On the contrary, it must certainly be considered as an evil, and every institution that promotes it is essentially bad and impolitic.

But whether a government could with advantage to society actively interfere to repress inequality of fortunes may be a matter of doubt.

Perhaps the generous system of perfect liberty adopted by Dr Adam Smith and the French economists would be ill exchanged for any system of restraint.
Mr Godwin would perhaps say that the whole system of barter and exchange is a vile and iniquitous traffic.

If you would essentially relieve the poor man, you should take a part of his labour upon yourself, or give him your money, without exacting so severe a return for it.

In answer to the first method proposed, it may be observed, that even if the rich could be persuaded to assist the poor in this way, the value of the assistance would be comparatively trifling.