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ON THE CAUSES

amongst artizans, various kinds and gradations
of talent and acquirement, which enable some
of them to earn double the money obtained by
their less fortunate compeers in the same time.
There are also circumstances of insalubrity, or
disagreeableness, or danger, which affect the
pecuniary recompense. The value of the articles
 produced by these various classes of
workmen, and under these various circumstances,
 bears no proportion to the mere quantity
 of labour expended, It is no answer to
this to say, with Mr. Ricardo, that ¢ the estimation
 im which different qualities of labour
are held, comes soon to be adjusted in the
market with sufficient precision for all practical
purposes ;” or with Mr. Mill, that “ in estimating
 equal quantities of labour, an allowance
 would, of course, be included for different
degrees of hardness and skill.” Instances of
this kind entirely destroy the integrity of the
rule. Difference of skill is a circumstance
which practically affects value, as well as difference
 in quantity of labour, and therefore the