Ch. viii. Of the Poor -Laws proposed. 337 



nothing to justify its being taken from them: and 

 in both cases it would certainly be unjust in the 

 society to undertake the support of the poor, and 

 yet, if their numbers increased, to feed them so 

 sparingly, that they must necessarily die of hunger 

 and disease. 



I have reflected much on the subject of the poor- 

 laws, and hope therefore that I shall be excused 

 in venturing to suggest a mode of their gradual 

 abolition, to which I confess that at present I can 

 see no material objection. Of this indeed I feel 

 nearly convinced, that, should we ever become 

 so fully sensible of the wide-spreading tyranny, 

 dependence, indolence and unhappiness which 

 they create, as seriously to make an effort to 

 abolish them, we shall be compelled by a sense of 

 justice to adopt the principle, if not the plan, which 

 I shall mention. It seems impossible to get rid of 

 so extensive a system of support, consistently 

 with humanity, without applying ourselves directly 

 to its vital principle, and endeavouring to coun- 

 teract that deeply-seated cause which occasions 

 the rapid growth of all such establishments, and 

 invariably renders them inadequate to their object. 



As a previous step even to any considerable al- 

 teration in the present system, which would con- 

 tract or stop the increase of the relief to be given, 

 it appears to me that we are bound in justice and 

 honour formally to disclaim the right of the poor 

 to support. 



To this end, I should propose a regulation to 

 be made, declaring, that no child born from any 



VOL, II. z 



