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capital which he employs in it。 Many coal…mines in Scotland are
wrought in this manner； and can be wrought in no other。 The
landlord will allow nobody else to work them without paying some
rent； and nobody can afford to pay any。
Other coal…mines in the same country； sufficiently fertile；
cannot be wrought on account of their situation。 A quantity of
mineral sufficient to defray the expense of working could be
brought from the mine by the ordinary； or even less than the
ordinary； quantity of labour； but in an inland country； thinly
inhabited； and without either good roads or water…carriage； this
quantity could not be sold。
Coals are a less agreeable fuel than wood： they are said；
too； to be less wholesome。 The expense of coals； therefore； at
the place where they are consumed； must generally be somewhat
less than that of wood。
The price of wood again varies with the state of
agriculture； nearly in the same manner； and exactly for the same
reason； as the price of cattle。 In its rude beginnings the
greater part of every country is covered with wood； which is then
a mere encumberance of no value to the landlord； who would gladly
give it to anybody for the cutting。 As agriculture advances； the
woods are partly cleared by the progress of tillage； and partly
go to decay in consequence of the increased number of cattle。
These； though they do not increase in the same proportion as
corn； which is altogether the acquisition of human industry； yet
multiply under the care and protection of men； who store up in
the season of plenty what may maintain them in that of scarcity；
who through the whole year furnish them with a greater quantity
of food than uncultivated nature provides for them； and who by
destroying and extirpating their enemies； secure them in the free
enjoyment of all that she provides。 Numerous herds of cattle；
when allowed to wander through the woods； though they do not
destroy the old trees； hinder any young ones from coming up so
that in the course of a century or two the whole forest goes to
ruin。 The scarcity of wood then raises its price。 It affords a
good rent； and the landlord sometimes finds that he can scarce
employ his best lands more advantageously than in growing barren
timber； of which the greatness of the profit often compensates
the lateness of the returns。 This seems in the present times to
be nearly the state of things in several parts of Great Britain；
where the profit of planting is found to be equal to that of
either corn or pasture。 The advantage which the landlord derives
from planting can nowhere exceed； at least for any considerable
time； the rent which these could afford him； and in an inland
country which is highly cultivated； it will frequently not fall
much short of this rent。 Upon the sea…coast of a well improved
country； indeed； if coals can conveniently be had for fuel； it
may sometimes be cheaper to bring barren timber for building from
less cultivated foreign countries than to raise it at home。 In
the new town of Edinburgh； built within these few years； there is
not； perhaps； a single stick of Scotch timber。
Whatever may be the price of wood； if that of coals is such
that the expense of a coal fire is nearly equal to that of a wood
one； we may be assured that at that place； and in these
circumstances； the price of coals is as high as it can be。 It
seems to be so in some of the inland parts of England；
particularly in Oxfordshire； where it is usual； even in the fires
of the common people； to mix coals and wood together； and where
the difference in the expense of those two sorts of fuel cannot；
therefore； be very great。
Coals； in the coal countries； are everywhere much below this
highest price。 If they were not； they could not bear the expense
of a distant carriage； either by land or by water。 A small
quantity only could be sold； and the coal masters and coal
proprietors find it more for their interest to sell a great
quantity at a price somewhat above the lowest； than a small
quantity at the highest。 The most fertile coal…mine； too；
regulates the price of coals at all the other mines in its
neighbourhood。 Both the proprietor and the undertaker of the work
find； the one that he can get a greater rent； the other that he
can get a greater profit； by somewhat underselling all their
neighbours。 Their neighbours are soon obliged to sell at the same
price； though they cannot so well afford it； and though it always
diminishes； and sometimes takes away altogether both their rent
and their profit。 Some works are abandoned altogether； others can
afford no rent； and can be wrought only by the proprietor。
The lowest price at which coals can be sold for any
considerable time is； like that of all other commodities； the
price which is barely sufficient to replace； together with its
ordinary profits； the stock which must be employed in bringing
them to market。 At as coal…mine for which the landlord can get no
rent； but which he must either work himself or let it alone
altogether； the price of coals must generally be nearly about
this price。
Rent； even where coals afford one； has generally a smaller
share in their prices than in that of most other parts of the
rude produce of land。 The rent of an estate above ground commonly
amounts to what is supposed to be a third of the gross produce；
and it is generally a rent certain and independent of the
occasional variations in the crop。 In coal…mines a fifth of the
gross produce is a very great rent； a tenth the common rent； and
it is seldom a rent certain； but depends upon the occasional
variations in the produce。 These are so great that； in a country
where thirty years' purchase is considered as a moderate price
for the property of a landed estate； ten years' purchase is
regarded as a good price for that of a coal…mine。
The value of a coal…mine to the proprietor frequently
depends as much upon its situation as upon its fertility。 That of
a metallic mine depends more upon its fertility； and less upon
its situation。 The coarse； and still more the precious metals；
when separated from the ore； are so valuable that they can
generally bear the expense of a very long land； and of the most
distant sea carriage。 Their market is not confined to the
countries in the neighbourhood of the mine； but extends to the
whole world。 The copper of Japan makes an article of commerce in
Europe； the iron of Spain in that of Chili and Peru。 The silver
of Peru finds its way； not only to Europe； but from Europe to
China。
The price of coals in Westmoreland or Shropshire can have
little effect on their price at Newcastle； and their price in the
Lionnois can have none at all。 The productions of such distant
coal…mines can never be brought into competition with one
another。 But the productions of the most distant metallic mines
frequently may； and in fact commonly are。 The price； therefore；
of the coarse； and still more t