172 
Political Economy » 
POLITICAL ECONOMY. 
Mr. Editor, 
THE controversy about manufactures and commerce being 1 
rivals, seems to me very ridiculous. Every nation that has any 
claim to civilization must exercise agriculture, manufacturing and 
commerce : in proportion as the labour and capital of a nation 
are duly divided into these grand branches of human occupation, 
will the country be independent, the citizens happy, and serviceable 
to each other. 
Except air, every thing necessary to the support of human 
existence, whether in the savage or civilized state, must be pro- 
cured by labour : it is true a drink of water is come at with less, 
trouble than a tumbler of wine ; but still it requires exertions to 
get it. And pumps, wells, and aquaducts, are as important to so- 
ciety, as ships, clerks, and desks. 
Without going into this controversy, which borders so close- 
ly on absurdity, let us temperately examine a few calculation® 
that may throw some light on the subject of manufactures. 
Though Philadelphia, in many circumstances, does not resemble 
the cities of Europe, it will form a tolerable rule for the United 
States, it will therefore answer to exemplify, and to simplify the 
calculations. The population may be taken at 100,000, it is not 
much over or under this estimate, nor will an error here effect 
thq general result. 
1st, In a population of 100,000, it is probable there are 2,000 
young boys and girls, not at school or engaged in any business ; 
but from prejudice, pride, and other causes, many of their parents 
would not send them to work ; let the number be reduced to 1000, 
and experience gives reason to suppose, they could at manufac- 
tures gain on an average $1 25 a week. 
2d. There are also a number of young women who sew, bind 
hats, shoes, work for taylors, &c. but whose time, from want of 
employment, is not more than half occupied, and in consequence 
experience considerable distress ; their number may be estimated 
at 500, and from the wages they now receive experience a loss, 
from this want of employment, of at least gl 50 a week. 
3d. There is also a large body of labourers whose occupation 
is suspended three months in the year, their number is at least 400 : 
the class exceeds this ; but as they get occasional employ, those 
who are absolutely idle are estimated at 400, whose wages would 
be gs a week. 
