He

something to the same purpose in the Political Disquisitions, which a little damped my patriotic eagerness. "A poor hard-working man, " who has a wife and six children to maintain" [what a wicked wretch!] "can neither enjoy "the glorious light of heaven, nor the glim"mering of a farthing candle, without paying "the window tax and the candle tax. " rises early and sits up late; he fills the whole "day with severe labour; he goes to his flock" bed with half a belly-full of bread and cheese " denying the call of natural appetite, that his "wife and little starvelings may have the "more." [Why he is very justly punished to be sure. True; but mark the sequel.] " In "the mean while the exactors of these taxes " are revelling at the expence of more money " for one evening's amusement, than the "wretched hard-working man (who is obliged " to find the money for them to squander) can " earn by half a year's severe labour." On the whole, I was obliged to relinquish my project. I found that my picture must either want effect, or be out of all keeping. And besides the relations of things had not only changed, but men's opinions had changed with them. An overcharged description of English liberty and continental slavery would not be at all to the taste of the times. It would sound like mere rant, and would come to nothing. But when I came to that fine representation of the effects of slavery, which Burgh has left us, with those exquisite figures of the old goat, the bullock and the ass, and the groupe of shop-keepers playing at draughts for want of something to do, I was determined to bring it in, cost what it would. At last, I bethought me of the expedient of an invasion,-at that word I knew that every true friend of his country would grow pale, would see the odious consequences of slavery in their native deformity, and turn with disdain from those vile panders to vice and misery, those sanguine enthusiasts of mischief, who would artfully reconcile them to every species of want, oppression, and unfeeling barbarity, as the necessary consequences of the principle of population. So much more credit do we attach to names, than things!-The whole of the account of Denmark to which I have just referred, is well worthy of attention : I cannot forbear giving the following extract. "The consequence of this oppression is that the people of Denmark " finding it impossible to secure their property". [from the tax-gatherers] " squander their little "gettings, as fast as they can, and are irreme" diably poor. Oppression and arbitrary sway " beget distrust and doubts about the security "of property; doubts beget profusion, men "chusing to squander on their pleasures what "they apprehend may excite the rapaciousness

of their superiors; and this profusion is the " legitimate parent of that universal indolence, " poverty and despondency, which so strongly "characterize the miserable inhabitants of Den"mark. When Lord Molesworth resided in " that country, the collectors of the poll-tax "were obliged to accept of old feather-beds, " brass and pewter pans, &c. instead of money, "from the inhabitants of a town, which once " raised 200,000 rix dollars for Christiern IV. " on twenty-four hours' notice. The quar"tering and paying the king's troops is another " grievance no less oppressive. The boors are " obliged to furnish the king and every little in" solent courtier with horses and waggons in "their journeys, and are beaten like cattle. "Consequently, Denmark, once very populous, " is become thin of inhabitants; as poverty, " oppression, and meagre- diet do miserably " check procreation, besides producing diseases "which shorten the lives of the few who are

" born." [How miserably short-sighted must our author have been not to perceive that these were great advantages!] "All this the rich " and thriving and free people of England may " bring themselves to, if they please" [by following up Mr. Malthus's theory.] " It is only " letting the court go on with their scheme of "diffusing universal corruption through all " ranks, and it will come of course." - There is one passage in this account, which malevolence itself cannot apply to the history of this country. "Before the government of Denmark was " made hereditary and absolute in the present " royal family, by that fatal measure in 1660, "the nobility lived in great splendour and affluNow they are poor, and their number

"ence.

"diminished."

I shall conclude these extracts with the following passages, taken at random, which will at least serve to shew the strange prejudices that prevailed on the subject, before Mr. Malthus, like the clown in Shakespear, undertook to find out an answer that should explain all difficulties. "It must indeed be an answer of most mon"strous size that fits all demands." But perhaps Mr. Malthus is by this time convinced, that " a thing may serve long, and not serve

" ever."

4

"The richest soil in Europe, Italy, is full of "beggars; among the Grisons, the poorest

66

country in Europe, there are no beggars. "The bailage of Lugane is the worst country, "the least productive, the most exposed to cold " and the least capable of trade of any in all "Italy, and yet is the best peopled. If ever " this country is brought under a yoke like that " which the rest of Italy bears, it will soon be " abandoned, for nothing draws so many people " to live in so bad a soil, when they are in sight " of the best soil in Europe, but the easiness of " the government." Burnet's Travels.

"Italy shews, in a very striking light, the ad"vantages of free government.* The subjects "of the Italian republics are thriving and "happy. Those under the Pope, the dukes of "Tuscany, Florence &c. wretched in the ex"treme. - Lucca, to mention no other, is a re" markable instance of the happy effects of li"berty. The whole dominion is but thirty " miles round, yet contains, besides the city, "150 villages, 120,000 inhabitants, and all the " soil is cultivated to the utmost. Their magis