st Destitution is a
great and general predisposing cause, with which others have no
doubt concurred, in producing such redundancy; and that the
presence of such a provision greatly favours the checks upon it.

"This it may be distinctly observed to do in two ways--1. By
keeping up the standard of comfort among the poor themselves; 2.
By giving every proprietor of land a direct and obvious interest
in constantly watching and habitually checking the growth of a
_parasite_ population, for whose labour there is no demand, on his
property.

"The statement that the English Poor Rate increases more rapidly
than the wealth and population of the country, and threatens to
absorb that wealth, is statistically proved to be erroneous.

"The other accusation brought against an effective legal
provision, that it injures the character of a people, and
depresses the industry, and checks the improvement of a country,
is equally opposed to statistical facts.

"The lower orders of the Highlanders and Irish--whose resource
when destitute is mendicity, are much more disposed to idleness
than the English labouring men.

"Yet this disposition among the Highlanders has been greatly
exaggerated.

"Where it is most offensive, it is amongst those who have been
most impoverished and neglected.

"The inquiries of the agents of the Relief Committees, as well as
those of the Royal Commissioners on the Poor Laws, have
_proved_,--

"1. That there has been a great deficiency in the application of
capital and skill to develop the resources of the Highlands and
Islands.

"2. That the skilful application, even of a moderate capital, to
various undertakings requiring labour, opens a prospect of great
improvement in the country. These resources existing, the
inference is inevitable, that if the higher ranks in the Highlands
are bound to support their poor, they can and will, in general,
find "remunerative employment" for them rather than maintain them
in idleness.

"And the observations of the agents of the Committees, dispensing
a voluntary fund, but guarding it--as a well-regulated relief
would be guarded,--by the 'Labour Test' therefore affording an
earnest of what maybe expected from the habitual operation of such
a Law,--have shewn that, under its influence, t