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considerably since that time； though； on account of the greater
variety of wages paid there in different places； it is more
difficult to ascertain how much。 In 1614； the pay of a foot
soldier was the same as in the present times； eightpence a day。
When it was first established it would naturally be regulated by
the usual wages of common labourers； the rank of people from
which foot soldiers are commonly drawn。 Lord Chief Justice Hales；
who wrote in the time of Charles II； computes the necessary
expense of a labourer's family； consisting of six persons； the
father and mother； two children able to do something； and two not
able； at ten shillings a week； or twenty…six pounds a year。 If
they cannot earn this by their labour； they must make it up； he
supposes； either by begging or stealing。 He appears to have
inquired very carefully into this subject。 In 1688； Mr。 Gregory
King； whose skill in political arithmetic is so much extolled by
Doctor Davenant； computed the ordinary income of labourers and
out…servants to be fifteen pounds a year to a family； which he
supposed to consist； one with another； of three and a half
persons。 His calculation； therefore； though different in
appearance； corresponds very nearly at bottom with that of Judge
Hales。 Both suppose the weekly expense of such families to be
about twenty pence a head。 Both the pecuniary income and expense
of such families have increased considerably since that time
through the greater part of the kingdom； in some places more； and
in some less； though perhaps scarce anywhere so much as some
exaggerated accounts of the present wages of labour have lately
represented them to the public。 The price of labour； it must be
observed； cannot be ascertained very accurately anywhere；
different prices being often paid at the same place and for the
same sort of labour； not only according to the different
abilities of the workmen； but according to the easiness or
hardness of the masters。 Where wages are not regulated by law；
all that we can pretend to determine is what are the most usual；
and experience seems to show that law can never regulate them
properly； though it has often pretended to do so。
The real recompense of labour； the real quantity of the
necessaries and conveniences of life which it can procure to the
labourer； has； during the course of the present century；
increased perhaps in a still greater proportion than its money
price。 Not only grain has become somewhat cheaper； but many other
things from which the industrious poor derive an agreeable and
wholesome variety of food have become a great deal cheaper。
Potatoes； for example； do not at present； through the greater
part of the kingdom； cost half the price which they used to do
thirty or forty years ago。 The same thing may be said of turnips；
carrots； cabbages； things which were formerly never raised but by
the spade； but which are now commonly raised by the plough。 All
sort of garden stuff； too； has become cheaper。 The greater part
of the apples and even of the onions consumed in Great Britain
were in the last century imported from Flanders。 The great
improvements in the coarser manufactures of both linen and
woollen cloth furnish the labourers with cheaper and better
clothing； and those in the manufactures of the coarser metals；
with cheaper and better instruments of trade； as well as with
many agreeable and convenient pieces of household furniture。
Soap； salt； candles； leather； and fermented liquors have； indeed；
become a good deal dearer； chiefly from the taxes which have been
laid upon them。 The quantity of these； however； which the
labouring poor are under any necessity of consuming； is so very
small； that the increase in their price does not compensate the
diminution in that of so many other things。 The common complaint
that luxury extends itself even to the lowest ranks of the
people； and that the labouring poor will not now be contented
with the same food； clothing； and lodging which satisfied them in
former times； may convince us that it is not the money price of
labour only； but its real recompense； which has augmented。
Is this improvement in the circumstances of the lower ranks
of the people to be regarded as an advantage or as an
inconveniency to the society？ The answer seems at first sight
abundantly plain。 Servants； labourers； and workmen of different
kinds； make up the far greater part of every great political
society。 But what improves the circumstances of the greater part
can never be regarded as an inconveniency to the whole。 No
society can surely be flourishing and happy； of which the far
greater part of the members are poor and miserable。 It is but
equity； besides； that they who feed； clothe； and lodge the whole
body of the people； should have such a share of the produce of
their own labour as to be themselves tolerably well fed； clothed；
and lodged。
Poverty； though it no doubt discourages； does not always
prevent marriage。 It seems even to be favourable to generation。 A
half…starved Highland woman frequently bears more than twenty
children； while a pampered fine lady is often incapable of
bearing any； and is generally exhausted by two or three。
Barrenness； so frequent among women of fashion； is very rare
among those of inferior station。 Luxury in the fair sex； while it
inflames perhaps the passion for enjoyment； seems always to
weaken； and frequently to destroy altogether； the powers of
generation。
But poverty； though it does not prevent the generation； is
extremely unfavourable to the rearing of children。 The tender
plant is produced； but in so cold a soil and so severe a climate；
soon withers and dies。 It is not uncommon； I have been frequently
told； in the Highlands of Scotland for a mother who has borne
twenty children not to have two alive。 Several officers of great
experience have assured me； that so far from recruiting their
regiment； they have never been able to supply it with drums and
fifes from all the soldiers' children that were born in it。 A
greater number of fine children； however； is seldom seen anywhere
than about a barrack of soldiers。 Very few of them； it seems；
arrive at the age of thirteen or fourteen。 In some places one
half the children born die before they are four years of age； in
many places before they are seven； and in almost all places
before they are nine or ten。 This great mortality； however； will
everywhere be found chiefly among the children of the common
people； who cannot afford to tend them with the same care as
those of better station。 Though their marriages are generally
more fruitful than those of people of fashion； a smaller
proportion of their children arrive at maturity。 In foundling
hospitals； and among the children brought up by parish charities；
the mortality is still greater than among those of the common
people。
Every species of animals naturally multiplies in proportion
to the means of their subsistenc