ascertain which； with his peculiar knowledge and acquirements；
and with reference to the wants of society； is the best method of
labouring； and he can labour in this manner。 Unless there were
this assurance there could be no continuous thought； an
invention； and no knowledge but that which would be necessary for
the supply of our immediate animal wants。 The weaver； I admit；
could not complete his web； nor would the shipwright begin to
build his ship； unless he knew that while he was engaged in this
labour he should be able to procure food。 A merchant certainly
could not set out for South America or the East Indies unless he
were confident that during the period of his absence he and his
family could find subsistence； and that he would be able at the
end of his voyage to pay all the expenses he had incurred。 It is
this assurance； this knowledge； this confidence of obtaining
subsistence and reward； which enables and induces men to
undertake long and complicated operations； and the question is；
do men derive this assurance from a stock of goods already
provided （saved from the produce of previous labour） and ready to
pay them； or from any other source？
I SHALL ENDEAVOUR TO SHOW THAT THIS ASSURANCE ARISES FROM A
GENERAL PRINCIPLE IN THE CONSTITUTION OF MAN； AND THAT THE
EFFECTS ATTRIBUTED TO A STOCK OF COMMODITIES； UNDER THE NAME OF
CIRCULATING CAPITAL； ARE CAUSED BY CO…EXISTING LABOUR。
The labourer； the real maker of any commodity； derives this
assurance from a knowledge he has that the person who set him to
work will pay him； and that with the money he will be able to buy
what he requires。 He is not in possession of any stock of
commodities。 Has the person who employs and pays him such a
stock？ Clearly not。 Only a very few capitalists possess any of
those commodities which the labourers they employ consume。
Farmers may have a stock of corn； and merchants and shipowners
may have a few weeks' or months' supply of provisions for their
seamen； according to the length of the voyage they are to
undertake； but； beyond this； no capitalist possesses ready
prepared the commodities which his labourers require。 He
possesses money； he possesses credit with other capitalists； he
possesses； under the sanction of the law； a power over the labour
of the slave…descended labourer； but he does not possess food or
clothing。 He pays the labourer his money wages； and the
expectation which other labourers have of receiving part of these
wages or other wages； induces them in the meantime to prepare the
clothing and food the labourer constantly requires。 Not to deal；
however； in general terms and abstractions； doing which seems to
have led other writers astray； let us descend to particulars。
A great cotton manufacturer； we suppose； for example； a Sir
Robert Peel； or any other of those leviathans who are so anxious
to retain their power over us； and who； as legislators； either in
their own persons or in the persons of their sons； make the laws
which both calumniate and oppress us； employs a thousand persons；
whom he pays weekly： does he possess the food and clothing ready
prepared which these persons purchase and consume daily？ Does he
even know whether the food and clothing they receive are prepared
and created？ In fact； are the food and clothing which his
labourers will consume prepared beforehand； or are other
labourers busily employed in preparing food and clothing while
his labourers are making cotton yarn？ Do all the capitalists of
Europe possess at this moment one week's food and clothing for
all the labourers they employ？
Let us first examine the question as to food。 One portion of
the food of the people is BREAD； which is never prepared till
within a few hours of the time when it is eaten。 The corn of
which the bread is made must； of course； have been grown； or one
part of the whole operation； and that the longest part that
between saving the seed and harvesting the ripe grain； which is
necessary to the complete preparation of the food； has been
performed； but the corn has afterward to be thrashed； ground；
sifted； brought to market and made into bread。 For the
cotton…spinner to be able to attend only to his peculiar species
of industry； it is indispensable that other men should be
constantly engaged in completing this complicated process； every
part of it being as necessary as the part performed by the
agriculturist。 The produce of several of the labourers
particularly of the baker； cannot be stored up。 In no case can
the material of bread； whether it exist as corn or flour； be
preserved without continual labour。 The employer of the working
cotton…spinner can have no bread stored up； for there is none
prepared； the labouring cotton…spinner himself knows nothing of
any stock of corn being in existence from which his bread can be
made； he knows that he has always been able to get bread when he
had wherewithal to buy it； and further he does not require to
know。 But even if he did know of such a stock； he would probably
give up cotton…spinning and take to preparing food； if he did not
also know that while he is making cotton other labourers will
till the ground； and prepare him food； which he will be able to
procure by making cotton。 His conviction that he will obtain
bread when he requires it； and his master's conviction that the
money he pays will enable him to obtain it； arise simply from the
fact that the bread has always been obtained when required。
Another article of the labourer's food is milk； and milk is
manufactured； not to speak irreverently of the operations of
nature； twice a day。 If it be said that the cattle to supply it
are already there why； the answer is； they require constant
attention and constant labour； and their food； through the
greater part of the year； is of daily growth。 The fields in which
they pasture require the hand of man； and； though some herds be
drilled into the habits of obedience more perfect and certainly
more pleasing to see than the obedience of soldiers； yet even
they require perpetual attention； and their milk must be drawn
from them twice a day。 The meat； also； which the labourer eats is
not ready； even for cooking； till it is on the shambles； and it
cannot be stored up； for it begins instantly to deteriorate after
it is brought to market。 The cattle which are to be slaughtered
require the same sort of care and attention as cows； and not one
particle of meat could the cotton…spinner ever procure were not
the farmer； the grazier and the drover continually at work；
preparing meat while he is preparing cotton。 But after the meat
is brought to market； it is not even then ready for consumption。
We are not cannibals； and either our wives； or some labourer who
makes this his business； completes the preparation of the meat
only a few hours； or even minutes； before it is eaten。 Of the
drink of the labourer； that which is supplied by nature never
ceases to flow。 His beer is prepared only so long before it is
drunk as is necessary to have it good； and； while the existing
stock is disposing of； the brewer is busy creating a fresh
supply。 There may probably be as much tea imported at one time as
serves for a few months； and； while this stock is consuming；
ships are continually arriving with more。
Now as to clothing。 Some labourers buy ready…made clothes；
others order them to be made for them。 There is； it may be
admitted； a small stock of clothing on hand； but considering what
enemies moths are to the materials of which it is made； only a
very small stock is ever prepared。 The materials for women's
garments may be prepared a few weeks before they are made up； but
the garments are rarely formed till they are actually put on。
Other examples might be brought from every branch of
industry； if it were necessary to examine each on in detail； for
in this respect every labourer is similarly situated。 The farmer
knows he will be able to get clothes when he requires them； and
the tailor knows he will be able to get food； but the former
knows nothing of any stored…up stock of clothes； and the latter
nothing of any stored…up stock of provisions。 The labourer knows
that when he is able to pay for bread； for meat and for drink he
can procure them； but he knows nothing further； and I have shown
that these are not prepared till he needs them。 As far as food；
drink and clothing are concerned； it is quite plain； then； that
no species of labourer depends on any previously prepared stock；
for in fact no such stock exists； but every species of labourer
does constantly； and at all times； depend for his supplies on the
co…existing labour of some other labourers。
To enable either the master manufacturer or the labourer to
devote himself to any particular occupation； it is only necessary
that he should possess not； as political economists say； a
stock of commodities； or circulating capital； but a conviction
that while he is labouring at his particular occupation the
things which he does not produce himself will be provided for
him； and that he will be able to procure them and pay for them by
the produce of his own labour。 This conviction arises； in the
first instance；