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！
country。 The land constitutes by far the greatest； the most
important； and the most durable part of the wealth of every
extensive country。 It may surely be of some use； or； at least； it
may give some satisfaction to the public； to have so decisive a
proof of the increasing value of by far the greatest； the most
important； and the most durable part of its wealth。
It may； too； be of some use to the public in regulating the
pecuniary reward of some of its inferior servants。 If this rise
in the price of some sorts of provisions be owing to a fall in
the value of silver； their pecuniary reward； provided it was not
too large before； ought certainly to be augmented in proportion
to the extent of this fall。 If it is not augmented； their real
recompense will evidently be so much diminished。 But if this rise
of price is owing to the increased value； in consequence of the
improved fertility of the land which produces such provisions； it
becomes a much nicer matter to judge either in what proportion
any pecuniary reward ought to be augmented； or whether it ought
to be augmented at all。 The extension of improvement and
cultivation； as it necessarily raises more or less； in proportion
to the price of corn； that of every sort of animal food； so it as
necessarily lowers that of； I believe； every sort of vegetable
food。 It raises the price of animal food； because a great part of
the land which produces it； being rendered fit for producing
corn； must afford to the landlord and farmer the rent and profit
of corn…land。 It lowers the price of vegetable food； because； by
increasing the fertility of the land； it increases its abundance。
The improvements of agriculture； too； introduce many sorts of
vegetable food； which； requiring less land and not more labour
than corn； come much cheaper to market。 Such are potatoes and
maize； or what is called Indian corn； the two most important
improvements which the agriculture of Europe； perhaps； which
Europe itself has received from the great extension of its
commerce and navigation。 Many sorts of vegetable food； besides；
which in the rude state of agriculture are confined to the
kitchen…garden； and raised only by the spade； come in its
improved state to be introduced into common fields； and to be
raised by the plough： such as turnips； carrots； cabbages； etc。 If
in the progress of improvement； therefore； the real price of one
species of food necessarily rises； that of another as necessarily
falls； and it becomes a matter of more nicety to judge how far
the rise in the one may be compensated by the fall in the other。
When the real price of butcher's meat has once got to its height
（which； with regard to every sort； except； perhaps； that of hogs'
flesh； it seems to have done through a great part of England more
than a century ago）； any rise which can afterwards happen in that
of any other sort of animal food cannot much affect the
circumstances of the inferior ranks of people。 The circumstances
of the poor through a great part of England cannot surely be so
much distressed by any rise in the price of poultry； fish；
wild…fowl； or venison； as they must be relieved by the fall in
that of potatoes。
In the present season of scarcity the high price of corn no
doubt distresses the poor。 But in times of moderate plenty； when
corn is at its ordinary or average price； the natural rise in the
price of any other sort of rude produce cannot much affect them。
They suffer more； perhaps； by the artificial rise which has been
occasioned by taxes in the price of some manufactured
commodities； as of salt； soap； leather； candles； malt； beer； and
ale； etc。
EFFECTS OF THE PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENT UPON THE REAL
PRICE OF MANUFACTURES
It is the natural effect of improvement； however； to
diminish gradually the real price of almost all manufactures。
That of the manufacturing workmanship diminishes； perhaps； in all
of them without exception。 In consequence of better machinery； of
greater dexterity； and of a more proper division and distribution
of work； all of which are the natural effects of improvement； a
much smaller quantity of labour becomes requisite for executing
any particular piece of work； and though； in consequence of the
flourishing circumstances of the society； the real price of
labour should rise very considerably； yet the great diminution of
the quantity will generally much more than compensate the
greatest rise which can happen in the price。
There are； indeed； a few manufactures in which the necessary
rise in the real price of the rude materials will more than
compensate all the advantages which improvement can introduce
into the execution of the work。 In carpenters' and joiners' work；
and in the coarser sort of cabinet work； the necessary rise in
the real price of barren timber； in consequence of the
improvement of land； will more than compensate all the advantages
which can be derived from the best machinery； the greatest
dexterity； and the most proper division and distribution of work。
But in all cases in which the real price of the rude
materials either does not rise at all； or does not rise very
much； that of the manufactured commodity sinks very considerably。
This diminution of price has； in the course of the present
and preceding century； been most remarkable in those manufactures
of which the materials are the coarser metals。 A better movement
of a watch； that about the middle of the last century could have
been bought for twenty pounds； may now perhaps be had for twenty
shillings。 In the work of cutiers and locksmiths； in all the toys
which are made of the coarser metals； and in all those goods
which are commonly known by the name of Birmingham and Sheffield
ware； there has been； during the same period； a very great
reduction of price； though not altogether so great as in
watch…work。 It has； however； been sufficient to astonish the
workmen of every other part of Europe； who in many cases
acknowledge that they can produce no work of equal goodness for
double； or even for triple the price。 There are perhaps no
manufactures in which the division of labour can be carried
further； or in which the machinery employed admits of a greater
variety of improvements； than those of which the materials are
the coarser metals。
In the clothing manufacture there has； during the same
period； been no such sensible reduction of price。 The price of
superfine cloth； I have been assured； on the contrary； has；
within these five…and…twenty or thirty years； risen somewhat in
proportion to its quality； owing； it was said； to a considerable
rise in the price of the material； which consists altogether of
Spanish wool。 That of the Yorkshire cloth； which is made
altogether of English wool； is said indeed； during the course of
the present century； to have fallen a good deal in proportion to
its quality。 Quality； however； is so very disputable a matter
t