Page:Two Lectures on the Checks to Population.pdf/56

50 But were the transition, from the present state of things to the state assumed in the hypothesis, to be effected by a series of additions to the wages of all, increasing according to their age, and consequently leaving the wages of the young nearly unchanged, while those of the old would be greatly increased, the effect on the price of food would not shew itself to the same extent: in other words, the rise of price would not be equal to the average addition to the wages. There would however be a rise, and that not an inconsiderable one, and it would be effected by the following process. In the first place, many of those receiving an addition to their income would devote a part of it to the purchase of more food for themselves, and would consequently occasion a rise of price. For every additional sum, devoted to the purchase of a commodity, limited in quantity as food is, must cause a rise of price, since one cannot increase his own consumption without diminishing the remainder which is, to be consumed by others. Secondly, they would devote a further portion of it to the purchase of food for the benefit of their families. I do not here mean, merely infant families, but