Ch. xii. Cont'uniatioti of the same Subject. 407 



Without then meaning to object to all plans for 

 employing the poor, some of which, at certaiil 

 times and with proper restrictions, may be useful 

 as temporary measures, it is of great importance, 

 in order to prevent ineffectual efforts and con- 

 tinued disappointments, to be fully aware that the 

 permanent remedy which we are seeking cannot 

 possibly come from this quarter. 



It may indeed be affirmed with the most per- 

 fect confidence that there is only one class of 

 causes from which any approaches towards a re- 

 medy can be rationally expected ; and that con- 

 sists of whatever has a tendency to increase the 

 prudence and foresight of the labouring classes. 

 This is the touchstone to which every plan pro- 

 posed for the improvement of the condition of the 

 poor should be applied. If the plan be such as 

 to co-operate with the lessons of Nature and Pro- 

 vidence, and to encourage and promote habits of 

 prudence and foresigj^t, essential and permanent 

 benefit may be expected from it ; if it has no ten- 

 dency of this kind, it may possibly still be good 

 as a temporary measure, and on other accounts, 

 but we may be quite certain that it does not ap- 

 ply to the source of the specific evil for which we 

 are seeking a remedy. 



Of all the plans which have yet been proposed 

 for the assistance of the labouring classes, the 

 saving-banks, as far as they go, appear to me 

 much the best, and the most likely, if they should 

 become general, to effect a permanent improve- 

 ment in the condition of the lower classes of so- 



