Ch. viii. Of the Agricultural System. 119 



either with the permanent condition of the labour- 

 ing classes of the society or the rate of their in- 

 crease ; and in a country where the agricultural 

 system entirely predominates, and the great mass 

 of its industry is directed towards the land, the 

 condition of the people is subject to almost every 

 degree of variation. 



Under the agricultural system perhaps are to 

 be found the two extremes in the condition of the 

 poor ; instances where they are in the best state, 

 and instances where they are in the worst state of 

 any of which we have accounts. 



In a country where there is an abundance of 

 good land, where there are no difficulties in the 

 way of its purchase and distribution, and where 

 there is an easy foreign vent for raw produce, both 

 the profits of stock and the wages of labour will 

 be high. These high profits and high wages, if 

 habits of economy pretty generally prevail, will 

 furnish the means of a rapid accumulation of 

 capital and a great and continued demand for 

 labour, while the rapid increase of population 

 which will ensue will maintain undiminished the 

 demand for produce, and check the fall of profits. 

 If the extent of territory be considerable, and the 

 population comparatively inconsiderable, the land 

 may remain understocked both with capital and 

 people for some length of time, notwithstanding a 

 rapid increase of both ; and it is under these cir- 

 cumstances of the agricultural system that labour 

 is able to command the greatest portion of the 



