1 705

articles now go through five or six hands, each of whom takes

For remarks,&c.

a profit on the commodity, as it passes him. Another material advantage would arise to the community, if persons of fortune would establish, and become members, of * Friendly Societies;“ which are now, by a late act of the legis- lature, so much encouraged, by the protection of their property, and of those who become members. I do not mean, that in such societies the periodical deposit to the fund should be equal, but that every person, according to his income, should contri-

8 earns one shilling and four pence per day, on an average, and be

bute to this resource for old age. If a poor labouring man

instructed to pay one shilling a month, a gentleman of[ 5oo per

annum, in my opinion, should give twenty shillings; if a ma- 5 nufacturing hand earns three shillings a day, he should pay two shillings a month, and his master an adequate sum, according to the extent of his trade. In those proportions, a fund might be raised in every parish, I am persuaded, sufficient to issue necessary comforts, to the old

and infirm, who contributed, when their strength was in its vi-

gour. A distinction would also thus be made, between the idle,

pilfering sot, who has passed his life in indolence, and petty theft,

and the industrious hard-working man; who now, too often,

are put together in the confines of the same workhouse.

The spirit of the poor laws certainly is, that those who live upon the parish, should contribute all in their power to that parish, in forming articles essentially necessary for the welfare of the state. But even this wise, and salutary measure is now almost lost. We seldom see any parish(except it associates with others in erecting a large workhouse), that employs its poor in the ma- nufacturing of hemp, or flax; commodities which are to be V applied to so many useful purposes, either for the nation, or individual. To instruct the poor, in their early ages, to habits V of industry, and good behaviour, is the first and most essential duty of all ranks. The institution, adopted by a most respect- able nobleman,(Earl Harcourt), who resides in an adjoining

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