"l?04< Oh tic Poor Laws of Scotland* \ 21 



Tvas meant for good, is productive of the very worst of evils 

 to the poor themselves. Pcrs- us. of that description, kiiow- 

 in^^ that the laws of the country have made ample provi^^iou 

 for them, v/hcii reduced by sickness, misfortunes, or arrived 

 at *.)L! age, never study to exert themselves to save a small 

 pittance of ^thcir earnings, to support th^m in these times of 

 •unavoidable distress, but squander (in riot and drunkenness) 

 everv sixpence that is not absolutely requisite for bare neces- 

 saries. It is said to be no uncommon thing, in many towns 

 in England, for tradesmen., after they have exceeded their 

 week's earnings in a tavern bill, to leave their best suit of 

 clothes in the hands of the landlord, as a security for their 

 debt, till the next meeting ; and v/liicii they never study to 

 redeem, but keep them as a perm^rtent fund cf credit. The 

 obvious consequence, thenefore, of too liberal a provision for 

 the poGr, must be to iiicrease their number -, and by Ivolding 

 ^ocit a tern pta: ion to the negl-ect of economy, indirectly to 

 corrupt their morals, by encouraging luxury, profligacy, and 

 every species of lov/ debauchery. 



In Scotland, except in towns, it m^y be truly said, that 

 there is no provision at all for the poor ; and yet there are few 

 or no countries where they a^e less numerous, and more hu- 

 manely attended to, Ihe general views of the Scottish le- 

 g?;->lature, respecting tlie poor, were most just and laudible^ 

 Their aim was to guard, as far as human foresight and pru- 

 dence -could do, against idleness and proiligacy, as being the 

 immediate harbingers of poverty, distress, and degradation. 

 Thej^ took care to make provision for the poor, but it was 

 only for the sober and industrious poor.; while they threaten- 

 ed, with their utmost vengeance, all vagabonds, vagrants, sor- 

 ners., sturdy beggars, and masterless persons. In our oldest 

 laws, upon this subject, it is expressly ordained, * That none 

 '* be permitted to beg betv.ixt the ages of 14 and 70, until, af- 

 ' ter examination, it be found that they are not able to gain a 

 ■^ liveliiiood otherways ; when they are to receive badges, to 

 ^ entitle them to beg \ and all others are to apply themselves 

 "* to work, under the pain of burning on the cheek, and ba- 



* nishment.' Acts, 1424, 1457, 1503. And by asubsequent 

 act, ift 1535, none were permitted to beg, except in rhe pa- 

 rish where they were born. And by act 1551, none are per- 

 mitted to be served with alms, except those who have badges. 

 To encourage the same idea of industry and frugality, by an 

 act in 1617, * indigent children going about idle, muy be com- 



* pelled to serve any of the king's subjects without wage-, til] 

 ' their age of 30 years.' And, by an act passed in 1663, va- 

 grants and sturdy beggars may be also compelled to serve any 



B 4 manufacturer. 



