按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
than supply； the number wanted the following year。 There could
seldom be any scarcity of hands； nor could the masters be obliged
to bid against one another in order to get them。 The hands； on
the contrary； would； in this case； naturally multiply beyond
their employment。 There would be a constant scarcity of
employment； and the labourers would be obliged to bid against one
another in order to get it。 If in such a country the wages of
labour had ever been more than sufficient to maintain the
labourer； and to enable him to bring up a family； the competition
of the labourers and the interest of the masters would soon
reduce them to this lowest rate which is consistent with common
humanity。 China has been long one of the richest； that is； one of
the most fertile； best cultivated； most industrious； and most
populous countries in world。 It seems； however； to have been long
stationary。 Marco Polo； who visited it more than five hundred
years ago； describes its cultivation； industry； and populousness；
almost in the same terms in which they are described by
travellers in the present times。 It had perhaps； even long before
his time； acquired that full complement of riches which the
nature of its laws and institutions permits it to acquire。 The
accounts of all travellers； inconsistent in many other respects；
agree in the low wages of labour； and in the difficulty which a
labourer finds in bringing up a family in China。 If by digging
the ground a whole day he can get what will purchase a small
quantity of rice in the evening； he is contented。 The condition
of artificers is； if possible； still worse。 Instead of waiting
indolently in their workhouses； for the calls of their customers；
as in Europe； they are continually running about the streets with
the tools of their respective trades； offering their service； and
as it were begging employment。 The poverty of the lower ranks of
people in China far surpasses that of the most beggarly nations
in Europe。 In the neighbourhood of Canton many hundred； it is
commonly said； many thousand families have no habitation on the
land； but live constantly in little fishing boats upon the rivers
and canals。 The subsistence which they find there is so scanty
that they are eager to fish up the nastiest garbage thrown
overboard from any European ship。 Any carrion； the carcase of a
dead dog or cat； for example； though half putrid and stinking； is
as welcome to them as the most wholesome food to the people of
other countries。 Marriage is encouraged in China； not by the
profitableness of children； but by the liberty of destroying
them。 In all great towns several are every night exposed in the
street； or drowned like puppies in the water。 The performance of
this horrid office is even said to be the avowed business by
which some people earn their subsistence。
China； however； though it may perhaps stand still； does not
seem to go backwards。 Its towns are nowhere deserted by their
inhabitants。 The lands which had once been cultivated are nowhere
neglected。 The same or very nearly the same annual labour must
therefore continue to be performed； and the funds destined for
maintaining it must not； consequently； be sensibly diminished。
The lowest class of labourers； therefore； notwithstanding their
scanty subsistence； must some way or another make shift to
continue their race so far as to keep up their usual numbers。
But it would be otherwise in a country where the funds
destined for the maintenance of labour were sensibly decaying。
Every year the demand for servants and labourers would； in all
the different classes of employments； be less than it had been
the year before。 Many who had been bred in the superior classes；
not being able to find employment in their own business； would be
glad to seek it in the lowest。 The lowest class being not only
overstocked with its own workmen； but with the overflowings of
all the other classes； the competition for employment would be so
great in it； as to reduce the wages of labour to the most
miserable and scanty subsistence of the labourer。 Many would not
be able to find employment even upon these hard terms； but would
either starve； or be driven to seek a subsistence either by
begging； or by the perpetration perhaps of the greatest
enormities。 Want； famine； and mortality would immediately prevail
in that class； and from thence extend themselves to all the
superior classes； till the number of inhabitants in the country
was reduced to what could easily be maintained by the revenue and
stock which remained in it； and which had escaped either the
tyranny or calamity which had destroyed the rest。 This perhaps is
nearly the present state of Bengal； and of some other of the
English settlements in the East Indies。 In a fertile country
which had before been much depopulated； where subsistence；
consequently； should not be very difficult； and where；
notwithstanding； three or four hundred thousand people die of
hunger in one year； we may be assured that the funds destined for
the maintenance of the labouring poor are fast decaying。 The
difference between the genius of the British constitution which
protects and governs North America； and that of the mercantile
company which oppresses and domineers in the East Indies； cannot
perhaps be better illustrated than by the different state of
those countries。
The liberal reward of labour； therefore； as it is the
necessary effect； so it is the natural symptom of increasing
national wealth。 The scanty maintenance of the labouring poor； on
the other hand； is the natural symptom that things are at a
stand； and their starving condition that they are going fast
backwards。
In Great Britain the wages of labour seem； in the present
times； to be evidently more than what is precisely necessary to
enable the labourer to bring up a family。 In order to satisfy
ourselves upon this point it will not be necessary to enter into
any tedious or doubtful calculation of what may be the lowest sum
upon which it is possible to do this。 There are many plain
symptoms that the wages of labour are nowhere in this country
regulated by this lowest rate which is consistent with common
humanity。
First； in almost every part of Great Britain there is a
distinction； even in the lowest species of labour； between summer
and winter wages。 Summer wages are always highest。 But on account
of the extraordinary expense of fuel； the maintenance of a family
is most expensive in winter。 Wages； therefore； being highest when
this expense is lowest； it seems evident that they are not
regulated by what is necessary for this expense； but by the
quantity and supposed value of the work。 A labourer； it may be
said indeed； ought to save part of his summer wages in order to
defray his winter expense； and that through the whole year they
do not exceed what is necessary to maintain his family through
the whole year。 A slave； however； or one absolutely dependen