Ch. vi. Of P 007^- Laws, conthuied. 87 



" or otherwise, by taxation of every inhabitant, 

 " and every occupier of lands in the said parish, 

 " (in such competent sums as they shall think fit,) 

 " a convenient stock of flax, hemp, wool, thread, 

 " iron, and other necessary ware and stuff, to set 

 " the poor to work." 



What is this but saying, that the funds for 

 the maintenance of labour in this country may 

 be increased at will, and without limit, by a Jiat 

 of government, or an assessment of the overseers ? 

 Strictly speaking, this clause is as arrogant and 

 as absurd, as if it had enacted that two ears of 

 wheat should in future grow where one only had 

 grown before. Canute, when he commanded the 

 waves not to wet his princely foot, did not in 

 reality assume a greater power over the laws of 

 nature. No directions are given to the overseers 

 how to increase the funds for the maintenance of 

 labour; the necessity of industry, economy and 

 enlightened exertion, in the management of agri- 

 cultural and commercial capital, is not insisted on 

 for this purpose ; but it is expected that a mira- 

 culous increase of these funds should immediately 

 follow an edict of the government used at the 

 discretion of some ignorant parish officers. 



If this clause were really and bond Jide put in 

 execution, and the shame attending the receiving 

 of parish assistance worn off, every labouring man 

 might marry as early as he pleased, under the 

 certain prospect of having all his children pro- 

 perly provided for; and as, according to the sup- 

 position, there would be no check to population 



