第12章

SECT。XIVIamnowcometothemostarduouspartofmyundertaking。Someremedymustbefoundforthegrowingevil，andthose whichhavebeenhithertoproposedhavebeenfoundinadequate。Inlayingdownaplan，Ishallbeginwithestablishingthegeneralprinciplesonwhichwemustproceed。Itisevidentthen，thatnosystemcanbegoodwhichdoesnot，inthefirstplace，encourageindustry，economy，andsubordination；and，inthesecondplace，regulatepopulationbythedemandforlabour。Topromoteindustryandeconomy，itisnecessarythatthereliefwhichisgiventothepoorshouldbelimitedand precarious。\"Languescetindustria，intendetursocordia，sinullusexsemetusautspes；etsecuriomnesalienasubsidia expectabunt，sibiignavi，nobisgraves。\"Nomanwillbeaneconomistofwater，ifhecangotothewellortothebrookas oftenasheplease；norwillhewatchwithsolicitousattentiontokeepthebalanceevenbetweenhisincomeand expenditure，ifheissuretoberelievedinthetimeofneed。Thelabouringpooratpresentaregreatlydefective，bothin respecttoindustryandeconomy。Consideringthenumberstobemaintained，theyworktoolittle，theyspendtoomuch， andwhattheyspendisseldomlaidouttothebestadvantage。Whentheyreturnfromthreshingorfromplough，theymight card，theymightspin，ortheymightknit。Wearetold，thatonethousandpairofShetlandstockingsareannuallyimported intoLeith，ofwhichthepriceisfromfivetosevenpenceapair:yetlabouratLearwick，thesmallcapitalofShetland islands，istenpenceaday。Thesestockingsaremadeatleisurehours。Intheseislandstheyhavenodependancebutupon theirindustryandfrugality。Theyconsumeneithertea，norsugar，norspices，becausetheycannotaffordtopurchasethese uselessarticles；neitherdotheywearstockingsorshoes，tillbytheirdiligencetheyhaveacquiredsuchaffluenceastobear thisexpence。Howdifferentistheirsfromthedressanddietofourcommonpeople，whohavelostallideasofeconomy。 Ifbytheirindustrytheycouldprocurethesearticlesofluxury，oriftheirlinen，theircotton，andtheirsilk，werespun，and wove，andknitintheirownhouses，andatleisurehours，theirdesiretoobtainthesethingswouldbeadvantageoustothe state:butsurely，ifinthecolderregionsoftheNorththesearenotessentialtotheirexistence，oreventotheirhappiness， theyshouldbeconsideredintheSouthonlyastherewardsofindustry，andshouldnever，fromthecommonfund，begiven promiscuouslytoall，astheywillinevitablybe，unlessthatfundshallhavesomeotherlimitsbesidesthewantsand expectationsofthepoor。Unlessthedegreeofpressurebeincreased，thelabouringpoorwillneveracquirehabitsof diligentapplication，andofseverefrugality。Toincreasethispressure，thepoor\'staxmustbegraduallyreducedincertain proportionsannually，thesumtoberaisedineachparishbeingfixedandcertain，notboundless，andobligedtoanswer unlimiteddemands。Thisenormoustaxmighteasilyinthespaceofnineyearsbereducednine—tenths；andtheremainder beingreservedasapermanentsupply，thepoormightsafelybelefttothefreebountyoftherich，withouttheinterposition ofanyotherlaw。Butifthewholesystemofcompulsivecharitywereabolished，itwouldbestillbetterforthestate。Iam notsingularinthisopinion。BaronMontesquieuhasgivenhisopinion，\"Quedessecourspassagesvaudroientmieuxque desé；stabissemensperpetuels；\"（24）andourowncountryman，whohadbeenlongconversantwiththisbusiness，hastoldus， \"Iampersuadedthattoprovideforthepoor，whoareunabletowork，mightbesafelylefttovoluntarycharity，unenforcedbyanycompulsivelaw。