t 413 ] 



in the idle poor, or, in other words, the 

 lofs of thofe only that were burthenfome. 

 No nation is rich or powerful by means 

 of mere numbers of people ; it is the in- 

 duftrious alone, that confHtute a kingdom's 

 ilrength. 



Thofe who urge the confequence of indis- 

 criminate population, mould take a view of 

 many of our prefent numbers ; and try to 

 conceive the ufe of them. Do they think 

 that beggars, vagrants, gypfies, thieves, 

 pickpockets, and all that bleffed population, 

 that fill our goals, and furnifh Tyburn, to be 

 of utility to the State ? Thefe are the fcum 

 of the non-induftrious poor : All of whom 

 are a burthen, without repaying the lofs by 

 breeding ufeful hands, or caufmg any circu- 

 lation of industry. Induftrious hands are 

 not bred by the idle ; and the (hare which 

 this clafs bears of our taxes is contemptible. 

 The number of them is very great, and 

 when wages are low it increafes : High 

 wages leffens it, in tempting thofe to work, 

 who otherwife would not touch a tool. 

 When therefore it is faid the nation is popu- 

 lous, let this clafs be ftruck out of the ques- 

 tion ; the only people that mould come into 

 the account are, the rich, and the induilri- 

 ous. There are many politicians who wo 

 harangue much on the b :nefit of id's 



containing ten millions of fouls, without 



enquiring 



