330 Fundamental Principles of 



ing it systematically in a complete whole, I shall 

 endeavour briefly to resume the subject, and give the 

 result of all my inquiries relative to it in a more concise, 

 methodical, and useful form. And as from the expe- 

 rience I have had in providing for the wants of the 

 poor, and reclaiming the indolent and vicious to habits 

 of useful industry, I may venture to consider myself 

 authorized to speak with some degree of confidence 

 upon the subject ; instead of merely recapitulating what 

 has been said of the establishment for the poor at Mu- 

 nich (which would be at best but a tiresome repetition), 

 I shall now allow myself a greater range in these inves- 

 tigations, and shall give my opinions without restraint 

 which may come under consideration. And though 

 the system I shall propose is founded upon the suc- 

 cessful experiments made at Munich, as may be seen 

 by comparing it with the details of that establishment, 

 yet, as a difference in the local circumstances under 

 which an operation is performed must necessarily re- 

 quire certain modifications of the plan, I shall endeav- 

 our to take due notice of every modification which 

 may appear to me to be necessary.* 



Before I enter upon those details, it may be proper 

 to take a more extensive survey of the subject, and in- 

 vestigate the general and fundamental principles on 

 which an establishment for the relief of the poor in 

 every country ought to be founded. At the same time, 

 I shall consider the difficulties which are generally un- 



* The English reader is desired to bear in mind that the author of this Es- 

 say, though an Englishman, is resident in Germany ; and that his connections 

 with that country render it necessary for him to pay particular attention to its 

 circumstances in treating a subject which he is desirous of rendering generally 

 useful. There is still another reason which renders it necessary for him to 

 have continually in view, in this Treatise, the situation of the poor upon the 

 Continent, and that it is an engagement which he has laid himself under to write 

 upon that subject. 



