60 Of Emigration. Bk. iii. 



the phial exhausted ; and when the disorders re- 

 turned with increased virulence, every hope from 

 this quarter would be for ever closed. 



It is clear, therefore, that with any view of 

 making room for an unrestricted increase of po- 

 pulation, emigration is perfectly inadequate ; but 

 as a partial and temporary expedient, and with a 

 view to the more general cultivation of the earth, 

 and the wider extension of civilization, it seems 

 to be both useful and proper ; and if it cannot be 

 proved that governments are bound actively to 

 encourage it, it is notonly strikingly unjust, but in 

 the highest degree impolitic in them to prevent it. 

 There are no fears so totally ill-grounded as the 

 fears of depopulation from emigration. The vis 

 inertia of the great body of the people, and their 

 attachment to their homes, are qualities so strong 

 and general, that we may rest assured they 

 will not emigrate unless, from political discon- 

 tents or extreme poverty, they are in such a state 

 as will make it as much for the advantage of their 

 country as cf themselves that they should go out 

 of it. The complaints of high wages in conse- 

 quence of emigrations are of all others the most 

 unreasonable, and ought the least to be attended 

 to. If the wages of labour in any country be 

 such as to enable the lower classes of people to 

 live with tolerable comfort, we may be quite cer- 

 tain that they will not emigrate ; and if they be 

 not such, it is cruelty and injustice to detain 

 them. 



In all countries the progress of wealth must 



