The Labour Question. 301 



largest commons for them to build cottages upon, and the most 

 woods for them to obtain their supplies of fuel from.^ In this 

 way relief, primarily intended for the wants of the impotent 

 poor, found its way into the pockets of rogues and vagabonds.^ 

 These ingenious but useless members of the community fre- 

 quently concealed themselves for some time in the village of 

 their selection, and when discovered claimed those rights of 

 settlement to which a continued residence for forty days 

 entitled them.^ To remedy this pernicious practice, the new- 

 comer was compelled to give notice in writing to the overseers 

 of the house of his abode and number of his family. This was 

 posted up on the next Lord's Day directly after divine service 

 in the parish church, and the forty days of settlement"^ com- 

 menced from the date of this publication. With such pre- 

 cautions for rendering public the circumstances of each fresh 

 stranger, no individual was likely to obtain legal rights of set- 

 tlement unless he seemed capable of maintaining himself and 

 his family without recourse to public assistance. The result 

 was that few paupers got far afield before they were forced 

 back to their native villages. Such stringent measures tended 

 to confine many a willing and competent member of society in 

 districts where a congested population gave no opportunities 

 for employment, while just beyond his reach might be some 

 manufacturing parish crying aloud for such assistance as his 

 sturdy arms and legs could well supply. Recourse, therefore, 

 was had to certificates, which were furnished by the parish 

 overseers to emigrants who were likely to be useful for labour 

 purposes in distant parishes.^ These documents seem to have 

 caused doubts in the official mind whether they constituted the 

 notice in writing required by the Act.^ At any rate, they were 



^ 13 and 14 Car. II. c. 12. 2 13 ^nd 14 Car. II. c. 12. 



3 1 Jac. II. c. 17. " 3 Will. c. 11. 



* 8 and 9 Will. c. 30. 



" The Act of 13 and 14 Car. II. was the foundation of the Law of 

 Settlement. The short clause in it empowering two Justices of the 

 Peace to remove any new comer from the parish, unless qualified for the 

 privileges of settlement, has, says Eden, occasioned more doubts and 

 difficulties in Westminster Hall, and has perhaps been more profitable 



