essays-1-第16章

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t　the　same　time　I　shall　consider　the　difficulties　which　are　generally　understood　to　be　inseparable　from　such　an　undertaking；　and　endeavour　to　show　that　they　are　by　no　means　insurmountable。

That　degree　of　poverty　which　involves　in　it　the　inability　to　procure　the　necessaries　of　life　without　the　charitable　assistance　of　the　Public；　is；　doubtless；　the　heaviest　of　all　misfortunes；　as　it　not　only　brings　along　with　it　the　greatest　physical　evils；　pain；and　disease；　but　is　attended　by　the　most　mortifying　humiliation；　and　hopeless　despondency。　　It　is；　moreover；　an　incurable　evil；　and　is　rather　irritated　than　alleviated　by　the　remedies　commonly　applied　to　remove　it。　　The　only　alleviation；　of　which　it　is　capable；　must　be　derived　from　the　kind　and　soothing　attentions　of　the　truly　benevolent。　This　is　the　only　balm　which　can　sooth　the　anguish　of　a　wounded　heart；　or　allay　the　agitations　of　a　mind　irritated　by　disappointment；　and　rendered　ferocious　by　despair。

And　hence　it　evidently　appears　that　no　body　of　laws；　however　wisely　framed；　can；　in　any　country；　effectually　provide　for　the　relief　of　the　Poor；　without　the　voluntary　assistance　of　individuals；　for　though　taxes　may　be　levied　by　authority　of　the　laws　for　the　support　of　the　Poor；　yet；　those　kind　attentions　which　are　so　necessary　in　the　management　of　the　Poor；　as　well　to　reclaim　the　vicious；　as　to　comfort　and　encourage　the　despondentthose　demonstrations　of　concern　which　are　always　so　great　a　consolation　to　persons　in　distresscannot　be　COMMANDED　BY　FORCE。　　On　the　contrary；　every　attempt　to　use　FORCE　in　such　cases；　seldom　fails　to　produce　consequences　directly　contrary　to　those　intended＇2＇。

But　if　the　only　effectual　relief　for　the　distress　of　the　Poor；　and　the　sovereign　remedy　for　the　numerous　evils　to　society　which　arise　from　the　　prevalence　of　mendicity；　indolence；　poverty；　and　misery；　among　the　lower　classes　of　society；　must　be　derived　from　the　charitable　and　voluntary　exertions　of　individuals；　as　the　assistance　of　the　Public　cannot　be　expected；　unless　the　most　unlimited　confidence　can　be　placed；　not　only　in　the　wisdom　of　the　measures　proposed；　but　also；　and　MORE　ESPECIALLY；　in　the　UPRIGHTNESS；　ZEAL；　and　PERFECT　DISINTERESTEDNESS　of　the　persons　appointed　to　carry　them　into　execution；　it　is　evident　that　the　first　object　to　be　attended　to；　in　forming　a　plan　of　providing　for　the　Poor；　is　to　make　such　arrangements　as　will　COMMAND　THE　CONFIDENCE　OF　THE　PUBLIC；　and　fix　it　upon　the　most　solid　and　durable　foundation。

This　can　most　certainly；　and　most　effectually　be　done；　first　by　engaging　persons　of　high　rank　and　　　the　most　respectable　character　to　place　themselves　　　at　the　head　of　the　Establishment：　secondly；　by　joining；　in　the　general　administration　of　the　　　affairs　of　the　Establishment；　a　certain　number　of　persons　chosen　　　from　the　middling　class　of　society；　reputable　tradesmen；　in　easy　　　circumstances；heads　of　families；and　others　of　known　integrity　　　and　of　humane　dispositions＇3＇：　thirdly；　by　engaging　all　those　who　are　employed　in　the　　　administration　of　the　affairs　of　the　Poor；　to　serve　without　fee　　　or　reward：　fourthly；　by　publishing；　at　stated　periods；　such　particular　and　　　authentic　accounts　of　all　receipts　and　expenditures；　that　no　　　doubt　can　possibly　be　entertained　by　the　Public　respecting　the　　　proper　application　of　the　monies　destined　for　the　relief　of　the　　　Poor：　fifthly；　by　publishing　an　alphabetical　list　of　all　who　receive　　　alms；　in　which　list　should　be　inserted；　not　only　the　name　of　　　the　person；　his　age；　condition；　and　place　of　abode；　but　also　　　the　amount　of　the　weekly　assistance　granted　to　him；　in　order　　　that　those　who　entertain　any　doubts　respecting　the　manner　in　　　which　the　Poor　are　provided　for；　may　have　the　opportunity　of　　　visiting　them　at　their　habitations；　and　making　enquiry　into　　　their　real　situations：　and　lastly；　the　confidence　of　the　Public；　and　the　　　continuance　of　their　support；　will　most　effectually　be　secured　　　by　a　prompt　and　successful　execution　of　the　plan　adopted。

