Many thousands are in want of common necessaries; hundreds of thousands are in want of common comforts, sir."

Scrooge-"Are there no prisons?". "Plenty of prisons..."

Scrooge-"And the Union workhouses." . "Are they still in operation?". "Both very busy, sir..."

"Those who are badly off must go there."

"Many can't go there; and many would rather die."

Scrooge- "If they would rather die," "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population."