80 Of Poor- Laws. Bk. iii. 



this kind, and consequently it is our interest, as 

 well as our duty, to give them temporary aid in 

 such seasons of distress. It is on such occasions 

 that every cheap substitute for bread, and every 

 mode of economizing food should be resorted to. 

 Nor should v^e be too ready to complain of that 

 high price of corn, which by encouraging im- 

 portation increases the supply. 



As the inefficacy of poor-laws, and of attempts 

 forcibly to raise the price of labour, is most con- 

 spicuous in a scarcity, I have thought myself jus- 

 tified in considering them under this view; and 

 as these causes of increased price received great 

 additional force during the late scarcity from the 

 increase of the circulating medium, I trust, that 

 the few observations which I have made on this 

 subject will be considered as an allowable digres- 

 sion. 



