ΟΡ PROPERTY.

you fhould fee a flock of pigeons in a field of

and what it liked, taking juft as much as it wanted, and no more) you fhould fee ninety-nine of them gathering all they got into a heap; referving nothing for themfelves, but the chaff and refufe; keeping this heap for one, and that the weakest perhaps and worst pigeon of the flock; fitting round, and look

ing on all the winter, whilft this one was devouring, throwing about and wafting it; and, if a pigeon more hardy or hungry than the reft, touched a grain of the hoard, all the others inftantly flying upon it and tearing it to pieces: if you fhould fee this, you would fee nothing more, than what is every day practised and established among men. Among men you fee the ninety and nine, toiling and fcraping together a heap of fuperfluities for one; getting nothing for themselves all the while, but a little of the coarseft of the provifion, which their own labour produces; and this one too, oftentimes the feebleft and worft of the whole fet, a child, a woman, a madman, or a fool; looking quietly on, while they see the fruits of all their labour spent or fpoiled; and if one of them take or touch a particle of it, the others join against him, and hang him for the theft.

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Upon these several accounts we may venture, with a few exceptions, to pronounce, that even the pooreft and the worst provided in countries where property and the confequences of property prevail, are in a better fituation, with respect to food, raiment, houses, and what are called the neceffaries of life, than any are, in places where most things remain in

common.

The balance, therefore, upon the whole, must preponderate in favour of property with manifeft and great excefs.

Inequality of property in the degree in which it cxifts in most countries of Europe, abftractedly confidered, is an evil: but it is an evil, which flows from those rules concerning the acquifition and difpofal of property, by which men are incited to industry, and by which the object of their induftry is rendered fecure and valuable. If there be any great inequality unconnected with this origin, it ought to be corrected.

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eftablishment of it, are driven oft-times by the fearcity of provifions to devour one another.

II. It preserves the produce of the earth to maturity.

We may judge what would be the effects of a community of right to the productions of the earth, from the trifling fpecimens which we fee of it at prefent. A cherry-tree in a hedge-row, nuts in a wood, the grafs of an unftinted pafture, are feldom of much advantage to any body, becaufe people do not wait for the proper feafon of reaping them. Corn, if any were fown, would never ripen; lambs and calves would never grow up to fheep and cows, because the first perfon that met with them would reflect, that he had better take them as they are, than leave them for another.

III. It prevents contefts.

War and wafte, tumult and confufion, must be unavoidable and eternal, where there is not enough for all, and where there are no rules to adjust the divifion.

IV. It improves the conveniency of living.

this.

This it does two ways. It enables mankind to divide themselves into diftinct profeffions; which is impoffible, unless a man can exchange the productions of his own art for what he wants from others; and exchange implies property. Much of the advantage of civilized over favage life depends upon When a man is from neceffity his own taylor, tent-maker, carpenter, cook, huntsman, and fisherman, it is not probable that he will be expert at any of his callings. Hence the rude habitations, furniture, clothing, and implements of favages; and the tedious length of time which all their operations require.

It likewife encourages thofe arts, by which the accommodations of human life are fupplied, by appropriating to the artist the benefit of his discoveries and improvements; without which appropriation, ingenuity will never be exerted with effect. G

Upon

Upon these several accounts we may venture, with a few exceptions, to pronounce, that even the pooreft and the worst provided in countries where property and the confequences of property prevail, are in a better fituation, with refpect to food, raiment, houses, and what are called the neceffaries of life, than any are, in places where most things remain in

common.

The balance, therefore, upon the whole, muft preponderate in favour of property with manifeft and great excefs.

Inequality of property in the degree in which it exifts in most countries of Europe, abftractedly confidered, is an evil: but it is an evil, which flows from thofe rules concerning the acquifition and difpofal of property, by which men are incited to industry, and by which the object of their industry is ren dered fecure and valuable. If there be any great inequality unconnected with this origin, it ought to be corrected.

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