706 Condition of the Labouring Classes. 



Art. XII. The Conditionqf the Labouring Classes. 



"In the Quarterly Revieiv for July there is an article on this subject, 

 attributed to Dr. Southe)', pregnant with interest and feeling. We shall 

 give some extracts, which we shall introduce by observing that if the re- 

 viewer's remedies were applied, without at the same time applying a very 

 high degree of education, the effect in twenty years would be to aggravate 

 the disease to a fearful extent. Joining Dr. Southey's plans of amelioration 

 with our plan of high and equal education, the combination will amount, 

 as near as possible, to what the late excellent Mr. Stevenson, author of the 

 History of Discovery and Commerce, has recommended, in the different ar- 

 ticles on SI aneyznd. Allen in this Magazine. (See, in particular, Vol. II. p. 183.) 

 Even if it were contended that a high degree of education will not be so 

 effectual in keeping the population within proper limits, as " sin and sor- 

 row," to use the words of a clever writer, still we contend that there will 

 be this difference between an educated and uneducated superfluous po- 

 pulation, that while the latter will remain at home to starve, and commit 

 crime, the former will go abroad to push their fortunes, and thus extend 

 commerce and civilisation in every part of the world. Mr. Marshalobserves 

 of the poor of Ireland, that those who have any education emigrate and 

 thrive, while those who have none stay at home and get hanged. It is 

 certain that both Scotland and Switzerland would be overstocked with 

 labourers did these not emigrate; and their doing so can only be attributed 

 to their education. There is probably no country in the world where the 

 labouring population superabounds to the same extent as in England, and 

 yet there is no country from which so few labourers emigrate. This may 

 possibly arise from various causes; but that the greatest cause is ignorance 

 is evident from this, that the few who do emigrate are men who can read 

 and have read. Previously to forming the idea of emigrating to another 

 country, it is necessary to know that such a country exists, where it is 

 situated, what advantages it holds out, and something of its history. The 

 man who can neither read nor write is not likely to know any of these things; 

 or, if he takes them upon hearsay, he is less likely to act on them, and, 

 however great his sufferings, will " rather bear those ills he has, than fly to 

 others that he knows not of." 



From the Conquest to the accession of Henry VII. the population 

 was purely agricultural. The peasantry worked hard, and fared scantily 

 enough, but they were never in absolute want of food or dependent 

 upon charity; the whole body was poor, but it contained no paupers. 

 In the course of the fourteenth century, the demand for wool to supply 

 the markets of the Netherlands and the infant manufactures of our own 

 country, by rendering sheep-farming more profitable than aration, con- 

 verted great part of the country into sheep-walks. The misery and suffer- 

 ing which this change of system inflicted upon the peasantry ejected from 

 their little holdings, have been depicted in glowing language by Sir Thomas 

 More, in his Utojna, who states that even the abbots, " holy men, God 

 wot," pursued the same system, leaving no ground for tillage, and throwing 

 every thing into sheep- pastures. 



The system of English poor-laws was commenced under Elizabeth ; they 

 were very effectual in accomplishing the purposes for which they were 

 enacted; and until the conmiencement of the last century, " the parochial 

 funds of this country were expended solely upon orphans and destitute 

 children, and upon aged and infirm persons totally unable to work ; but 

 never upon able-bodied labourers in want of employment." 



In the beginning of the eighteenth century it was discovered that the 

 division and enclosure of the common field lands and wastes would render 

 ' such projjcrty more profitable, by facilitating the introduction of an im- 

 proved system of tillage. The first enclosure act was passed in 1709; and 



