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wages, and thus improve the physical condition of 

 the poor, by supplying them more bountifully with 

 the necessaries and comforts of life ; but such im- 

 provement will be only temporary, unless by the ap- 

 plication of a general system of religious education, 

 and a vigilant ministerial superintendence in every 

 parish, and a more sympathizing and benevolent 

 intercourse on the part of the rich towards the 

 poor, they are brought under greater moral re- 

 straint. But, then, if the present low prices of 

 agricultural produce continue, and a more exten- 

 sive field for the employment of agricultural la- 

 bour is not opened, the present money wages of 

 the labourer, which are higher in proportion to 

 the cost of the necessaries of life than at any ante- 

 cedent period, must be reduced ; and his means 

 of support in reference to the price of the neces- 

 saries of life being diminished, his condition will be 

 deteriorated. Efforts and sacrifices should be made 

 by the middle and higher ranks of life to prevent this. 

 It is established by evidence, and admitted by the 

 Committee, that the outgoings of the farmer must 

 be considerably lessened ; and if the only outgoings 

 which admit of any extensive reduction of reduc- 

 tion to any saving and effective purpose, are the 

 two great outgoings, namely, labour and rent, it 

 follows, that if wages are not reduced, the reduc- 

 tion of rent must be greater ; which would operate 

 unfairly severe on landlords, that they exclusively 

 should make a sacrifice to enable the labourers 

 to continue their present scanty comforts. But 



