essays-1-第18章

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oy　persons　of　the　most　respectable　character　in　the　details　of　an　institution　of　public　charity；the　good　effects　such　a　choice　must　have　upon　the　minds　and　morals　of　the　Poor。

Persons　who　are　reduced　to　indigent　circumstances；　and　become　objects　of　public　charity；　come　under　the　direction　of　those　who　are　appointed　to　take　care　of　them　with　minds　weakened　by　adversity；　and　soured　by　disappointment；　and　finding　themselves　separated　from　the　rest　of　mankind；　and　cut　off　from　all　hope　of　seeing　better　days；　they　naturally　grow　peevish；　and　discontented；　suspicious　of　those　set　over　them；　and　of　one　another；　and　the　kindest　treatment；　and　most　careful　attention　to　every　circumstance　that　can　render　their　situation　supportable；　are　therefore　required；　to　prevent　their　being　very　unhappy。　And　nothing　surely　can　contribute　more　powerfully　to　soothe　the　minds　of　persons　in　such　unfortunate　and　hopeless　circumstances；　than　to　find　themselves　under　the　care　and　protection　of　persons　of　gentle　manners；humane　dispositions；and　known　probity　and　integrity；　such　as　even　THEY；with　all　their　　suspicions　about　them；　may　venture　to　love　and　respect；

Whoever　has　taken　the　pains　to　investigate　the　nature　of　the　human　mind；　and　examine　attentively　those　circumstances　upon　which　human　happiness　depends；　must　know　how　necessary　it　is　to　happiness；　that　the　mind　should　have　some　object　upon　which　to　place　its　more　tender　affectionssomething　to　love；to　cherish；　to　esteem；to　respect；and　to　venerate；　and　these　resources　are　never　so　necessary　as　in　the　hour　of　adversity　and　discouragement；　where　no　ray　of　hope　is　left　to　cheer　the　prospect；　and　stimulate　to　fresh　exertion。

The　lot　of　the　Poor；　particularly　of　those　who；　from　easy　circumstances　and　a　reputable　station　in　society；　are　reduced　by　misfortunes；　or　oppression；　to　become　a　burthen　on　the　Public；　is　truly　deplorable；　after　all　that　can　be　done　for　them：　and　were　we　seriously　to　consider　their　situation；　I　am　sure　we　should　think　that　we　could　never　do　too　much　to　alleviate　their　sufferings；　and　soothe　the　anguish　of　wounds　which　can　never　be　healed。

For　the　common　misfortunes　of　life；　HOPE　is　a　　sovereign　remedy。　But　what　remedy　can　be　applied　to　evils；　which　involve　even　the　loss　of　hope　itself？　and　what　can　those　have　to　hope；　who　are　separated　and　cut　off　from　society；　and　for　ever　excluded　from　all　share　in　the　affairs　of　men？　　To　them；　honours；distinctions；　praise；and　even　property　itself；all　those　objects　of　laudable　ambition　which　so　powerfully　excite　the　activity　of　man　in　civil　society；　and　contribute　so　essentially　to　happiness；　by　filling　the　mind　with　pleasing　prospects　of　future　enjoyments；　are　but　empty　names；　or　rather；　they　are　subjects　of　never…ceasing　regret　and　discontent。

That　gloom　must　indeed　be　dreadful；　which　overspreads　the　mind；　when　HOPE；　that　bright　luminary　of　the　soul；　which　enlightens　and　cheers　it；　and　excites　and　calls　forth　into　action　all　its　best　faculties；　has　disappeared！

There　are　many；　it　is　true；　who；　from　their　indolence　or　extravagance；　or　other　vicious　habits；　fall　into　poverty　and　distress；　and　become　a　burthen　on　the　public；　who　are　so　vile　and　degenerate　as　not　to　feel　the　wretchedness　of　their　situation。　But　these　are　miserable　objects；　which　the　truly　benevolent　will　regard　with　an　eye　of　peculiar　compassion；they　must　be　very　unhappy；　for　they　are　very　vicious；　and　nothing　should　be　omitted；　that　can　tend　to　reclaim　them；but　nothing　will　tend　so　powerfully　to　reform　them；　as　kind　usage　from　the　hands　of　persons　they　must　learn　to　love　and　to　respect　at　the　same　time。

