332 
and aged. The only advance hitherto 
made is, that all perfons agree in the fim- 
ple and abttraét conclufion, that fome- 
thing muft be done. Ages have rolled 
over ages, and every expedient has fo 
completely mifcarried, that the dithcul- 
ties are greatly encreafed by the labour 
that is now required to repair the mif- 
chiefs, and to reitore things to the ftate 
they were in when the tafk was firft en- 
tered upon. In England, at leaft as 
far as pecuniary exertions could be ne- 
ceflary, they have been cheerfully given, 
and both the legiflature and people have 
patiently watched the operations of this 
kind of aid. Difcuffions of the moft cri- 
tical and judicious ability have rivetted 
the mind to the fubjeét during the long 
interval, and the refult of the whole in- 
quiry feems to be, that a great proportion 
of all claffes are now determined to agi- 
tate the pra¢tical and important queition, 
What it is that ought to be, and can be 
done? | 
A fubjeci of greater magnitude cannot 
be fuggefted, and even the mode of ma- 
naging the inquiry is of material confe- 
quence. To determine without a recapitu- 
Jation of all the afcertained faéts, will be 
to flight the advantages of experience, 
and to pofipone the decifion, until the 
mind becomes coniufed amidii a variety 
of confiderations, will perhaps be to fol- 
low an error already too prevalent, and 
to adhere to a fyftematic courfe of evils 
which can hardly be aggravated by any 
fort of miftake. 
It mutt afford general fatisfaétion to 
fee the matter taken up by perfons whofe 
talents and refpeét oy will give 
weight to their recommendations; but it 
is one of thofe cafes which call for the 
energies of the whole population, and 
aie be aided by the moft dilgent and 
xtenfive relearch. A few auxiliary 
bitelbans may alfo be agitated with very 
confiderable advantaye—as, Whether the 
wealth and happinefs of fociety be en-. 
creafed by the poverty and wretchednefs 
of its members? Whether the principle 
of Juttice may not be too much relaxed, 
and the principle of charity too exten- 
fively adopted? and, Whether in the 
foundation. of previous inftitutions, fufh- 
eient care has been taken to difiinguith 
between natural and focial poverty? 
Upon a careful inveftigation of thofe 
points, the fuccefs of any new fyftem will 
in a great degree depend ; for it is im- 
poilible that in the prefent improved 
ftate of fociety any eftabliflament can he 
of long duration, unlefs it be formed upon 
On Mr. Whitbread’s new Parochial Biil. 
[May 1, 
an equitable bafis; and if it be fo formed, 
it cai hardly fail to promote the general 
good, unlefs there be fome radical defect 
in the order and cortftirution of things, 
which renders human diigence and in- 
genuity unavailing. 
The nature of the theories hitherto 
acted upon may be examined in detail 
by tracing the effects of the numerous 
iahienitanis that they have given birth to. 
Whatever fpecial faéts it may be necef- 
fary to afcertain relative to each indivi- 
dually, it would be neceffary with regard. 
to them all, to inquire into their objects, 
their means, their management, and their 
progrefs ; whence it would be eafy to de- 
termine the exact value of the comfort 
difper.fed, and the proportion it bears to 
the {ums expended in procuring it. Such 
a fubject is fuited to the community at 
large. Whether infiuenced by the calcu- 
lating. fpirit of commerce, the fpecula- 
tive fpirit of philofophy, or the frank and 
generous {pirit of man—all muft confider 
themfelves fomehow or other interefted 
in the fund of national comfort, and be 
defirous of knowing whether the fums 
employed in its purchafe have been fo 
applied, as to have procured as much as 
if they had been direéted any other way. 
With a defign to place the fubject in 
as clear a point of view as poliible, every 
degree of information fhould be laid before 
the public that can be obtained relative 
to the different benevolent eftablifhments, 
and the moft impartial publicity given 
to every fact calculated to folve the dif- 
ficult problem—How can the general 
welfare be increafed, without the com- 
fort of individuals being facrificed ? 
—= Se 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
AM fully aware that the odds are 
ereatly againft me, in contending in 
your Magazine with your corvefpondent, 
Common Senfe ;” but there are fome 
pofitions in his letter on Mr. Whitbread’s 
plan, (fee Monthly Magazine for April, 
1807, page 219,) which, I think, are 
fraught with fo much mifchief, that, not- 
withftanding the popularity of his opi- 
nions, and the efteem in which he is held 
by the greater number of your readers, 
I mutt beg your permutfion to fiate a few 
objections to him. 
The introductory obfervation of your 
correfpondent I pafs over as irrelevant to 
the fubjeét: for-whatever light he may 
have derived from Mr. Whitbread’s 
{peech, he certainly has not reflected a 
fingle ray of it, by his letter to‘ you; Lf 
mutt 
