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Show ~60 OF THE WAGES OF LABOUR. (CH. IV. by saving in conveniences, by adopting a cheaper kind of food, by more task-work and the more general employment of the women and children, or by parish allo,vances. But the actual application of the greater quantity of food is, I conceive, necessary to the increase of population; and wherever such increase has taken place, son1e of these causes, by which a greater quantity of food is procured, will always be in action, and may generally be traced. The high wages, both real and nominal ~f Atnerica, occasioned by the rapid accutnulation of capital, and the power of selling produce, obtained by a con1parative small quantity of labour, at European prices, are unquestionably the cause of the very rapid progress of the American population. The peculiar increase of the population of Ireland, compared with other European countries, has obviously been owing to the adoption of a cheaper food, which might be produced in large quantities, and which, aided by the Cottar systetn of cultivation, has allowed the increase of people to precede the demand for labour. And the great increase of population of late years in England and Scotland has. been owing to the power of the labouring classes to obtain a greater quantity of food, partly by temporary high wages in manufactures, partly by the increased use of potatoes, partly by increased task-work and the increased employn1ent of \vomen and children, partly by increased parish allowances to families, and partly perhaps, (though I think but little taking the coun- ·SEC. III.] OF THE 'VAG ES OF LABOUR. ~61 try throughout) by a saving in conveniences and luxuries. In general, perhaps, 1nore of these causes will be called into action by a rise of prices, which sometimes lowers the conunand of a day's labour over the necessaries of life, than by a fall of prices which sometimes raises it. What is mainly necessary to a rapid increase of population, is a great and continued demand for labour; and this is occasioned by, and proportioned to, the rate at \Vhich the whole value of the capital and revenue of the country increases annually ; ?ecause, the faster the value of the annual produce 1ncr~ases, the greater will be the power of purchasing fresh labour, and the more will be wanted every year. It has been sometimes thought, that the den1and ' for labour can only be in proportion to the increase ?f the circulating, not the fixed capital; and this Is no doubt true in individual cases:* but it is not necessary to make the distinction in reference to a whole nation; because where the substitution of fixed capital saves a great quantity of labour, which cannot be employed else\vhere, it diminishes the value of the annual produce, and retards the increase of the capita] and revenue taken too·ether If, for. instance, ~ capitalist who had e~ploy~d £2~,000 In productive labour, and had been in the habit of selling his goods for £2£,000, n1aking a * se e an I. ngem.o u~ pamphlet on the condition of the ]a.bourin classes by Mr. Barton. g s 3 |