Page 171 of 2651

A man must always live by his work, and his wages must at least

be sufficient to maintain him. They must even upon most occasions

be somewhat more, otherwise it would be impossible for him to

bring up a family, and the race of such workmen could not last

beyond the first generation. Mr Cantillon seems, upon this

account, to suppose that the lowest species of common labourers

must everywhere earn at least double their own maintenance, in

order that, one with another, they may be enabled to bring up two

children; the labour of the wife, on account of her necessary

attendance on the children, being supposed no more than

sufficient to provide for herself: But one half the children

born, it is computed, die before the age of manhood. The poorest

labourers, therefore, according to this account, must, one with

another, attempt to rear at least four children, in order that

two may have an equal chance of living to that age.