414 . Of the Necessity of general Bk. ir. 



of giving assistance are so often directly opposite 

 to the general and permanent effects. 



It has been observed in particular districts, 

 where cottagers are possessed of small pieces of 

 land, and are in the habit of keeping cows, that 

 during the late scarcities some of them were able 

 to support themselves without parish assistance, 

 and others with comparatively little.* 



According to the partial view in which this 

 subject has been always contemplated, a general 

 inference has been drawn from such instances, 

 that, if we could place all our labourers in a similar 

 situation, they would all be equally comfortable, 

 and equally independent of the parish. This is 

 an inference, however, that by no means follows^ 

 The advantage, which cottagers who at present 

 keep cows enjoy, arises in a great measure from 

 its being peculiar, and would be considerably di- 

 minished if it were made general. 



A farmer or gentleman has, we will suppose, a 

 certain number of cottages on his farm. Being a 

 liberal man, and liking to see all the people about 

 him comfortable, he may join a piece of land to 

 each cottage sufficient to keep one or two cows, 

 and give besides high wages. His labourers will 

 of course live in plenty, and be able to rear up 

 large families ; but his farm may not require many 

 hands ; and though he may choose to pay those 



* See an Inquiry into the State of Cottagers in the Counties cjf 

 Lincohi and Rutland, by Robert Gourlay. Annals of Agriculture, 

 vol. xxxvii. p, 514. 



