38 AGRICULTURAL SURVEY

to contribute to the ſupport of the married; this would in ſome degree check that diſpoſition to celibacy, which is but too apparent among the lower orders of mankind; and would add to the comfort of wedlock, and to the popula- tion of the realm,

A progreſſive, and too liberal increaſe of wages for daily labour, will leſſen the gzaztum furniſhed, and will only tend to increaſe the diſſolute manners of the poor; whereas, the plan eseted, by the author of the before-mentioned tract

would, Z ¿ ly think, be attended with the happieſt conſe- quences, both in an individual and a national ſenſe; and I hope E time is not far diſtant, when this inſtitution, or ſomething ſimilar thereunto, may commence, and the poor be extricated from their preſent dependance on the ſcanty bounty of a pariſh-officer; and entitled to claim a Es from a fund to which they have contributed, and to part of which they will have a legal and incontrovertible right.

The following are the leading features of Mr. PEw?s plan for the maintenance of the poor, as contained i Twenty Minutes Advice, before referred to, by which it is ſuppoſed that two millions per annum may be ſaved to the landed intereſt, and the poor better maintained than they now are:

Clauſe 1/2.‘That a proper officer be appointed for ſuch a extent of diſtrict as he may be ſuppoſed conveniently to ſu- perintend, to take a liſt of the names and places of abode of all males above the age of eighteen, and of all females above age of ſeventeen years, in the ſame manner as the liſt is e out for the militia. 2d. That every ſuch male pay two-pence per week, and every ſuch female three-farthings or one penny per week, into the hands of the above officer, for the purpoſes here-

LET Ide Ihe

;