Biographical Memoir of Count Rurnford. 217 



His plan, therefore, embraced physics and morals. He pon- 

 dered it long, proportioned all its parts to each other, and to 

 the laws and resources of the country ; prepared with vigour 

 and in secret the details of its execution, and, when all was 

 ready, directed it with firmness. 



On the 1st of January 1790 all the beggars were led to the 

 magistrates, and it was signified to them that they would find 

 ia the new workhouse whatever was necessary for their subsist- 

 ence, but henceforth they were prohibited from begging. 



In fact, there were provided for them materials and tools, 

 large and well heated rooms, wholesome and cheap food. Their 

 work was paid by the piece. At first it was imperfect, but they 

 soon improved. The workmen were classed according to their 

 progress, which also facilitated the arrangement of the products. 

 Their employment Avas to produce clothing for the troops. At 

 the end of some time there was an overplus, which was sold to 

 the public, and even to other countries, so that ultimately there 

 was an annual profit of upwards of 10,000 florins secured to 

 the state. 



The whole establishment was, at the commencement, amply 

 supported by voluntary subscription, in which all classes of the 

 inhabitants were made to feel interested, and which was much 

 inferior to the sum of the alms that were formerly given. 



And to change in this manner the deplorable condition of a 

 degraded class, nothing was required but the habit of order and 

 judicious management. Those wild and distrustful beings 

 yielded to the dispositions that were manifested to promote their 

 wellbeing. It was, says Count Rumford himself, by rendering 

 them happy, that they were taught to become virtuous. Not 

 even a child received a blow. Still more, the children were at 

 first paid merely for looking on the work of their companions, 

 and they soon came weeping to implore that they also should 

 be set to work. Some praises properly bestovved, some hand- 

 somer dresses, recompensed good conduct, and excited emula- 

 tion. The spirit of industry was roused by self-love, for the 

 springs of the human heart are the same in the most opposite 

 conditions, and the equivalent of a cordon of nobility exists 

 even in the lowest grades of society. 



