1822.] 
looking the losses and expenses. from 
want of skill or inclination to work; 
from theft, which is so prevalent: in 
workhouses that nothing concealable 
can be trusted out of sight for a, mo- 
ment; from the wear and tear; and 
frequently the malicious destruction, 
of the machinery; from the. trifling 
gratuities to the poor, and the more 
serious ones to the superintendants; 
for, when all these are taken into ac- 
count, it generally happens that the 
apparent gain is a real loss, and thus 
a serious evil is inflicted on an indus- 
trious community, without a shadow 
of benefit to the parish. 
Whoever wishes to be convinced of 
the effects of the above system should 
visit the out-pensioners of any large 
parish, particularly the females, where 
the eyil is more evident, because they 
are not able, like men, to change their 
employment: he will find a number of 
poor old women, who have been accus- 
tomed to gain their living by needle- 
work, and, on questioning them re- 
specting their earnings, he will hear 
the same complaint, almost invaria- 
bly, from each of them:—“We can 
earn but,a very few shillings per week, 
for scarcely any work is to be obtain- 
ed; and, when we do get a little, it is 
on condition of doing it almost for 
nothing, there are so many charitable 
institutions, schools, and workhouses, 
where needle-work is taken in at a 
low price, that in order to get it we 
are obliged. to, do it on the same terms ; 
and, instead of its affording a decent 
living as formerly, we should be forced 
to come into the house ourselves if the 
small weekly pension allowed by the 
parish were stopped.” Now what is 
the result of this state of things? The 
public, or more properly the con- 
sumers, obtain many articles much 
lower than the fair market price, or 
the price which will afford to those 
employed a bare. subsistence; but 
then they pay moro than the amount 
of this saying in the form of poor’s- 
rate, because this deficiency of price 
is made up to the. parties employed 
by a weekly pension in most cases, 
and in others by taking them into the 
house. Now, surely no one can doubt 
for a moment. but that it would be far 
more creditable to the public, and far 
more beneficial to the poor, if this dif- 
ference between the fair price and the 
workhouse price were paid as a remu- 
neration for labour done, or services 
performed, instead of being doled out 
in the degrading form of relief; and 
Economy of the Poor in Clerkenwell. 
487 
this object’ would be immediately 
effected by discontinuing the employ- 
ment of all persons who are supported 
by the public purse. By the adoption 
of this plan, many who are now in the 
workhouse would be enabled to sup- 
port themselves out of it; but a’ per- 
severance in the other will perpetuate 
and increase pauperism, by diminish 
ing the number of independant work- 
people, who become daily more and 
more unable to contend with work- 
house prices, by compelling the least 
skilful, the least prudent, and the most 
unfortunate, to join the already enor- 
mous mass of parish paupers. 
Since writing the above, the over- 
seers of Clerkenwell have published 
theiz annual statement for 1821-22, 
than which nothing can be more satis- 
factory to all who are not predeter- 
mined that nothing shall satisfy them. 
It appears that the expenditure during 
the year is 7741. less than the last, and 
1,648/. less than the year before the 
reforming overseers came into office. 
They have paid off seven more bonds, 
to the amount of 700/.: the only sum 
remaining unpaid is 634/. due on the 
county-rate ; this they neglected to pay 
from policy; and, as the county treasurer 
has since left the country in arrear, 
much credit is due to them for the 
attention with which they watch over 
the interests of the parish; for, as a 
proof, itwas not from want of means, 
they have 1,853/. in the master’s and 
treasurer’s hands, which leaves a ba- 
lance of 1,219/. in favour of the pa- 
rish, when all its debts are paid. 
April 7, 1822. SE. 
Annual Statement of the Recelpt and Expenditure 
of the Rates raised within the Parish of Clerken- 
well, in the County of Middlesea, commencing 
March 26, 1821, and ending March 25,1822; 
Population Return. : 
Number of Families A Call d Mcdap ahah jh 
Families employed in Agriculture ©.) 29°72 © | 
Do. inTrade.. . .. 6,953 
Do. notemployed in Trade or Agriculture 2,701 ie 
SB 542 
Sal Me 
+ 5,775 
9,838 
Income, ‘ 
In Treasurer’s Hands, picecbees 1821 
Master’s Hands, Lady-day, 182 7 
Rate-Book, ending Dad ysdayy dee 
a ee > 
For legitimate Children... . Oi. 
Of Relations of the Poor for Board and other 
Allowances : » ° . Fi 1 
On Acconut of Work done by thé Poor 3 99 
For Apprenticing Children 62 
tent £16,907 
Expenditure, , 
By Cash paid §. =o AETKY é #15,053 
By Balance in Treasnrer’s Hands - (1,753 
By Balance in Master’s Hands ‘ ° "101 
£16,907 
In 1820-21. In 1821-22, 
Average Numberin House 432 410 
Infant Poorat Enfield . 1 45 35 
Lunatics A t . 16 1b 
Total 493 460 
