Page 188 of 2651

First, in almost every part of Great Britain there is a

distinction, even in the lowest species of labour, between summer

and winter wages. Summer wages are always highest. But, on

account of the extraordinary expense of fuel, the maintenance of

a family is most expensive in winter. Wages, therefore, being

highest when this expense is lowest, it seems evident that they

are not regulated by what is necessary for this expense, but by

the quantity and supposed value of the work. A labourer, it may

be said, indeed, ought to save part of his summer wages, in order

to defray his winter expense; and that, through the whole year,

they do not exceed what is necessary to maintain his family

through the whole year. A slave, however, or one absolutely

dependent on us for immediate subsistence, would not be treated

in this manner. His daily subsistence would be proportioned to

his daily necessities.