I.] INTRODUCTION. 7 



wealth; some must have more than others ; and the 

 richest must be a great deal richer than the least rich. 

 But it is necessary to the very existence of a people, 

 that nine out of ten should live wholly by the sweat 

 of their brow; and. is it not degrading to human nature, 

 that all the nine- tenths should be called poor ; and, 

 what is still worse, call themselves poor, and be con- 

 tented in that degraded state ? 



7. The laws, the economy, or management, of a 

 state may be such, as to render it impossible for the 

 labourer, however skilful and industrious, to maintain 

 his family in health and decency ; and such has, for 

 many years past, been the management of the affairs 

 of this once truly great and happy land. A system 

 of paper-money, the effect of which was to take from 

 the labourer the half of his earnings, was what no 

 industry and care could make head against. I do not 

 pretend that this system was adopted by design. But, 

 no matter for the cause; such was the effect. 



8. Better times, however, are approaching. The 

 labourer now appears likely to obtain that hire of 

 which he is worthy ; and, therefore, this appears to 

 me to be the time to press upon him the duty of using 

 his best exertions for the rearing of his family in a 

 manner that must give him the best security for hap- 



Einess to himself, his wife and children, and to make 

 im, in all respects, what his forefathers were. The 

 people of England have been famed, in all ages, for 

 their good living; for the abundance of their food 

 and goodness of their attire. The old sayings about 

 English roast beef and plum-pudding, and about Eng- 

 lish hospitality, had not their foundation in nothing. 

 And, in spite of all refinements of sickly minds, it is 

 abundant living" amongst the people at large, which 

 is the great test of good government, and the surest 

 basis of national greatness and security. 



9. If the labourer have his fair wages ; if there be 

 no false weights and measures, whether of money 

 or of goods, by which he is defrauded ; if the laws be 

 equal in their effect upon all men : if he be called 

 upon for no more than his due share of the expenses 



