Itwillbeevident
　　thathisfearsarenotaltogethergroundless，ifweconsider，thateveninparishes，wherenomanufactureshavebeen
　　established，thepoorrateshavebeendoubling，someeveryfourteenyears，andothersheadyeverysevenyears；whilstin
　　somedistricts，wherethemanufacturesarecarriedontoaconsiderableextent，thepoorratesaremorethantenshillingsin
　　thepoundupontheimprovedrents。Thatthedistressdoesnotarisefromthehighpriceofcom，willbeclear，ifwe
　　consider，whatmayperhapshereafterbemorefullystated，thatalthoughforthesetwohundredyearsthepriceofwheat
　　hasfluctuatedbetweenwideextremes，yetuponcomparingtheaveragepriceswithinthatperiod，theancientsdidnotfinda
　　cheapermarketthanthemoderns。Ifwetaketheaverageofthesixtyyearswhichterminatedatthecommencementofthe
　　presentcentury，weshallfindthepriceofwheattohavebeensixshillingsandfourpencehalfpennyperbushel，whereasin
　　thesubsequentsixtyyearsitwasonlyfiveshillings；andforthelasttwentyyears，endingwiththeyear1782，notmorethan
　　sixshillingsandsixpence:yetduringthatlongperiodinwhichprovisionswerethecheapest，thepoorrateswere
　　continuallyadvancing。Thatthedistressdoesnotarisefromthehighpriceofsoap，leather，candles，salt，andothersmall
　　articlesneedfulinafamily，willappearnotonlyfromthesuperioradvanceinthepriceoflabour（intheproportionofsixto
　　fourwithinacentury），（3）butfromhence，thatwherethepriceoflabouristhehighestandprovisionsarethecheapest，there
　　thepoorrateshavebeenmostexorbitant。InScotlandtheyhavenolegalprovisionforthepoor，yetlabourischeaperand
　　cornisdearerthantheyareinEngland。
　　SECT。IIUnderthebestadministration，thelawsrelatingtothepoorgiveoccasiontomuchinjustice；undertheworst，theyaretoo
　　oftentheinstrumentsofoppressionandrevenge。Iftheintentionsofthemagistratearegood，hiscompassionmaybeill
　　directed；butifatanytimehisjudgmentisblindedbyhispassions，inthekeenessofhisresentmentforsomerealor
　　imaginaryaffront，heisapttoforgetthepurposeforwhichtheadministrationofthepoorlawswascommittedtohiscare，
　　andtoabusehispower，bygranting，whenthepropertyofhisowntenantsisnottobeaffectedbyit，themostamplerelief
　　tothemostunworthyobjects。Thisindeedwouldseldomhappen，ifnonebutgentlemenofaliberaleducationwereputinto
　　thecommissionofthepeace；orif，aggreeabletotheoriginalconstitutionofourgovernment，thisofficewereelective。But
　　shouldthewisestandthebestofmenbechosen，yetwecouldnotexpectthatsuchwouldeverywherebefoundwillingto
　　devotetheirtimeandwholeattentiontotheadministrationofthoselaws，whosenaturaltendencyistoincreasethenumber
　　ofthepoor，andgreatlytoextendtheboundsofhumanmisery。
　　SECT。IIIAllwhoareconversantwithTacitushaveadmiredtheextentofhisknowledge，theshrewdnessofhisremarks，andthe
　　nervousstrengthofhisexpression。InaspeechwhichheputsintothemouthoftheRomanemperorTiberius，wefindthis
　　passage:"Languescetindustria，intendetursocordia，sinullusexsemetusnutspecs，&；securiomnesalienasubsidia
　　expectabunt，sibiignavi，nobisgraves。"（4）Hopeandfeararethespringsofindustry。Itisthepartofagoodpoliticianto
　　strengthenthese:butourlawsweakentheoneanddestroytheother。Forwhatencouragementhavethepoortobe
　　industriousandfrugal，whentheyknowforcertain，thatshouldtheyincreasetheirstoreitwillbedevouredbythe
　　drones'？（5）orwhatcausehavetheytofear，whentheyareassured，thatifbytheirindolenceandextravagance，bytheir
　　drunkennessandvices，theyshouldbereducedtowant，theyshallbeabundantlysupplied，notonlywithfoodandraiment，
　　butwiththeiraccustomedluxuries，attheexpenceofothers。Thepoorknowlittleofthemotiveswhichstimulatethe
　　higherrankstoaction—pride，honour，andambition。Ingeneralitisonlyhungerwhichcanspurandgoadthemontolabour；