If　I　am　too　prolix　upon　this　head；　I　am　sorry　for　it。　　It　is　a　strong　conviction　of　the　great　importance　of　the　subject；　which　carries　me　away；　and　makes　me；　perhaps；　tiresome；　where　I　would　wish　most　to　avoid　it。　　The　care　of　the　Poor；　however；　I　must　consider　as　a　matter　of　very　serious　importance。　It　appears　to　me　to　be　one　of　the　most　sacred　duties　imposed　upon　men　in　a　state　of　civil　society；one　of　those　duties　imposed　immediately　　by　the　hand　of　God　himself；　and　of　which　the　neglect　never　goes　unpunished。

What　I　have　said　respecting　the　necessary　qualifications　of　those　employed　in　taking　care　of　the　Poor；　I　hope　will　not　deter　well…disposed　persons；　who　are　willing　to　assist　in　so　useful　an　undertaking；　from　coming　forward　with　propositions　for　the　institution　of　public　Establishments　for　that　purpose；　or　from　offering　themselves　candidates　for　employments　in　the　management　of　such　Establishments。　　The　qualifications　pointed　out；　integrity；　and　a　gentle　and　humane　disposition；honesty；　and　a　good　heart；　are　such　as　any　one　may　boldly　lay　claim　to；　without　fear　of　being　taxed　with　vanity　or　ostentation。And　if　individuals　in　private　stations；　on　any　occasion　are　called　upon　to　lay　aside　their　bashfulness　and　modest　dissidence；　and　come　forward　into　public　view；　it　must　surely　be；　when　by　their　exertions　they　can　essentially　contribute　to　promote　measures　which　are　calculated　to　increase　the　happiness　and　prosperity　of　society。

It　is　a　vulgar　saying；　that；　what　is　everybody's　business；　is　nobody's　business；　and　it　is　very　certain　that　many　schemes；　evidently　intended　for　the　public　good；　have　been　neglected；　merely　because　nobody　could　be　prevailed　on　to　stand　forward　and　be　the　first　to　adopt　them。　　This　doubtless　has　been　the　case　in　regard　to　many　judicious　and　well　arranged　proposals　for　providing　for　the　Poor；　and　will　probably　be　so　again。　　I　shall　endeavour；　however；　to　show；　that　though　in　undertakings　in　which　the　general　welfare　of　society　is　concerned；　persons　of　all　ranks　and　conditions　are　called　upon　to　give　them　their　support；　yet；　in　the　INTRODUCTION　of　such　measures　as　are　here　recommended；　a　scheme　of　providing　for　the　Poor；there　are　many　who；　by　their　rank　and　peculiar　situations；　are　clearly　pointed　out　as　the　most　proper　to　take　up　the　business　at　its　commencement；　and　bring　it　forward　to　maturity；　as　well　as　to　take　an　active　part　in　the　direction　and　management　of　such　an　institution　after　it　has　been　established：　and　it　appears　to　me；　that　the　nature　and　the　end　of　the　　undertaking　evidently　point　out　the　persons　who　are　more　particularly　called　upon　to　set　an　example　on　such　an　occasion。

If　the　care　of　the　Poor　be　an　object　of　great　national　importance；　if　it　be　inseparably　connected　with　the　peace　and　tranquillity　of　society；　and　with　the　glory　and　prosperity　of　the　state；　if　the　advantages　which　individuals　share　in　the　public　welfare　are　in　proportion　to　the　capital　they　have　at　stake　in　this　great　national　fundthat　is　to　say；　in　proportion　to　their　rank；　property；　and　connexions；　or　general　influence；as　it　is　just　that　every　one　should　contribute　in　proportion　to　the　advantages　he　receives；　it　is　evident　who　ought　to　be　the　first　to　come　forward　upon　such　an　occasion。

But　it　is　not　merely　on　account　of　the　superior　interest　they　have　in　the　public　welfare；　that　persons　of　high　rank　and　great　property；　and　such　as　occupy　places　of　importance　in　the　government；　are　bound　to　support　measures　calculated　to　relieve　the　distresses　of　the　Poor；there　is　still　another　circumstance　which　renders　it　indispensably　necessary　that　they　should　take　an　active　part　in　such　measures；　and　that　is；　the　influence　which　their　example　must　have　upon　others。

