112 Of Poor-Laius, continued. Bk. iii. 



a desire to save the money which they pay in 

 poor-rates ; although it is absolutely certain that 

 the only mode, consistent with the laws of mora- 

 lity and religion, of giving to the poor the largest 

 share of the property of the rich, without sinking 

 the whole community in misery, is the exercise on 

 the part of the poor of prudence in marriage, and 

 of economy both before and after it. 



They are taught that the command of the Crea- 

 tor to increase and multiply is meant to contra- 

 dict those laws which he has himself appointed 

 for the increase and multiplication of the human 

 race ; and that it is equally the duty of a person 

 to marry early, when, from the impossibility of 

 adding to the food of the country in which he 

 lives, the greater part of his offspring must die 

 prematurely, and consequently no multiplication 

 follow from it, as when the children of such mar- 

 rias^es can all be well maintained, and there is 

 room and food for a great and rapid increase of 

 population. 



They are taught that, in relation to the condi- 

 tion of the labouring classes, there is no other 

 difference between such a country as England, 

 which has been long well peopled, and where the 

 land, which is not yet taken into cultivation, is 

 comparatively barren, and such a country as 

 America, where millions and millions of acres of 

 fine land are yet to be had for a trifle, except 

 what arises from taxation. 



And they are taught, O monstrous absurdity ! 

 that the only reason why the American labourer 



