4A Inquiry into the Effects 
not) much greater than it was fifty years 
ago. | 3 
In estimating the condition of the poor of 
any one country, we are by no means: to 
compare it with that of the same class in 
another country, but always to.view it with 
reference to that of the order above them in. 
their own. Tojudge of the degree of com- 
fort suitable to their station, we must. com- 
pare, for instance, the English poor, with the 
classes in this country who stand above them, 
and not with the lower orders of French, 
Scotch, or Irish. Were the comparison of 
the. poor of one country with the poor .of 
another made the ground work of. our rea+ 
soning, we might with equal propriety com- 
pare the. lower orders of English with the 
Laplanders or Hottentots. But to a just 
consideration of the subject, it is essential 
that we extend our view to all those circum: 
stances that arise out of local, or peculiar 
causes. And even among the poor of diffe- 
rent districts in the same country, we shall 
find varieties in their habits and wants, which 
will materially influence our judgment of 
their condition, relatively to that of the 
other classes of society, and of the extent 
of their claims for relief. 
