132 Of the Agricultuj^al System. Bk.iii. 



circumstances in which they are placed. They, 

 will in general not be much exposed to the tem- 

 porary evils of scarcity arising from the variations 

 of the seasons ; but the quantity of food perma- 

 nently awarded to the labourer may be such as 

 not to allow of an increase of population; and 

 their state, in respect to their being progressive, 

 stationary or declining, will depend upon other 

 causes than that of directing their attention prin- 

 cipally to agriculture. 