There　is　scarcely　a　greater　plague　that　can　infest　society；　than　swarms　of　beggars；　and　the　inconveniencies　to　individuals　arising　from　them　are　so　generally；　and　so　severely　felt；　that　relief　from　so　great　an　evil　cannot　fail　to　produce　a　powerful　and　lasting　effect　upon　the　minds　of　the　Public；　and　to　engage　all　ranks　to　unite　in　the　support　of　measures　as　conducive　to　the　comfort　of　individuals；　as　they　are　essential　to　the　national　honor　and　reputation。　And　even　in　countries　where　the　Poor　do　not　make　a　practice　of　begging；　the　knowledge　of　their　sufferings　must　be　painful　to　every　benevolent　mind；　and　there　is　no　person；　I　would　hope；　so　callous　to　the　feelings　of　humanity；　as　not　to　rejoice　most　sincerely　when　effectual　relief　is　afforded。

The　greatest　difficulty　attending　the　introduction　of　any　measure　founded　upon　the　voluntary　support　of　the　Public；　for　maintaining　the　Poor；　and　putting　an　end　to　mendicity；　is　an　opinion　generally　entertained；　that　a　very　heavy　expence　would　be　indispensably　necessary　to　carry　into　execution　such　an　undertaking。　　But　this　difficulty　may　be　speedily　removed　by　showing；　（which　may　easily　be　done；）　that　the　execution　of　a　well…arranged　plan　for　providing　for　the　Poor；　and　giving　useful　employment　to　the　idle　and　indolent；　so　far　from　being　expensive；　must；　in　the　end；　be　attended　with　a　very　considerable　saving；　not　only　to　the　Public　collectively；　but　also　to　individuals。

Those　who　now　extort　their　subsistence　by　begging　and　stealing；　are；　in　fact；　already　maintained　by　the　Public。　　But　this　is　not　all；　they　are　maintained　in　a　manner　the　most　expensive　and　troublesome；　to　themselves　and　the　Public；　that　can　be　conceived；　and　this　may　be　said　of　all　the　Poor　in　general。

A　poor　person；　who　lives　in　poverty　and　misery；　and　merely　from　hand　to　mouth；　has　not　the　power　of　availing　himself　of　any　of　those　economical　arrangements；　in　procuring　the　necessaries　of　life；　which　other；　in　more　affluent　circumstances；　may　employ；　and　which　may　be　employed　with　peculiar　advantage　in　a　public　Establishment。Added　to　this；　the　greater　part　of　the　Poor；　as　well　those　who　make　a　profession　of　begging；　as　other　who　do　not；　might　be　usefully　employed　in　various　kinds　of　labour；　and　supposing　them；　one　with　another；　to　be　capable　of　earning　ONLY　HALF　as　much　as　is　necessary　to　their　subsistence；　this　would　reduce　the　present　expence　to　the　Public　for　their　maintenance　at　least　one　half；　and　this　half　might　be　reduced　still　much　lower；　by　a　proper　attention　to　order　and　economy　in　providing　for　their　subsistence。

Were　the　inhabitants　of　a　large　town　where　mendicity　is　prevalent；　to　subscribe　only　half　the　sums　annually；　which　are　extorted　from　them　by　beggars；　I　am　confident　it　would　be　quite　sufficient；　with　a　proper　arrangement；　for　the　comfortable　support　of　the　Poor　of　all　denominations。

Not　only　those　who　were　formerly　common　street…beggars；　but　all　others；　without　exception；　who　receive　alms；　in　the　city　of　Munich　and　its　suburbs；　amounting　at　this　time　to　more　than　1800　persons；　are　supported　almost　entirely　by　voluntary　subscriptions　from　the　inhabitants；　and　I　have　been　assured　by　numbers　of　the　most　opulent　and　respectable　citizens；　that　the　sums　annually　extorted　from　them　formerly　by　beggars　alone；　exclusive　of　private　charities；　amounted　to　more　than　three　times　the　sums　now　given　by　them　to　the　support　of　the　new　institution。　　I　insist　the　more　upon　this　point；　as　I　know　that　the　great　expence　which　has　been　supposed　to　be　indispensably　necessary　to　carry　into　execution　any　scheme　for　effectually　providing　for　the　Poor；　and　putting　an　end　to　mendicity；　has　deterred　many　well…disposed　persons　from　engaging　in　so　useful　an　enterprise。　　I　have　only　to　add　my　most　earnest　wishes；　that　what　I　have　said　and　done；　may　remove　every　doubt；　and　re…animate　the　zeal　of　the　Public；　in　a　cause　in　which　the　dearest　interests　of　humanity　are　so　nearly　concerned。

