zyz LIVES Jhortened by TEA. 
tion of our numbers : how many men continue bachelors from 
fashion as well as from prudence, or vice ! This is the greater 
reproach, as they are moft apparently deficient in this kind of 
love for their country, if we confider it only as an auxiliary 
motive to marriage. 
The working poor are the grand fource of the riches of all 
nations. We are not univerfally agreed in opinion, as to all 
the caufes of this diminution of the number of inhabitants, but 
every perfon, of the lead difeernment, thinks it a matter of 
great moment ; and I fear indeed there is great reafon to be 
alarmed, and to examine the fubjed with attention. 
In this reign in which we have enjoyed fo much happinefs ; 
in which there have been no bloody wars, tho’ fome blood has 
been fpilt ; no plagues, no famines, no violence on liberty, 
no invafion of prerogative : in this happy reign, of a fove- 
reign who really loves his people, and is beloved by them ; 
whofe continuance in life, is life to them : even in this happy 
reign, the number of his majesty’s fubjeds, it is confidently 
faid, is diminiftied confiderably. The augmentation of the 
poors-rate, at the very time that trade and agriculture are im- 
proving, might lead one to think that our numbers were in- 
creasing; but I apprehend juft the reverfe ; infomuch, that 
tho’ I am not yet brought over to their opinion, who think a 
general naturalization of foreign proteftants will be good 
for us ; yet there are many fuch proteftants who ought to be 
kindly received, and muft be invited by fome peculiar mo- 
tives, if we do not take more care of our own lives. 
4 
Vice 
