252 Public Establishment for 



ance for those who, from age, sickness, or other bodily 

 infirmities, were unable by their industry to provide for 

 themselves. A general system of police was likewise 

 necessary among this class of miserable beings, as well 

 as measures for reclaiming them, and making them useful 

 subjects. 



The police of the poor, as also the distribution of 

 alms, and all the economical details of the institution, 

 were put under the direction of a committee, composed 

 of the president of the council of war, the president 

 of the council of supreme regency, the president of 

 the ecclesiastical council, and the president of the 

 chamber of finances ; and, to assist them in this work, 

 each of the above-mentioned presidents was accompa- 

 nied by one counsellor of his respective department, at 

 his own choice, who was present at all the meetings of 

 the committee, and who performed the more laborious 

 parts of the business. This committee, which was called 

 The Ar men- Ins tituts -Deputation, had convenient apart- 

 ments fitted up for its meetings ; a secretary, clerk, and 

 accountant were appointed to it; and the ordinary 

 guards of the police were put under its immediate 

 direction. 



Neither the presidents nor the counsellors belonging 

 to this committee received any pay or emolument what- 

 ever for this service, but took upon themselves this 

 trouble merely from motives of humanity and a generous 

 desire to promote the public good ; and even the secre- 

 tary and other inferior officers employed in this business 

 received their pay immediately from the treasury, or 

 from some other department, and not from the funds 

 destined for the relief of the poor. And, in order most 

 effectually to remove all suspicion with respect to the 



