Establishments for the Poor. 385 



produced by reducing their expenses for food to one 

 half what it was before, is easier to be conceived 

 than described. 



It would hardly fail to reanimate the courage of 

 the most desponding, to cheer their drooping spirits, 

 and stimulate them to fresh exertions in the pursuits 

 of useful industry. 



As the only effectual means of putting an end to 

 the sufferings of the poor is the introduction of a 

 spirit of industry among them, individuals should never 

 lose sight of that great and important object in all 

 the measures they may adopt to relieve them. But, 

 in endeavouring to make the poor industrious, the 

 utmost caution will be necessary to prevent their being 

 disgusted. Their minds are commonly in a state of 

 great irritation, the natural consequence of their suffer- 

 ings, and of their hopeless situation ; and their sus- 

 picions of everybody about them, and particularly 

 of those who are set over them, are so deeply rooted 

 that it is sometimes extremely difficult to soothe and 

 calm the agitation of their minds, and gain their con- 

 fidence. This can be soonest and most effectually 

 done by kind, gentle usage ; and I am clearly of opin- 

 ion that no other means should ever be used, except it 

 be with such hardened and incorrigible wretches as are 

 not to be reclaimed by any means, but of these I be- 

 lieve there are very few indeed. I have never yet 

 found one, in all the course of my experience in taking 

 care of the poor. 



We have sometimes been obliged to threaten the 

 most idle and profligate with the House of Correction ; 

 but these threats, added to the fear of being banished 

 from the House of Industry, which has always been 

 held up and considered as the greatest punishment, 



VOL. IV. 25 



