Ch. ii. Of Systems of Equality. Godwin. 35 



extreme cases. The owners of surplus produce 

 would in general seek some more obvious mark 

 of distinction ; and it seems to be both natural 

 and just, that, except upon particular occasions, 

 their choice should fall upon those who were able, 

 and professed themselves willing, to exert their 

 strength in procuring a further surplus produce, 

 which would at once benefit the community and 

 enable the proprietors to afford assistance to 

 greater numbers. All who were in want of food 

 would be urged by necessity to offer their labour 

 in exchange for this article so absolutely neces- 

 sary to existence. The fund appropriated to the 

 maintenance of labour would be the aggregate 

 quantity of food possessed by the owners of land 

 beyond their own consumption. When the de- 

 mands upon this fund were great and numerous 

 it would naturally be divided into very small 

 shares. Labour would be ill paid. Men would 

 offer to work for a bare subsistence ; and the 

 rearing of families would be checked by sickness 

 and misery. On the contrary, when this fund 

 was increasing fast ; when it was great in propor- 

 tion to the number of claimants, it would be 

 divided in much larger shares. No man would 

 exchange his labour without receiving an ample 

 quantity of food in return. Labourers would live 

 in ease and comfort, and would consequently be 

 able to rear a numerous and vigorous offspring. 



On the state of this fund, the happiness, or the 

 degree of misery, prevailing among the lower 



D 2 



