1809. | 
buting allowances, receiving and remov- 
ing paupers, &c. these might be fultilied 
by them as at present, according to re- 
gulations settled at the Committee Meet- 
ings.) But however humanely the help- 
less poor be treated, in their infirmities, 
under the existing laws and general con- 
duct of parishes, the more worthy part 
of them, reduced tothisdependentstate by 
misfortunes more than faults, cannot feel 
themselvesas parish paupers, butin a most 
pitiable condition, and it wouldgreatly ag- 
gravate these sensations were the parish 
badges, as by law directed, to be imposed 
onthem., A power has been, therefore, 
given by a later law to magistrates when 
persuaded of the personal merits of such 
deserving poor, to excuse them from be- 
ing so notoriously degraded: but this 
power of discriminating, even if we can 
suppose that partiality would never ope- 
rate in its application, has rendered the 
duty of overseers, if inclined to fulfl 
this law, as. they are in strictness: 
obliged under a penalty to do, a more 
invidious task, and hence the imposition 
of badges on parish paupers. has been 
very generally discontinued. In a late 
intended bill it was proposed, that per- 
sons becoming chargeable to their parishes 
through idleness and misconduct be badg- 
ed, whilst on parish relief, on the upper 
garment, with the words, Criminal Poor: 
but, leaving such to be properly punished 
as rogues and vagabonds, let us see if-it 
Le not practicable to discriminate, with- 
out any risque of partiality or injustice, 
and wise to denote publicly the provi- 
dent from the improvident poor, those 
who, with the means in their power, neg- 
lect to lay up some provision for them- 
selves against the time when thei health 
and strength shall fail them, and_ those. 
who fulal this obligation to themselves 
and families. The meansto be relied on 
for the attainment of. these views, are 
comprehended in a general establishment 
of friendly societies and parochial funds, 
combining together under one or both 
denominations, by present monthly con- 
tributions, future relief for members sub- 
scribing thereto, not only temporary al- 
lowances in casual sicknesses, but per- 
manent stipends in old age, or preima- 
ture impotency: but though such  socie- 
ties and funds may be established in all 
parishes or districts, the poor must re- 
main ‘at liberty, whether to become sub- 
scrihers to them, or not. These engage- 
ments must be on their part voluntary, 
and no otherwise to be influenced than 
effectual Means of providing for the Poor. 
making and collecting the rates, distri-. 
445 
by. offering them present and future ad- 
vantages, more than equal to their im- 
mediate pecuniary sacrifices, which, te 
fulfil the inteation effectually, cannot be 
less trom each member than 5d. or 6d. 
per week. Those among the poor who 
may be desirous of becoming subscribers 
to these funds, but who, though sober 
and laborious, are unable to make full 
payments thereto, upon satisfying the 
committee of such inability and laudable 
conduct, should be entitled to receive one 
moiety of their contribution from their re- 
spective parishes, and not on that ace 
count be deemed parish paupers. ‘The 
members of these societies will rarely be 
inmates of the district manufactory, only 
so in cases of non-employment, which 
would, to men of correct conduct, rarely 
happen; but they might have occasion, 
in cases of large families, or unhealthy 
wives, to send one or more able children 
thither, in which case, instead of apply- 
ing to the parish officers, they might state 
their difficulties to the stewards of their 
respective clubs, who, after having given 
notice thereof to the parish committee, 
might, with their approbation, be autho-" 
rized to give an order forthe reception of 
such member’s child, or children, into the 
district manufactory; and all inmates by 
such orders might be classed in the house 
aS meritorious or provident poor; and, 
as such, be allowed preference in accom- 
modations and employments, and be al-_ 
lowed « larger proportion of their earn-' 
ings for encouragement. The younger 
ones too may be taught reading, writing, 
and arithmetic, whereas all other inmates 
shonld be deemed and treated as parish 
paupers; be instructed in reading only; 
and be without exception badyed as the 
law directs, or at least wear a discrimi- 
nating habit: nor should these impeovi- 
dent poor in their respective parishes, 
whilst on parish relief, either occasional 
or permanent, be excused from wearing 
the parish-badye. The provident poor, 
non-parishioners. where resident, with” 
the indulgencies proposed at the district 
manulactory for themselves and families, — 
would rarely incur the liability of re= 
moval, under the acts of settlement, to. 
their proper parishes; but to protect. 
them more effectually from such possible - 
“inconveniences, every member of any. 
provident club or society as before men. - 
tioned, having been resident in any pas - 
rish for the space of three years, not eon=~ 
victed of any crime punishable with de-* 
gradation, and who has been a member ” 
of such society for two years, and made” 
. good 