\"（25）Toassisttheindustriouspoor，whohaveneithertoolsnormaterials，butmoreespeciallytotrainupthechildrenofthe dissoluteinusefullabour，theremightbeineachparishoneormorework—shops，wheretheymightbecertainof employment，andofdailypayfortheworkperformed。Intheseshopstheyshouldneitherbelodgednorfed，beingtaught todependeachforhimselfonhisowndiligenceandpatientapplicationtohisbusiness。Thebuilding，thetools，andthematerials，wouldbeallthatrequiredassistancefromthepublicfund。Thegrandresourcehowevershouldbefromthelabouringpoorthemselves，previoustotheirbeingincumberedwith families。Theyhavethroughoutthekingdomanumberoffriendlysocietiesestablished，whichhavebeenproductiveof goodeffects，andinsomeplaceshavereducedtherates。Butthesesocietieshavemorethanonedefect。Alltheirmembers contributeequallytothepublicfund，withoutrespecttotheirability，totheproportionoftheirgains，ortothenumberof theirchildren。Bythisregulationsomepaytoolittle，otherspaytoomuch。Thesum，whichtheydepositweekly，is insignificantandtriflingwhencomparedwithwhatitoughttobe。Butthegreatestmisfortuneis，thattheyarealtogether lefttotheirownoptiontojointhesesocietiesornot；inconsequenceofwhichliberty，manyoftheseassociationsfor mutualassistancearegoingtodecay。Ifthisbeindeedagoodexpedient，itshouldbepushedasfarasitwillgo:itshould befirmlyestablished，madeuniversal，andsubjectedtowholesomeregulations。Theunmarriedmanshouldpayonequarter ofhiswagesweekly，andthefatheroffouryoungchildrennotmorethanonethirtiethofhisincome，whichisnearlythe sumwhichallcontributetotheirpresentclubs。Todrivethemintothesesocieties，nomanshouldbeintitledtorelieffrom theparochialfundwhodidnotbelongtooneofthese。Thuswouldsobriety，industry，andeconomy，takeplaceofdrunkenness，idleness，andprodigality，andduesubordinationwouldbeagainrestored。Aslongasitshouldbefoundexpedienttoretainagivenproportionofthepresentpoortax，thedisposalofthisshouldbe whollyatthediscretionoftheminister，churchwardens，andoverseers，orthemajorityofthem，subjectonlytotheorders ofavestry。Bythisprovisionthesubordinationofthepoorwouldbemoreeffectuallysecured，andthecivilmagistratewouldbeatlibertytobendhiswholeattentiontothepreservationofthepeace，andtothegoodgovernmentofthepeople。Thisplanwouldbeaidedandassistedmuchbylayingasufficienttaxuponthealehousestoreducetheirnumber，thesebeingtheprincipalnurseriesfordrunkenness，idleness，andvice。Shouldthingsbeleftthustoflowintheirproperchannels，theconsequencewouldbe，that，asfarasitispossibleaccording tothepresentconstitutionoftheworld，ourpopulationwouldbenolongerunnaturalandforced，butwouldregulateitselfbythedemandforlabour。###第13章Thereremainsonethingmoreforthelegislaturetodo，whichistoincreasethequantityoffood。Thismaybedonewith ease，bylayingataxuponallhorsesusedinhusbandry，graduallyincreasingthistaxtillthefarmershavereturnedtotheuse ofoxen。ThischangewouldenableEnglandnotonlytomaintainherpresentpopulation，butgreatlytoincreaseit。Theland whichnowsupportsonehorse，inproperworkingorder，wouldbeartwooxenfordraftandfortheshambles，ifnotalso onecowforthepail；oranytwoofthese，withaman，hiswife，andhisthreechildren。Ifweconsiderthenumberofhorses atpresentusedforhusbandryinthisisland，shouldonlyhalfthatnumbergiveplacetooxen，itwouldnotbeeasyto calculate，oreventoconceive，allthebenefitsandadvantageswhichthepublicwouldderivefromthisvastincreaseof food。Inmanyparisheswheretheyhavenomanufactures，butthecultivationofthesoil，thehorsesconsumetheproduceof morelandthantheinhabitantsthemselvesrequire。