wi 
1808 J. 
‘institute a compulsory colonization of this 
deseription; but surely every facility for 
yoluntary emigration ought first to be 
given by the magistrate, before these 
slave-auctions are naturalized among 
ourselves. Indentured bond-slaves are 
shipped from Liverpool and Glasgow, 
for Canada, amd independent North- 
America, in considerable numbers. The 
emigrants purchase their passage by bind- 
ing themselves apprentices for seven 
“years to the captain of the vessel which 
exports them. He sells them ou iis 
Janding, commonly with some prolonga- 
tion of the agreed term of servitude; 
advances of money or clothes being 
found necessary on landing, which the 
emigrant can no otherwise procure. 
This’ growth of men for exportation is 
‘not an irrational trade; but it has not 
hitherto been so superintended as to 
make all its parts unexceptionable. It 
deserves to be studied and refined into a 
virtuous occupation. How considerable 
is the unappropriated, unfilled, unoccu- 
pied portion of the earth; how desirable 
an undertaking it is to stock it witha 
British population, speaking our lan- 
guage, perpetuating our habits, consum- 
ing our manufactures, and imitating our 
laws! And yet, how slowly and auk- 
wardly we transplant colonists! Lord 
Selkirk is our only eminent colonizer. 
An early section of Mr. Colquhoun’s 
work, treats of instituting a board for 
general and intevnal police, a college of 
overseers, a concentration of church- 
wardens, a national vestry, a consolida- 
tion of workhouse contractors and far- 
mers of the poor, who, in lieu of the 
parishes, are to appoint local agents, 
This is one of the most questionable 
lans that can well be devised. In the 
ocal origin, and in the elective character 
of our immediate superintendants of the 
poor consists all their value. Ever since 
the vanity of government, and the busy- 
body spirit of idle gentlemen, has been 
attempting to superinduce new printed 
London-made regulations, instead of the 
established inferences of long experience; 
the management of the poor in the coun- 
try, bas been growing worse and worse. 
é 
. 
® 
The justice reads the bouks concerning 
pauperty; but he is too lazy himself to 
undertake the organization of pretended 
teform ; he is too neat to visit the hovel ; 
_too much engaged, in shooting or at 
dinner, to hear the objections of the 
neighbourhood ; every thing is jeft to his 
clerk, who has all the power and none of 
the benevolence of his master, aud who 
a ey 
_ Mr. Colguhoun’s Treatise on Indigence. 
Mii 
is indifferent alike to the accommodation 
of the poor, and to the alleviation of the 
farmer. Yet to these clerks of the ma- 
gistrates, (a set of men brought’ up to 
copy for attornies, but too deficient in 
skill, or industry, or character, to be em= 
ployed orindentured by the profession ,)— 
all the objects of national commiseration 
are thus remedilessly to be consigned. 
And for what? That ministers may have 
a paltry appointment or two more to 
give away in every parish, Benevolence 
itself is to be professed for a job; and a 
petty larceny of preferment, 1s to be ex- 
tracted froin the poor’s box. 
Mr.-Colquboun appears to haye loose 
moral ideas, and not a correct definite 
knowledge of what actions are injurious, 
and what are indifferent to thé interesis 
of society. He seems to have derived 
his notions of right and wrong, from a 
pernicious, methodistical proclamation, 
which is frequently read at the quarter- 
sessions, and which enumerates various 
actions, wholly invocent in themselves, 
as proper objects of the restraint of the 
magistrate, such as playing at cards, or 
skittles, on Sundays. Even in the eye of 
religion this is not blameworthy; for 
there is no scriptural prohivition ef sneh 
doings: but if if were, the antasonisia 
should be left to the pulpit; the mawis 
strate is only to repress actions, which 
interfere with the welfare of mankind in 
this world. 
One anticipates from Mr, Colquhoun’s 
projected inquisitorial board of general 
police a further diffusion of this captious 
superrogatory legislation, of this prudish 
political puritanism. For the sake of hav= 
ing something to do, for the sake of pree 
tending to be useful, these new polices 
mongers will pry into every peculiarity, 
and meddle with every amusement of the 
people. A vexatious magistrate is a 
public curse, Westminster eroans al- 
ready under the frivolous but teasing ime 
pertinence of pedantic superstitious diss 
Ciplinarians. The police of the metro- 
polis is already curious, insulting, gloomy, 
and oppressive enough: without employs 
ing new terrets to serab the remaining 
pleasures out of theirskulking-holes. Ras 
ther let us strike out of the penal code 
every action, which can sately be overs 
looked: disband a portion of our spies, 
aud confer sume leisure on our punishe 
ers. 
Some years ago, in a neighhourhood 
which the writer of these reflections ofien 
Visits, a zealous justice of the peace 
thought fit to inteygupt certain Sunday 
clubs, 
