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the whole year。 A slave； however； or one absolutely dependent on
us for immediate subsistence； would not be treated in this
manner。 His daily subsistence would be proportioned to his daily
necessities。
Secondly； the wages of labour do not in Great Britain
fluctuate with the price of provisions。 These vary everywhere
from year to year； frequently from month to month。 But in many
places the money price of labour remains uniformly the same
sometimes for half a century together。 If in these places；
therefore； the labouring poor can maintain their families in dear
years； they must be at their ease in times of moderate plenty；
and in affluence in those of extraordinary cheapness。 The high
price of provisions during these ten years past has not in many
parts of the kingdom been accompanied with any sensible rise in
the money price of labour。 It has； indeed； in some； owing
probably more to the increase of the demand for labour than to
that of the price of provisions。
Thirdly； as the price of provisions varies more from year to
year than the wages of labour； so； on the other hand； the wages
of labour vary more from place to place than the price of
provisions。 The prices of bread and butcher's meat are generally
the same or very nearly the same through the greater part of the
United Kingdom。 These and most other things which are sold by
retail； the way in which the labouring poor buy all things； are
generally fully as cheap or cheaper in great towns than in the
remoter parts of the country； for reasons which I shall have
occasion to explain hereafter。 But the wages of labour in a great
town and its neighbourhood are frequently a fourth or a fifth
part； twenty or five…and…twenty per cent higher than at a few
miles distance。 Eighteenpence a day may be reckoned the common
price of labour in London and its neighbourhood。 At a few miles
distance it falls to fourteen and fifteenpence。 Tenpence may be
reckoned its price in Edinburgh and its neighbourhood。 At a few
miles distance it falls to eightpence； the usual price of common
labour through the greater part of the low country of Scotland；
where it varies a good deal less than in England。 Such a
difference of prices； which it seems is not always sufficient to
transport a man from one parish to another； would necessarily
occasion so great a transportation of the most bulky commodities；
not only from one parish to another； but from one end of the
kingdom； almost from one end of the world to the other； as would
soon reduce them more nearly to a level。 After all that has been
said of the levity and inconstancy of human nature； it appears
evidently from experience that a man is of all sorts of luggage
the most difficult to be transported。 If the labouring poor；
therefore； can maintain their families in those parts of the
kingdom where the price of labour is lowest； they must be in
affluence where it is highest。
Fourthly； the variations in the price of labour not only do
not correspond either in place or time with those in the price of
provisions； but they are frequently quite opposite。
Grain； the food of the common people； is dearer in Scotland
than in England； whence Scotland receives almost every year very
large supplies。 But English corn must be sold dearer in Scotland；
the country to which it is brought； than in England； the country
from which it comes； and in proportion to its quality it cannot
be sold dearer in Scotland than the Scotch corn that comes to the
same market in competition with it。 The quality of grain depends
chiefly upon the quantity of flour or meal which it yields at the
mill； and in this respect English grain is so much superior to
the Scotch that； though often dearer in appearance； or in
proportion to the measure of its bulk； it is generally cheaper in
reality； or in proportion to its quality； or even to the measure
of its weight。 The price of labour； on the contrary； is dearer in
England than in Scotland。 If the labouring poor； therefore； can
maintain their families in the one part of the United Kingdom；
they must be in affluence in the other。 Oatmeal indeed supplies
the common people in Scotland with the greatest and the best part
of their food； which is in general much inferior to that of their
neighbours of the same rank in England。 This difference； however；
in the mode of their subsistence is not the cause； but the effect
of the difference in their wages； though； by a strange
misapprehension； I have frequently heard it represented as the
cause。 It is not because one man keeps a coach while his
neighbour walks afoot that the one is rich and the other poor；
but because the one is rich he keeps a coach； and because the
other is poor he walks afoot。
During the course of the last century； taking one year with
another； grain was dearer in both parts of the United Kingdom
than during that of the present。 This is a matter of fact which
cannot now admit of any reasonable doubt； and the proof of it is；
if possible； still more decisive with regard to Scotland than
with regard to England。 It is in Scotland supported by the
evidence of the public fiars； annual valuations made upon oath；
according to the actual state of the markets； of all the
different sorts of grain in every different county of Scotland。
If such direct proof could require any collateral evidence to
confirm it； I would observe that this has likewise been the case
in France； and probably in most other parts of Europe。 With
regard to France there is the clearest proof。 But though it is
certain that in both parts of the United Kingdom grain was
somewhat dearer in the last century than in the present； it is
equally certain that labour was much cheaper。 If the labouring
poor； therefore； could bring up their families then； they must be
much more at their ease now。 In the last century； the most usual
day…wages of common labour through the greater part of Scotland
were sixpence in summer and fivepence in winter。 Three shillings
a week； the same price very nearly； still continues to be paid in
some parts of the Highlands and Western Islands。 Through the
greater part of the low country the most usual wages of common
labour are now eightpence a day； tenpence； sometimes a shilling
about Edinburgh； in the counties which border upon England；
probably on account of that neighbourhood； and in a few other
places where there has lately been a considerable rise in the
demand for labour； about Glasgow； Carron； Ayrshire； etc。 In
England the improvements of agriculture； manufactures； and
commerce began much earlier than in Scotland。 The demand for
labour； and consequently its price； must necessarily have
increased with those improvements。 In the last century；
accordingly； as well as in the present； the wages of labour were
higher in England than in Scotland。 They have risen； too；
considerably since that time； though； on account of the greater
variety of wages paid there in different p