essays-1-第20章
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profligacy； their insolence； and their shameless and clamorous importunity。
There is； it cannot be denied； in man； a natural propensity to sloth and indolence； and though habits of industry；like all habits；may render those exertions easy and pleasant which at first are painful and irksome； yet no person； in any situation； ever chose labour merely for its own sake。 It is always the apprehension of some greater evil；or the hope of some enjoyment； by which mankind are compelled or allured； when they take to industrious pursuits。
In the rude state of savage nature the wants of men are few； and these may all be easily supplied without the commission of any crime； consequently industry； under such circumstances； is not necessary； nor can indolence be justly considered as a vice； but in a state of civil society； where population is great； and the means of subsistence not to be had without labour； or without defrauding others of the fruits of their industry； idleness becomes a crime of the most fatal tendency； and consequently of the most heinous nature； and every means should be used to discountenance； punish； and prevent it。
And we see that Providence； ever attentive to provide remedies for the disorders which the progress of society occasions in the world； has provided for idlenessas soon as the condition of society renders it a vice； but not beforea punishment every way suited to its nature； and calculated to prevent its prevalency and pernicious consequences：This is WANT；and a most efficacious remedy it is for the evil；when the WISDOM OF MAN does not interfere to counteract it； and prevent its salutary effects。
But reserving the father investigation of this part of my subject that respecting the means to be used for encouraging industry to some future opportunity； I shall now endeavour to show； in a few words； how； under the most unfavourable circumstances； an arrangement for putting an end to mendicity； and introducing a spirit of industry among the Poor； might be introduced and carried into execution。
If I am obliged to take a great circuit； in order to arrive at my object； it must be remembered； that where a vast weight is to be raised by human means； a variety of machinery must necessarily be provided； and that it is only by bringing all the different powers employed to act together to the same end； that the purpose in view can be attained。 It will likewise be remembered； that as no mechanical power can be made to act without a force be applied to it sufficient to overcome the resistance； not only of the vis inertia； but also of friction； so no moral agent can be brought to act to any given end without sufficient motives； that is to say； without such motives as THE PERSON WHO IS TO ACT may deem sufficient； not only to decide his opinion； but also to OVERCOME HIS INDOLENCE。
The object proposed；the relief of the Poor； and the providing for their future comfort and happiness； by introducing among them a spirit of order and industry； is such as cannot fail to meet with the approbation of every well…disposed person。But I will suppose； that a bare conviction of the UTILITY of the measure is not sufficient alone to overcome the indolence of the Public； and induce them to engage ACTIVELY in the undertaking；yet as people are at all times； and in all situations； ready enough to do what they FEEL to be their interest； if； in bringing forward a scheme of public utility； the proper means be used to render it so interesting as to awaken the CURIOSITY； and fix the attention of the Public； no doubts can be entertained of the possibility of carrying it into effect。
In arranging such a plan； and laying it before the Public； no small degree of knowledge of mankind； and particularly of the various means of acting on them； which are peculiarly adapted to the different stages of civilization； or rather of the political refinement and corruption of society； would； in most cases； be indispensably necessary； but with that knowledge； and a good share of zeal； address； prudence； and perseverance； there are few schemes； in which an honest man would wish to be concerned； that might not be carried into execution in any country。
In such a city as London； where there is great wealth；public spirit；enterprize；and zeal for improvement； little more； I flatter myself； would be necessary to engage all ranks to unite in carrying into effect such a scheme； than to show its public utility； and； above all； to prove that there IS NO JOB at the bottom of it。
It would； however； be advisable； in submitting to the Public； Proposals for forming such an Establishment； to show that those who are invited to assist in carrying it into execution； would not only derive from it much pleasure and satisfaction； but also many real advantages； for too much pains can never be taken to interest the Public individually； and directly； in the success of measures tending to promote the general good of society。
