45
in which similar advantages have not been offered
to the poor ?
A census has just been taken, which will con-
siderably assist us in this determination. It is,
by this time, I apprehend, in the possession of
every member of the legislature, if not in that
of the public in general. I appeal, therefore, to
no vague or uncertain documents, but to such
as can be immediately refered to, and by which
the truth of my statement may be confirmed or
refuted. I shall, upon the present occasion,
produce only a few instances, because, in fact, I
am acquainted with but few in which the experi-
ment has been tried a sufficient length of time
to afford a fair example ; but I publish these few
to induce others to pay attention to the subject,
that the truth, which is my sole object, may be
ascertained. I shall only first premise, and this
merely to prevent mistake, that in comparing
the increase of population in different towns or
villages, strict attention must be paid to local
circumstances; as the setting up or decline of a
manufactory in the one, or the enclosure of fresh
land in the other, would alter the relative pro-
portion of numbers, according to the demand
for their labour. In making the selection for
comparison, it is necessary they should be as
much as possible under similar circumstances,