RELIEF OF THE POOR. 335 



government of the workhouse-system, must in a great 

 degree be applied to the annuity-system of relief, being to 

 afford the means of support according to the lowest scale, 

 we feel convinced not only that ample room will be left 

 for the exercise of private benevolence, but that in a coun- 

 try where the class of wealthy resident inhabitants forms 

 so small a proportion of the population, the privations of 

 the helpless, infirm and destitute will still be but little 

 removed from a state of want. 



XIII. Because, although we readily admit that there 

 are districts in Ireland in which voluntary societies might 

 be established, and which would afford ample means of 

 constructing a local administration for the management 

 of a poor's fund, still we feel satisfied that, in the present 

 state of society, and under the existing distribution of the 

 population, such a system cannot be either comprehen- 

 sive or uniform ; we are therefore of opinion that the 

 fund should be obtained by an assessment wholly, and 

 not partially, compulsory ; and that it will be most effi- 

 ciently managed by elective boards of guardians, as in 

 England, directed by responsible public officers, whose 

 proceedings shall be subjected to the strictest public 

 scrutiny. 



CHARLES VIGNOLES. 



J. W. L. NAPER. 



KILLEEN. 



