which, it remains without motion, or action, and without benefit.

"Government," says the benevolent Hanway, "originates from the love of order.-Watered by Police "it grows up to maturity, and in course of time "spreads a luxuriant comfort and security.-Cut off "its branches, and the mere trunk, however strong "it may appear, can afford no shelter."

CHAP

CHAP. XIII.

Indigence a cause of the increase of Crimes.-The System with respect to the Casual Poor erroneous-The miserable condition of many who seek for an Asylum in the Metropolis.-The unhappy State of brokendown Families, who have seen better days.-The effect of Indigence on the Offspring of the Sufferers. -The discovery of the Children of unfortunate Families applying for Soup at the Establishments.The unparalleled Philanthropy of the opulent Part of the Community.-Estimate of the Private and Public Benevolence amounting to 850,000l. a year.-The noble Munificence of the Merchants. An Appeal to the exalted virtue of the Opulent, who have come forward in acts of Humanity.-The deplorable State of the Lower Ranks attributed to the present System of the Poor Laws.-An Institution to inquire into the Causes of Mendicity in the Metropolis explained.-The State of the Casual Poor resumed. The abuses and inefficacy of the Relief received.-A new System proposed with respect to them and Vagrants in the Metropolis. -Its Advantages explained.-The distinction between Poverty and Indigence explained.-The Poor divided into five Classes, with suggestions applicable to each.-The evil Examples in IVorkhouses a great cause of the Corruption of Morals.-The Statute of 43 Elizabeth_considered.—

The

The defective System of Execution exposed-Confirmed by the opinion of Lord Hale.—A partial Remedy proposed in respect to Vagrant and Casual Poor.-A Public Institution recommended for the care of this class of Poor, under the direction of three Commissioners.-Their Functions explained.-A Proposition for raising a Fund of 52301. from the Parishes for the support of the Institution, and to relieve them from the Cafual Poor.-Reasons why the Experiment should be tried.-The assistance of Sir Frederick Eden, and other Gentlemen of talents, who have turned their thoughts to the Poor, attainable. The advantages which would result to the Community, from the united Efforts of men of investigation and judgment, previous to any final Legislative Regulation.-Conclusion.

be

INDIGENCE, in the present state of Society, may considered as a principal cause of the increase of Crimes.

The System which prevails in the Metropolis, with respect to these unfortunate individuals who are denominated the Casual Poor, will be found on minute inquiry to be none of the least considerable of the causes, which lead to the corruption of morals, and to the multiplication of minor offences in particular,

The

The number of persons, who with their families, find their way to the Metropolis, from the most remote quarters of Great Britain and Ireland, is inconceivable. In hopes of finding employment they incur an immediate and constant expence, for lodging and subsistence, until at length their little all is in the Pawnbrokers' shops, or sold to raise money for the necessaries of life. If they have been virtuously brought up in the country, despondency seizes upon their minds, in consequence of the disappointments and hardships, their adventurous or incautious conduct has doomed them to suffer; which, as it applies to the most deserving of this class, who will not steal and are ashamed to beg, often exceeds any thing that the human mind can conceive.

Their Parochial Settlements are either at a great distance, or perhaps as natives of Scotland or Ireland, they are without even this resource, The expence of removing, as the Law directs, is too serious a charge to be incurred by the parish where accident has fixed them. They are treated with neglect and contumely by the Parochial Officers; and even occasionally driven to despair. Willing to labour, but bereft of any channel or medium through which the means of subsistence might be procured. It is assigned to no person to hear their mournful tale, who might be able to place them in a situation, where they might gain a subsistence; and under such circumstances it is much to be feared, that not a few of them either actually perish for want, or contract diseases

A A

diseases which ultimately terminate in premature death.

Such is frequently the situation of the more decent and virtuous class of the labouring people, who come to seek employment in the Metropolis. The more profligate who pursue the same course have generally other resources. Where honest labour is not to be procured, they connect themselves with those who live by petty or more atrocious offences, and contribute in no small degree to the increase of the general phalanx of delinquents. The young female part of such families too often become prostitutes, while the males pursue acts of depredation upon the Public, by availing themselves of the various resources, which the defects in the Police system allow.

In addition to the families who thus resort to the Capital, young men fréquently wander up who have become liable to the penalties of the laws, in conscquence of being unable to find security for the support of a natural Child in their own parish; or who perhaps have incurred the punishment due to some other offence.-Without money, without recommendations, and bereft of friends, and perhaps afraid of being known, they resort to low public houses, where they meet with thieves and rogues, who not unfrequently in this way recruit their gangs, as often as the arm of Justice diminishes their numbers.

But it is to be lamented, that in contemplating the mass of indigence, which, in its various ramifications, produces