CAREY ON WAGES AND THE CONDITION OF THE LABOURING POPULATION.

THIS is an American publication, intended to enlighten Europe, and indeed the world, on many matters which it behoves them to

understand. Upon a book which is chiefly intended to circulate

ill another country it is dillicult to prenounce a proper judgment. The detailed proof of assertions that are either clear or credible to us without formal evidence, may be merely a proper precaution in America ; where it may also be necea-ary to expound doc- trines at considerable length which would be comprehensible to the English public if presented in a much more condensed form. Premising thus much, we must decide according to our own perception, and say that Mr. CAREY'S arrangement is de- fective, his manner roundabout, his aim not clearly presented to the reader, and the continuity of his arguments arrested by their

being intermingled with a disjointed jumble of valuable facts. Of the principles of the subject lie discusses he has no very distinct idea : hence he is apt to misconceive the real meaning

of the authors whose doctrines be has set himself to contro- vert, from taking them too faithfully au tied de hi lettre, and not fully perceiving what they assume. At the same time, he

has the merit of directing attention to the most important subject that can engage the inquiries of mankind,—the causes of the differences that exist in the condition of the labouring popula-

tion throughout the world, and the probable means by which the most wretched may be raised to the status of the mo-t com-

fortable : and though he cannot claim the distinction of ex- hausting or even of satisfactorily conducting the inquiry, he has the credit of looking at the subject in a new or at least a more practical light. Conceiving that our own theory of wages

is completer than that of Mr. P.CAREY, we will first present it briefly to the reader ; and then endeavour as briefly to convey to

him the conclusions to which our author's Examination leads him.

The abstract principles of profits and wages are simple enough; both depending in the first instance upon the productiveness of industry. In the production of any commodity, it is clear that more than a sufficient quantity must be produced to cover the necessary outlay in the first cost of producing it. The amount df this surplus is the fund out of which both wages and profits are formed. Abstractedly speaking, the proportions in which it will be divided depend upon the relative proportion of the capital and labour employed in production : if there is more stock

than workmen, the workmen will get the larger share, and wages will be high—if there are more workmen than the stock

can employ, the owners of it will be enabled, to a certain extent, to make their own terms, and profits will be large at the expense of wages. As capital, however, in such a state of things, is cer- tain to increase very rapidly, wages will soon rise from their State of unnatural depression, unless counteracted by some artifi- .cial causes.

Had Mr. CAREY seer. these points distinctly, instead of asking the questions which he does ask, he would have inquired—what

are the causes which affect the productive industry of the different countries of the world? To answer this question fully, would have involved an examination of all the subjects be discusses, and

a good many more; and though he need not have produced a much larger book, the contents would have been more valuable and in- teresting. It cannot be expected that we should enter upon so Wide a field ; but we may indicate some of its leading points. I. The national character of the people, as displayed in sagacity, skill, and industry, in methods of management and business virtues. 2. The geographical situation of the country, its natural divisions, and means of communication, and the extent to which they bad been improved by art. 3. The fitness of the soil, cli- mate, &c. for the productions raised; and to what extent they have been misemployed by human regulations. (And then might Tallow the points which Mr. CAREY partially treats of—to which he attributes all the social evil of the world ; and by altering which, he thinks earth would be rendered a paradise, capable of main- taining people faster than they could be born.) 4. The amount and incidence of taxation ; which last Mr. CAREY rather assumes than proves. 5. Freedom of trade, both external and internal ; embracing the nature, extent, and effects of protective systems, monopolies, and corporate or legal restrictions. 6. The nature of Ithe government; or rather, the security which it attiirds to per- son and property. 7. The real difference in the condition of the tairourers of different countries ; a point not injudiciously handled by our author,—who, throwing aside all artificial and limited modes of estimation, endeavours to ascertain the actual quantity of subsistence they can command, although he does not sufficient'', allow for the modifying effects of the character of the climate and the habits of life.

But to return to the volume. There is in it, as we have said already, a number of curious facts, drawn from a great number of authorities, chiefly upon the respective conditions of the people of England, France, the Netherlands, the United States, China, and Hindostan. Through these we cannot follma the author: but the tabular results to which he arrives may be given. The scheme is ingenious, and is "not offered as being accurate, but simply as an approximation." A nearer approach to exactness might, however, have been made in sonic of the item*. The useable capital of the United States, for instance, seems overrated, when compared with that of France, the Netherlands, and En"- land. The same may be observed of American industry, and that of the Netherlands is far too high in the scale.

U.S. Gil. Neth. France. Chitin.

Security of person and property 100 100 45 50 :10 10 Freedman of action Freedom of commerce 100 SO 70 50 65 60

40 0 3

— — 11abits of industry 90 81) 100 53 100 50 Capital, land included 90 100 45 50 15 15

460 400 313 225 185 73

Deduct taxation

20 100 50 50 6 10

440 300 365 173 1:29 65 It has been estimated that eleven days' labour in the United Sates would lit sufficient to obtain a qoart,r of wheat. Taking, the above sum of 440, wid multiplying it by that number of days, the pro biet would be 45311: which I propose should represent a qoarter, or eight bushels of wheat. Say 11 days. The powers of the English labourer being :300, he would require, to obtain the sane value of commodities 16 days The labourer in the Netherlands 18 days. The adv.titages of the French labourer being only 175, he would require nearly i days. The Chinese would require. 3S clays. The Hindoo. whose powers of production are estimated at only 65, would require 74 days.

It may be observed, that an incidental object of Mr. CA11.7,.Y is to impugn many of the notions of the new school of political economy, upon rent, population, capital, &c. It cannot be said that he has succeeded in throwing any new light upon the principles of these iptestiones vexatee ; but it must be admitted that he occasionally gives some hard knoaks to those followers of Ricaano who, mistaking; the nature of their master's hypotheses, have dogma- tized upon his suppositions as if they were existing cases.