358 Of the Modes of correcting the Bk. iv. 



guments, which we may suppose would also 

 reach him. 



But in addition to this, a double weight would 

 undoubtedly be added to the observation of Adam 

 Smith, if these schools were made tho means of 

 instructing the people in the real nature of their 

 situation ; if they were taught, what is really 

 true, that without an increase of their own in- 

 dustry and prudence no change of government 

 could essentially better their condition ; that, 

 though they might get rid of some particular 

 grievance, yet in the great point of supporting 

 their families they would be but little, or perhaps 

 not at all benefited ; that a revolution would not 

 alter in their favour the proportion of the supply 

 of labour to the demand, or the quantity of food 

 to the number of the consumers ; and that if the 

 supply of labour were greater than the demand, 

 and the demand for food greater than the supply, 

 they might suffer the utmost severity of want, 

 under the freest, the most perfect, and best exe- 

 cuted government, that the human imagination 

 could conceive. 



A knowledge of these truths so obviously tends 

 to promote peace and quietness, to weaken the 

 effect of inflammatory writings and to prevent all 

 unreasonable and ill-directed opposition to the 

 constituted authorities, that those who would still 

 object to the instruction of the people may fairly 

 be suspected of a wish to encourage their igno- 

 rance^ as a pretext for tyranny, and an opportu- 