　　yetourlawshavesaid，theyshallneverhunger。Thelaws，itmustbeconfessed，havelikewisesaidthattheyshallbe
　　compelledtowork。Butthenlegalconstraintisattendedwithtoomuchtrouble，violence，andnoise；createsillwill，and
　　nevercanbeproductiveofgoodandacceptableservice:whereashungerisnotonlyapeaceable，silent，unremitted
　　pressure，but，asthemostnaturalmotivetoindustryandlabour，itcallsforththemostpowerfulexertions；and，when
　　satisfiedbythefreebountyofanother，laysalastingandsurefoundationforgoodwillandgratitude。Theslavemustbe
　　compelledtowork；butthefreemanshouldbelefttohisownjudgmentanddiscretion；shouldbeprotectedinthefull
　　enjoymentofhisown，beitmuchorlittle；andpunishedwhenheinvadeshisneighbour'sproperty。Byrecurringtothose
　　basemotiveswhichinfluencetheslave，andtrustingonlytocompulsion，allthebenefitsoffreeservice，bothtotheservantandtothemaster，mustbelost。Itisuniversallyfound，thatwherebreadcanbeobtainedwithoutcareorlabour，itleadsthroughidlenessandviceto
　　poverty。BeforetheydiscoveredthegoldandsilverminesofPeruandMexico，theSpaniardsweredistinguishedamongthe
　　nationsofEuropefortheirindustryandarts，fortheirmanufacturesandtheircommerce。Butwhataretheynow？alazy，
　　poor，andmiserablepeople。Theyhavebeenruinedbytheirimaginarywealth。ThedeclensionoftheSpaniardshasbeen
　　attributedtotheexpulsionoftheMoriscoes；andtheblowwascertainlysevere，butnotaltogetheradequatetotheeffect。
　　Thenumberexpelledwasmorethansixhundredthousand，besidesthosewhodiedbythesword，byfamine，orbythe
　　sentencesofTheInquisition。TheprincipalchargebroughtagainstthemwastheirobstinateadherencetotheMahometan
　　religion:thepoliticalreasonassignedfortheirexpulsionwas，thatbytheirindustry，temperance，andfrugality，theywere
　　abletoworkcheaperthantheSpaniards，whilstbytheirsobrietytheycontributedlittletothepublicrevenue:butthereal
　　causeofthisimpoliticmeasurewasanorderfromthePope，thattheseinfidelsshouldbeconvertedattheexpenceofthe
　　Spanishclergy。TheArchbishopofValentiawastopaythreethousandsixhundredducatsyearly，andtheotherbishopsin
　　proportiontotheirincomes，forthesupportofanArabicmission。（6）Thusthetemperate，thefrugal，andtheindustrious，
　　beingbanishedfromthekingdom，whilsttheindolentfoundaconstantinfluxofgoldandsilverfromabroad，thewhole
　　nationsunkbydegreesintothepresentstateoftorpidinactivity。Itismorethanonehundredandseventyyearssincethis
　　event，andyetinallthattimeSpainhasnotrecoveredherpopulation。Thequantityofgoldandsilverimportedannually
　　intoCadizandLisbonhasbeenreckonedsixmillionssterling。（7）Herewefindasufficientcauseforthedecayoftheirindustryandarts。###第3章Ourpoorbeganonlytoappearinnumbersafterthedissolutionofthemonasteries。Thenitwastheyfirstattractednotice；
　　buttheyhadexistedlongbefore，alwaysmostabundantinthevicinityofthereligioushouses。Atthepresentmomentwe
　　aretold，thatinNaplessixthousandLazaroniaredailyfedbythemonasticorders，underthespeciousnameofcharity，not
　　uponasuddenemergency，butstatedly，andastheonlymeansoftheirsubsistence。Asapeaceofferingthismaybepolitic
　　andwise，wellcalculatedtoconciliatethegoodopinionoftheunthinkingmind，andtocommandtheadmirationofthe
　　vulgar；butatthesametimeitisinconsistentwiththemostestablishedprinciplesofpoliticaleconomy:forasindustryand
　　frugalityaretheonlyfoundationofnationalprosperity；sotemperanceandlabouraretheonlysourceofhappinessand
　　wealthtoindividuals。AlearnedJesuit，whohaslatelywrittenandisnowpublishinganelegantdefenceofthatsociety，
　　assumesgreatmeritfromthiscircumstance，thatinsteadofextortingforthemselvesascantypittancefromthevitalsofthe
　　people，suchwasthebenevolenceoftheseholyfathers，andsuchtheabundantwealthoftheirestablishments，thatthey
