196 
Of the Influence of Capital 
[July, 
portion of the results of this power, or increase their own exertions that may obtain 
useful wrought goods, when these are brought nearly within their reach ; and we 
may understand, how an increased quantity of food may come into the market for 
the support of an increased number of manufacturing labourers, whenever, by a 
fall in price, the useful products in preparing which they are engaged, are brought 
so low, that a slightly increased exertion, together with forbearance and care on the 
part of the lower and most numerous orders, suffices to secure them the new and 
greater enjoyment the cheapened manufactures secure : what was formerly wasted 
or neglected, when it was manifest that nothing more desirable could be had in 
exchange, may now be husbanded with frugality and care, when useful articles seek 
only, as an equivalent, little beyond what had before been considered as of trifling 
or no account ; and thus the cheapening of the wares made use of by the poor, 
may work a change, from slothful and careless to frugal habits, of vast importance 
in increasing the wealth of the society; and may tiltimately render that result of 
the reproductive principle, which was sufficient only to the precarious support of 
a family of savages, equal, through the means, perhaps, of those very utensils 
which have been cheapened, and through the management and frugality induced, 
possibly, by the very articles, to the comfortable maintenance of equal numbers 
as before, and to the support, besides, of those by whom the wrought articles are 
prepared. Besides, therefore, the new demand for wrought wares, proceeding 
from the disposable income of those who now have less to pay for the commodities 
which have been cheapened, we see the rudiments of further demand for the 
produce of new manufacturers, after the introduction of any important improve- 
ment in manufactures. 
When capitalists are found no longer to add to their productive capital, we may 
rest assured, that they then divide amongst themselves, a greater aggregate amount 
of profits than they ever enjoyed before ; or than they can obtain, with any other 
amount of capital, than that which is actually in use ; and that consumers have 
been enriched by the greater command than formerly which is now enjoyed of 
manufactured goods. Nor are we to apprehend, as a permanent consequence of the 
introduction of capital into manufactures, and of the emplovment of more efficient 
tools and machines, any diminution in the demand for labourers ; because, although 
less labour is required in producing the same quantity of wares as before; yet a 
new demand, to the extent of the income now disposable, has been inevitable, on a 
reduction of price, for a larger quantity of the same, or some other wares; and to 
this, we are to add the new demand for such additional produce of manufactures, 
as those can now offer, to whom, before the reduction of price, the use of wrought 
goods was debarred, as requiring, before it could be enjoyed, the sacrifice of too 
great a proportion of their pittance of food. 
Although it is quite impossible, beforehand, to speak with any thing like certain- 
ty, as to the ultimate consequences of the introduction of any quantity of capital, or 
of any particular description of tools and machinery into manufactures ; still, from 
the above considerations, it appears obvious, that any improvement in the arts, 
affecting commodities in general use, however slight it may be, will tend not onl) 
to the enrichment of capitalists and consumers, but to the distribution among 
labourers also, of as large, and possibly a larger aggregate of wages, than could 
ever have been expended amongst them under former circumstances. It is too true 
that misery* must, for the time, be the lot of many workmen, on their being 
necessitated to change their habits and their trades ; and that this suffering must be 
extensive and severe, in proportion to the suddenness and extent of the change 3 
introduced in productive processes. But even these sudden changes carry their 
