a poor-law has introduced among our peasantry.

It certainly cannot be pretended that these and similar advantages of an opulent state, spring up spontaneously, like the produce of the golden age: intelligence must be exerted to descry, and philanthrophy to direct them. But it might form a serious objection against the divine goodness, if it were supposed that the condition of the majority of the community must always be deteriorated, as the community itself advanced in opulence. That this highest point of civilization is still capable of such a measure of general happiness, as belongs to an imperfect and preparatory state, is all that I undertake to prove. Should any one think the universal establishment or application of such beneficial plans impracticable, it will be easy to show that the impossibility does not lie in the nature of things. There can be no harm in building an Utopia on a Christian foundation. There is positive good, when the question regards the benevolence of the Crea

tor; who, when he placed within the reach of man the means of general happiness, Christian doctrines, Christian precepts, and Christian intelligence, justly demands on man's part that he should stretch out his hand to obtain them.

In reducing the plan to detail, we will suppose, for convenience sake, a parish of 1000 souls; which is larger than the average of country parishes in England, and smaller than that of towns. The principle is universal; the practical detail admits of considerable enlargement or contraction. The first thing necessary to the general welfare, is the education of the growing population. The number within the age of education may be roughly stated at one fourth of the whole. * Of these 250, 50 may be supposed in a situation above the

* The average result of the census of 1820, showed for every 100 individuals

parochial school, for which 200 remain after that deduction. According to the Madras system, one person can effectually superintend the education of more than a 100 children of all ages. One school, divided into two apartments, one master, and one mistress, will suffice to conduct the education, each having under their care 100 of their own sex. The annual expense, after the building of the school-room, will be covered by £100, or at most £125; being no more than two shillings or two shillings and sixpence a head on the whole community of 1000 individuals.

I consider the clergyman of the parish as the natural and legal superintendent of the establishment; and his presence for two hours in the week, after the machine is once in operation, will suffice to preserve a check on the immediate directors, and to fill that department which requires superior intelligence or authority; and to interweave with all the in

* I would not appear to expect of my clerical brethren more than is required of them by their ordination vow: the

formation acquired by the children, the most valuable of all information, a sense of their situation in life, and its practical duties of subordination, content, and industry.

The advantages of little savings, the importance which the smallest sums acquire by accumulation, may be not only inculcated, but practically taught, by a trifling weekly contribution, either to be employed at the end of the

religious education of the poor, and the visitation of the sick hereafter alluded to, are among their prescribed duties. I am still more certain that I do not demand from them more than is readily bestowed by the majority of our parochial clergy. They have indeed an awful and responsible situation, when it is considered how much both of the temporal and eternal interest of their flock depends upon the faithful and complete discharge of their ministerial duties. But they have their reward. Much is said of the increasing zeal of sectaries; and it may be necessary for us to keep a prudent guard against possible as well as evident dangers. But the parochial clergy are drawing round themselves, and the excellent establishment to which they belong, a rampart stronger than exclusive privileges or state protection; they are fortifying themselves in the hearts of the people, who are never insensible to what is contributed towards their best and dearest interests by the attention of a laborious and conscientious minister.

year in clothing or in Bibles, or any other desirable object.* If the child saves pence, the man will save shillings, supposing only that the same pains are taken to make him understand the advantages of so doing, and the same facilities placed in his way. In a parish of 1000 souls, it is not too much to assume that some individual may have sufficient leisure, philanthropy, and general acquaintance with business, to be the banker of his poorer neighbours; a guarantee being given that the deposits should be laid out in real or government securities. It is proved by experience in Edinburgh, that, on the opening of such a concern, one hour in the week will in general be sufficient for a single person to receive and

* I have been often astonished at hearing these penny contributions objected to, as coming eventually from the parish rates. Granting the fact, which is certainly too rare to be made a sweeping assertion; suppose the family to receive their whole support, or 12s. a week from the parish; what evil can arise from the deduction of a hundred and forty-fourth part of that sum for any permanent object, at all equal to the advantage derived from the habit of forethought and self-denial?

VOL. II.

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