The National Register.
London, England, 1818-03-23 00:00:00

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No. s'2B.—VoL. XI

POLITICAL DisQulsrrioN.

PCMR TAWS.—NIIt. S. 1101.titin'S

IT is not among.the least of the blessings that the
return of peace affords, that the Rulers of a State are
thereby enabled to direct theireettention mattere of
internal regulation and. domestic improvement, and
the amelioration of the condition of those classes a
Society, who stind in necd of moral end intellectual
culture, or relief from the overwhelming evils of po-
verty. These objects are of the highest importance
in every country—for in proportion as every man's
silere of useful:lees is enlarge], so is the prosperity of
the community enhanced. lyiorance, and idleness too
fecquently go hand in hand, and a wise Statesman
can have no greater desire than to see national prospe-
rity truly and solidly fixed on the basis of national in-
dustry, for no artificial appearance of wealth, no mo-
nopoly of riches in the hands of a few individuals,
,giving only the semblance of public wealth, can ever
support a nation for any length of time.
It is the flowing of the waters of abundance through
innumerable channels of various capacities—the gene-
ral diffusion of riches, as well as of knowledge, that is
the really substantial foundation of national welfare—
the streamlet that irrigates the village is ive beneficial
in its proportion as the river which flows through the
town, aml the enlightened and Christian policy which
extends its benevolent exertions equally to the " mind,
body, and estate" of the pour, is the most calculated to
render them a blessing to the State, and' the State a
blessing to Society.
We -nay, to be sure, infer from Mr.Ntalthus'S prin-
ciples, that a nation may be too happy,.and by creating
an excess of population, require the operation of some
enormous evil, as war, plagues, &c. to counteract the
effeets of an overwhelming surplus ; but this aftlirds no
argument for neglecting to improve the condition of
Society in the intervals of peace and prosperity, and he
must, indeed, be acold-blooded politician, who would
consent to check the progress of moral and intellec-
tual refinement from any such co leratisns :we all
have, or ought to have, higher views than mere atten-
tion to " the fitness of the things" upon t/c earth,
and we may be certain, that Divine Providence will
never sutler moral improvement and general hap-
piness to become the means and cause of public cala-
mity. Of the high important duty of ameliorating the
situation of the poor, nothing need he said ; the phi-
lanthropy of our countrymen. the extraordinary ex-
eetion3 we daily witness, and the magnificent institu-
tions that bear record of the fact, render all illustration
of this unnecessary.
The couture is much, indebted to the various Com-
mittees of the House of Cemmons, on Police, Ldu-
ration, and the Poor Laws, for the valuable body of in-
formation they have collected from difil..rent sources on
these subjects, and fur the very useful suggestions
th.er have been led to make, which promise to be pro-
tin:tive of great pract ire' benefit. Mr. Sturges Bourne
has brought in a Pill to amend varioos parts of the
P eve Laws, futualed on the Report of the Committee,
to the principal clauses o which we are anxious to di-
rect the attention of our Rca lets Feeling as we do,
eiat the pi.;.mary cause; of panperistvi have been too
rut ch neglectsl, and that remedies have been
seined, rather to eonsevenees tleio causes, which
thev unloubteilly alleviate, yet go hut a
Late tea: toy:Ards reeenio;.: the evil ; vet: Arc not so
renguitie in one expectations of the result res. others ;
at the ;AMU: tine, we are gratefid to any one who will
ae.ixt iu-....eteling the ;.irdiei, though he fail to clear it

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