3 1 8 Public Establishment for 



ings ; and being seldom at home in the day-time would 

 want little more than a place to sleep in ; so that the 

 expense of lodging might be greatly diminished. It is 

 evident, that all these savings together would operate 

 very powerfully to lessen the public expense for the 

 maintenance of the poor; and were proper measures 

 adopted, and pursued with care and perseverance, I am 

 persuaded the expense would at last be reduced to 

 little or nothing. 



With regard to lodgings for the poor, I am clearly 

 of opinion that it is in general best, particularly in great 

 towns, that these should be left for themselves to pro- 

 vide. This they certainly would like better than being 

 crowded together, and confined like prisoners in poor- 

 houses and hospitals ; and I really think the difference 

 in the expense would be inconsiderable ; and though 

 they might be less comfortably accommodated, yet the 

 inconvenience would be amply compensated by the 

 charms which liberty dispenses. 



In Munich, almost all the poor provide their own 

 lodgings ; and twice a year have certain allowances in 

 money to assist them in paying their rent. Many 

 among them who are single have, indeed, no lodgings 

 they can call their own. They go to certain public- 

 houses to sleep, where they are furnished with what is 

 called a bed, in a garret, for one kreutzer (equal to about 

 one-third of a penny) a night ; and for two kreutzers a 

 night they get a place in a tolerably good bed in a decent 

 room in a public-house of more repute. 



There are, however, among the poor many who are 

 infirm, and not able to shift for themselves in the public- 

 houses, and have not families or near relations to take 

 care of them. For these a particular arrangement has 



