i^gi. on poors raits, 4| 



man, fliould teach him, in similar fcases, to listen to 

 the critical improvements with diffidence and cau- 

 tion, however plausible. It is practice, only, which caa 

 ascertain what will be hurtful or beneficial in regula- 

 tions that are to affect the community at large. 



In regard to the case in question, it has been found, 

 that, to guard against abuses in the execution of the 

 poor laws, has been impofsible ; though, to protect the 

 rights of individuals, in a country where ideas of li- 

 berty prevail, it has been necefsary to multiply re- 

 gulations to such a degree as to occasion an intricacy 

 that cannot be unravelled. There are about twenty 

 statutes, and 2000 cases, regulating the various me- 

 ^ods by which a legal establifliment can be obtained 

 in a parifti *, and many of these cases, and others, re- 

 specting the poors laws, are so nearly alike, that it is 

 often the subject of a tedious law suit to discover 

 whether or not a particular regulation applies to 

 -the subject in dispute. 



In proportion as our rights come to be more 

 accurately defined, this clafs of evils must be augmen- 

 ted ; so that it is easy to see that a time will arrive, 

 when this unweildy fabric, from a vain attempt to 

 render it perfect, must become a source of intole- 

 rable opprefsion. It begins to be already felt ; but 

 the evils, as yet experienced, are nothing to what is 

 to be expected. 



Once more, then, I repeat it, Scotland may deem 



herself singularly happy in being freed from this 



grievous political malady ; and, being free, it becomes 



the duty of every well-wiiher of his country to watch 



• For thit fact I am indebted tO a tensible •Htw i« the St JamfeJ't 

 •Chiookh for June 16. lygz. 



