Relief of the Poor at HincJdey. 



228 

 To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 



SIR, 



YOUR humane and intelligent cor- 

 respondent at Evesham having, 

 in Aonr last Number, noticed, with ap- 

 probation, the plan adopted at Hinekley 

 for the emplojment of the poor, I am 

 induced to think a more particular state- 

 ment would {^ratify him, and, perhaps, 

 some others of your numerous readers. 



The trade of this town chiefly de- 

 pending upon the American market, 

 (which was so glutted last autumn, 

 that scarcely an order, or remittance, 

 has been since received,) it became im- 

 prudent, and, in many instances, im- 

 possible, for the manufacturers to con- 

 tinue even partial employment to one 

 half of their workmen. At first, tiie 

 guardians of the poor purchased mate- 

 rials, and employed the dischai-f^rd 

 hands ; but the nimibcr increased so 

 rapidly, that they found themselves un- 

 able to discharge the increased duties 

 of their oflicc. 



A meeting was then called of the 

 persons paying parish-rates, to take into 

 consideradon the most eligible mode of 

 relieving the existing distresses; and it 

 was proposed to raise » fund by loan, 

 for the piuchasc of materials and the 

 payment of wages. This plan was una- 

 nimously approved. 



A committee was then appointed, 

 and a subscription entered into, which 

 soon amounted to between three and 

 Jour thousand jiounds. 



There was not any resolution adopted 

 to sell the goods at prime cost; but it 

 v/as generally understood that the stock 

 should not be sold for less, except in 

 the event of a reduction in the raw 

 material : such a reduction was antici- 

 pated, and the parish became responsible 

 to the subsciibers for any ultimate loss. 

 The committee saw the necessity of 

 distributing employment only in such 

 proportion as was necessary to j)revent 

 extreme distress, viz. to a single woman, 

 five shillings a-week ; to a single man, 

 six shillings a-weck ; to a man and his 

 •wife, seven shillings, with a small addi- 

 tion for every child. 'I'lie committee 

 soon had more than six Imndicd woik- 

 jucn on their books, with only a distant 

 prospect of selling any part of the stock ; 

 and, in consequence, were reluctantly 

 compelled to refuse an extension to the 

 number exnploycd: this threw many 

 persons immediately upon the parish 

 rates. A plan was tlien arranged for 

 their support, and individuals voluu- 



[Oct. 1, 



tarily undertook to examine their claims, 

 and apportion relief, by a scale agreed 

 upon at a vestry meeting ; keeping them, 

 as a distinct class, from the general 

 paupers. The amount was fixed as for 

 persons entirely unenijilojed ; and, if 

 any were partially labouring, they were 

 required to give an account of their 

 earnings. If one shilling was all that 

 was procured, no reduction took place; 

 but, if more than one shilling, an abate- 

 ment of sixpence for every shilling so 

 arising. 



The scale of relief is, — for a single 

 woman, two shillings and sixpence; for 

 a man, three shillings; a man and his 

 wife, four shillings and sixpence, and 

 one shilling foi cacii child. This may 

 appear low ; but it was necessary to 

 guard against habils of idleness, espe- 

 cially as the harvest was just com- 

 mencing. 



The committee (of which every sub- 

 scriber is a member) has already far 

 exceeded the amount of the subscrip- 

 tion, in furnishing labour: they have 

 been induced to do this, by a donatioa 

 of 2001. from the Association in London 

 for the Kelicf of the JMaunfactming and 

 Labouring Poor. No sales have yet 

 been cfrectcd ; for, though guaranteed 

 by the parish from loss, still they are 

 unwilling to injure the regular inanu- 

 facducr, by entering the market at very 

 reduced prices, and ))relt'r waiting a 

 few months longer for the return of 

 their capital. V\ hatever may be the 

 ri-si;il, in a pecuniary point of view, 

 the siib.-cribers feel well satisfied in a 

 moral one. Though nearly 3000 (al- 

 mosl half the popHlalioi)) are now re- 

 lieved from the parish rales, or working 

 fond, the town is as quiet as at any 

 time within the last twenty years, nor 

 is indi\i(Iual distress very prominent. 

 No doubt considerable privations are 

 endured. 



If you think this communication de- 

 serving a place in your valuable miscel- 

 lany, the insertion of it will oblige 



A CONSTANT KliADER". 



Hinckley; Sept. 2, 1816. 



P.S. — Since tlie above was written, the 

 London A.ssociation has made a fuither 

 liberal grant of sixly pounds a-week for 

 eight weeks. 



T'o the Editor of the 3Io7ithly Magazine. 



SIR, 



SN a late Number of the Monthly 

 Magazine, a correspondent enquires 

 where a person of liinited incom« can 



lU'S 