　　relievedallinthesurroundingvillages，whomadeapplicationtotheircharity。Theirintentions，nodoubt，weregood，but
　　theirbountymusthavebeenmisapplied。He，whostatedlyemploysthepoorinusefullabour，istheironlyfriend；he，who
　　onlyfeedsthem，istheirgreatestenemy。Theirhopesandfearsshouldcentreinthemselves:theyshouldhavenohopebut
　　fromtheirownsobriety，diligence，fidelity，andfromthewell—earntfriendshipoftheiremployers；andthentheironlyfear
　　wouldbethefearofforfeitingbytheirmisconduct，thatfayourandprotectionwhichwouldbetheirprincipalresourcein
　　timesofsicknessanddistress。
　　SECT。IVAwiselegislatorwillendeavourtoconfirmthenaturalbondsofsociety，andgivevigourtothefirstprinciplesonwhich
　　politicalunionmustdepend。Hewillpreservethedistinctionswhichexistinnatureindependentofhisauthority，andthe
　　variousrelationswhich，antecedenttohiscreation，connectedmantoman。Hewillstudythenaturalobligationswhicharise
　　fromtheserelations，thathemaystrengthentheseconnectionsbythesanctionofhislaws。Amongthefirstofthese
　　relationsstandstherelationofaservanttohismaster；andthefirstdutyrequiredfromaservantisprompt，chearful，and
　　heartyobedience。Onthisconditionalonecantheconnectionbepreserved，aswithoutduesubordinationallgovernment
　　mustend。Butourlawstendtoweakenthesebonds，andtodestroythissubordination，bycompellingtheoccupierofland
　　tofindemploymentforthepoor。Withthisprovision，whathavetheytofearwhendischargedfromservice？Ifonewillnot
　　employthem，anothermust。Iftheworkbeslightedorneglected，ifitbedesertedinthepressinghour，orspoiledinthe
　　execution，itistolittle'purposeforthemastertocomplain；hecanhavenoredress。Doesheseekrelieffromthecivil
　　power？Theunequalcontestisbegun，andtheremedywillbeworsethanthedisease。Boththeservantandthemaster
　　knowwhentheworkisillperformed，orwhentheservanthasnotearnthiswages，evenwhenlegalproofiswanting。If
　　thenthemasterhasnootherremedy，heisatthemercyofhisservants；hemustconniveattheirneglects，andbeartheir
　　impertinencewithpatience。Thereisnoalternativebutthis，ortomaintainthemwithoutwork。Theappealinthiscasetoa
　　magistrateisfromasuperiortribunaltotheinferior，fromthestrongertotheweaker。Wherethenaturalsanctionsare
　　sufficienttosecureobediencewithoutdisturbingthepeaceandgoodorderofsociety；thereawiselegislatorwillbecareful
　　nottointerfere，lest，byweakeningthese，withoutbeingabletosubstitutebetterintheirplace，heshouldstopthecourseof
　　justiceandprotecttheguilty。Thewisestlegislatorwillneverbeabletodeviseamoreequitable，amoreeffectual，orinany
　　respectamoresuitablepunishment，thanhungerisforadisobedientservant。Hungerwilltamethefiercestanimals，itwill
　　teachdecencyandcivility，obedienceandsubjection，tothemostbrutish，themostobstinate，andthemostperverse。A
　　goodservantneednotbeafraidofwantingwork。Ifonemastershoulddismisshimfromhisservice，otherswillbehappyto
　　receivehim。Butshouldamanbenotoriousforathief，andforspoilingorneglectingwork；shouldhebeeithersofalse，so
　　vicious，orsoill—tempered，thatnomasterwouldbewillingtoemployhim；itwouldcertainlybejustthatheshouldsuffer
　　hungertillhehadlearnttoreformhisconduct。Thereareperhapsfewparisheswhichcannotproducesomeofthis
　　untowarddisposition。Indeeditisthegeneralcomplaintoffarmers，thattheirmendonotworksowellastheyusedtodo，
　　whenitwasreproachfultoberelievedbytheparish。
　　SECT。VItmayseemstrangeinacountrywhereagriculture，arts，manufactures。，andcommerce，aremostflourishing，allofwhich
　　haveamutualandcorrespondinginfluenceoneachother，tosaythatthelawsdiscouragemanufactures；yetthismaybe
　　saidofthepoorlawsinEngland。Byourpresentsystemwepreventtheirintroduction，checktheirprogress，andhasten