In　almost　every　public　undertaking；　which　is　to　be　carried　into　effect　by　the　united　voluntary　exertions　of　individuals；　without　the　interference　of　government；　there　is　a　degree　of　awkwardness　in　bringing　forward　the　business；　which　it　is　difficult　to　avoid；　and　which　is　frequently　not　a　little　embarrassing。　　This　will　doubtless　be　felt　by　those　who　engage　in　forming　and　executing　schemes　for　providing　for　the　Poor　by　private　subscription；　they　should　not；　however；　suffer　themselves　to　be　discouraged　by　a　difficulty　which　may　so　easily　be　surmounted。

In　the　introduction　of　every　scheme　for　forming　an　Establishment　for　the　Poor；　whether　it　be　proposed　to　defray　the　expense　by　voluntary　subscriptions；　or　by　a　tax　levied　for　the　purpose；　it　will　be　proper　for　the　authors　or　promoters　of　the　measure　to　address　the　Public　upon　the　subject；　to　inform　them　of　the　nature　of　the　measures　proposed；　of　their　tendency　to　promote　the　public　welfare；　and　to　point　out　the　various　ways　in　which　individuals　may　give　their　assistance　to　render　the　scheme　successful。

There　are　few　cities　in　Europe；　I　believe；　in　which　the　state　of　the　Poor　would　justify　such　an　address　as　that　which　was　published　at　Munich　upon　taking　up　the　beggars　in　that　town；　but　something　of　the　kind；　with　such　alterations　as　local　circumstances　may　require；　I　am　persuaded；　would　in　most　cases　produce　good　effects。　　With　regard　to　the　assistance　that　might　be　be　given　by　individuals　to　carry　into　effect　a　scheme　for　providing　for　the　Poor；　though　measures　for　that　purpose　may；　and　ought　to　be　so　taken；　that　the　Public　would　have　little　or　no　trouble　in　their　execution；　yet　there　are　many　things　which　individuals　must　be　　instructed　cautiously　to　avoid；　otherwise　the　　enterprise　will　be　extremely　difficult；　it　not　impracticable；　and；　above　all　things；　they　must　be　warned　against　giving　alms　to　beggars。

Though　nothing　would　be　more　unjust　and　tyrannical；　than　to　prevent　the　generous　and　humane　from　contributing　to　the　relief　of　the　Poor　and　necessitous；　yet；　as　giving　alms　to　beggars　tends　so　directly　and　so　powerfully　to　encourage　idleness　and　immorality；　to　discourage　the　industrious　Poor；　and　perpetuate　mendicity；　with　all　its　attendant　evils；　too　much　pains　cannot　be　taken　to　guard　the　Public　against　a　practice　so　fatal　in　its　consequences　to　society。

All　who　are　desirous　of　contributing　to　the　relief　of　the　Poor；　should　be　invited　to　send　their　charitable　donations　to　be　distributed　by　those　who；　being　at　the　head　of　a　public　Institution　established　for　taking　care　of　the　Poor；　must　be　supposed　best　acquainted　with　their　wants。　　Or；　if　individuals　should　prefer　distributing　their　own　charities；　they　ought　at　least　to　take　the　trouble　to　enquire　after　fit　objects；　and　to　apply　their　donations　in　such　a　manner　as　not　to　counteract　the　measures　of　a　public　and　useful　Establishment。

But；　before　I　enter　farther　into　these　details；　it　will　be　necessary　to　determine　the　proper　extent　and　limits　of　an　Establishment　for　the　Poor；　and　show　how　a　town　or　city　ought　to　be　divided　in　districts；　in　order　to　facilitate　the　purposes　of　such　an　institution。


CHAPTER。　　II。　　Of　the　Extent　of　an　Establishment　for　the　Poor。　　Of　the　Division　of　a　Town　or　City　into　Districts。　　Of　the　Manner　of　carrying　on　the　Business　of　a　public　　　　Establishment　for　the　P