Ch. xiv. respecting future Improvetnents. 435 



asserted, that the diminution of the vices arising 

 from indigence would fully counterbalance them ; 

 and that all the advantages of diminished mortality 

 and superior comforts, which would certainly re- 

 sult from an increase of the preventive check, may 

 be placed entirely on the side of the gains to the 

 cause of happiness and virtue. 



It is less the object of the present work to pro- 

 pose new plans of improving society, than to in- 

 culcate the necessity of resting contented with 

 that mode of improvement which already in has 

 part been acted upon as dictated by the course of 

 nature, and of not obstructing the advances which 

 would otherwise be made in this way. 



It would be undoubtedly highly advantageous 

 that all our positive institutions, and the whole 

 tenour of our conduct to the poor, should be such 

 as actively to co-operate with that lesson of pru- 

 dence inculcated by the common course of human 

 events ; and if we take upon ourselves sometimes 

 to mitigate the natural punishments of impru- 

 dence, that we could balance it by increasing the 

 rewards of an opposite conduct. But much 

 would be done, if merely the institutions which 

 directly tend to encourage marriage were gradu- 

 ally changed, and we ceased to circulate opinions 

 and inculcate doctrines, which positively counter- 

 act the lessons of nature. 



The limited good, which it is sometimes in our 

 power to effect, is often lost by attempting too 

 much, and by making the adoption of some par- 

 ticular plan essentially necessary even to a partial 



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