22 



times found, that where the greatest expendi- 

 ture has taken place, the least degree of comfort 

 has been realized. The legitimate and surest 

 source of comfort to the poor man is his own 

 industry: let the habit of industry be duly 

 encouraged by constant work and reasonable 

 wages, and the safest foundation will be laid of 

 content to the labourer and economy to the 

 parish. There is still in general no want of 

 good principles in the agricultural labourer; 

 but when he finds that at one time his employer 

 dismisses him altogether, without reason as- 

 signed or known, and he can get no employ- 

 ment at all ; and that, at another time, he ca- 

 priciously curtails his wages, and tells him to 

 apply for the rest of his maintenance to the 

 overseer, the feelings of the man are naturally 

 wounded ; and with the resentment of one suf- 

 fering from supposed, if not actual ill usage, his 

 demands upon the parish have, from that time, 

 no other limit than the utmost extent of what 

 he can get. 



With a regular supply of work, and reason- 

 able wages, the applicants for parochial relief, 

 with the exception of those whom the law may 

 properly correct, will, it is believed, be con- 

 fined to the sick, the aged, and the impotent ; 

 and to that class, who in the strength and 

 vigour of life, and with the full exertion of them, 



