King very judiciously computes his cottagers and paupers, decreasing
the wealth of the nation but at 400,000 families, in which account
he includes the poor-houses in cities, towns, and villages, besides
which he reckons 30,000 vagrants, and all these together to make up
1,330,000 heads.
This is a very great proportion of the people to be a burden upon
the other part, and is a weight upon the land interest, of which the
landed gentlemen must certainly be very sensible.
If this vast body of men, instead of being expensive, could be
rendered beneficial to the commonwealth, it were a work, no doubt,
highly to be promoted by all who love their country.
It seems evident, to such as have considered these matters, and who
have observed how they are ordered in nations under a good polity,
that the number of such who through age or impotence stand in real
need of relief, is but small and might be maintained for very
little, and that the poor rates are swelled to the extravagant
degree we now see them at by two sorts of people, one of which, by
reason of our slack administration, is suffered to remain in sloth,
and the other, through a defect in our constitution, continue in
wretched poverty for want of employment, though willing enough to
undertake it.
All this seems capable of a remedy, the laws may be armed against
voluntary idleness, so as to prevent it, and a way may probably be
found out to set those to work who are desirous to support
themselves by their own labour; and if this could be brought about,
it would not only put a stop to the course of that vice which is the
consequence of an idle life, but it would greatly tend to enrich the
commonwealth, for if the industry of not half the people maintain in
some degree the other part, and, besides, in times of peace did add
every year near two million and a half to the general stock of
England, to what pitch of wealth and greatness might we not be
brought, if one limb were not suffered to draw away the nourishment
of the other, and if all the members of the body politic were
rendered useful to it?
Nature, in her contrivances, has made every part of a living
creature either for ornament or use; the same should be in a politic
institution rightly governed.
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