　　theirdeparture。Iftherentalofaparishwerenotboundtoprovidefortheincreasingpoor，everygentlemanoflanded
　　propertywouldbesolicitoustohavemanufacturersestablishedonhisestates，inordertoconsumetheproduceofhis
　　lands。Bymultiplyingtheconsumershewouldenhancethevalueofallthevariousproductsofthesoil:hewouldenjoythe
　　monopolyofhayandpasture，andsharewithallhisneighhourstoagivendistanceinthesaleofcorn。Butwhenhe
　　considersthatmanufacturesfluctuate，thatthebenefitwhichheistoderivefromthemwillnotbearproportiontothe
　　burthenwhichhemustentailuponhisproperty；hewillratherwishtokeepthemataconvenientdistance。Theprincipal
　　benefithecanexpectis，thatthevalueofhispasturesshouldbedoubled:butevenwhilstthemanufactureprospers，the
　　demandsofthepoor，bothuponhisarableandpasture，willbemorethandoubled，andwhenitfails，thepoor'sratewill
　　swallowupthewhole。Thesurroundingparisheswillreapthechiefadvantage:hewillhavethehappinesstoseethemflourish；buttheloadandburthenofthepoorwillremainuponhisownestate。"Sicvosnonvobisfertisaratra，boves。"###第4章（8）Ineveryparish，asthelawnowstands，theywhohavelegalsettlements，havethemonopolyoflabour，becausethe
　　labouringpoorareconfinedtotheirrespectiveparishes。Thisprovisionisperfectlyconsistentwiththewholesystemofour
　　poorlaws，andwasdesignednotonlytopreventtheevilswhichnaturallyarisefromvagrancy，andwhichmightbeequally
　　preventedbymorewholesomelaws；buttoprotecteachparishfromintruders，whomightbecomechargeableeitherfor
　　themselvesorfortheirchildren。Thisprovisionisproductiveofconsiderableevils，whichthelegislaturehasneveryetbeen
　　abletoremove:fornotonlyhavetheindustriouspoorbeenrestrainedfromseekingemploymentwheretheywould
　　otherwisehavebeenreceivedwithjoy，andconfinedtotheirownparishes，inwhichtheywereregardedwithanevileye；
　　butforwantofcompetitionthepriceoflabourtothemanufacturerhasbeenmuchenhanced。Withacertificate，indeed，the
　　poorarepermittedtoresideinanyparishwhereworkistobehad，butthenacertificateisnoteasilyobtained。Nowitis
　　evidentthatbyraisingthepriceoflabouryoumustdirectlychecktheprogressofthemanufactures；andbyexperienceitis
　　found，thatthesameeffectarisesindirectlytoamoreconsiderableextent；forinproportionasyouadvancethewagesof
　　thepoor，youdiminishthequantityoftheirwork。Allmanufacturerscomplainofthis，anduniversallyagree，thatthepoor
　　areseldomdiligent，exceptwhenlabourischeap，andcomisdear。Itmustbeconfessedthattoomanyofthemhavesome
　　littleresemblancetotheanimaldescribedbytravelletsunderthenameofNimblePeter；acreaturesoinactive，that，when
　　hehasclearedonetree，hewillbereducedtoskinandbonesbeforeheclimbsanother，andsoslowinallhismotions，that
　　evenstripeswillnotmakehimmendhispace。（9）Drunkennessisthecommonviceofpoverty；notperhapsofpovertyas
　　such，butoftheuncultivatedmind；foritisthecharacteristicofunpolishednationstobefondofintoxicatingliquors。
　　Whateverbethecause，itisnotorious，thatwiththecommonpeopletheappetiteforstrongdrinkistheirprevailing
　　appetite。Whentherefore，bytheadvanceinwages，theyobtainmorethanissufficientfortheirbaresubsistence，theyspend
　　thesurplusatthealehouse，andneglecttheirbusiness。Isamandrunkoneday？Hewillhavelittleinclinationtoworkthe
　　next。Thusforeverydrunkenfittwodaysarelost。Byfrequentrepetitionthehabitisconfirmed，and，byreducingthe
　　numberofworkingdays，theirvalueisenhanced。Inproportiontothisloss，thepriceoflabourwillberaised。Aslongas
　　menhavenothingtofear，eitherforthemselvesorfortheirfamilies，thispracticewillprevail。Wherethepriceoflabouris
　　advanced，theindustriousandthesoberwillbydegreesacquireatasteforluxury。Theywillnotbecontentedwithbare
