Grafs Lands into Tillage. 171 



fiant load upon his operations, but falls extremely heavy upon 

 ihe poor mechanic, whofe profellion will not permit him to 

 make that advance on his articles the heavy taxes he pavs 

 would julHfy him in doing. It likewife ultimately falls upon 

 the land owner, who, when he lets his farm, the valuation is 

 always taken according to taxes, rates, &c., which the farm 

 pays, and of courfe a dedudlion is made in favourof the te- 

 nant. It has likewife deftroyed a very valuable clafs of fo- 

 ciety, viz. the induftrious and labouring people, whofe honeft 

 pride was to boafl that they never were beholden to iheir 

 parifli for affiftance. The plan of relieving thefe induflrious 

 people is likewife bad ; not that it can be altered, but by 

 alcertaining what a man earns, and paving him accordingly: 

 he who is lirong and able, and gets a tolerable maintenance, 

 feeing the man who is not able, by reafon of his weaknefs or 

 ill health, rtceive more, thinks that by flackening his work 

 he (hall receive more; and this is abfolutelv the cale almoft 

 every where: and he adds, " I am fully perfuaded, that by 

 the aggregate body of agricultural labourers not more than 

 three-fourths of the fame work is performed as was done ten 

 years back by the fame number of hands." Mr. Clofe then 

 goes on to propofe a plan for the relief of what is called 

 "fecond poor ;" viz. ihofe labourers who have never received 

 parilh relief, but are entitled to a relief from charities left to 

 parifhes. As there are but few who have not liad parifh re- 

 lief, and confequently not entitled to thefe charities, an aft 

 of parliament ihould be palled entitling this clafs of people 

 to thefe charities, notwithrtanding having received parifli re- 

 lief. To guard a^ainft this valuable part of the comnjunity 

 being again degraded^ he propofes that " the price of labour 

 fliould be regulated by the price of bread corn." Mr. Clofe 

 alfo propofes that thofe who do receive parifli relief iAicx iucU 

 a regulation as this, fliould be badged*. if 



1 am, Sir, 



Your very obedient fervant, 



Agkicola. 



for they on!v increaffl the price inftcad of lowering it. They faw the 

 wifiloin of this rcinaik. and they never propol'cd any more boantits lO 

 lower the price of provillons. 



• Here too, again, I beg leave to differ from Mr. Clofe with refpeft to 

 bnclAiiir the poor. It is making a uiftmf'.tion to which the lowcft of man- 

 kind only will fubmit, and making a diftin<ttion to a clafs of people who 

 pri)banly may be obliged to fetk parochial rclitf owing 10 misfouuncs, 

 and not to dcarnefi of provifi'jus. 



XXXI. WJlory 



