for labour, prevent any thing 



