352 Of the Modes of correcting tJie Bk. iv. 



operation of the prudential check to marriage to a 

 considerable extent. All that the society can rea- 

 sonably require of its members is, that they should 

 not have families without being able to support 

 them. This may be fairly enjoined as a positive 

 duty. Every restraint beyond this must be con- 

 sidered as a matter of choice and taste ; but from 

 what we already know of the habits which pre- 

 vail among the higher ranks of life, we have rea- 

 son to think that little more is wanted to attain 

 the object required, than to award a greater de- 

 gree of respect and of personal liberty to single 

 women, and to place them nearer upon a level 

 with married women ; — a change, which, inde- 

 pendently of any particular purpose in view, the 

 plainest principles of equity seem to demand. 



If, among the higher classes of society, the ob- 

 ject of securing the operation of the prudential 

 check to marriage to a sufficient degree appear to 

 be attainable without much difficulty, the obvious 

 mode of proceeding with the lower classes of so- 

 ciety, where the point is of the principal import- 

 ance, is to endeavour to infuse into them a portion 

 of that knowledge and foresight, which so much 

 facilitates the attainment of this object in the 

 educated part of the community. 



The fairest chance of accomplishing this end 

 would probably be by the establishment of a 

 system of parochial education upon a plan similar 

 to that proposed by Adam Smith.* In addition 



* Wealth of Nations, vol. iii. b. v. c. i. p. 187. 



