t804. On the Scot'Jh Poor^s Laivf. 457 



TO THE CONDUCTOR OF THE FARMF.r's MAGAZIME. 



Thoughts on the Pior Laivs^ and prcfcnt State of the Poor in 



Scotland. 

 Sir, 



In your Number for February laft, I met with a very rational 

 and intelligent letter upon the poor laws of Scotland, containing 

 a jull reprefentation of tlieir general efPecl: upon the manners of 

 the people, and drawing a Ifriking contrail betwixt the Scotch 

 and Englilh fyllems. 



This is no doubt a fubjeO: dlre<^ly connecled with agriculture ; 

 for, whatever tends to operate in a particular manner upon the 

 habits and opinions of the people, muil more or lefs affecl the 

 fuccefs of their common employments, and is therefore a proper 

 fubje6l of public difculhon. 



There is one fliort paragraph, however, of the communication 

 I allude to, which is not altogether in unifon with my ideas on 

 the fubje£l. That I may be the better underftood, I fliall copy 

 thepaiiage; and, fliould your correlpondent Agricola chance to 

 fee my obfervations in your Magazine, his good fenfe will proba- 

 bly prevail on him to allow that I am not entirely wrong. * Not- 

 withllanding that the latefl unrepealed a£ls of our Scots Parlia- 

 ments evidently authorife this ftenting or taxing, when abfolutely 

 neceflary ; yet the good fenfe of the nation feems to have de- 

 clined this pernicious fyftem, at leaft in country parifhes, and it 

 may be now faid to have nearly gone into defuctude, as a meafure 

 of common and ordinary regulation. There are only a very few 

 pariflies in Scotland, v/here this fyftem of taxation for the poor 

 prevails ; and thefe, to their i<\i\ experience, feel the bitter confe- 

 quences of it, in the increafe of their poor and poor's rates, and 

 all the confequent idlenefs, profligacy, and want of forefight and 

 frugality which muft ever accompany a too liberal provifion for 

 the poor in any parifli. ' 



I do not pretend to contradict any thing ftated as facl: by your 

 well informed correfpondent, but as little am I difpofed to a- 

 gree, that the principle or praftice of ftenting or taxing, ac- 

 cording to law, for the fupport of our moil indigent and infirm 

 fellow creatures, fliould be totally and perpetually laid afide, 

 even in country pariflies. 



I admit that the fyftem Is apt to lead to abufe, and, if unwa- 

 rily adminlftered, is fraught with pernicious confequences ; yet 

 I cannot avoid thinking that abufes may be guarded againft and 

 prevented. 



For what purpofe are men endued with difcretion, forefiglit 

 and prudence, if thefe qualities cannot be exerted in the nlaineft 

 affairs ^ 



G g4 I 



