Ch, xiii. Principles on this Subject. 417 



the society has to contend with in the accomplish- 

 ment of its object. But still it appears to be in 

 some danger of falling into the error before alluded 

 to, of drawing general inferences from insufficient 

 experience. Without adverting to the plans re- 

 specting cheaper foods and parish shops, recom- 

 mended by individuals, the beneficial effects of 

 which depend entirely upon their being peculiar 

 to certain families or certain parishes, and would 

 be lost if they were general, by lowering the wages 

 of labour ; I shall only notice one observation of a 

 more comprehensive nature, which occurs in the 

 preface to the second volume of the Reports. It 

 is there remarked that the experience of the so- 

 ciety seemed to warrant the conclusion, that the 

 best mode of relieving the poor was, by assisting 

 them at their own homes, and placing out their 

 children as soon as possible in different employ- 

 ments, apprenticeships, &c. I really believe that 

 this is the best, and it is certainly the most agree- 

 able, mode in which occasional and discriminate 

 assistance can be given. But it is evident that 

 it must be done with caution, and cannot be 

 adopted as a general principle, and made the 

 foundation of universal practice. It is open ex- 

 actly to the same objection as the cow system, 

 which has just been noticed, and that part of the 

 act of the 43d of Elizabeth, which directs the 

 overseers to employ and provide for the children 

 of the poor. A particular parish, where all the 

 children, as soon as they were of a proper age, 

 were taken from their parents and placed out in 



VOL. II. iC E 