Supposeaparishtoconsistoffourthousandacresofarableandpasture land；letthisbecultivatedbyonehundredandfiftyhorses，andletitfeedonethousandsouls:nowif，forthepresent，we allowonlytwoacresofoatsandtwoofhayforeachofthehorses，theamountwillbesixhundredproductiveacres，which willbemorethansufficienttofeedthegivennumberofinhabitants。Butthefactis，thatahorse，tobefullyfed，requires fivetonofhay，andfromthirteentothree—and—twentyquartersofoats，perannum，accordingtohiswork。Somefarmers allowtheformer，andthelatterisgivenbythegreatcarriersonthepublicroads，whichwouldbringthecomputationto abouteightacreseachforhorsesusedinhusbandry；butthenfewfarmerssuffertheirhorsestobehighlyfed。Ifweallow threeacresofpastureforeachoxorcow，andconsider，thatincalculatingthequantityoflandsufficienttomaintainateam ofhorses，theneedfulfallowsmustbecarriedtoaccount，weshallnotbeatalossforfood，whenwehavesubstitutedtwooxen，andonefamilyoffivepersons，intheplaceofeveryhorse。Itmustbeconfessed，thatthetaxonhorseswouldbeapparentlyataxonhusbandry，butinrealityitwouldonlybeataxon prideandprejudice。Neitherwoulditbeataxforthepurposeofrevenue，whichwouldcertainlybemostimpolitic；butit wouldbeataxfortheregulationoftrade，beneficialtothepublic，andhighlyadvantageoustothefarmer。InChinatheyuse fewcattleinthecultivationofthesoil，andthereforetheyareabletosupportamoreabundantpopulation。Byrevertingto theantientpracticeofploughingwithoxeninsteadofhorses，weshouldenjoythesameadvantage；andtillthepopulationofourcountryhadfounditsutmostlimits，weshouldrejoiceinaffluence。Withthesameintentions，thelegislatureshouldfacilitatethelayingcommonfieldsinseverally，leavingtheinclosureof theselandstoeveryman\'sdiscretion。Wherevertheseallotmentshavebeencarriedintoexecution，thevalueoflandhas beennearlydoubled。Yet，independentoftheexertion，thetime，andthefatigue，requisitetoprocureaprivateactof parliamentforthispurpose，theexpenceoftheactitself，andoftheconsequentinclosure，ismorethanmanyaretoincur。 Thattheimproversoflandshouldbesubjecttothisexpenceisnotjust，andthatmenshouldbeobligedtoinclosethese landsisneitherjustnorwise；becausehedge—rowsconsumemuchland，stintthegrowthofcorn，causeittolodge，prevent itsdrying，andbarbourbirds。Ifmenareleftatliberty，withoutrestraint，whentheyfinditfortheirinteresttoinclose，theywillinclose。ShouldtheHouseofCommons，agreeabletotheresolutionsof1775，enterseriouslyintothisbusiness，andadoptsuch regulationsasmayeffectuallyrelievethepublicfromthegrievousandstillincreasingburthen，whichformorethanhalfa centuryhasbeenthesubjectofseriousinvestigationandofloudcomplaints；itwillbenecessaryformagistratestopay morethancommonattentiontothepolice，tillindustryandsubordinationshallbeoncemorerestored。Thereinshavebeen heldwithaloosehand，atatimewhentheidlenessandextravagance，thedrunkennessanddissipation，withtheconsequentcrimesandvicesofthelowerclassesofthepeople，calledforthemoststrenuousexertionsofthemagistrate，andthemoststrictexecutionofthelaws。Ifthelabouringpoor，inhealth，previoustomarriage，andwhilsttheirfamiliesaresmall，arecompelledtoraiseafundfor theirownsupport，incaseofsicknessoroldage；therecanbenodoubt，thatwhenatanytime，frompeculiar circumstances，thisfundshallproveinadequate，themostliberalcontributionswillbemadetorelieveanyoccasionaldistress。Noonecandoubtofthis，whohaswitnessed thegenerouseffortswhichwerelatelymadetoassistthewoollenmanufacturersinGloucestershireduringthestagnationof theirtrade。