352 Fundamental Principles of 



sary of the district, out of the funds of the institution ; 

 in an allowance of bread only ; in a present of certain 

 articles of clothing, which will be specified ; or, per- 

 haps, merely in an order for being furnished with food, 

 clothing, or fuel, from the public kitchens or maga- 

 zines of the establishment, at the prime cost of those 

 articles, as an assistance to the petitioner, and to 

 prevent the necessity of his becoming a burden on the 

 public. 



The manner last mentioned of assisting the poor — 

 that of furnishing them with the necessaries of life at 

 lower prices than those at which they are sold in the 

 public markets — is a matter of such importance that 

 I shall take occasion to treat of it more fully here- 

 after. 



With respect to the petitions presented to the com- 

 mittee : whatever be the assistance demanded, the peti- 

 tion received ought to be accompanied by a duplicate, 

 to the end that, the decision of the committee being 

 entered upon the duplicate as well as upon the original, 

 and the duplicate sent back to the commissary of the 

 district, the business may be finished with the least 

 trouble possible, and even without the necessity of any 

 more formal order relative to the matter being given by 

 the committee. 



I have already mentioned the great utility oi printed 

 forms for petitions, returns, etc., in carrying on the 

 business of an establishment for the poor, and I would 

 again most earnestly recommend the general use of 

 them. Those who have not had experience in such 

 matters can have no idea how much they contribute to 

 preserve order, and facilitate and expedite business. 

 To the general introduction of them in the manage- 



