788 Letter to Dr. Majendie. 



has taken care to prevent that evil. It is much to be 

 wished that his opulent subjects in Great Britain and 

 Ireland might be induced to follow his illustrious ex- 

 ample ! 



As industry and economy are the preventives and 

 the only cure for indigence, and as want is one of the 

 strongest inducements to labour, it is evident that much 

 caution is necessary in supplying the wants of the poor, 

 lest we destroy the effects of those incitements which 

 PROVIDENCE, in infinite wisdom, has contrived, to rouse 

 mankind from a state of indolence and torpid indiffer- 

 ence, and to stimulate them to that constant exertion 

 of their bodily strength and mental faculties which we 

 know to be necessary to the health of the body and of 

 the mind, and essential to happiness and virtue. It 

 seldom requires much ingenuity to make the assistance 

 that is given to the poor operate as an incitement to 

 industry; for rewards are as powerful motives as punish- 

 ments, and the truly benevolent will always prefer them. 

 But it should never be forgotten that all that which 

 is given to the poor, or done for them, that does not 

 encourage their industry, never can fail to have a con- 

 trary tendency, and consequently must do real harm to 

 them and to society. I must not, however, forget that 

 I am writing to a person well acquainted with human 

 nature, and who has meditated too long on this subject 

 to stand in need of such observations as these. Wishing 

 you all possible success in your laudable undertakings, 

 I am, with much respect, 



Sir, your most obedient servant, 



RUMFORD. 



The Rev. H. MAJENDIE, D.D. 



[This letter is printed from the Reports of the Society for Bettering 

 the Condition of the Poor, Vol. II. (1800).] 



