434 Inquiry into the Effects 
to, ascribe the inferiority of, the lower orders 
in Scotland and Ireland to those of the same 
rank in England, so far as respects the enjoy- 
ment of the comforts: and. conveniences. of 
life. 
Under the worst. circumstances that, can 
befal the English poor, they. have still a pa- | 
rish to look to for support, .and they seldom 
think. of exchanging the. mode of. relief 
which is. thus afforded, for the precarious 
subsistence of vagrant begging. Parochial 
relief is a. certain provision, which, when. well 
administered, becomes a stimulus |to a degree 
of industry in the lower classes, which. we 
never find in countries destitute of such re- 
gulations. 'The happy effects of this incite- 
ment on their minds are, so faras I have ob- 
served, apparent in preventing their spirit of 
activity from drooping or being broken down. 
But whenever the lower orders are reduced, 
as in other countries, to the extreme limit at 
which existence. can be maintained, then, if 
unsupported, their energy entirely fails them ; 
degradation, both moral and physical, imme- 
diately. succeeds; and the prospect of_re- 
storing them to industry and activity becomes 
almost hopeless. The evil, however, does 
not rest with the debasement. of the lower 
class; for this class.may.not.unaptly be com- 
