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CHAP. VI. 



Of Poor-Laws, continued. 



Independently of any considerations respect- 

 ing a year of deficient crops, it is evident, that 

 an increase of population, without a propor- 

 tional increase of food, must lower the value of 

 each man's earnings. The food must necessarily 

 be distributed in smaller quantities, and conse- 

 quently a day's labour will purchase a smaller 

 quantity of provisions. An increase in the price 

 of provisions will arise either from an increase 

 of population faster than the means of subsistence, 

 or from a different distribution of the money of 

 the society. The food of a country which has 

 been long peopled, if it be increasing, increases 

 slowly and regularly, and cannot be made to 

 answer any sudden demands ; but variations in 

 the distribution of the money of the society are 

 not unfrequently occurring, and are undoubtedly 

 among the causes which occasion the continual 

 variations in the prices of provisions. 



The poor-laws of England tend to depress the 

 general condition of the poor in these two ways. 

 Their first obvious tendency is to increase popu- 

 lation without increasing the food for its support. 

 A poor man may marry with little or no prospect 

 of being able to support a family without parish 

 assistance. They may be said, therefore, to 



VOL. II. G 



