Pagina 346 de 2651

The pretence that corporations are necessary for the better

government of the trade, is without any foundation. The real and

effectual discipline which is exercised over a workman, is not

that of his corporation, but that of his customers. It is the

fear of losing their employment which restrains his frauds and

corrects his negligence. An exclusive corporation necessarily

weakens the force of this discipline. A particular set of workmen

must then be employed, let them behave well or ill. It is upon

this account that, in many large incorporated towns, no tolerable

workmen are to be found, even in some of the most necessary

trades. If you would have your work tolerably executed, it must

be done in the suburbs, where the workmen, having no exclusive

privilege, have nothing but their character to depend upon, and

you must then smuggle it into the town as well as you can.