1800. ] 
For the Monthly Magazine. 
On the RELIEF of the POOR in sEASONS Of 
PARTICULAR DISTRESS. 
HAVE frequently heard it fug- 
gefted, that the moft eligible mode 
of relieving the induftrious poor*, when 
their diltrefs arifes from an extraordinary 
advance in the price of neceffaries, would 
be by levying an extra or additional pa- 
rochial affeffment, fairly competent to that 
relief, during fuch emergencies. But this 
idea appears to me pregnant with the moft 
ferious evils. 
In the firit place, it would gradually 
undermine and ultimately extinguifh that 
cardinal virtue by which this country is 
fo glorioufly diftinguifhed. Upon the 
fame principle, the like fund ought to be 
reforted to for the fupport of all our hof- 
pitals and other charitable inftitutions. 
To heal the fick, to fet the fra&ured limb, 
to pour the firft inftruétion o’er the mind 
-——are not more neceflary and important 
aéts of charity, than to feed the hungry, 
or clothe the naked: but, would this 
forced !oan, this extorted relief, wrung in 
ten thoufand inftances from the hand ot 
poverty itfelf, deferve the appellation, or 
be entitled to the glorious rewards, of cha- 
rity? Would it operate, as that god- 
like virtue does, to expand the heart; 
to harmonize the affeétions ; to huma- 
nize the temper; and‘ to unite man to 
his fellow man by that three-fold cord, 
that facred band’ of union, which confti- 
tutes the grand cement of fociety? It 
may be faid, that opulent and benevolent 
individuals would ftill have it in their 
power to contribute in aid of this fund by 
their voluntary donations. But when 
once this principle was reforted to, a thou- 
fand plaufible pretences would operate to 
difcourage or to difincline individuals 
from contributing thofe auxiliary aids. 
In the fecond place, this mode of rai- 
fing a fund for fuch purpofe, would be 
compelling the poor to contribute for the 
reliet of the poorer. It would be a dread- 
ful aggravation of the evils which already 
exit from the. enormous amount of the 
parochial affeffments. It would be levied 
at thofe times when the preffure of this 
burthen is peculiarly felt; and when the 
poor’s rate, or the expence of relieving the 
parochial poor, is unavoidably and very 
confiderably increafed, without this addi- 
tional drain upon it. 
Finally, it would deftroy among the in- 
- duftrious poor themfelves a principle that 

*. *® T do not here mean the clafs of common 
pwith paupers. 
Montury Mac. No. 59. 
Mr. Wools on Relief of the Poor. 425 
is of infinite value and confequence to fo- 
ciety. ‘There yet remain among the las 
bering poor a numerous body who feel a 
laudable ambition to fupport their fami- 
lies, without having recourfe to parochial 
relief. In common feafons, their exer- 
tions are fuccefsful; and in times of fcar- 
city, with the aid of thefe benevolent qon- 
tributions, they contrive to fubfift alfo 
without giving up that independent {pirit, 
which prevents them from hanging upon 
the parochial fund. But if once this {pi- 
rit is broke in upon, and fubdued ; if ever 
they are compelled to clafs among the pa- 
rifh paupers ; all their relu€tance will va- | 
nith, and this ine@imable principle will . 
prefentiy difappear. 
There could not be a more tnjurious, 
impolitic, or ruinous meafure, than a law 
for the general, indifcriminate increafe of 
the parochial allowances. Already they 
deftroy that flimeulus to exertion which 
ought to exift among the laboring poor. 
And every increafe of thofe allowances 
would proportionably increafe this evil 
propenfity. The meafure I am oppofing, 
would operate precifely m the fame man- 
ner. It would take away that generous 
and animating motive which roufes the 
laboring peafant and artizan to active in- 
duftry ; and encourage that idlenefs, which, 
in this clafs, is invariably followed by the 
abandonment of all principle, and which 
leads direétly to profligacy, wretchedne(s, 
and ruin,” 
Shrewy/bury, J. WOO0De 
May 1, 1800. 
eg 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazines 
SIR, 
HAVE not at hand the obfervations 
HL oof Mr. Wakefield, referred to by a 
correfpondent in your laft number. With- 
out knowing, therefore, whether I have 
been anticipated, I take the liberty to 
trouble you with the following remark. 
The particie re in the Latin language has 
in feveral compounds the force fought fer 
in the verb reciludo. ‘Take for examples 
repono and recondo, 
Scientia condendi ac reponendi fructus. 
CICERO. 
Quasque reconaiderat, Stygiisque admoverat 
undis, 
Effodiuntur opes, irritamenta malorum. 
Ovip. 
Hence the crdinary ufe of reconditus, 
and the Engl th recondite. J am, Sir, 
yours, E. CoGan, 
May 5th, 1800, 
P. S. The force of particles in compofi- 
31 tien 

