CONDITION OF THE LABORERS. 137 



But it is vain to look to any government for any thing like a 

 paternal superintendence of its people. On a large scale it is not 

 practicable. Those who govern can scarcely be expected to 

 have virtue, and disinterestedness, and wisdom, sufficient for such 

 a task ; and those who are governed would not willingly submit 

 to their injunctions or regulations. Any compulsory influence 

 would be unavailing. But, then, it is the duty of every just 

 government to afford to every one of its subjects, as far as 

 depends on itself, the means of subsistence ; and institutions or 

 regulations, by which the right and opportunity for a man to 

 exert his talents in a way not morally injurious to another, are 

 taken away, or abridged, or in any degree interfered with, seem 

 wholly wrong and unjust. It would be invidious in me, because 

 perhaps out of place, to point out in any way how the institu 

 tions of this country so interfere, if interfere they do ; but, as I 

 have said before, the condition of a large portion of the popula 

 tion, I speak of those in the rural districts, being prevented 

 the opportunity of applying the labor by which they might secure 

 not only a subsistence, but the comforts of life, forebodes nothing 

 but evil, and may, with strong reason, engage the anxious 

 inquiries of those who have any power in the case, either of alle 

 viation or remedy. 



The population is increasing throughout the kingdom with 

 amazing rapidity ; and, strange as it may seem, the fact is beyond 

 a doubt, that the increase is always greater among the wretched 

 poor, whom extreme misery has made entirely reckless of con 

 sequences, than among that class whose circumstances are com 

 paratively comfortable, and who have learnt that their comfort 

 can be secured only by a wholesome and wise providence. The 

 complaint is universal and continual, that the population is too 

 numerous; but this does not prevent their increase. Few will 

 be bold enough to hazard the question, Who is here who has not 

 a right to be here ? nor, like a party of shipwrecked sailors in a 

 boat, to propose the decision by lot, as to which of the party shall 

 be thrown overboard. But the great question must be met not, 

 How are the surplus population to be got rid of? but, How shall 

 they be sustained ? The insular character of Great Britain 

 necessarily and absolutely limits its capacity of providing for its 

 population from its own soil, although that capacity is yet far from 

 being reached. Idleness begets idleness ; beggary produces and 

 12* 



