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。