65 ESSAY III. ON IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PRODUCTIVE IN Adam Smith's celebrated Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, several of the greatest improvements in the productive powers of labour are pointed out, and the instances in which its skilful application is most conspicuous, are there considered to have been the effect of the division of labour. "The great increase in the quantity of "work, which, in consequence of the division of labour, the same number of people are capable of performing, is owing to three different circum"stances; first, the increase of dexterity in every "particular workman; secondly, to the saving of "time which is commonly lost in passing from one 66 66 66 species of work to another; and thirdly, to the "invention of a great number of machines, which "facilitate and abridge labour, and enable one man "to do the work of many." First, the improvement of the dexterity of the "workman necessarily increases the quantity of "work which he can perform; the division of F "labour, by reducing every man's business to some "one simple operation, and by making this opera"tion the sole employment of his life, necessarily "increases very much the dexterity of the work"man." The instance most commonly adduced, in order to exemplify this improved dexterity, is the manufacture of pins. In it the workmen are usually collected all in one manufactory, and the various operations which every one of them performs, can be reduced to the greatest simplicity. The improved dexterity of the workmen is consequently more obvious and striking than in most other arts and manufactures. Yet in all of these where the division of labour can be fully introduced, the effects are exactly similar and uniformly increase its productive powers. In consequence of this division of employments too, all labour is performed with a less degree of fatigue to the workmen; a circumstance which can easily be verified by every body in the common operation of writing. To those who are not accustomed to use the pen oftener than once or twice in the week, it is tiresome to copy more than one or two sheets of paper in immediate succession; whilst others, who gain a livelihood by this employment, and are consequently in the constant practice of writing, can copy ten times as much without being at all tired with the performance. The operations of the mind too, when constantly directed to objects of one kind, are performed with far greater rapidity, than can well be imagined by those who have never noticed the fact. A clerk or secretary to the French ambassador in London, who is engaged in making out passports during a great part of his time, will observe and describe the features and general peculiarities in the appearance of the applicants, quite as fast as most other individuals could write them on paper: those people who are not accustomed to regard the personal appearance of others with so much attention, could not perform one tenth, perhaps not a twentieth part of the duty in the same time. 66 Secondly, the advantage which is gained by "saving the time that is commonly lost in passing "from one sort of work to another, is much greater "than at first view we should be apt to imagine it." It is not usual for a labourer to pass very quickly from one kind of employment to another, especially if carried on in a different place and with different tools. He generally saunters a little. His mind requires to be engaged as well as his limbs in the work he is about to commence, and it usually takes some little time to fix and direct the attention to whatever new objects we may desire to apply ourselves. In Glasgow, where the weaving of muslins of fancy patterns is carried on to a considerable extent, the common practice obtains of paying the weaver, who is employed in the fabric of a pattern entirely new, an additional rate per yard beyond the usual wages. This more than ordinary pay ment is somewhat diminished when he becomes a little accustomed to the particular style of work, and in a short time the price of weaving the new pattern falls to the same rate as is paid for weaving others of the oldest and most common style. The weaver becomes equally dexterous, and loses no more time in applying to what was the new pattern, than in fabricating any other to which he had previously been accustomed. "The habit of sauntering and of indolent care"less application, which is naturally, or rather "necessarily acquired by every country workman, "who is obliged to change his work and his tools “every half hour, and to apply his hand in twenty "different ways almost every day of his life, ren"ders him almost always slothful and lazy, and “incapable of any vigorous application even on "the most pressing occasions. This cause alone, independent of his deficiency in point of dexterity, must always reduce considerably the quantity of work which he is capable of performing." 66 66 Thirdly, every body must be sensible how much "labour is facilitated and abridged by the appli"cation of proper machinery." To specify examples of this must be regarded as unnecessary. The spinning and weaving by machinery of cotton wool, and of flax, must produce a great deal more calico and linen cloth than could be effected by manual labour alone. The yarn, too, when spun by machinery, is more equal, and the cloth produced from this kind of yarn, when woven by machinery, is more uniform in its texture than other yarn and other cloth not so fabricated. Cloth, when woven by the power of steam, is improved in its appearance, and in its utility for the purposes of printing. The division of labour has doubtless led to the invention of much of the machinery now in use. Men are far more likely to find out easier and readier methods of attaining any one object, when their minds are directed towards it exclusively, than when their attention is dissipated among a great variety of things. Many inventions of machinery, and many discoveries of the best methods of employing the natural agents of fire and water, have also been effected by the makers of machinery. Similar inventions and discoveries have likewise resulted from the inquiries of men of genius, some of whom apply for amusement occasionally to mechanical and the like pursuits, whilst others derive a livelihood from these occupations. The discovery of the various modes of employing steam and other gases, the invention and numerous improvements of the steam engine, with all its various applications to useful purposes, have, in a great degree, proceeded from the circumstance of the attention of a considerable number of persons, in different ranks and stations, being directed towards improvements in machinery. The division of labour is necessarily limited by the extent of demand for its produce. Were only a |