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！
upon the occasional calls of his customers； and it is not liable
to be interrupted by the weather。
When the trades which generally afford constant employment
happen in a particular place not to do so； the wages of the
workmen always rise a good deal above their ordinary proportion
to those of common labour。 In London almost all journeymen
artificers are liable to be called upon and dismissed by their
masters from day to day； and from week to week； in the same
manner as day…labourers in other places。 The lowest order of
artificers； journeymen tailors； accordingly； earn there half a
crown a…day； though eighteenpence may be reckoned the wages of
common labour。 In small towns and country villages； the wages of
journeymen tailors frequently scarce equal those of common
labour； but in London they are often many weeks without
employment； particularly during the summer。
When the inconstancy of employment is combined with the
hardship； disagreeableness and dirtiness of the work； it
sometimes raises the wages of the most common labour above those
of the most skilful artificers。 A collier working by the piece is
supposed； at Newcastle； to earn commonly about double； and in
many parts of Scotland about three times the wages of common
labour。 His high wages arise altogether from the hardship；
disagreeableness； and dirtiness of his work。 His employment may；
upon most occasions； be as constant as he pleases。 The
coal…heavers in London exercise a trade which in hardship；
dirtiness； and disagreeableness； almost equals that of colliers；
and from the unavoidable irregularity in the arrivals of
coal…ships； the employment of the greater part of them is
necessarily very inconstant。 If colliers； therefore； commonly
earn double and triple the wages of common labour； it ought not
to seem unreasonable that coal…heavers should sometimes earn four
and five times those wages。 In the inquiry made into their
condition a few years ago； it was found that at the rate at which
they were then paid； they could earn from six to ten shillings a
day。 Six shillings are about four times the wages of common
labour in London； and in every particular trade the lowest common
earnings may always be considered as those of the far greater
number。 How extravagant soever those earnings may appear； if they
were more than sufficient to compensate all the disagreeable
circumstances of the business； there would soon be so great a
number of competitors as； in a trade which has no exclusive
privilege； would quickly reduce them to a lower rate。
The constancy or inconstancy of employment cannot affect the
ordinary profits of stock in any particular trade。 Whether the
stock is or is not constantly employed depends。 not upon the
trade； but the trader。
Fourthly； the wages of labour vary accordingly to the small
or great trust which must be reposed in the workmen。
The wages of goldsmiths and jewellers are everywhere
superior to those of many other workmen； not only of equal； but
of much superior ingenuity； on account of the precious materials
with which they are intrusted。
We trust our health to the physician： our fortune and
sometimes our life and reputation to the lawyer and attorney。
Such confidence could not safely be reposed in people of a very
mean or low condition。 Their reward must be such； therefore； as
may give them that rank in the society which so important a trust
requires。 The long time and the great expense which must be laid
out in their education； when combined with this circumstance；
necessarily enhance still further the price of their labour。
When a person employs only his own stock in trade； there is
no trust； and the credit which he may get from other people
depends； not upon the nature of his trade； but upon their opinion
of his fortune； probity； and prudence。 The different rates of
profit； therefore； in the different branches of trade； cannot
arise from the different degrees of trust reposed in the traders。
Fifthly； the wages of labour in different。 employments vary
according to the probability or improbability of success in them。
The probability that any particular person shall ever be
qualified for the employment to which he is educated is very
different in different occupations。 In the greater part of
mechanic trades； success is almost certain； but very uncertain in
the liberal professions。 Put your son apprentice to a shoemaker；
there is little doubt of his learning to make a pair of shoes；
but send him to study the law； it is at least twenty to one if
ever he makes such proficiency as will enable him to live by the
business。 In a perfectly fair lottery； those who draw the prizes
ought to gain all that is lost by those who draw the blanks。 In a
profession where twenty fail for one that succeeds； that one
ought to gain all that should have been gained by the
unsuccessful twenty。 The counsellor…at…law who； perhaps； at near
forty years of age； begins to make something by his profession；
ought to receive the retribution； not only of his own so tedious
and expensive education； but that of more than twenty others who
are never likely to make anything by it。 How extravagant soever
the fees of counsellors…at…law may sometimes appear； their real
retribution is never equal to this。 Compute in any particular
place what is likely to be annually gained； and what is likely to
be annually spent； by all the different workmen in any common
trade； such as that of shoemakers or weavers； and you will find
that the former sum will generally exceed the latter。 But make
the same computation with regard to all the counsellors and
students of law； in all the different inns of court； and you will
find that their annual gains bear but a very small proportion to
their annual expense； even though you rate the former as high；
and the latter as low； as can well be done。 The lottery of the
law； therefore； is very far from being a perfectly fair lottery；
and that； as well as many other liberal and honourable
professions； are； in point of pecuniary gain； evidently
under…recompensed。
Those professions keep their level； however； with other
occupations； and； notwithstanding these discouragements； all the
most generous and liberal spirits are eager to crowd into them。
Two different causes contribute to recommend them。 First； the
desire of the reputation which attends upon superior excellence
in any of them； and； secondly； the natural confidence which every
man has more or less； not only in his own abilities； but in his
own good fortune。
To excel in any profession； in which but few arrive at
mediocrity； is the most decisive mark of what is called genius or
superior talents。 The public admiration which attends upon such
distinguished abilities makes always a part of their reward； a
greater or smaller in proportion as it is higher or lower in
degree。 It makes a considerable part of that reward in the
profession of