[ '77 ] 



offered for the eftablifhment of Friendly Societies. 

 The advantages of thefe are fo ftriking; the ceco- 

 nomy on which they are founded fo reputable to 

 the loweft clafs, from whom they remove the ftigma 

 — that, fure of a legal fupport from the parifh, they 

 never will provide againft their own misfortunes; 

 and fo beneficial to their fuperiors, by whom this 

 legal fupport muft be raifed, and who confequently 

 fhare in every fhilling, that the eftablifhment of thefe 

 clubs enables the members to be too independent 

 to take; that I have been aftonifhed at not finding 

 gentlemen in general, and every part of their fa- 

 milies, (making it even a conditional agreement at 

 the hiring of fervants, that they fhould be members 

 of fuch focieties) contributing by fubfcription to 

 their fupport ; but I have been more than afto- 

 nifhed at not finding any parifh contributing out of 

 the rates a trifle quarterly to the fupport of the moft 

 obvious fcheme, by which the maintenance of the 

 poor, a burthen fo juftly every where complained 

 of, can be reftrained: even where many of thole 

 focieties, fo truly honourable, have been diffolved 

 by the fudden and large calls of fick members ex- 

 haufting that flock; and confequently throwing 

 them again on the ungrateful and improvident pa- 

 rifh, that had neither generofity enough to ferve 

 them, nor prudence enough to ferve itfelf. 



The 



