IjS On the ^cotijh Poor's Laiai, Nor. 



I would therefore proceed, in tliis cafe, with a delicate hand, 

 only allowing tlie plan to take effect for the fupport of the moft 

 deferving and indigent objedls, always endeavouring * to draw 

 the proper line of diftindlion betwixt calloufnefs of heart, and 

 indifference about the concerns of the poor, on the one hand, ' 

 and too liberal provifion for their fupport, on the other. I know 

 fomcthing of an inilance of a poor deranged perfon being main- 

 tained in this way ; and I would only recommend fimilar relief 

 to be extended to fuch as are in abfolute neceflity, being unable 

 cither to work or beg. Of fuch objedls of diilrefs in country 

 parilhr'S, the number, I dare fay, will not be found much to ex- 

 ceed the average of one in two hundred of the whole population. 

 "Where there are no rates or affcffments in ufe, thefe deftitute 

 beings are almoll wholly fupported by a few individuals, whofe 

 benevolence and charity are excited in a much higher degree than 

 that of their perhaps more wealthy neighbours. By thefe means, 

 the burden is partially born, and material injuftice takes place 

 in the community. The mifer continues to hoard, and the ambi- 

 tious man to aggrandize, whilft the man of humanity and charity 

 })ays for all the three ; for, in the maintenance of the objects I 

 at prefent allude to, the Sunday colledions, or any other com- 

 mon parifli funds, go but a fliort way. For fuch, therefore, le- 

 gal aflcflments fliould be levied, and applied with all oeconomy 

 and good will. No doubt it has a very unfortunate effe£l to in- 

 dulge the people in the opinion, that their pariihes are to provide 

 for them as foon as they are unable futliciently to provide for 

 themfelves. Yet it is cruel and unneceffary to inculcate the be- 

 lief, that, in cafes of great infirmity and extreme old age, ac- 

 companied by unavoidable poverty, no extraordinary public fup- 

 port is to be bellowed, but that, excepting the fcanty allowance 

 from common parilh funds, dependence can be placed alone on 

 the precarious charity of unfeeling relatives and accidental neigh- 

 bours. This is adding to the bittcrnefs of misfortune's cup, and 

 induces the poor man to believe that he has worn out his ftrength, 

 i;nd tlie vigour of his days, in the fervice of an ungrateful com- 

 munity. 



In the part of the country with which I am mod acquainted, 

 many of the heritors refide little on their eftates, and fome of 

 thofe that do, as well as the majority of the forrner, are extremely 

 inattentive to the concerns of the poor ; for it rarely happens that 

 n d'.fpofitlc^n to do good, increafes along with the means to grati- 

 fy it. On the contr.iry, opulence and avarice frequently meet in 

 the fame individual, and benevolence gradually difappears as richer 

 uccumulate. Further, the country gentlemen are often not very 

 exemplary in their attendance on public worfnip. Sorae rarely 



attend 



