64 Of Poor -Laws. Bk. iii. 



versally of eighteen shillings in the pound, instead 

 ■ of four, were materially to alter it. 



Suppose, that by a subscription of the rich the 

 eighteen pence or two shillings, which men earn 

 now, were made up five shillings : it might be 

 imagined, perhaps, that they would then be able 

 to live comfortably, and have a piece of meat 

 every day for their dinner. But this would be a 

 very false conclusion. The transfer of three ad- 

 ditional shillings a day to each labourer would not 

 increase the quantity of meat in the country. 

 There is not at present enough for all to have a 

 moderate share. What would then be the con- 

 sequence 1 the competition among the buyers in 

 the market of meat would rapidly raise the price 

 from eight pence or nine pence to two or three 

 shillings in the pound, and the commodity would 

 not be divided among many more than it is at 

 present. When an article is scarce, and cannot 

 be distributed to all, he that can shew the most 

 valid patent, that is, he that offers the most money, 

 becomes the possessor. If we can suppose the 

 competition among the buyers of meat to continue 

 long enough for a greater number of cattle to be 

 reared annually, this could only be done at the 

 expense of the corn, which would be a very dis- 

 advantageous exchange ; for it is well known, that 

 the country could not then support the same 

 population ; and when subsistence is scarce in 

 proportion to the number of people, it is of little 

 consequence, whether the lowest members of the 

 society possess two shillings or five. They must. 



