Establishments for the Poor. 337 



with all its attendant evils, too much pains cannot be 

 taken to guard the public against a practice so fatal in 

 its consequences to society. 



All who are desirous of contributing to the relief of 

 the poor should be invited to send their charitable do- 

 nations to be distributed by those who, being at the 

 head of a public institution established for taking care 

 of the poor, must be supposed best acquainted with 

 their wants ; or if individuals should prefer distribut- 

 ing their own charities, they ought at least to take the 

 trouble to inquire after fit objects, and to apply their 

 donations in such a manner as not to counteract the 

 measures of a public and useful establishment. 



But before I enter farther into these details, it will 

 be necessary to determine the proper extent and limits 

 of an establishment for the poor ; and show how a town 

 or city ought to be divided in districts, in order to facili- 

 tate the purposes of such an institution. 



CHAPTER II. 



Of the Extent of an Establishment for the Poor. 

 Of the Division of a Town or City into Districts. 

 Of the Manner of carrying on the Business of a 

 Public Establishment for the Poor. Of the Neces- 

 sity of numbering all the Houses in a Town where 

 an Establishment for the Poor is formed. 



HOWEVER large a city may be, in which an es- 

 tablishment for the poor is to be formed, I am 

 clearly of opinion, that there should be but one estab- 



VOL. IV. 22 



