Biographical Memoir of Count Rumford. 35 



streets, divided the stations among each other, sold or inherited them 

 as one does a house or a farm. Sometimes they were even seen to 

 fight for the possession of a post or church-door ; and, when oppor- 

 tunity presented, they did not refuse to commit the most revolting 

 crimes. 



It were easy to find by calculation that the regular support of this 

 mass of wretches would cost the public less than the pretended 

 charities which they extorted from it. Count Rumford had no dif- 

 ficulty in perceiving this; but he saw, at the same time, that to extir- 

 pate mendicity, something more was necessary than to prohibit it ; 

 that but half of the work would be done by arresting the mendicants 

 and feeding them, unless their habits were changed, unless they were 

 formed to industry and order, and unless there vi^ere inspired into the 

 people a horror of idleness, and of the lamentable consequences 

 which it induces. 



His plan, therefore embraced physics and morals. He pondered 

 it long, proportioned all its parts to each other, and to the laws and 

 resources of the country ; prepared with vigor and in secret tlie de- 

 tails of its execution, and, when all was ready, directed it with firm- 

 ness. 



On the first of January, 1 790, all the beggars were led to the mag- 

 istrates, and it was signified to them that they would find in the new 

 workhouse whatever was necessary for their subsistence, but hence- 

 forth they were prohibited from begging. 



In fact, there were provided for them materials and tools, large 

 and well heated rooms, wholesome and cheap food. Their work was 

 paid by the piece. At first it was imperfect, but they soon improv- 

 ed. The workmen were classed according to their progress, which 

 also facilitated the arrangement of the products. Their employment 

 was to produce clothing for the troops. At the end of some time 

 there was an overplus, which was sold to the public, and even to oth- 

 er countries, so that ultimately there was an annual profit of upwards 

 of ten thousand florins secured to the state. 



The whole establishment was, at the commencement, amply sup- 

 ported by voluntary subscription, in which all classes of the inhabi- 

 tants were made to feel interested, and which was much inferior to 

 the sum of the alms that were formerly given. 



And to change in this manner the deplorable condition of a degra- 

 ded class, nothing was required but the habit of order and judicious 

 management. Those wild and distrustful beings yielded to the dis- 



