POOR LAWS. 
rents cannot maintain them, and all persons, 
married or single, who cannot maintain 
"themselves, and have no regular trade or 
calling ; and one justice may send persons 
to the house of correction who wilt not 
work ; and the parish officers, not having 
an excuse, to be allowed by two justices, 
shall meet once in a month, at least, in the 
church on a Sunday after evening service, 
to consult. P. 20s. R. distress, and, in 
default, commitment till paid. J. 2. A. 
the poor. Ap. sessions. Ibid. s. 1, 2, 6, 
11 . 
Overseers, within four days after the end 
of their year, shall account to two justices 
of all sums received and paid, and pay over 
what remains to their successors ; who, in 
default, may levy it by distress, under war- 
rant of two justices ; who, in default of dis- 
tress, may commit till paid. Ibid. s. 2, 4. 
Every parish officer neglecting to obey 
the regulations of the above act, P. 40s. to 
.5?. R. distress. J. 2. A. the poor. 17 
George II. c. 38, s. 14. 
Parish officer neglecting his duty, or dis- 
obeying the warrant of a justice, P. 40s. 
R. distress, and, in default, commitment 
not exceeding ten days. J 2. A. the poor. 
Ap. sessions, giving ten days notice. 33 
George III. c. 55, s. 1, 2. 
Rate. Parish officers shall raise by a rate 
on all the inhabitants, a stock of flax, &c. 
to set the pooi to work, and sums for the 
relief of the old and tame who are not able 
to work, and for apprenticing poor chil- 
dren. Rate to be made by consent of two 
justices. 43 Elizabeth c. 2, s. 1. 
Parish officers shall cause notice to be 
given publicly in the church, of such con- 
sent of the justices, the next Sunday ; and 
no rate shall b^ collected till such notice is 
is given. 17 George II. c. 3, s. 1. They 
shall permit the inhabitants to inspect such 
rates at all seasonable hours, on payment of 
Is. ; and give c(ipies on payment of 6d. for 
every twenty-four names. P. 20s. A. to 
to the party aggrieved. Ibid. s. 2, 3. 
Persons aggrieved by assessment, Ap. ses- 
sions. 17 George II. c. 38, s. 4. 
Goods of persons refusing to pay, may be 
distrained in auy part of the county ; and 
of any other county, on oath made before 
a justice of such other county, which oath 
shall be certified in the warrant. Ap. to 
the sessions of the county where the assess- 
ment was made. Ibid. • s. 7. 
If two justices perceive that the inhabi- 
tants of any parish are not able to levy mo- 
ney sufficient for the relief of the poor, they 
shall assess any neighbouring parishes within 
the hundred, in aid « and if the hundred 
shall not be of sufficient alrility, then any 
parishes within the county. 43 Elizabeth, 
c. 2, s. 3. 
Father, grandfather, mother, or grand- 
mother, of persons Wanting relief, shall main- 
tain them ; P. 20s. per month. R. distress, 
and, in default, commitment till paid. J. 2. 
A. the poor. Ibid. s. 2, 11. 
Fathers leaving their wives and children, 
and mothers their children, chargeable to 
the parish, having ability to maintain them, 
the parish officers, where such are left, may, 
by warrant of two justices, seize so much 
of the goods and chattels, or receive so 
much of the annual rent as such justices 
shall appoint, to reimburse the parish ; and 
such order to be confirmed by the sessions. 
5 George I. c. 8. s. 1. 
Parish officers, with consent of the lord 
of the manor, may, by order of two justices, 
erect cottages on waste lands, for the poor. 
43 Elizabeth, c. 2, s. 5. 
They may also, with consent of two jus- 
tices, set up trades, &c. for the employment 
of the poor. 3 Charles II. c. 4, s. 22. 
Relief. Parish officers, with consent of 
the majority of the inhabitants, may con- 
tract with any person for the lodging, keep, 
ing, maintaining, and employing the poor ; 
and persons refusing such relief are not en- 
titled to any other. 9 George I. c. 7, s. 4. 
The abominable oppression of this exe- 
crable law has, however, been removed 
by another humane statute of the present 
reign ; for by 36 George III. c. 25, s. 1, 2, 3, 
it is enacted, that it shall be lawful for the 
parish officers, with the approbation of one 
justice in writing, to relieve any industrious 
person at his own habitation, under certain 
circumstances of temporary illness or dis- 
tress ; and one justice may order such re- 
lief for any time not exceeding one month, 
provided the cause be written on the back 
of the order, which the parish officers are 
bound to obey ; and two justices may con- 
tinue such order from time to time, each 
period in succession not being more than 
one montli. 
A justice, or a medical man, or clergy- 
man, by warrant of a justice, may visit 
workhouses, and examine the state of them, 
and hear complaints, and certify to the ses- 
sions ; and if there should be any infectious 
disorder, the visiting justice shall apply to 
another justice, or any other person visit- 
ing, to two justices ; which two justices shall 
order such regulations as they deem peces- 