　　subsistence，withasufficientquantityofcoarseyetwholesomefood，withwarmbuthomespungarments，andwithhealthy
　　butunfurnishedcottages:theywillcontracthabitsofrefinement，which，whensufferedtopromotetheirindustry，willbe
　　usefulbothtothemselvesandtothepublic，butwhichinallcases，willhaveatendencytokeepupthepriceoflabour，and
　　toadvancethepriceofallthosearticleswhichtheyconsume。Eventheywhodonotworkmusteat，and，byincreasingthe
　　demandforcorn，willenhanceitsvalue，andconsequentlythepriceoflabour。Inthiscaseactionandre—actionareequal，
　　butnotopposite。Thehighpriceoflabourraisesthevalueofprovisions，andthehighpriceofprovisionsenhancesthe
　　valueoflabour。Theyarebothincreasedbythepresentsystemofourpoorlaws，andhavebothatendencytocheckthe
　　progressofmanufactures，andtohastentheirdeparture。Themostspeciousargumentproducedagainstgrantingafree
　　tradetothesisterkingdomwas，that，havinglabourcheap，andnotbeingburthenedwithapoor'srate，shewouldbeableto
　　undersellusinthemarket，andtherebyruinourmanufactures。ShouldEnglandrepealthepresentlaws，andmakeabetterprovisionforthefrugal，thesober，andtheindustrious，amongthepoor，Irelandcouldnolongerboastofthisadvantage。Manufacturesalwaysseekthecheapestcountries。Astheyareleavingthesoutherncountriesandtravellingtothenorth，so
　　intimewilltheyleavethenorth，and，toaconsiderabledegree，quitthekingdom，unlesssomewiseregulationsareestablishedforthebetterreliefandgovernmentofthelabouringpoor。Thepoorlawstoacertaindegreediscourageimprovementsinagriculture；foritiscertain，thatmorewastelandwouldbe
　　takenintotillage，ifgentlemenwerenotalarmedbytheincreasingburthenofthepoor。Againsttheclaimsofthechurch，
　　provisionhasbeenmadebyanexemptionfromtythesforsevenyears；butthedemandsofthepooradmitofnoexemption。
　　Moniedmenhavegreatlytheadvantageovertheownersandoccupiersofland，asbeingfreefromthoseheavytaxes，
　　whichthelatterpaytotheking，tothechurch，andtothepoor。Whenthepoor'srateamountstotenshillings，orevento
　　fourshillingsinthepound，whowillbeattheexpenceofclearing，fencing，breakingup，manuring，cropping，thewasteand
　　barrenpartsofanestate？Certainlynogentlemencandoitwithaviewtoprofit。InScotlandthesumsareimmensewhich
　　havebeenexpendedforthispurpose；butinEnglandamanofpropertywouldchooserathertotakethepublicforhis
　　debtor，thantobehimselfadebtortothepoor；moreespeciallyasitisnotpossibleforhimtoconjecturewhatwillbethe
　　extentofthisunlimitedrent—chargeuponhisestate。Wereitnotforthisincumbranceagriculturewouldcertainlybepushed
　　muchfartherthanithaseverbeen，andmanythousandacresofthepoorercommons，heaths，andmoors，wouldbeinclosed
　　andcultivated。Thebestwritershavecomplained，thatbyatax，similarinitsoperationtoourpoor'stax，agriculturein
　　Francehasbeendepressed，theassessmentbeingmadeinproportiontotheirstockintrade。TheconductoftheFrenchin
　　thisrespectisnotmoreabsurdthanours。Howwidelydifferenthasbeentheoperationofourland—tax。Ithasbeenaspurto
　　industry，becausefromthebeginningtheproportionhasbeenneverchanged。Tobeconsistentinprinciple，thelegislature
　　shouldeitherlimitthesumtobecollectedforthepoor，orifagricultureistobeeffectuallychecked，theyshouldequalize
　　theland—tax。Hadthistaxfollowedourimprovementswithatightgrasp，andwithawatchfuleye，likethechurch，andlike
　　thepoor，Englandwouldnotatthisdaydiscoverthesmilingaspectwhichallforeignersadmire，whentheyeverywhere
　　beholdourvalliescloathedwithflocks，andourhillswithcorn。Awisepoliticianwillstudytoremoveeveryobstaclewhich
　　canretardtheprogressofimprovement:butsuchisthesystemofourlaws，thatthegreaterthedistressamongthepoor，
　　thelesswillbetheinducementtocultivateourmorestubbornandunprofitablelands。