430 Of the Necessity of general Principles. Bk. i\'. 



and unlooked for distress, without operating in 

 any respect as an encouragement to marriage. 



If at some future period any approach should 

 be made towards the more general prevalence of 

 prudential habits with respect to marriage among 

 the poor, from which alone any permanent and 

 general improvement of their condition can arise ; 

 I do not think that the narrowest politician need 

 be alarmed at it, from the fear of its occasioning 

 such an advance in the price of labour, as will 

 enable our commercial competitors to undersell 

 us in foreign markets. There are four circum- 

 stances that might be expected to accompany it, 

 which would probably either prevent, or fully 

 counterbalance any effect of this kind. These 

 are, 1st, the more equable and lower price of 

 provisions, from the demand being less frequently 

 above the supply. 2dly, the removal of that heavy 

 burden on agriculture, and that great addition 

 to the present wages of labour, the poor s rates. 

 3dly, the national saving of a great part of that 

 sum, which is expended without return in the 

 support of those children who die prematurely 

 from the consequences of poverty. And, lastly, 

 the more general prevalence of economical and 

 industrious habits, particularly among unmarried 

 men, which would prevent that indolence, drunk- 

 enness and waste of labour, which at present are 

 too frequently a consequence of high wages. 



