PREFACE.

THE mottoes of the title page have been selected, because, from their consideration connectedly, the unavoidable inference follows, that if we would obey the commandment to " love one another,” we must not tax "the necessaries of life.” As, however, there are so many prejudices to be contended with, and so many supposed clashing interests to be reconciled, before all men, (even on the high authorities here quoted), will consent to be of one mind, it is a thing much to be desired, that during the necessary discussion of the many important subjects connected with the well being of mankind, which, though thus morally decided, are still politically pending, that all those party appellations so long associated with feelings of contention and ill-will, could be laid aside.

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In consistency with this sentiment, no expression of the kind is once used in the course of this little work; for its subject being the organization of the social and political systems on the plans the most conducive to the happiness of all, it is written in the spirit of "good-will to all."

Rather, then, let the real friends of justice and moral order, and therefore of humanity, and especially of the poor, and the helpless, how numerous soever the motley designations they may hitherto have borne, assume, henceforward, the title which best expresses the objects they desire to promote, and call themselves the philanthropists;-this, surely, is not flinging down the gauntlet to any man; while let those who are pleased to oppose such views, choose a designation for themselves, expressive of that opposition. Far be it from the friends of human well being, to fasten an ill name on any one.

The good-will proclaimed by the Universal Sovereign was to men, that is to all men, and therefore it necessarily includes equal justice; that good-will not being to all, which sanctions injustice to any such justice as necessarily includes active benevolence; for those who withhold from their fellow men, any good of which God has made them the medium, abuse free-will; intercept the rays of God's love; and thus do great injustice.

Why is the very first commandment,

"Thou

shalt have none other God but me?" We cannot suppose that the great God calls for our worship in the spirit of a prince of this world, to swell the triumphs of a pride like that of earth! Was not, then, this concentration of all worship, in the one source of all good, almighty benevolence, demanded to teach mankind that every deviation from that equal justice which flows from good-will to all; every bowing of the knee to that supposed expediency which would deny a part of justice, is idolatry!

What were all the multiplied objects of infidel devotion, but each the symbol of some partial good: our God is universal good, therefore he is one only--and the whole family of man, as his children, brethren!

Philanthropic economy then, or a disposition of things based on the principle of good-will to all, thus necessarily including equal justice, and active benevolence, is surely a subject which ought to possess a paramount interest for all those who habitually reverence the will of God, and sympathize with the sufferings of their fellow creatures: yet how many are there who, while willingly devoting their time, their thoughts, and their alms, on conscientious motives too, to the relief of individual distress, treat as a speculative question, in which they have no part, the present pressing wretchedness of millions: a wretchedness

which continues to exist only because the overwhelming interest, the topic is calculated to inspire, is not yet universally felt, nor the important practical facts borne in mind, first, that there are comprehensive and effectual remedies which need but to be applied; and secondly, that were the prejudices of the prejudiced subdued, the attention of the thoughtless won, the sympathies of the indifferent awakened, and those of the already kindly disposed, rightly directed; the wilfully blind, in other words, the dishonest, would be out-numbered, the principle of good-will to all would prevail; and the remedies, equal justice, and universallyspread education would be applied. To subdue then the prejudices of the prejudiced, to win the attention of the thoughtless, to awaken the sympathies of the indifferent, and give a right direction to those of the benevolent,-in short, to dispose to the application of the said remedies, equal justice, and universally-spread education, every portion we can by any means reach of that great aggregate of the nation's free will, public opinion, to canvass, as it were the whole empire for voices in favor of the application to all our laws and institutions, of the good-will induced, and good-will inducing principle of equal justice, and the diffusion through all ranks and classes of people; of a reasoning, in other words, an equal justice, and good-will producing education should

surely be the constant endeavour of all those who feel an honest interest in the well-being of their fellow creatures.

The efforts of the pious and the benevolent, (and in Great Britain these constitute a great majority of the educated classes) had, it is probable, been long since so directed, had not very many amiably enough disposed persons been deterred from approaching almost any subject connected with the general weal, by the too common opinion among otherwise well, (or at least elegantly) educated people that the science of political economy is something quite distinct from religion, morality or philanthropy, something too speculative to be practical, too intricate to be understood, or too dull to be endured.

How many, in short, of those who in their hearts believe themselves to be the friends of justice and the poor, carelessly dismiss topics on which depend whether all those who have their bread to earn by honest industry shall be prosperous or miserable by merely declaring that they "hate politics."

To obviate such unmeaning objections, yet spare the reader, whose object is benevolence, the arduous task of pursuing scientific deductions through ponderous volumes, or collecting scattered proofs from innumerable sources, in search of a knowledge of what are the exertions which he is called upon by benevolence to make, it has been