45 b Human Physiology. 



justice and humanity. Every man who finds himself, by no 

 fault of his own, in possession of a portion of the soil of these 

 islands, should set himself at once to make that soil, and the 

 rain and sunshine it receives, of the greatest advantage he can 

 to his fellow-creatures. What men commonly do is to get the 

 highest rent they can for themselves. High rent means large 

 production, and large production is for the general welfare. No 

 doubt; but this does not justify the process. The farmer is 

 harassed to pay the rent, and the labourers are overworked and 

 underpaid. They live in miserable hovels, and are deprived of 

 the necessaries of health and life. If large production justifies 

 this, it would justify slavery the hired overseer, and gangs of 

 negroes working under the whip. 



What I think a landed proprietor should do is this: He 

 should seek for men of honesty and intelligence, as his friends 

 and co-workers, and say to them God has given me charge of 

 so much of His earth, and air, rain, and sunshine, and I want 

 you to help me to do the best I can with it for our fellow-men. 

 Take it, make it fertile and beautiful, and make those who help 

 you comfortable and happy ; draw on me for the capital you 

 need, and we will all share equitably in the fruits of our labours. 

 Could not such a man, with a family to help him, a clergyman 

 to aid and counsel him, teachers to instruct, skilful and devoted 

 men to organise and direct in agriculture, horticulture, and 

 such manufactures as could be conveniently established, assem- 

 ble around him a society of which he would be the centre and 

 head, and in which all human virtues could expand, from which 

 at least the coarser vices could be banished, and which would 

 give the best conditions of human improvement and happiness? 

 Every principle of political economy might be violated. No one 

 might buy cheap or sell dear, there might be no higgling of the 

 market, no free competition, no devil take the hindmost. The 

 strong might bear the infirmities of the weak, not trample them 

 under theii feet men might help to bear each other's burdens. 



