INTRODUCTION.

13

the rain receives wages. A tree does not charge rent for
shading a man from the sun.. The sun receives no profits
or interest for all the invaluable benefits it pours down
apon the sons of men. Surely there must be some grave
mistake here of a fundamental character. Prof. Cairnes
certainly intended to express some intelligible meaning.
We will endeavour to explain the sort of mental confusion
between the subjects of Natural Science and those of Ideal
Science, which has evidently led to these strange statements.
 Let us suppose a case by way of illustration :—
Some meddlesome and officious arbitrary government having
 determined to regulate the exchanges of its subjects,
appoints officers to direct and control all kinds of barter
and commereial transactions. E, an employer of labour
possessed of some wealth, has agreed to hire a labourer
at five shillings a day wages, but the sanction of the
officer to the arrangement must be had, and he objects.
“No: four shillings a day is quite enough ; let him
agree to work for four shillings a day, or don’t employ
him.” But says E, ‘I am quite willing to pay the man
five shillings a day’ ‘No matter, I won't allow it.” E
also wants to buy a cow of his neighbour F, who agrees
to sell it to him for ten pounds; but the officer has to be
informed and he interferes: —¢ No: that’s not enough.
It’s an object to encourage a breed of good cattle ; the
cow is a good cow, youmust give fifteen pounds.” ¢ Well
but,’ says E, ‘Mr. F is quite content to sell her to me
for ten pounds’ ‘No matter, you must give fifteen
pounds or else go without it.” F, the farmer, receives an
order from the officer fixing the price at which he must
sell his milk, egos, and butter, at only about one half the