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arrange their maintenance so as to kill them early say at
thirty or thirty…five on the average； including deaths of weakly
or ill…fed children？ or so as to enable them to live out a
natural life？ You will feed a greater number； in the first
case；（34*） by rapidity of succession； probably a happier number
in the second： which does Mr Ricardo mean to be their natural
state； and to which state belongs the natural rate of wages？
Again： A piece of land which will only support ten idle；
ignorant； and improvident persons； will support thirty or forty
intelligent and industrious ones。 Which of these is their natural
state； and to which of them belongs the natural rate of wages？
Again： If a piece of land support forty persons in
industrious ignorance； and if； tired of this ignorance； they set
apart ten of their number to study the properties of cones； and
the sizes of stars； the labour of these ten； being withdrawn from
the ground； must either tend to the increase of food in some
transitional manner； or the persons set apart for sidereal and
conic purposes must starve； or some one else starve instead of
them。 What is； therefore； the natural rate of wages of the
scientific persons； and how does this rate relate to； or measure；
their reverted or transitional productiveness？
Again： If the ground maintains； at first； forty labourers in
a peaceable and pious state of mind； but they become in a few
years so quarrelsome and impious that they have to set apart
five； to meditate upon and settle their disputes； ten； armed
to the teeth with costly instruments； to enforce the decisions；
and five to remind everybody in an eloquent manner of the
existence of a God； what will be the result upon the general
power of production； and what is the 〃natural rate of wages〃 of
the meditative； muscular； and oracular labourers？
Leaving these questions to be discussed； or waived； at their
pleasure； by Mr Ricardo's followers； I proceed to state the main
facts bearing on that probable future of the labouring classes
which has been partially glanced at by Mr Mill。 That chapter and
the preceding one differ from the common writing of political
economists in admitting some value in the aspect of nature； and
expressing regret at the probability of the destruction of
natural scenery。 But we may spare our anxieties； on this head。
Men can neither drink steam； nor eat stone。 The maximum of
population on a given space of land implies also the relative
maximum of edible vegetable； whether for men or cattle； it
implies a maximum of pure air； and of pure water。 Therefore： a
maximum of wood； to transmute the air； and of sloping ground；
protected by herbage from the extreme heat of the sun； to feed
the streams。 All England may； if it so chooses； become one
manufacturing town； and Englishmen； sacrificing themselves to the
good of general humanity； may live diminished lives in the midst
of noise； of darkness； and of deadly exhalation。 But the world
cannot become a factory； nor a mine。 No amount of ingenuity will
ever make iron digestible by the million； nor substitute hydrogen
for wine。 Neither the avarice nor the rage of men will ever feed
them； and however the apple of Sodom and the grape of Gomorrah
may spread their table for a time with dainties of ashes； and
nectar of asps； so long as men live by bread； the far away
valleys must laugh as they are covered with the gold of God； and
the shouts of His happy multitudes ring round the wine…press and
the well。
Nor need our more sentimental economists fear the too wide
spread of the formalities of a mechanical agriculture。 The
presence of a wise population implies the search for felicity as
well as for food； nor can any population reach its maximum but
through that wisdom which 〃rejoices〃 in the habitable parts of
the earth。 The desert has its appointed place and work； the
eternal engine； whose beam is the earth's axle； whose beat is its
year； and whose breath is its ocean； will still divide
imperiously to their desert kingdoms； bound with unfurrowable
rock； and swept by unarrested sand； their powers of frost and
fire： but the zones and lands between； habitable； will be
loveliest in habitation。 The desire of the heart is also the
light of the eyes。 No scene is continually and untiringly loved；
but one rich by joyful human labour； smooth in field； fair in
garden； full in orchard； trim； sweet； and frequent in homestead；
ringing with voices of vivid existence。 No air is sweet that is
silent； it is only sweet when full of low currents of under
sound…triplets of birds； and murmur and chirp of insects； and
deep…toned words of men； and wayward trebles of childhood。 As the
art of life is learned； it will be found at last that all lovely
things are also necessary： the wild flower by the wayside； as
well as the tended corn； and the wild birds and creatures of the
by every wondrous word and unknowable work of God。 Happy； in that
he knew them not； nor did his fathers know； and that round about
him reaches yet into the infinite； the amazement of his
existence。
Note； finally； that all effectual advancement towards this
true felicity of the human race must be by individual； not public
effort。 Certain general measures may aid； certain revised laws
guide； such advancement； but the measure and law which have first
to be determined are those of each man's home。 We continually
hear it recommended by sagacious people to complaining neighbours
（usually less well placed in the world than themselves）； that
they should 〃remain content in the station in which Providence
has placed them。〃 There are perhaps some circumstances of life in
which Providence has no intention that people should be content。
Nevertheless； the maxim is on the whole a good one； but it is
peculiarly for home use。 That your neighbour should； or should
not； remain content with his position； is not your business； but
it is very much your business to remain content with your own。
What is chiefly needed in England at the present day is to show
the quantity of pleasure that may be obtained by a consistent；
well…administered competence； modest； confessed； and laborious。
We need examples of people who； leaving Heaven to decide whether
they are to rise in the world； decide for them selves that they
will be happy in it； and have resolved to seek…not greater
wealth； but simpler pleasure； not higher fortune； but deeper
felicity； making the first of possessions； self…possession； and
honouring themselves in the harmless pride and calm pursuits of