46« On the Zcottjl) Poor^s Lawsi Nor. 



carried into execution, and, perhaps, even permit alms to be given 

 to the vagrants at their own houfes. There oup^ht to be confta- 

 bles in each paridi, particularly let apart for this bufinefs ; and 

 thnfe, if well inilrudted and well paid, would quickly redrefs the 

 grievance. 



In the fouthern and weflern di drifts of Scotland, there are 

 frequent arrivals of whole families of beggars from Ireland, who 

 are genernlly allovv'ed to infell the country, and pillage the inha- 

 bitants without moleilation. This practice is of long Handing. I 

 have even heard it affirmed, that in the north of Ireland, it is no- 

 way uncommon with people of this profefhon to migrate, when 

 they have fmifhed the planting of their potatoes, on purpofe to 

 fubfill on the charity of their fellow-fubjcfts in Scotland, until 

 their potatoes be ripe, cr, as tliey tliemfelves exprefs it, until 

 their potatoes be fit for digging ; and about that feafon, indeed, 

 manv of them return, though a pretty good proportion may be 

 met with all the year round. 



I apprehend it is our own police, and not the police of Ireland, 

 \yhich we have to blame for this abufc. In this cafe, our negli- 

 gence and ill-judged tendernefs are injurious to the induftry and 

 good order of the Irilb themfelves, and afford encouragement to 

 their immorality and idlenefs. I am convinced, the better in- 

 formed people of Ireland would give us more thanks, were we 

 to put a total flop to the practice. Irilli labourers are extremely 

 uff ful in thefe parts of Scotland ; but, for Irifh beggars, there is 

 no occafion. 



But, to return to the fubje^l. — There is flill another method 

 of providing for the wants of the poor, which Agricola has been 

 fdent on, and which I do not at prefent remember to have feen 

 at any time taken notice of in your Magazine. What I mean is, 

 the eilablillAnent of Parochial Friendly Societies, confilling chief- 

 ly of handicraftfmcn and labourers. Thefe, it is very properly 

 obferved, * are founded on one of the wileil maxims in the code 

 of human policy, namely, that it is eafily in the power of the 

 inany to help the few. ' This is a fubjeiil: of fo much real utili- 

 ty and importance, that I will not pretend to fuppofe it has al- 

 ways efcaped your attention. A contribution of two or three 

 pence in the week can be /elt by no man who earns common 

 wages j but the relief that five, or poliibly feven Ihillings in the 

 week, affords to the fick, the lame and the aged, becomes very 

 comfortable. This fyflem, operating in favour of oeconomy and 

 induilry, is completely oppofite, in its effects, to rates and affeff- 

 rnents. The latter are only fubmitted to as a neceffary evil : the 

 former is the objc61: of choice and approbation, and fliould oe 

 cheriflied and fupported by every one wiihing well to his country. 



