9192 
ON THE CAUSES 
given to labour of different qualities does not 
originally affect the value of commodities, but 
that when the influence of this cause is once 
adjusted, it subsequently occasions no variation 
in value. In the body of the section, however, 
he softens this expression into “ inconsiderable 
variation.” ‘“ We may fairly conclude,” says 
he, “ that whatever inequality there might ori- 
ginally have been in them, whatever the in- 
genuity, skill, or time necessary for the ac- 
quirement of one species of manual dexterity 
more than another, it continues nearly the same 
from one generation to another ; or at least that 
the variation is very inconsiderable from year 
to year, and therefore can have little effect for 
short periods, on the relative value of commo- 
dities.” 
It is, however, a mere assumption, that “the 
scale, when once formed, is liable to little va- 
riation ;” nor, if this could be established, would 
it furnish any aid to the doctrine which we 
have at present under consideration. If the dif- 
ferences of skill in different employments are so