116 Of Poor- Laws, continued. Bk. iii. 



if the circumstances accompanying it were told at 

 the same time, it would afford the strongest pre- 

 sumption against the doctrines which have been 

 lately promulgated. The improved condition of 

 the labouring classes in France since the revolu- 

 tion has been accompanied by a greatly diminished 

 proportion of births, which has had its natural and 

 necessary effect in giving to these classes a greater 

 share of the produce of the country, and has kept 

 up the advantage arising from the sale of the 

 church lands and other national domains, which 

 would otherwise have been lost in a short time. 

 The effect of the revolution in France has been, to 

 make every person depend more upon himself and 

 less upon others. The labouring classes are there- 

 fore become more industrious, more saving and 

 more prudent in marriage than formerly ; and it is 

 quite certain that without these effects the revolu- 

 tion would have done nothing for them. An im- 

 proved government has, no doubt, a natural ten- 

 dency to produce these effects, and thus to improve 

 the condition of the poor. But if an extensive 

 system of parochial relief, and such doctrines as 

 have lately been inculcated, counteract them, and 

 prevent the labouring classes from depending upon 

 their own prudence and industry, then any change 

 for the better in other respects becomes compa- 

 ratively a matter of very little importance ; and, 

 under the best form of government imaginable, 

 there may be thousands on thousands out of em- 

 ployment and half starved. 



If it be taught that all who are born have a right 



