Ch. X. Of the Direct'mi of our Charity. 367 



of their habits and dispositions; checks the hopes 

 of clamorous and obtrusive poverty, M^ith no other 

 recommendation but rags ; and encourages, w^ith 

 adequate relief, the silent and retiring sufferer, 

 labouring under unmerited difficulties. This mode 

 of exercising our charity presents a very different 

 picture from that of any other ; and its contrast 

 with the common mode of parish relief cannot be 

 better described than in the words of Mr. Towns- 

 end, in the conclusion of his admirable disserta- 

 tion on the Poor-Laws. " Nothing in nature can 

 " be more disgusting than a parish pay-table, at- 

 " tendant upon which, in the same objects of 

 " misery, are too often found combined, snutf, 

 " gin, rags, vermin, insolence, and abusive lan- 

 " guage ; nor in nature can any thing be more 

 " beautiful than the mild complacency of bene- 

 " volence hastening to the humble cottage to re- 

 " lieve the wants of industry and virtue, to feed 

 " the hungry, to clothe the naked, and to soothe 

 " the sorrows of the widow with her tender or- 

 " phans ; nothing can be more pleasing, unless it 

 " be their sparkling eyes, their bursting tears, 

 " and their uplifted hands, the artless expressions 

 " of unfeigned gratitude for unexpected favours^ 

 " Such scenes will frequently occur, whenever 

 " men shall have power to dispose of their own 

 " property." 



I conceive it to be almost impossible that any 

 person could be much engaged in such scenes 

 without daily making advances in virtue. No 

 e.xcrcise of our affections can have a more evident 



