Miscellany: Notes On Political Economy: Of Industry

To whatever objecr. humnn ïnriusuy is applied, n consïsts of three dist net opcrations. The Jirsi step townrds any panicular pro hict, ia to nscerlain the laws of na' tire res pcc'ting f bat product. A lock conliJ nevér hnvbeen confitructed, without a prpvinns knoAvleJf?e of iron, the method of exjfSbting froni the mine, Si . The srcond sN-p is the applicntion of this knowledgeto a useful purposp; as tbr nuance the conclusión that o particular forra of metel will furnisb the mea ns of closmg a door secnrely. The third is tlieexecutiou of the manun! lpbpr; af putting togetherthe diffi;rent parte oí p lpck. The first and second processes nre not iinfreqoently performed by tbe sume persons, but the three are seldoni accomplshed by the same individual. Indusiïy is divisible into three operations: diacovery, invention, and mechanical execuÜop. All producía derive tbeir OxiotenceF'om these íhree operations. A people deficiënt in eitbet of these, cannot well crea te tl)ose producís which are the result of all three. These three divïsions of industry in a great vnriety of cases are subdivided. Thus, the study of nature is o'ivided amonp the botanist, chemisf.. astronomer, Sic. In the applicntion of knowledpe, there are manufacturera of woolpns. cottoup, pottery, ftirniture, &c. Jn ihe execuiion, ns in the ïöaicióg of a coat. tliere are carden, spinners, weavers, dressers, Rliearers, dyers, &c. If is worthy of remark, however, chat in dustry 6 iisuaüy applicd in the reverse order ofthar wliich has been mentioned. Men at first croated the einijjlest forma of vfilue; tlien they made rxperiment-j, ond Jastly discovered the 'aws of nature. IMMATEMAL PüODDCTS. The product wliicjh 'Un discoverer or inventor createe, is immateriaJ. It is Ixiowledge, or a change cffected on tnind, the immateria! part of man. Thp Dro.iucts of the professional man are imrnateri;:]. Thu the clergyman tciches us how vvo mny avaii ourselves of the mora, lates of the Creator. The lawyer teaches us ho v to avail ourselves of the laws of civil socicty; the pliysician how to conform to the physiological laws ofourbeing. The diicovery and appheation of the laws of nature is URiwlIy the result of unusnal talent, and often of protrncted and most expensive iabor. In (trder to be an eminent physician, one must read many books, practise with care, travel and study diligently. Yet great discoreries may usually be promulrated by the most ordinary talent. These im tmlerial prodnets cannot be appropriated or divided; nor is it possible to accumulate them is a part of nntional capital.Civil society, observing ihc imme se valué if these producís, and the smal! remtmeraion of those who produce them, havo u?ua)Iv Hllowcd to authort), tlie copy right, or the excludve control over their work, for a limitec ime; and to inventors, the exclusive coníroi over íheir invèntión. Without these righte, hese classes of laborers would receive no renmiary compensaron, and their onlv iilucement to exertion would be f he Pavura)!e coOfiidcration of their fellovv mvn. A ocit'ty composed entirely of philosopherfi would never grow rich, but inust'of nécesai.ty tíirve. Their producto, altliough adding1 im meoccly to the valué of oiher men s wlury. would neither suppiy their ovvn wants, nor could they be exported to foreign countries, and exchanged for the necessaries of life. Thos we see that all the classes of laborers are mutually necessary to each other. - VViihout a knowledge of the laws of nature, ve should all be savages. VVilliout the skill ind labor of the mechanic, there would be no spportumty of acquiring knowledge. No'.hing, therefore. can be more unreasonablo .ha.n the prejudices whicu sometinies exist tetween these diiferent claseca of laborers.