An Inquiry, ec. . 431 
tually, though perhaps not in the shape of 
formal enactments, exist in every civilized 
country; and I shall attempt to explain the 
influence of the various expedients, which 
are in use for supporting the poor in different 
countries, so far as these are calculated to 
promote, or to retard, the industry and acti- 
vity of a people. 
In prosecuting the inquiry, T shall assume 
that division of the inhabitants of a civilized 
country which is now generally adopted, viz. 
into the higher, the middle, and the lower 
classes ; and it may contribute to perspicuity 
if we suppose them to be represented by ascale, 
resembling that employed to indicate the de- 
grees of heat and cold. Ina prosperous coun- 
try, I believe we shall find that these three 
classes intimately sympathize with each other ; 
so that supposing the lower order to advance 
a certain number of degrees in the enjoyments 
and comforts of life, the middle and higher 
classes will make a similar ascent, each pre- 
serving its original relative distance from the 
others, and vice versa. 
Let us now examine how far this imagi- 
nary scale will assist us in our observations 
connected with the subject in these united 
kingdoms. In Ireland we shall suppose the 
lower class to be indicated by 32° of the 
