Allen on Home Colonisation. 327 



plan ; but he does not extend it so far as we have done : he 

 would have them merely agricultural colonies. To these the 

 objections we have noticed apply, but not to the colonies we 

 have recommended, in which all the colonists required would 

 be supplied by their own labour ; and all their labour pro- 

 duced would be consumed among themselves. Differing, 

 however, as we do in this single point from Mr. Allen, we 

 most strongly recommend his pamphlet to our readers. It 

 exhibits all that calm, deeply-seated, and practical benevolence 

 for which the Society of Friends (to which he belongs) are so 

 honourably distinguished. We thoroughly believe him when 

 he assures us that the degradation in character and condition 

 of the peasantry in Ireland *, and in some of the counties of 

 England, has for years anxiously occupied his attention. We 

 give such extracts as will enable our readers to form a judg- 

 ment of the nature of the plan he recommends ; but we again 

 strongly urge them to peruse carefully the pamphlet itself. 



" The objects to which our efforts must be directed are these : 



" 1. To wean the poor from a dependence upon the parish, and what 

 is falsely called charity, and to put them in the way of providing for all 

 their wants by their own industry. 



" 2. To enable them to procure an education for their children, in moral, 

 religious, and industrious habits. 



" 3. To raise such a moral and independent feeling in the poor, as may 

 induce them to consider it a disgrace, and shame, to receive alms from the 

 parish, or to engage in marriage, until they shall have made a reasonable 

 provision for a family. 



" Every poor family residing in the country should be furnished with a 

 small piece of ground, and instructed in the means of cultivating it to the 

 greatest advantage. The loan of a small capital will be essential, and must 

 be provided by a voluntary association of benevolent persons in any given 

 district. 



" As decency and moral habits are greatly influenced by circumstances 

 and situation, eyery poor family should be furnished with a cottage, con- 

 taining a sufficient number of sleeping apartments to admit of the necessary 

 separation of male and female children : there should be a good supply of 

 water, and every facility given to insure cleanliness. 



" A Society should be formed in the district, comprehending a space 

 round some central and populous village, included in a circle made by a 

 radius of two miles, which should be called the Benevolent Society of 



: a visiting committee should be formed of persons, of all religious 



denominations, who may be found willing to exert themselves in so great 

 an object. This committee should subdivide their district into convenient 

 portions, and appoint sub-committees to each : the assistance of females on 

 these committees has been found of the utmost importance. 



* In the introduction he informs "us that he had just prepared his plan 

 for the press, when he was induced to visit Ireland, where he found the 

 poor deeper in misery and destitution, far below any thing he had witnessed' 

 among the poor in any other part of Europe. 



Y 4 



