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THE NATURE AND CAUSES OK

officers have frequently been obliged to stipulate with the un-dertake) - , that they should not be allowed to earn above acertain sum every day, according to the rate at which theywere paid. Till this stipulation was made, mutual emula-tion and the desire of greater gain frequently prompted themto overwork themselves, and to hurt their health by exces-sive labour. Excessive application during four days of theweek is frequently the real cause of the idleness of the otherthree, so much and so loudly complained of. Great labour,either of mind or body, continued for several days together,is in most men naturally followed by a great desire of relaxa-tion, which, if not restrained by force, or by some strong ne-cessity, is almost irresistible. It is the call of nature, whichrequires to be relieved by some indulgence, sometimes ofease only, but sometimes too of dissipation and diversion. Ifit is not complied with, the consequences are often dan-gerous, and sometimes fatal, and such as almost always,sooner or later, bring on the peculiar infirmity of the trade.If masters would always listen to the dictates of reason andhumanity, they have frequently occasion rather to moderatethan to animate the application of many of their workmen. Itwill be found, 1 believe, in every sort of trade, that the manwho works so moderately as to be able to work constantly,not only preserves his health the longest, but in the course ofthe year, executes the greatest quantity of work.

In cheap years, it is pretended, workmen are generallymore idle, and in dear ones more industrious than ordinary.A plentiful subsistence, therefore, it lias been concluded, re-laxes, and a scanty one quickens their industry. That a littlemore plenty than ordinary may render some workmen idle,cannot be well doubted; but that it should have this effectupon the greater part, or that men in general should workbetter when they are ill fed than when they are well fed,when they are disheartened than when they are in goodspii'its, when they are frequently sick than when they aregenerally in good health, seems not very probable. Yearsof dearth, it is to be observed, are generally among the com-mon people years of sickness and mortality, w.hich cannot failto 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 theirown industry. But the same cheapness of provisions, byincreasing the fund which is destined for the maintenance