[ '78 ] 



The very parifh from which I write, in fpke tff 

 my reprefentation, is of this folly a cafe in point $ 

 though in one inftance of fuch illnefs, it faved by 

 fuch a club nearly twenty pounds. What an univer- 

 fal fubfeription, from every perfon at a certain age 

 to thofe clubs, confide! ing how very large a portion 

 would from fituation draw no benefit from the col- 

 lection, would do, may be at lead conjectured from 

 a little pamphlet, publifhed fome time ago, by a 

 Mr. P ugh, of 'Wellingborough >, Northamptonfhire ; 

 who declares, that from the data afforded him in 

 that parifh, fuch a- general fubfeription would not 

 only anfwer the prefent poor-rates, but even pro- 

 bably afford an overplus for the afiiftance of poor 

 families burthened with children, too young to earn 

 any maintenance, and requiring all the care and 

 time of the mother who fhould contribute towards 

 it. Inftead therefore of ftatute upon flatute, of 

 perpetually devifing new laws and new fchemes, — a 

 very melancholy fign, — furely it would be but fair 

 to try firft whether the inefficacy complained of 

 does not chiefly originate, and is not certainly in- 

 creafed, by the old laws we poffefs (preventive of 

 every degree of vice, by reftraining every place en- 

 couraging it) being never firmly and generally ex- 

 ecuted ; nor to the good habits and cuftoms that 

 flight ftill be found openly and liberally fupported 



and 



