登陆注册
5219900000029

第29章 The Growth of Pauperism(4)

Besides the enclosure of the common-fields,and the consolidation of farms,the enclosure of the commons and wastes likewise contributed to the growth of pauperism.Arthur Young and Eden thought that commons were a cause of idleness;the labourers wasted their time in gathering sticks or grubbing furze;their pigs and cows involved perpetual disputes with their neighbours,and were a constant temptation to trespass.No doubt this was true where the common was large enough to support the poor without other occupation.But on the other hand,where the labourer was regularly employed,a small common was a great extra resource to him.Arthur Young himself mentions a case at Snettisham in Norfolk,where,when the waste was enclosed,the common rights had been preserved,and as a result of this,combined with the increased labour due to the enclosure,the poor-rates fell from 1s.6d.to 1s.or 9d.,while population grew from five to six hundred.He goes on to say that enclosures had generally been carried out with an utter disregard for the rights of the poor.According to Thornton,the formation of parks contributed to the general result,but I know of no evidence on this head.A further cause of pauperism,when we come to the end of the century,was the great rise in prices as compared with that in wages.In 1782the price of corn was 53s.91/4d.,which was considerably higher than the average of the preceding fifty years;but in 1795it had risen to 81s.6d.,and in the next year it was even more.The corn average from 1795to 1805was 81s.21/2d.,and from 1805to 181597s.6d.In 1800and 1801it reached the maximum of 127s.and 128s.6d.,which brought us nearer to a famine than we had been since the fourteenth century.Many other articles had risen too.The taxes necessitated by the debt contracted during the American war raised the prices of soap,leather,candles,etc.,by one-fifth;butter and cheese rose 11/2d.a pound,meat 1d.And meanwhile,'what advance during the last ten or twelve years,'asks a writer in 1788,'has been made in the wages of labourers?Very little indeed;in their daily labour nothing at all,either in husbandry or manufactures.'Only by piece-work could they obtain more in nominal wages.Lastly,in the towns there had come the introduction of machinery,the final establishment of the cash-nexus,and the beginning of great fluctUations in trade.In the old days the employer maintained his men when out of work,now he repudiated the responsibility;and the decline in the position of the artisan could be attributed by contemporary writers to 'the iniquitous oppressive practices of those who have the direction of them.'

Such seem to have been the causes of the growth of pauperism and of the degradation of the labourer;the single effective remedy attempted was the workhouse test,and this was abandoned in 1782.But might not landlords and farmers have done something more to check the downward course?Were there no possible remedies?One cannot help thinking the problem might have been solved by common justice in the matter of enclosures.Those who were most in favour of enclosing for the sake of agricultural improvements,like Eden and Young,yet held that,in place of his common field and pasture rights,the labourer should have had an acre,or two acres,or half an acre,as the case might be,attached to his cottage.By such compensation much misery would have been prevented.A more difficult question is,whether anything could have been done directly to relieve the stress of high prices?Burke contended that nothing could be done,that there was no necessary connection between wages and prices;and he would have left the evil to natural remedies.And,as a matter of fact,in the North where there was no artificial interference with wages,the development of mining and manufactures saved the labourer.

同类推荐
  • 少林真传伤科秘方

    少林真传伤科秘方

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Shakespearian Sonnets

    The Shakespearian Sonnets

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • A Fair Penitent

    A Fair Penitent

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 晁氏客语

    晁氏客语

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Stories from Pentamerone

    Stories from Pentamerone

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 上清无上金元玉清金真飞元步虚玉章

    上清无上金元玉清金真飞元步虚玉章

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 这片工业区上的故事

    这片工业区上的故事

    大专毕业之后的阿文,跟随大专同学阿光、季欢的脚步,也踏入了沿海城市的某片工业区。有关打工仔的爱情、工作、生活,有关打工仔的迷茫、无奈、奋斗与努力,都做了细致入微的记录。故事里的这群人们从来没放弃对生活、对未来的希望,他们演活了平凡人的梦,他们可以活得很卑微,但是他们的故事可歌可泣......
  • 东瀛娱乐家

    东瀛娱乐家

    正文完结。新书《飞越泡沫时代》已发布。在九十年代的日娱圈,唱点喜欢的歌,做点想做的事,同合得来的人交朋友。总之,这是一个主角不断成长的故事。无非图个开心而已。
  • 冥报记

    冥报记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重阳节

    重阳节

    《中国文化知识读本:重阳节》旨在传播中华五千年传统文化,提高全民文化修养的大型知识读本。该书在深人挖掘和整理中华传统文化成果的同时,结合社会发展,注人了时代精神。书中优美生动的文字、简明通俗的语言、图文并茂的形式,把中国文化中的物态文化、制度文化、行为文化、精神文化等知识要点全面展示给读者。
  • 七年之痒(全新修订版)

    七年之痒(全新修订版)

    七年了,你痒了没有?热播剧《七年之痒》原著小说,“中国婚恋第一人”高克芳成名作。你和你的他是否正罹患以下症状:你在他眼前晃荡,他视而不见;他在你眼前晃荡,你心里骂他犯贱;脾气点火就着,恨不能—拍两散;到后来干脆省点儿力气,懒得生气;夜里失眠多梦,白天恍如做梦;他背着你睡,你看着天花板睡;你抱他他抱你,就像左手抱右手;有一天,你惊觉你和他有半个月甚至一个月没那个了,而此时,你的梦里、你的心里出现了另一张异性面孔……
  • 佛说弥勒下生成佛经-义净

    佛说弥勒下生成佛经-义净

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 无字宝箧经

    无字宝箧经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说持世陀罗尼经

    佛说持世陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 幻觉

    幻觉

    像是在未睡着之前的朦胧状态一般,我眨着眼眼睛,看见一个穿白色上衣的人靠在我床对面的墙上,这是一个不到十平米的小屋,我们之间的距高也只有一米,连着好几个月,他每天都会在我睡着时过来,翻开我的日记跟我一起回忆着,仿佛要在沉睡中的谜底中找到什么答案。我的小屋里进进出出着各种人,他们每次来了都会找很多麻烦,而这个白衣人却可以把他们都赶走,独自呆在这里跟我愉快的幻想着一些美好的事情,我不知這是不是因为我得罪了别人,或者说眼前这个人在他们心里跟我聊天更有意义一些,也许都有吧。……