Moneywascollectedforthemfromalltheadjacentcounties，andinthemetropolis，tofeedandtoemploythem。AtMinchinHamptonin particular，whenthepoor\'staxwassevenshillingsinthepoundontherackrents，andtheirpoorweremorethancommonly distressed，twothousandtwohundredpersonswerecloathed，fed，andsettowork，byvoluntarybenefactions。Itshouldbe added，forthecreditofthesepoorpeople，thattheyworkedfromsixinthemorningtilleightatnight。Hadthemanufacture fallentorisenomore，themanufacturersmustinreasonhaveretired，ormusthaveturnedtheirhandstosomethingelse； becausenofund，notax，nocharitablecontributions，cansupportsuchamultitudeofpeoplewhentheirtradeisgone。In casesofsuddenemergencyassistancewillbeloudlycalledfor，andtheaffluentwillnotbetardyinsendingasupply。The Englishhaveneveryetbeenchargedwithwantofcharity。Theyneednotmanyargumentstoexcitetheirpityand compassion:theonlydifficultyistorestraintheimpetuosityoftheirbenevolence，andtodirecttheirbountytowardsthemostworthyobjects。Besidesthesesuddenemergencies，affectingthewholedistrictswhereextensivemanufacturesareestablished，individuals mustbeeversubjecttooccasionaldistress，fromvariousaccidentsandfromunexpectedlosses，which，withoutthekind assistanceofafriend，theyarenotabletosupport。Insuchcircumstances，wherecanthesuffererlookforhelp？Nottothe overseersofthepoor；fortheirauthoritydoesnotextendbeyondfoodandraiment。Tomakegoodhislosses，andto supporthiminhisstation，industryindistresscanfindnosufficientrefugebutinthegenerousaidofhismoreaffluentand charitableneighbours。Thisrefugewillneverfailhim；norwilltheyeversufferhimtowant，iftheyareabletorelievehim，andifhehasprovedhimselfworthyofcompassion。Torelievethepoorbyvoluntarydonationsisnotonlymostwise，politic，andjust；isnotonlymostagreeablebothto reasonandtorevelation；butitismosteffectualinpreventingmisery，andmostexcellentinitself，ascherishing，insteadof rancour，malice，andcontention，theoppositeandmostamiableaffectionsofthehumanbreast，pity，compassion，and benevolenceintherich，love，reverence，andgratitudeinthepoor。Nothinginnaturecanbemoredisgustingthanaparish pay—table，attendantuponwhich，inthesameobjectsofmisery，aretoooftenfoundcombined，snuff，gin，rags，vermin， insolence，andabusivelanguage；norinnaturecananythingbemorebeautifulthanthemildcomplacencyofbenevolence， hasteningtothehumblecottagetorelievethewantsofindustryandvirtue，tofeedthehungry，tocloaththenaked，andto sooththesorrowsofthewidowwithhertenderorphans；nothingcanbemorepleasing，unlessitbetheirsparklingeyes， theirburstingtears，andtheirupliftedhands，theartlessexpressionsofunfeignedgratitudeforunexpectedfayours。Such sceneswillfrequentlyoccurwhenevermanshallhavepowertodisposeoftheirownproperty。Whenthepoorareobliged tocultivatethefriendshipoftherich，therichwillneverwantinclinationtorelievethedistressesofthepoor。 FINIS。 NOTES: 1。Deut。xxviii。52。 2。Job，xxix。 3。SirWilliamPetty，P。Arithmetic。 4。L。ii。p。73，74。edit。Elf。 5。Hesiod，302。 6。Geddes，AccountoftheMoriscoes。 7。Smith，WealthofNations。 8。Virgil\'sComplaint。 9。Dampier，Vol。ii。Partii。p。61。 10。Dampier，Vol。i。Partii。p。88。 11。Ulloa，B。ii。C。4…… 12。SketchesonMan，P。56。 13。Deut。xv。11。 14。Smith，WealthofNations。 15。43Eliz。 16。3and4W。andM。 17。9Geo。I，c。7。 18。8and9W。c。30。f。:2。 19。Actsiv。32。 20。Actsv。4。 21。2Cor。ix。7。 22。Matt。xxv。 23。2Thess。iii。8—10。 24。L。xxiii。C。29。 25。FieldingonRobbers。