Ch. vii. Of Poor- Laws, continued. 97 



have been found in London and other great towns, 

 who are deterred from going on the parish by the 

 crowded, unhealthy and horrible state of the work- 

 houses into which they would be received, if 

 indeed they could be received at all ; when it is 

 known that many parishes have been absolutely 

 unable to raise the necessary assessments, the 

 increase of which, according to the existing laws, 

 have tended only to bring more and more persons 

 upon the parish, and to make what was collected 

 less and less effectual ; and when it is known that 

 there has been an almost universal cry from one 

 end of the kingdom to the other for voluntary 

 charity to come in aid of the parochial assess- 

 ments. 



These strong indications of the inefficiency of 

 the poor-laws may be considered not only as 

 incontrovertible proofs of the fact that they do not 

 perform what they promise, but as affording the 

 strongest presumption that they cannot do it. The 

 best of all reasons for the breach of a promise, is, 

 the absolute impossibility of executing it ; indeed 

 it is the only plea that can ever be considered as 

 valid. But though it may be fairly pardonable 

 not to execute an impossibility, it is unpardonable 

 knowingly to promise one. And if it be still 

 thought advisable to act upon these statutes as far 

 as is practicable, it would surely be wise so to alter 

 the terms in which they are expressed, and the 

 general interpretation given to them, as not to 

 convey to the poor a false notion of what really is 

 within the range of practicability. 



VOL. II. II 



