Divine law rewards the good (_i.e._, the obedient), punishes the bad (_i.e._, the disobedient), swiftly, surely, inexorably, no matter at what cost or pain; and human law must never temporize with evil, neither directly nor indirectly sanction it, or it loses its character of law and becomes simply blind or blundering expediency. In dealing with evils legislation is bound to investigate the causes of evil and attack them. Herein lies the superiority of legislative over individual effort--that it is able to accumulate that body of varied facts through which causes can be clearly ascertained and the attention of the community directed to them. It is only on this sound basis that wise legislative measures can be framed; only in this way that great questions of national health can be judiciously dealt with. Our English Government--in advance of every other nation--is learning to recognise this great function of legislation, and is gradually accumulating such a storehouse of facts as will render comprehensible measures of wise statesmanship possible. The mass of the people, however, must become sufficiently intelligent to support such measures. The difficulties which now stand in the way of health improvements from want of this intelligence, are inconceivable to those who have not considered the subject. No matter whether the health improvement suggested be great or small--whether it be the redemption of a lovely mountain river, whose sparkling waters have been turned into a black source of pollution, or a swamp that ought to be drained, or a poor cottage that needs the introduction of fresh air--there is always the same opposition and misconception. Thus a short-sighted view of expense will excite furious opposition from small ratepayers and ignorant farmers, even to the most necessary measures--measures which would rapidly diminish the poor-rates and increase the prosperity of a place. Incompetent men or poorly paid men are appointed to carry out Health Acts, or timid men, afraid to excite ill-will in the neighbourhood. The Acts thus become a dead-letter, or lawsuits are instituted against improvements, harassing and even destroying local health boards. Large proprietors enclose the commons, farm out their estates to agents, and thus neglect the duties which are inseparable from rights. The same ignorance which opposes such endless obstacles to the establishment of sanitary improvements often defeats the best laid plans when they are carried out, and proves, if proof were necessary, that a people must be educated to appreciate laws before the objects which those laws were intended to effect can be accomplished.