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appear the least prospect of success, a reforma-
tion of these, our unfortunate fellow-creatures,
cannot be achieved at too much trouble or
expence.
Among the friends and advocates for the la-
bouring poor, I must first mention Dr. Law, the
enlightened Bishop of Bath and Wells, whose
remarks and opinions on this important subject
I had intended to give in the Appendix; but
they are so benevolent, and so worthy of his
sacred profession, and at the same time so em-
phatic, that I think it best to insert them in the
place where they are most likely to meet the great
public eye. His lordship, after noticing the
increase in the population as the main cause of
the want of employment, gives a decided opinion,
that this superabundance of our inhabitants can-
not be relieved by emigration, and quotes the
opinion of that Reverend and enlightened Moral
Philosopher—Paley. '' That the greatest benefit to
a country is not the diminution but the increase of
population." This kind and humane bishop then
remarks, that the poor formerly received great
and substantial benefit from the numerous Com-
mons, which afforded to the poor man pasture for
his cow and fuel for his hearth, but that all these
advantages are swallowed up in allotments to
the large proprietors, and nothing left for the
poor man.
c2