[ 110 ] 



Twenty Minutes Ohjervations &c. 



THE rapid and enormous increafe of the poor's 

 rate in this kingdom, during the laft few years, 

 has for fome time created in the landed intereft the 

 moft general and juft apprehenfionsj many plans 

 have been fuggefted, and many fchemes devifed, to 

 remedy or diminifh the grievance, but hitherto with 

 little or no efFed; nor ought it perhaps to be ex- 

 peded that the burthen fhould ever be totally re- 

 moved, although it may be very much alleviated. 

 At any rate, it is an object of the moft ferious con- 

 cern, that its increafe fhould, if polTible, be prevented, 

 and its prelTure, as far as can be, equalized. To 

 this end there is reafon to hope that the bills lately 

 framed by Mr. Gilbert may a good deal contribute; 

 but is there not a pofiibility of doing fomething 

 more ? Thofe bills are ratl^er calculated to corred 

 the evil; may we not in fome meafure, by anticipa- 

 tion, prevent it? — In this perfuafion, I fhall venture 

 to offer a few obfervations. — I believe it may be 

 afierted with juftice, that moft of the diftrefles of 

 ^he poor in this country are more artificial than real 

 diftrefles; they do not depend fo much on any diffi- 

 culty in procuring the necefiaries, or even the con- 

 veniencies of life, as upon a total want of oeconomy 

 amongft the poor, in the management of what they 



earn; 



