AND ON THE CONTINENT.

3

for the worker to abstain from labour, and consequently tendsto raise its price (6). Petty, as well as Temple and many others,pointed to the example and teaching of the Dutch. Indeed DeWitt had already demanded high taxes in order to encourage aninventive spirit, industry, and frugality, as well as a strict poor-law, with bureaucratic reduction of wages (7).

This point of view is most minutely justified by JohnHoughton, in “ A Collection of Letters for the Improvement ofHusbandry and Trade” (London , No. 6, June 16th, 1683, p. 171).In consequence of several bad harvests the price of wheat at thattime had considerably risen. The result, Houghton thought, wasin no wise to be viewed as a disadvantage, but rather as aneconomical advantage. If the price of wheat was lower the poorwould work less, because with less exertion they could earn thenecessaries of life. This, he says, follows from general psycho-logical observation. The landed nobility spend their time mostlyin recreation and sports, instead of working, because they possessmeans for years to come—for eating, for drinking, and for main-taining themselves. Should, however, one of their circle come togrief, he immediately looks out for some public post and occupa-tion. The rich tradesman retires from business when he hassucceeded in entering the ranks of the landed gentry. The poorcraftsman, on the other hand, who can never hope to call afortune of £10 his own, scarcely takes the trouble to get 10s. intohis hand at once. If he can earn sufficient in three days to liveup to his usual standard for a week, he does not work theremaining four days. The same thing is true of the labourer,who does not work any more than is necessary to earn his barelivelihood. Instances were provided by lace and stocking makers.As soon as their wages were high they were seldom seen at theirwork on Mondays and Tuesdays, scarcely even on Wed-nesdays and Thursdays. They spent those days prefer-ably in alehouses, and in low debauchery. With high wages andcheap prices of food the majority of workmen employed in thevarious trades followed the same course. On the other hand,never did they work so hard as in dear times. By their lack ofmeans the invention of useful labour-saving machinery received

6. Compare A. Young: “ The Farmers’ Letters to the People of England ”(London , 1768), p. 35, where, in the preface, a number of further adherentsto this opinion are given.

7 Compare “ Essays on Trade and Commerce ” (London , 1770), p. 49.