2 2 On the Poor Laws of Scotland, Feb, 



manufacturer. As persons of this last description were gene- 

 rally of such depraved characters, jyid had contracted such ha- 

 bits of idleness, few were willin^i; to receive them into their 

 service ; therefore, by an act passed in 1672, cap, 16. work- 

 houses are ordained to be built for setting them to work. The 

 acts against vagrants, and, as thej are termed, * strong and 



* idle beggars,' are innumerable. And it is a curious histo- 

 rical fact, that, under this denomination, are comprehended, 

 by act 1579, 74, * Vagabond scliolars of the Universities of 



* St Andrew's, Aberdeen, and Glasgow, not licensed to ask 

 ' alms.' 



' But v.'hile the general spirit and tendency of all our statute- 

 laws, relating to the poor, set the strongest brand of infamy 

 upon idleness and profligacy, their humanity and liberality are 

 no less conspicuous. By act '^S?>S> ^* ^-* ^^^^ poor, who can- 

 not work, must be maintained by the parishes in which they 

 were born ; and when th^ place of their nativity is not known, 

 it is ordained, by acts ^66^,^ cap. 16, and 1698, cap. 21, that 

 the burden falls upon the parishes where they have had their 

 m.ost common resort for the three years preceding their being 

 apprehended, or their applying for the public charity. And 

 this period of three years residence seems now to be generally 

 adopted, as being that wiiich gives a title to parish mainte- 

 nance, whether the place of their nativity be known or not. 



Magistrates and Judges are authorised and ordained to take, 

 up a list of the poor in their several parishes, and to send 

 them to the parishes to which they belong, where houses 

 are to be provided for them, at the public expence, either se- 

 jiarately, or with others ; and for their maintenance, if cir- 

 cumstances should so require. The wl;ole inhabitants of the 

 parish, without exception, are appointed to be taxed or stent- 

 ed, according to their substance, for such weekly charge and 

 contribution as shall be thought sufficient to sustain the said 

 poor. Act 1579, cap. 74. This power of taxing and stent- 

 ing for the poor, is again, by act 1663, cap. i6. vested in the 

 heritors, with this addition, that the poor, who are able to 

 work, are to be offered to any within the parish, who will re- 

 ceive them, who are to have their work till they attain 30 

 years of age ; and failing of being bO provided for, they are to 

 be sent to the house of correction. Confirnied by act 1672, 

 cap. 18. 



Whether it was owinr to heritors becomincj remiss in stent- 

 ing themselves and their tenants for the maintenance of the 

 poor, or that any circumstance of public utility required it, 

 it is enjoined, by an act of Privy Council, nth Aug. 1692, 

 that the miniiiterii and elders of every p.irish shall be joined 



in 



