From the plain attire, the frugal table, and meanly furnished dwelling of the cottager, to the fashionable attire of the rich, their wearing of gold, and putting on of apparel: the richly spread and sumptuous table, with its splendid cutlery, china, glass, silver and gold plate displayed glitteringly beneath the hundred lights of brilliant prismatic lustres; the elegantly furnished apartments, teeming with costly upholstery, pictures, vases, musical instruments, and articles of vertu: with other equally costly appointments, both indoors and out, partly consisting of richly caparisoned horses, gay equipages, showy liveries, and other luxuries intended for fashionable display.

Into allt hese extra, and dispensable expenses, the rich may be said to lead one another. The higher orders setting the example, and giving the ton: which those beneath them, as if impelled by the imperiousness of fashion, as well as inclination, speedily adopt, and follow as circumstances may admit, in order to keep up appearances, and to avoid singularity. As if to

verify the literal truth of what the Apostle says, "For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who had subjected the same in hope."

By means of these outward displays, both in public and in private, the more outward works of human skill and industry are exhibited and set off to the greatest advantage before admiring eyes.

SECTION IX. MANUFACTURERS.

Manufacturers possess an advantage which the producers of raw materials do not.

The former, by the judicious application of decorative taste and design, and the application of skilful labour in the process of manufacture, are enabled to enhance the value of some raw materials they purchase of the latter, ten fold, or to almost any extent. But besides the price of the raw material, there will be the expense of the

*Rom. viii. 20.

extra high skilled labour to set against it; which, if great, must proportionably increase, and if cheap, lessen the price of the articles so manufactured.

But the latter-the producers of the raw materials have no means of increasing the value of their raw materials, or to enhance their price beyond their natural intrinsic qualities; not even by application of extra and skilled labour, which, if applied at all, is applied with a view rather to increase the amount of produce, than to enhance its marketable value; which sometimes, so far from enhancing, has rather a tendency to depreciate its marketable value.

The marketable price being regulated by supply and demand, or by plenty and scarcity, according to the vicissitudes of good or bad seasons, to which the producers are subject, and from which the manufacturers are exempt.

But in no case can the ordinary unskilled labourer afford his labour cheaply, if the cost of provisions, clothing, cottage, and other requisities for the daily supply of which he

toils, are dear. A subsistence he must have, whether bond or free, in the union house or out of it, let prices go how they may. But the price of labour is also regulated by supply and demand, as in some free States of America, where common day labourers are few, most being settlers, and proprietors of land, who will work laboriously for themselves, but not for others, without great wages.

Even the manufacturers of flour into bread and pastry, have an opportunity to increase the value of the raw material, by making up expensive cakes and tarts, to meet the extravagant fancies, and taste of their more wealthy customers. Cooks may also do the same, by making up dishes and pies.

Manufacturers find out the supposed probable means of purchasing possessed by their different customers; and therefore, from the vast improvements in machinery, and in other respects, they are enabled to make up goods and wares accordingly, so as to suit the pockets of the rich, as well as those of the middle classes, and the poor. And hence there exists little uniformity of price in any

kind of manufactured, as in other articles of general consumption, persons therefore purchasing the former, where they cannot put confidence, had need be good judges of quality.

They are also shrewdly aware of the vanity of the human mind, and that most persons delight more or less in expensive habits, even beyond their means.

But if people of limited means, or even of good fortune, will indulge in expensively manufactured articles, such as rich, superfine clothing, splendid houses and costly furniture, and other things, when they might obtain cheap, and equally strong for use, but of a coarser and plainer description; and when they will indulge in expensive meats and drinks, and other luxuries, when plain would be better for their health and strength, they can have no one but themselves and their pride to blame, if they come to be continually in straits, and in pecuniary difficulties.

But people cannot, under any circumstances, do without a sufficiency of plain wholesome food; but they may do without