Scotland itself, in Glasgow or Edinburgh City, in their
dark lanes, hidden from all but the eye of God, and of rare
Benevolence the minister of God, there are scenes of woe and
destitution and desolation, such as, one may hope, the Sun never
saw before in the most barbarous regions where men dwelt.
Competent witnesses, the brave and humane Dr. Alison, who speaks
what he knows, whose noble Healing Art in his charitable hands
becomes once more a truly sacred one, report these things for us:
these things are not of this year, or of last year, have no
reference to our present state of commercial stagnation, but only
to the common state. Not in sharp fever-fits, but in chronic
gangrene of this kind is Scotland suffering. A Poor-law, any and
every Poor-law, it may be observed, is but a temporary measure;
an anodyne, not a remedy: Rich and Poor, when once the naked
facts of their condition have come into collision, cannot long
subsist together on a mere Poor-law. True enough:--and yet,
human beings cannot be left to die! Scotland too, till something
better come, must have a Poor-law, if Scotland is not to be a
byword among the nations. O, what a waste is there; of noble
and thrice-noble national virtues; peasant Stoicisms, Heroisms;
valiant manful habits, soul of a Nation's worth,--which all the
metal of Potosi cannot purchase back; to which the metal of
Potosi, and all you can buy with _it,_ is dross and dust!

Why dwell on this aspect of the matter? It is too indisputable,
not doubtful now to any one. Descend where you will into the
lower class, in Town or Country, by what avenue you will, by
Factory Inquiries, Agricultural Inquiries, by Revenue Returns, by
Mining-Labourer Committees, by opening your own eyes and looking,
the same sorrowful result discloses itself: you have to admit