It　is　impossible　to　prevent　the　bulk　of　mankind　from　being　swayed　by　the　example　of　those　to　whom　they　are　taught　to　look　up　as　their　superiors；　it　behoves；　therefore；　all　who　enjoy　such　high　privileges；　to　employ　all　the　influence　which　their　rank　and　fortune　give　them；　to　promote　the　public　good。　　And　this　may　justly　be　considered　as　a　duty　of　a　peculiar　kind；a　PERSONAL　service　attached　to　the　station　they　hold　in　society；　and　which　cannot　be　commuted。

But　if　the　obligations　which　persons　of　rank　and　property　are　under；　to　support　measures　　designed　for　the　relief　of　the　Poor；　are　so　binding；　how　much　more　so　must　they　be　upon　those　who　have　taken　upon　themselves　the　sacred　office　of　public　teachers　of　virtue　and　morality；the　Ministers　of　a　most　holy　religion；　a　religion　whose　first　precepts　inculcate　charity　and　universal　benevolence；　and　whose　great　object　is；　unquestionably；　the　peace；　order；　and　happiness　of　society。

If　there　be　any　whose　peculiar　province　it　is　to　seek　for　objects　in　distress　and　want；　and　administer　to　them　relief；if　there　be　any　who　are　bound　by　the　indispensable　duties　of　their　profession　to　encourage　by　every　means　in　their　power；　and　more　especially　by　EXAMPLE；　the　general　practice　of　charity；　it　is；　doubtless；　the　Ministers　of　the　gospel。　And　such　is　their　influence　in　society；　arising　from　the　nature　of　their　office；　that　their　example　is　a　matter　of　VERY　SERIOUS　IMPORTANCE。

Little　persuasion；　I　should　hope；　would　be　necessary　to　induce　the　clergy；　in　any　country；　to　give　their　cordial　and　active　assistance　in　relieving　the　distresses　of　the　Poor；　and　providing　for　their　comfort　and　happiness；　by　introducing　order　and　useful　industry　among　them。

Another　class　of　men；　who　from　the　station　they　hold　in　society；　and　their　knowledge　of　the　laws　of　the　country；　may　be　highly　useful　in　carrying　into　effect　such　an　undertaking；　are　the　civil　magistrates；　and；　however　a　committee　for　the　government　and　direction　of　an　Establishment　for　the　Poor　may　in　other　respects　be　composed；　I　am　clearly　of　opinion；　that　the　Chief　Magistrate　of　the　town；　or　city；　where　such　an　Establishment　is　formed；　ought　always　to　be　one　of　its　members。　　The　Clergyman　of　the　place　who　is　highest　in　rank　or　dignity　ought；　likewise；　to　be　another；　and　if　he　be　a　Bishop；　or　Archbishop；　his　assistance　is　the　more　indispensable。

But　as　persons　who　hold　offices　of　great　trust　and　importance　in　the　church；　as　well　as　under　the　civil　government；　may　be　so　much　engaged　in　the　duties　of　their　stations；　as　not　to　have　sufficient　leisure　to　attend　to　other　matters；　it　may　be　necessary；　when　such　distinguished　persons　lend　their　assistance　in　the　management　of　an　Establishment　for　the　relief　of　the　Poor；　that　each　of　them　be　permitted　to　bring　with　them　a　person　of　his　own　choice　into　the　committee；　to　assist　him　in　the　business。　The　Bishop；　for　instance；　may　bring　his　chaplain；the　Magistrate；　his　clerk；the　Nobleman；　or　private　gentleman；　his　son；　or　friend；　etc。　　But　in　small　towns；　of　two　or　three　parishes；　and　particularly　in　country…towns　and　villages；　which　do　not　consist　of　more　than　one　or　two　parishes；　as　the　details　in　the　management　of　the　affairs　of　the　Poor　in　such　communities　cannot　be　extensive；　the　members　of　the　committee　may　manage　the　business　without　assistants。　And　indeed　in　all　cases；　even　in　great　cities；　when　a　general　Establishment　for　the　Poor　is　formed　upon　a　good　plan；　the　details　of　the　executive　and　more　laborious　parts　of　the　management　of　it　will　be　so　divided　among　the　commissaries　of　the　districts；　that　the　members　of　the　　supreme　committee　will　have　little　more　to　do　than　just　hold　the　reins；　and　direct　the　movement　of　the　machine。　Care　must　however　be　taken　to　preserve　the　most　perfect　uniformity　in　the　motions　of　all　its　parts；　otherwise　confusion　must　ensue；　hence　the　necessity　of　directing　the　whole　from　one　center。

As　the　inspection　of　the　Poor；the　care　of　them　when　t