t ^S9 ] 



more real knowledge would be gained, more ge- 

 neral certainty would be eftablifhed, than from a 

 thoufand theoretical fpeculations. 



Nothing is more eafy than for a few trials to be 

 made in fmall manufadhiring towns, and in coundy 

 diftrids where agriculture is the chief employment 

 of the poor. This at lead muft be allowed to be 

 true, as to the mode of proceeding, the general 

 earnings of the poor coming weekly through the 

 hands of the gentlemen, tradefmen, and farmers^ 

 near whom they live. But a ferious doubt has 

 arifen, whether farmers fervants be not worfe paid 

 for labour than any other, and confequently leaft 

 capable of fparing a fmall weekly contribution ? 

 If thij be the cafe, it is a flibjedt of much re- 

 gret, feeing that of all defcriptions of labourers 

 thefe are the nioft ufeful and effential. This 

 fubjed is worthy of general confideration; and a 

 general agreement in mod counties, to increafe 

 the pay of labourers in hufbandry, feems indeed, 

 from the common fenfe of the publick, to be ne- 

 ceflkry. It may be a difficulty to fix the point at 

 which a provident poor man might be unable to 

 fpare tliree-pence per week out of his income, 

 without opprcfling himfelf or fome of his family j but 

 undoubtedly, in the conrunon courfe of nature's 



wants 



