第2章

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。