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from the truth in the hands of the dial-plate; so, in the case of a community, the cause of the economic misery which exists among the working classes, is after all but slight, and consequently can be easily removed.

From these observations it appears that there are two grand points which must be kept in view, in any attempt to abolish the system of English pauperism. First, that the abolition of the system should be so complete, that no future amendment might be required; and yet, that, in the second place, it should be so gradual as to cause no sudden disrupture. We may just briefly remark, without entering into details, that both these points may be attained by a mode of policy similar to that which has been employed with regard to the enclosure of English commons. It is interesting to observe how, on the abolition of pauperism, the relief which nature has provided for misery, begins again to operate; and those numerous fountains of benevolence which had been frozen up under its cold and cheerless influence, again begin to flow. And still more interesting is it to observe how soon our population will shake off that lethargic indifference about the future, which the provisions of legalized charity so long have fostered; and how soon prudential restraint will again reduce the numbers of a community, whose overgrown size has been the great cause of their misery.

But we are not so sanguine in our expectations, as to suppose that the abolition of pauperism

would procure for the working classes all the ease and all the comfort, we could desire to see them possessed of. We assuredly do suppose, however, that by its abolition, a mighty obstacle would be removed which at present destroys the effectiveness of those means which are employing to accomplish this most desirable end. It is well, perhaps, that the evils of pauperism are continually increasing; for this is a circumstance which ensures its speedy abolition. The system cannot work much longer. Things must soon come to a crisis. And what our legislators are now unwilling to do, at the instigation of reason, they would soon be compelled to perform, by the power of an irresistible necessity.

Besides the system of pauperism, there are yet other two obstacles which have hitherto stood in the way of those philanthropic exertions which are now making in every quarter for elevating the condition of the working classes. The first is, the law against combinations of workmen, for the purpose of raising their wages. The second is, the want of a small capital among the operatives, to enable them to stand out till their masters may accede to their terms. Happily, the first of these obstacles is now removed; and an attempt has been made to remove the second, which bids fair to prove successful. For the repeal of the combination laws, the labouring classes are indebted to the enlightened policy of the present age, which has at length taught our legislators the absurdity of compelling an individual, in a coun

try which boasts of its liberties, to sell his labour at a price which can barely supply him with the necessaries of life, and all for the purpose of keeping up the wealth and the dignity of his more affluent fellow-countrymen. For an attempt to remove the second obstacle to which we have alluded, our operatives are indebted to a zealous and philanthropic minister of the Church of Scotland.

This gentleman has succeeded in establishing in his own parish and in several other parts of the country, those admirable institutions which are now beginning to be generally known by the name of Saving Banks: institutions where the humble shilling of the labourer is received with as much thankfulness, and tendered back to him when demanded with as much promptness and affability, as is the most valuable deposit of his wealthy employer. It is a very remarkable coincidence, and one which augurs well for the future prospects of the labouring classes, that these two circumstances should have occurred, as if to give them every opportunity of profiting by their elevated standard of enjoyment, just at the time when, by means altogether different, it was in contemplation to elevate that standard. These means are now beginning their operation; and there is reason to expect that the opportunities of moral and scientific instruction will soon be patent to every individual in the society. Among these means we might enumerate our schools of arts, and our reading

societies for the instruction of the old; and our parish and Sabbath schools for the education of the young.

These are institutions which have already been productive of the most salutary results, and of whose beneficent influence we may yet hope to behold more visible manifestations written upon the face of our country. By their instrumentality may we hope even within the short period of our life-time, to see the balance of society more equally poised; to behold our landlords retrenching a few of their more extravagant superfluities, in order to supply more liberally with the comforts and conveniences of life, by far the most deserving class of the community.

On the whole, there seems something like the dawning of a brighter era in the history of our world. Whether we listen to those cheering reports which are daily arriving from the friends of religion and philanthropy abroad, or direct our regards to the animating prospects of our home population, we can not help thinking that we already descry the visible approach of a period which has long been expected by the christian, as well as dreamt of and longed for by the infidel philosopher; a period which, by the plenty and the happiness that shall be showered down upon every family; and, by the fidelity, and the justice, and the benevolence, that shall animate every bosom, will outvie the high-wrought descriptions of a golden age, which poetic fancy has imagined.

We, at least, who believe in the divine inspiration of the Bible, can look forward with joyful anticipation to that time when, in the language of the prophecy which has foretold its coming, "the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the channel of the deep." And then, under the influence of that pure and elevated morality which christianity shall universally diffuse, might we confidently predict that the economic condition of society shall assume a brighter aspect than ever yet it hath worn, since that day when man was driven from the blissful bowers of his first inheritance, and was condemned to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Then, shall those private animosities and heart-burnings which now imbitter the joys of social intercourse, be for ever extinguished: and then too, shall the tribes of the human family forget those quarrels which so long have been the scourge of this fair world; "nation shall not rise up against nation, neither shall they learn the art of war any more."

"St. Andrew's, April, 1825,

A truly admirable essay, replete with sound judgment and felicitous illustration; and announcing itself, at the first glance, as worthy of the highest prize.

THOMAS CHALMERS."

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