think our own country keeps the foremost place. One of the noblest indications of moral and intellectual worth, is the love of justice and humanity, and of this we are about to afford a splendid example. It has long been the boast of the Christian over the heathen world, that it was the first to establish asylums for indigence and misfortune. The second, and not less brilliant triumph of modern over Greek and Roman civilization, will be the extinction of slavery, by the emancipation of the African race.

I am, my dear Sir,

London, June 12, 1833.

Truly yours,

J. WADE.

P. S. In the numerous Literary Notices of the first impression of this Work the chief objection urged against it has been, that the title is a misnomer,—that it is not so much a history, as a popular compendium of social and economical science. Perhaps there is some foundation for this representation. My purpose was to give a brief exposition of the facts and principles influencing the social and industrial state of the Middle and Working Classes, and to accomplish this design within the limits I had prescribed, did not admit of my devoting greater space to the historical department of my subject. J. W.

October 20, 1833.

Classes of Society after the Conquest-Traffic in Slaves-

Beneficial Influence of Christianity -Increase of Towns and

Progress of Manufactures-Corporate Immunities-Effects

of a Pestilence on Condition of Labouring Classes-Statute

of Labourers-Absurd Legislation-Vast Possessions of the

Nobility-A taste for Luxury and the Arts generated-

Villanage nearly extinct---Occupation, Diet, and Wages
of Labourers

CHAP. III.

5

Origin of the Poor-Influence of Personal Freedom on Indi-

gence-Vagabondage and Mendicity-Licensing of Beg-

gars-Treatment of the Poor in the Netherlands-The

elapse of four Centuries not changed the objects of Legis-

lation

CHAP. IV.

26

Influence of the Reformation on Property, and the Condition

of the Labouring Classes-Immense Wealth of the Reli-

gious Houses-Mistaken Notions on the Hospitality of the

Conventual Bodies-Increase of Mendicity, and severe

Laws for its Repression

CHAP. V.

37

Decay of the Nobility-Progress of the Middle Classes-Rise

of Country Gentlemen-Industry fettered by Patents and

Monopolies-Absence of Police, and Dreadful Disorders-

Manners and Education-Diet and Dress-Abortive Efforts

to fix Price of Labour-Compulsory Assessment for the

Poor forced on the Legislature after the Failure of other

Expedients

CHAP. VI.

44

Act of the 43d of Elizabeth-Provisions of the English Poor-

laws derived from Scotland-Curious Expedients for Relief

of the Poor-Act against the Erection of Cottages-Alarm

about the Increase of the Metropolis-Excess of Population

-Pestilence-Comparison of the Elizabethan Age with

the present

CHAP. VII.

54

Chronological Digest of Facts relative to the Industrious

Orders, from the Introduction of the Poor-laws to the

present time

64

PART II.

POLITICAL ECONOMY OF THE INDUS-

TRIOUS ORDERS.

CHAP. I.

LABOUR.

Subject Defined-Different kinds and Progress of Industry-

Labour the only source of Wealth

115

DIVISION OF EMPLOYMENTS.

Division of Labour-It saves Time-Improves Skill and Dex-

terity-Suggests the Contrivance of Tools and Machinery-

Lessens the Cost of Production-Applicable chiefly to

Mechanical Employments-Limited by Extent of the

Market

122

CHAP. III.

MONEY.

Origin of Money-Inconveniences of Barter-Advantages

of Gold and Silver as Instruments of Exchange-Effects

of an Increase or Diminution in the Supply of the Precious

Metals-Forcible Alterations of the Standard Value 133

CHAP. IV.

PAPER CURRENCY.

Origin of Paper Money-Commercial Paper, and its Uses-

Distinction between Paper and Coin-Absence of intrinsic

Value in Paper, cause of its over-issue-Proper Functions

of Bankers, and Defects in our Monetary System-Money

ought only to be issued under the Control and Guarantee

of the State-Profit on the issue of Money belongs to the

Public, not Individuals-Distinction between a Depreciated

and Excessive issue of Paper-Proportion of Bills of Ex-

change and Bank-notes in circulation-Causes of the Mer-

cantile Crisis of 1824-5---Advantages of a Sovereign over

a Bank-note-Stagnation in Trade caused by a want of

Credit, not of Bank-paper
142

CHAP. V.

CAPITAL AND THE MIDDLE CLASSES.

Capital and its productive Power-How it tends to economize,

abridge, and augment the Efficiency of Industry-Conflict-

ing Claims of Capital and Labour-Utility of the Middle

Classes, of Bankers, Merchants, Wholesale Dealers, and

Retailers---Advantages of Middlemen in equalizing Prices

and the Supply of Commodities---Claims of Labour to

share in the Profits of Capital---Classification of Society

into Productive and Unproductive Consumers---Luxuries

stimulate Industry---Utility of Authors, Actors, and Domes-

tic Servants---All classes co-operate for the general good---

Recapitulation
160

CHAP. VI.

EQUALITY OF REMUNERATION.

Similarity of Wages and Profits---Circumstances influencing

Remuneration of Employments-Agreeableness or Dis-

agreeableness of Trades---Trades requiring long Appren-

ticeships or High Premiums---High Profits of Chemists

and Apothecaries, more properly Wages---Profits of Country

Shopkeepers---Effects of Inconstancy of Employment---

Trust Reposed in Physicians and Attorneys---Wages vary

with Chance of Success in Employments---Gains of Literary

and Professional Men---Inadequate Pay of Soldiers and

Sailors---Motives to a Naval and Military Life---Effects of

Long Apprenticeships, the Poor-laws, and Immunities

of Corporations on Freedom of Industry---Combinations

of Trades, like Monopolies

CHAP. VII.

WAGES OF LABOUR.

184

Reduction of Wages increases Supply of Labour---Effects

of Speculation on Wages---Legitimate and Illusive Specu-

lations---Agricultural Speculation during the War, and

Mercantile Speculation of 1825---Rate of Wages determined

by the Unemployed, not Employed Workmen---Conse-

quence of a trifling Excess of Labour---High Wages depend

solely on the Conduct of the Working Classes---Futility

of various popular Expedients exposed---Government im-

potent, as respects Condition of Labouring Classes---Cannot

relieve an Overstocked Labour Market---France in 1830---

Taxation---Lavish Public Expenditure indefensible---Home

Colonization

CHAP. VIII.

CAUSES OF HIGH WAGES.

205

Effect on Wages of an Increase in the Incomes of Individuals

-Wages increase with the increase of national Capital---

State of Society most favourable to the Working Classes---

Population increased faster than Capital in Ireland---De-

mand for Labour increased by Security of Property---Neces-

sity of Freedom in the Employment of Capital and Indus-

try---Effects of War and civil Commotion on the Condition

of the Industrious Orders

CHAP. IX.

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS ON WAGES.

226

Wages can only be settled by Competition of Workmen---

Wages of Farm Servants and in Factories---Distinction

between skilled and unskilled Labour--Standard of Living---

High Wages not a source of Idleness and Vice---Necessity

of Relaxation---Effects of Arts, Trades, and Professions, on

Health --Danger of low Diet and degrading Habits---Con-

trast of a Potato and Wheat-fed Population---Opinions of

M'Culloch and Adam Smith--- Government not less than

Society interested in the wellbeing of the Working

Classes

236