“There are two extremes to which the systems of equality and inequality of distribution respectively tend, in as far as they involve restriction upon food by using only the produce of our own lands. Under the equality system, there would be an ultimate scramble for potatoes, or a worse diet still, if there were such a thing. Under our present system, the whole produce must in time be in the hands of the land-owners and tax-takers. Of course, we must change our system; not, however, by discouraging competition, or abolishing private property, but by removing all artificial restrictions upon food, and by regulating our numbers according to our resources. The way to bring down landlords’ rents, and to increase the profits of cultivators, is to procure food from some better source than our own inferior lands; and this I will prove to you by figures, the next time my steward brings me the accounts of my farms.” “O, that Moravian village!” exclaimed Letitia. “How often I think of the day we spent there! There was comfort, there was abundance, there was mutual assistance and agreement.” “Are you quite sure, Letitia, that there was nothing in the situation and peculiarities of the place which called off your attention from the principle on which the society was constituted? Remember the sunset, that evening; the golden light on the green hill side, above the rows of Moravian dwellings. Remember your admiration of the internal regulations,—of the women’s uniform, of the music in their church, of the simplicity of their way of life. Remember that all this has nothing to do with their principle of association.” “You must no more set the accomplishments of the Moravians to the account of community of goods, than the absurdities of the Shakers,” observed the earl. “That some sing beautifully, and others dance ridiculously, has nothing to do with the distribution of their wealth.” “No more than the ordinances of the Harmonites,” continued lord F——. “Mr. Owen’s followers very properly refuse to be mixed up with Moravians, Shakers, and Harmonites. Superstition has no part in their system, either under the form of ritual observance or celibacy. Yet they are apt to incorporate extraneous matters with their system, which serve as allurements to a greater extent, I doubt not, than they intend. They owe more converts than they suppose to their promises of mansions, pleasure-grounds, coffee, alabaster lamps, and so on. My wonder is that more are not enticed by descriptions like these, accompanied with promises of ease, and leisure, and many other things to be obtained in a short time, which the poor man now sees little chance of his children’s children ever enjoying.”