I 230 1 



to extend the advantages of this inftitution, as a 

 matter of right, to thofe induflrious poor perfons 

 who are opprefled by large families, to the father- 

 lefs, the widow, and the orphan.* 



For I find upon enquiry amongft- fome of the 

 moft induftrious of the poor, that it is almoft im- 

 poffible for a man to maintain a wife and three chil- 

 .dren, under nine years of age, upon fix fhillings per 

 week, the wife's time being fp much taken up in the 

 neceflary duties of her family, that ihe can, under 

 fuch circunaflances, earn nothing; with two children 

 under that age they acknowledge they can do tole- 

 rably well, and after they are nine years of age they 

 can, if in health, nearly earn their own maintenance; 

 every common labourer or manufacturer then, earn- 

 ing Qo more than fix ihillings per week, having 

 three children under nine years of age, ihall receive 

 from the fund one fhilling and fix- pence per week 

 until the eldeft of thole children fliall attain the age 

 of nine years, or until one of them fiiall happen to 



* For there is no reafon why the terrors of poverty fliQuld damp 

 the inftijiftive parental joy, which ever accompanies the birth of a 

 helplefs innocent; why hunger ftiould aggravate the affliftion of the 

 widow i or why contempt and indigence fliouid necelTarily embitter 

 the irreparable lofs of afFeftionate parents : no, let us mitigate thefe 

 unavoidable calamities, as far as lies in our power, by a fnigal, an 

 unhumiliating, and a determinate provifion. 



diCi 



