242 Public Establishment for 



persevering their importunity, that it was almost impos- 

 sible to cross the streets without being attacked, and 

 absolutely forced to satisfy their clamorous demands. 

 And these beggars were in general by no means such 

 as from age or bodily infirmities were unable by their 

 labour to earn their livelihood ; but they were, for the 

 most part, stout, strong, healthy, sturdy beggars, who, 

 lost to every sense of shame, had embraced the profes- 

 sion from choice, not necessity, and who not unfrequently 

 added insolence and threats to their importunity, and 

 extorted that from fear which they could not procure by 

 their arts of dissimulation. 



These beggars not only infested all the streets, public 

 walks, and public places, but they even made a practice 

 of going into private houses, where they never failed to 

 steal whatever fell in their way, if they found the doors 

 open and nobody at home ; and the churches were so 

 full of them that it was quite a nuisance, and a public 

 scandal during the performance of divine service. Peo- 

 ple at their devotions were continually interrupted by 

 them, and were frequently obliged to satisfy their de- 

 mands, in order to be permitted to finish their prayers 

 in peace and quiet. 



In short, these detestable vermin swarmed everywhere ; 

 and not only their impudence and clamorous importu- 

 nity were without any bounds, but they had recourse to 

 the most diabolical arts and most horrid crimes, in the 

 prosecution of their infamous trade. Young children 

 were stolen from their parents by these wretches, and 

 their eyes put out or their tender limbs broken and dis- 

 torted, in order by exposing them thus maimed to excite 

 the pity and commiseration of the public ; and every 

 species of artifice was made use of to agitate the sensi- 



