Machinery does not impair the fund out of which in-
dustry is supported ; neither does it lessen the amount of
industry, but only alters the distribution of it, and makes
it more productive than before. In manufactures, the
same quantity of a given article is furnished with less la-
bour ; but I continue to employ and support the same la-
bour as before, either by extending my use of that article,

* This is the chief argument, very strikingly illustrated, of an ad-
mirable little treatise which has appeared lately, entiUed, " The j
Working Man's Compamon.'' [



HACHINE&Y. S41

or by allotting the sum which its now greater cheapness
has left in my hands to the purchase of some other accom-
modations. The war against machinery is a war against
human enjoyments.
In agriculture, it is also the effect of machinery to have
the same work accomplished with fewer hands. And
this, as before, does not diminish the population, but only
changes the distribution of them. It may transfer so many
from the agricultural to the disposable class. If fewer
farm labourers are required than before, proportionally
to this, a larger surplus produce will go to the landlord
than before ; for, just as the consumpt or expense on the
farm is lessened, rent will be increased These two effects,
meet and correspond ; the augmentation of rent, with
the augmentation in the number of the third class of la-
bourers. One of the most important effects of agricultu-
ral improvement is, that it enlarges the disposable popu-
lation.
