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generally have the advantage； there is； however； a certain rate
below which it seems impossible to reduce； for any considerable
time； the ordinary wages even of the lowest species of labour。
A man must always live by his work； and his wages must at
least be sufficient to maintain him。 They must even upon most
occasions be somewhat more； otherwise it would be impossible for
him to bring up a family； and the race of such workmen could not
last beyond the first generation。 Mr。 Cantillon seems； upon this
account； to suppose that the lowest species of common labourers
must everywhere earn at least double their own maintenance； in
order that one with another they may be enabled to bring up two
children； the labour of the wife； on account of her necessary
attendance on the children； being supposed no more than
sufficient to provide for herself。 But one half the children
born； it is computed； die before the age of manhood。 The poorest
labourers； therefore； according to this account； must； one with
another； attempt to rear at least four children； in order that
two may have an equal chance of living to that age。 But the
necessary maintenance of four children； it is supposed； may be
nearly equal to that of one man。 The labour of an able…bodied
slave； the same author adds； is computed to be worth double his
maintenance； and that of the meanest labourer； he thinks； cannot
be worth less than that of an ablebodied slave。 Thus far at least
seems certain； that； in order to bring up a family； the labour of
the husband and wife together must； even in the lowest species of
common labour； be able to earn something more than what is
precisely necessary for their own maintenance； but in what
proportion； whether in that above mentioned； or in any other； I
shall not take upon me to determine。
There are certain circumstances； however； which sometimes
give the labourers an advantage； and enable them to raise their
wages considerably above this rate； evidently the lowest which is
consistent with common humanity。
When in any country the demand for those who live by wages；
labourers； journeymen； servants of every kind； is continually
increasing； when every year furnishes employment for a greater
number than had been employed the year before； the workmen have
no occasion to combine in order to raise their wages。 The
scarcity of hands occasions a competition among masters； who bid
against one another； in order to get workmen； and thus
voluntarily break through the natural combination of masters not
to raise wages。
The demand for those who live by wages； it is evident；
cannot increase but in proportion to the increase of the funds
which are destined for the payment of wages。 These funds are of
two kinds； first； revenue which is over and above what is
necessary for the maintenance； and； secondly； the stock which is
over and above what is necessary for the employment of their
masters。
When the landlord； annuitant； or monied man； has a greater
revenue than what he judges sufficient to maintain his own
family； he employs either the whole or a part of the surplus in
maintaining one or more menial servants。 Increase this surplus；
and he will naturally increase the number of those servants。
When an independent workman； such as a weaver or shoemaker；
has got more stock than what is sufficient to purchase the
materials of his own work； and to maintain himself till he can
dispose of it； he naturally employs one or more journeymen with
the surplus； in order to make a profit by their work。 Increase
this surplus； and he will naturally increase the number of his
journeymen。
The demand for those who live by wages； therefore；
necessarily increases with the increase of the revenue and stock
of every country； and cannot possibly increase without it。 The
increase of revenue and stock is the increase of national wealth。
The demand for those who live by wages； therefore； naturally
increases with the increase of national wealth； and cannot
possibly increase without it。
It is not the actual greatness of national wealth； but its
continual increase； which occasions a rise in the wages of
labour。 It is not； accordingly； in the richest countries； but in
the most thriving； or in those which are growing rich the
fastest； that the wages of labour are highest。 England is
certainly； in the present times； a much richer country than any
part of North America。 The wages of labour； however； are much
higher in North America than in any part of England。 In the
province of New York； common labourers earn three shillings and
sixpence currency； equal to two shillings sterling； a day； ship
carpenters； ten shillings and sixpence currency； with a pint of
rum worth sixpence sterling； equal in all to six shillings and
sixpence sterling； house carpenters and bricklayers； eight
shillings currency； equal to four shillings and sixpence
sterling； journeymen tailors； five shillings currency； equal to
about two shillings and tenpence sterling。 These prices are all
above the London price； and wages are said to be as high in the
other colonies as in New York。 The price of provisions is
everywhere in North America much lower than in England。 A dearth
has never been known there。 In the worst seasons they have always
had a sufficiency for themselves； though less for exportation。 If
the money price of labour； therefore； be higher than it is
anywhere in the mother country； its real price； the real command
of the necessaries and conveniencies of life which it conveys to
the labourer must be higher in a still greater proportion。
But though North America is not yet so rich as England； it
is much more thriving； and advancing with much greater rapidity
to the further acquisition of riches。 The most decisive mark of
the prosperity of any country is the increase of the number of
its inhabitants。 In Great Britain； and most other European
countries； they are not supposed to double in less than five
hundred years。 In the British colonies in North America； it has
been found that they double in twenty or five…and…twenty years。
Nor in the present times is this increase principally owing to
the continual importation of new inhabitants； but to the great
multiplication of the species。 Those who live to old age； it is
said； frequently see there from fifty to a hundred； and sometimes
many more； descendants from their own body。 Labour is there so
well rewarded that a numerous family of children； instead of
being a burthen； is a source of opulence and prosperity to the
parents。 The labour of each child； before it can leave their
house； is computed to be worth a hundred pounds clear gain to
them。 A young widow with four or five young children； who； among
the middling or inferior ranks of people in Europe； would have so
little chance for a second husband； is there frequently courted
as a sort of fortune。 The value of children is the greatest of
all encouragements to marriage。 We cannot； therefore； wonder that
the people in North America should generally marry very young。
Notwithstanding the great increase occasioned by such early
marriages； there is a continual complaint of the scarcity of
hands in North America。 The demand for labourers； the funds
destined for maintaining them； increase； it seems； still faster
than they can find labourers to employ。
Though the wealth of a country should be very great； yet if
it has been long stationary； we must not expect to find the wages
of labour very high in it。 The funds destined for the payment of
wages； the revenue and stock of its inhabitants； may be of the
greatest extent； but if they have continued for several centuries
of the same； or very nearly of the same extent； the number of
labourers employed every year could easily supply； and even more
than supply； the number wanted the following year。 There could
seldom be any scarcity of hands； nor could the masters be obliged
to bid against one another in order to get them。 The hands； on
the contrary； would； in this case； naturally multiply beyond
their employment。 There would be a constant scarcity of
employment； and the labourers would be obliged to bid against one
another in order to get it。 If in such a country the wages of
labour had ever been more than sufficient to maintain the
labourer； and to enable him to bring up a family； the competition
of the labourers and the interest of the masters would soon
reduce them to this lowest rate which is consistent with common
humanity。 China has been long one of the richest； that is； one of
the most fertile； best cultivated； most industrious； and most
populous countries in world。 It seems； however； to have been long
stationary。 Marco Polo； who visited it more than five hundred
years ago； describes its cultivation； industry； and populousness；
almost in the same terms in which they are described by
travellers in the present times。 It had per