Establishments for the Poor. 347 



ately by the hand of God himself, and of which the 

 neglect never goes unpunished. 



What I have said respecting the necessary qualifi- 

 cations of those employed in taking care of the poor, I 

 hope will not deter well-disposed persons, who are will- 

 ing to assist in so useful an undertaking, from coming 

 forward with propositions for the institution of public 

 establishments for that purpose, or from offering them- 

 selves candidates for employments in the management 

 of such establishments. The qualifications pointed 

 out integrity and a gentle and humane disposition, 

 honesty and a good heart are such as any one may 

 boldly lay claim to, without fear of being taxed with 

 vanity or ostentation. And if individuals in private 

 stations on any occasion are called upon to lay aside 

 their bashfulness and modest diffidence, and come 

 forward into public view, it must surely be when by 

 their exertions they can essentially contribute to pro- 

 mote measures which are calculated to increase the 

 happiness and prosperity of society. 



It is a vulgar saying that what is everybody's busi- 

 ness is nobody s business; and it is very certain that 

 many schemes evidently intended for the public good 

 have been neglected, merely because nobody could be 

 prevailed on to stand forward and be the first to adopt 

 them. This, doubtless, has been the case in regard to 

 many judicious and well-arranged proposals for provid- 

 ing for the poor, and will probably be so again. I shall 

 endeavour, however, to show that, though in under- 

 takings in which the general welfare of society is con- 

 cerned persons of all ranks and conditions are called 

 upon to give them their support, yet, in the introduction 

 of such measures as are here recommended, a scheme 



