1822. | 
security of the poor-rates, and the mo- 
derate rents to be applied in liquidating 
the principal and interest. 
Observation.—It is “presumed that 
pairs of such cottages might be erected 
for 1501. The cultivation of the gar- 
den would be a source of pride and 
profit, and its possession a security for 
good conduct. If ten per parish were 
erected throughout the United King- 
dom, they would place 150,000 fami- 
lies in a state of ease and independence, 
who are now miserable paupers. ‘Thus, 
one operation would remove half the 
present distresses of the people, relieve 
the workhouses, diminish the parish- 
rates, and arrest their further increase. 
2. And also, that commissioners of 
roads shall build cottages, with four 
rooms, on the site of every mile-stone, 
for the residence of labourers on the 
roads, each provided with at least a rood 
of garden, with right of common. 
Observation. — ‘This system would 
place in humble independance 30,000 
families, and relieve the parishes from 
60,000 poor, besides providing lodg- 
ings for 20,000 unmarried labourers, 
and improving, peopling, and beautify- 
ing our roads. 
3. To eatend the free and unrestrained 
market for labour, to equalize the rates, 
and remove the jealousies, disputes, and 
suits of parishes, it is proposed to enact, 
that the rates of all the parishes in every 
county shall be consolidated, and the 
funds appropriated, as required, by over- 
seers or vestries. 
Observation.—If it should be feared 
that the local expenditure drawn from a 
consolidated fund would be greater 
than if drawn from a local fund raised 
on those by whom it is expended, it 
should be recollected that we are 
choosing between evils ; and it is be- 
lieved that itis the illiberal expenditure 
of small districts which creates the ag- 
gravations of poverty, and is ils chief 
eause; while the fetters which the pa- 
rish jurisdictions impose on the poor 
are worth any problematical sacrifice 
of property, and the saving in disputes 
and removals would be equal to the 
difference in expense: at the same 
time that the extended market for la- 
bour, together with cottage erections, 
would probably diminish the poor one- 
half in number. 
4. To enable the artizan and labourer 
to carry his skill and industry to the 
most productive market, it 1s proposed to 
repeal all the laws of settlement ; and, at 
A new System of Poor-Laws proposed. 
291 
the same time, to enable the dispensers of 
public bounty to discriminate between 
industrious and idle travellers, it is pro- 
posed that every housekeeper, who has 
employed any artizan or labourer for 
three or more days, shall certify the sim- 
ple fuct, with the date and period; and 
this certificate shall serve as a protection 
within the county for three months; but, 
if the artizan or labourer purpose to 
leave the county, then such certificate 
shall be verified by the signature and seal 
of a justice of the peace. 
Observation.—One chief cause of 
poverty being the obstructions opposed 
to the migration of artizans and la- 
bourers, owing to the local incumbrance 
which they may create, the average of 
such incumbrances would be deter- 
mined by free migration, and all ine- 
qualities would be removed by the fund 
for the poor being a county instead of 
a parish fund; while, to guard against 
rogues and mere vagabonds, the certifi- 
cate would serve a sufficient general 
purpose; and, although one in a hun- 
dred might evade liberal provisions, 
yet liberal provisions ought not to be 
withheld on that account, and ninety- 
nine good men punished for the abuse 
made of them by one bad man. 
5. Let an asylum for the sick, help- 
less, and aged poor, be provided in every 
parish or hundred, and at this asylum 
let all travelling artizans and labourers, 
who have a certificate, be provided with 
lodging when he requires it, and with 
one good meal of soup or pottage within 
the day. 
Observation.—Such a provision would 
deliver from the cbligation of seeking 
permanent relief all who are pressed 
for a night’s lodging, or a nourishing 
meal ; and the certainty that such tem- 
porary aid could be obtained would 
encourage unemployed persons to per- 
severe in their search for employment, 
instead of throwing themselves at once 
on the parish-rates. 
6. Every such asylum should be pro- 
vided with a department for employing 
at low wages those who had obtained no 
certificate for three months, and whose 
certificate had been undersigned at more 
than thirty asylums for board and 
lodging. 
bservation.—The employment might 
consist in gardening for the éstablish- 
ment and for the out-poor, in build- 
ing and repaivring parish cottages, in 
making cloathing, &c. for the esta- 
blishment and out-poor, in repairing 
roads, 
