5c3 on poors rates: J^iy Yl'- 



any rise in the price of provisions. To what then- is- 

 so truly alarming an increase of the public burdens 

 to be attributed ? Clearly to those abuses in paro- 

 chial management, that flow from the grofs absurdity 

 of our system of poor laws, which give, or at least al- 

 low, to evils of this complexion, so generative a facul- 

 ty, that here is a rise of L. 276, in three years, appa- 

 rently for no better reason, than there having been a 

 similar rise of L. 287, in three preceding years : 

 That abuse was submitted to, and therefore produced 

 the new one ; and if this is allowed, doubtlefs the 

 next period will experience a yet greater one. Whe- 

 ther paupers receive such sums, or whether parifh of- 

 ficers eat, drink, or otherwise absorb them, is not 

 for me to enquire ; the evil is the same in either 

 case, and will equally generate increase. 



' But what are we to think of a legislature and 

 system of government which tolerate such abuses ? 

 which, by giving to parifh officers, and justices of the- 

 peace, (and seemingly in this case to parifh officers- 

 alone,) an unlimited power of taxation, allows, and, 

 sanctions such abominable tyranny as this account 

 exhibits ! Doubtlefs there are little farmers in this 

 parifh, who are heavily and cruelly burdened, either 

 to support sturdy beggars, who can, but will not 

 work, and who are richer in fact than themselves ; or 

 to contribute to the illicit profits of men, who thrive- 

 by abuses thus tolerated by the legislature of a coun- 

 try that calls itself free.' A. Y. 

 Additional observations hy the Editor. 

 The amazing amount of the poors rates in Eng- 

 land, and their continued rise, afford the most seri- 

 ous alarm to every thinking person in that king- 



