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restrained by force or by some strong necessity； is almost
irresistible。 It is the call of nature； which requires to be
relieved by some indulgence； sometimes of ease only； but
sometimes； too； of dissipation and diversion。 If it is not
complied with； the consequences are often dangerous； and
sometimes fatal； and such as almost always； sooner or later；
brings on the peculiar infirmity of the trade。 If masters would
always listen to the dictates of reason and humanity； they have
frequently occasion rather to moderate than to animate the
application of many of their workmen。 It will be found； I
believe； in every sort of trade； that the man who works so
moderately as to be able to work constantly not only preserves
his health the longest； but； in the course of the year； executes
the greatest quantity of work。
In cheap years； it is pretended； workmen are generally more
idle； and in dear ones more industrious than ordinary。 A
plentiful subsistence； therefore； it has been concluded； relaxes；
and a scanty one quickens their industry。 That a little more
plenty than ordinary may render some workmen idle； cannot well be
doubted； but that it should have this effect upon the greater
part； or that men in general should work better when they are ill
fed than when they are well fed； when they are disheartened than
when they are in good spirits； when they are frequently sick than
when they are generally in good health； seems not very probable。
Years of dearth； it is to be observed； are generally among the
common people years of sickness and mortality； which cannot fail
to diminish the produce of their industry。
In years of plenty； servants frequently leave their masters；
and trust their subsistence to what they can make by their own
industry。 But the same cheapness of provisions； by increasing the
fund which is destined for the maintenance of servants；
encourages masters； farmers especially； to employ a greater
number。 Farmers upon such occasions expect more profit from their
corn by maintaining a few more labouring servants than by selling
it at a low price in the market。 The demand for servants
increases； while the number of those who offer to supply that
demand diminishes。 The price of labour； therefore； frequently
rises in cheap years。
In years of scarcity； the difficulty and uncertainty of
subsistence make all such people eager to return to service。 But
the high price of provisions； by diminishing the funds destined
for the maintenance of servants； disposes masters rather to
diminish than to increase the number of those they have。 In dear
years； too； poor independent workmen frequently consume the
little stocks with which they had used to supply themselves with
the materials of their work； and are obliged to become journeymen
for subsistence。 More people want employment than can easily get
it； many are willing to take it upon lower terms than ordinary；
and the wages of both servants and journeymen frequently sink in
dear years。
Masters of all sorts； therefore； frequently make better
bargains with their servants in dear than in cheap years； and
find them more humble and dependent in the former than in the
latter。 They naturally； therefore； commend the former as more
favourable to industry。 Landlords and farmers； besides； two of
the largest classes of masters； have another reason for being
pleased with dear years。 The rents of the one and the profits of
the other depend very much upon the price of provisions。 Nothing
can be more absurd； however； than to imagine that men in general
should work less when they work for themselves； than when they
work for other people。 A poor independent workman will generally
be more industrious than even a journeyman who works by the
piece。 The one enjoys the whole produce of his own industry； the
other shares it with his master。 The one； in his separate
independent state； is less liable to the temptations of bad
company； which in large manufactories so frequently ruin the
morals of the other。 The superiority of the independent workman
over those servants who are hired by the month or by the year；
and whose wages and maintenance are the same whether they do much
or do little； is likely to be still greater。 Cheap years tend to
increase the proportion of independent workmen to journeymen and
servants of all kinds； and dear years to diminish it。
A French author of great knowledge and ingenuity； Mr。
Messance； receiver of the taillies in the election of St。
Etienne； endeavours to show that the poor do more work in cheap
than in dear years； by comparing the quantity and value of the
goods made upon those different occasions in three different
manufactures； one of coarse woollens carried on at Elbeuf； one of
linen； and another of silk； both which extend through the whole
generality of Rouen。 It appears from his account； which is copied
from the registers of the public offices； that the quantity and
value of the goods made in all those three manufactures has
generally been greater in cheap than in dear years； and that it
has always been greatest in the cheapest； and least in the
dearest years。 All the three seem to be stationary manufactures；
or which； though their produce may vary somewhat from year to
year； are upon the whole neither going backwards nor forwards。
The manufacture of linen in Scotland； and that of coarse
woollens in the West Riding of Yorkshire； are growing
manufactures； of which the produce is generally； though with some
variations； increasing both in quantity and value。 Upon
examining； however； the accounts which have been published of
their annual produce； I have not been able to observe that its
variations have had any sensible connection with the dearness or
cheapness of the seasons。 In 1740； a year of great scarcity； both
manufactures； indeed； appear to have declined very considerably。
But in 1756； another year of great scarcity； the Scotch
manufacture made more than ordinary advances。 The Yorkshire
manufacture； indeed； declined； and its produce did not rise to
what it had been in 1755 till 1766； after the repeal of the
American Stamp Act。 In that and the following year it greatly
exceeded what it had ever been before； and it has continued to
advance ever since。
The produce of all great manufactures for distant sale must
necessarily depend； not so much upon the dearness or cheapness of
the seasons in the countries where they are carried on as upon
the circumstances which affect the demand in the countries where
they are consumed； upon peace or war； upon the prosperity or
declension of other rival manufactures； and upon the good or bad
humour of their principal customers。 A great part of the
extraordinary work； besides； which is probably done in cheap
years； never enters the public registers of manufactures。 The men
servants who leave their masters become independent labourers。
The women return to their parents； and commonly spin in order to
make clothes for themselves and their families。 Even the
independent workmen do not always work for public sale； but are
employed by some of their neighbours in manufactures for family
use。 The produce of their labour； therefore； frequently makes no
figure in those public registers of which the records are
sometimes published with so much parade； and from which our
merchants and manufacturers would often vainly pretend to
announce the prosperity or declension of the greatest empires。
Though the variations in the price of labour not only do not
always correspond with those in the price of provisions； but are
frequently quite opposite； we must not； upon this account；
imagine that the price of provisions has no influence upon that
of labour。 The money price of labour is necessarily regulated by
two circumstances； the demand for labour； and the price of the
necessaries and conveniences of life。 The demand for labour；
according as it happens to be increasing； stationary； or
declining； or to require an increasing； stationary； or declining
population； determines the quantity of the necessaries and
conveniencies of life which must be given to the labourer； and
the money price of labour is determined by what is requisite for
purchasing this quantity。 Though the money price of labour；
therefore； is sometimes high where the price of provisions is
low； it would be still higher； the demand continuing the same； if
the price of provisions was high。
It is because the demand for labour increases in years of
sudden and extraordinary plenty； and diminishes in those of
sudden and extraordinary scarcity； that the money price of labour
sometimes rises in the one and sinks in the other。
In a year of sudden and extraordinary plenty； there are
funds in the hands of many of the employers of industry
sufficient to maintain and employ a greater number of industrious
people than had been employed the year before； and thi