422 Of the Neccsaily of general Bk. iv. 



same time a very important want among the poor 

 in general, that of milk for their children ; I think 

 that it would be extremely beneficial, and might 

 be made a very powerful incitement to habits of 

 industry, economy and prudence. With this view, 

 however, it is evident that only a certain portion 

 of labourers in each parish could be included in 

 the plan; that good conduct, and not mere dis- 

 tress, should have the most valid claim to prefer- 

 ence; that too much attention should not be paid 

 to the number of children; and that universally, 

 those who had saved money enough for the pur- 

 chase of a cow, should be preferred to those who 

 required to be furnished with one by the parish.* 

 One should undoubtedly be extremely unwilling 

 not to make as much use as possible of that known 

 stimulus to industry and economy,*the desire of, 

 and attachment to, property: but it should be 

 recollected that the good effects of this stimulus 

 shew themselves principally when this property 

 is to be procured or preserved by personal ex- 

 ertions; and that they are by no means so general 

 under other circumstances. If any idle man with 

 a family could demand and obtain a cow and 



* The act of Elizabeth, which prohibited the building of cot- 

 tages, unless four acres of land were annexed to them, is probably 

 impracticable in a manufacturing countiy like England ; but, 

 upon this principle, certainly the greatest part of the poor might 

 possess land ; because the difficulty of procuring such cottages 

 would always operate as a powerful check to their increase. The 

 effect of such a plan would be very difterent from that of Mr. 

 Young. 