The following Proposals； which I will suppose to be made by some person of known and respectable character； who has courage enough to engage in so arduous an undertaking； will show my ideas upon this subject in the clearest manner。Whether they are well founded； must be left to the reader to determine。As to myself； I am so much persuaded that the scheme here proposed； by way of example； and merely for illustration； might be executed； that； had I time for the undertaking； （which I have not；） I should not hesitate to engage in it。
PROPOSALS for forming by private subscription； an ESTABLISHMENT for feeding the Poor； and giving them useful Employment；
And also for furnishing Food at a cheap Rate to others who may stand in need of such Assistance。 Connected with an INSTITUTION for introducing； and bringing forward into general Use； new Inventions and Improvements； particularly such as relate to the Management of Heat and the saving of Fuel； and to various other mechanical Contrivances by which DOMESTIC COMFORT and ECONOMY may be promoted。 Submitted to the Public； By A。 B。
The Author of these Proposals declares solemnly； in the face of the whole world； that he has no interested view whatever in making these Proposals； but is actuated merely and simply by a desire to do good； and promote the happiness and prosperity of society； and the honour and reputation of his country。That he never will demand； accept； or receive any pay or other recompence or reward of any kind whatever from any person or persons； for his services or trouble； in carrying into execution the proposed scheme； or any part thereof； or for anything he may do or perform in future relating to it； or to any of its details or concerns。
And； moreover； that he never will avail himself of any opportunities that may offer in the execution of the plan proposed； for deriving profit； emolument； or advantage of any kind； either for himself； his friends； or connections；but that； on the contrary； he will take upon himself to be personally responsible to the Public； and more immediately to the Subscribers to this Undertaking； that NO PERSON shall FIND MEANS to make a job of the proposed Establishment； or of any of the details of its execution； or of its management； as long as the Author of these Proposals remains charged with its direction。
With respect to the particular objects and extent of the proposed Establishment； these may be seen by the account which is given of them at the head of these Proposals； and as to their utility； there can be no doubts。 They certainly must tend very powerfully to promote the comfort； happiness； and prosperity of society； and will do honour to the nation； as well as to those individuals who may contribute to carry them into execution。
With the regard to the possibility of carrying into effect the proposed scheme；the facility with which this may be done； will be evident when the method of doing it； which will now be pointed out； is duly considered。
As soon as a sum shall be subscribed sufficient for the purposes intended； the Author of these Proposals will； by letters； request a meeting of the TWENTY…FIVE persons who shall stand highest on the list of subscribers； for the purpose of examining the subscription…lists； and of appointing； by ballot； a committee； composed of five persons； skilled in the details of building； and in accounts； to collect the subscriptions； and to superintend the execution of the plan。This committee； which will be chosen from among the subscribers at large； will be authorised and directed； to examine all the works that will be necessary in forming the Establishment； and see that they are properly performed； and at reasonable prices；to examine and approve of all contracts for work； or for materials；to examine and check all accounts of expenditures of every kind； in the execution of the plan；and to give orders for all payments。
The general arrangement of the Establishment； and of all its details； will be left to the Author of these Proposals； who will be responsible for their success。He engages； however； in the prosecution of this business； to adhere faithfully to the plan here proposed； and never to depart from it on any pretence whatever。
With regard to the choice of a spot for erecting this Establishment； a place will be chosen within the limits of the town； and in a convenient and central a situation as possible； where ground enough for the purpose is to be had at a reasonable price＇5＇。 The agreement for the purchase； or hire of this ground； and of the buildings； if there be any on it； will； like all other bargains and contracts； be submitted to the committee for their approbation and ratification。
The order in which it is proposed to carry into execution the different parts of the scheme is as follows：First； to establish a public kitchen for furnishing Food to such poor persons as shall be recommended by the subscribers for such assistance。
This Food will be of four different sorts； namely； No。 I。 A nourishing soup composed of barleypeasepotatoes； and bread； seasoned with salt； pepper； and fine herbs。The portion of this soup； one pint and a quarter； weighing about twenty ounces； will cost ONE PENNY。
No。 II。 A rich pease…soup； well seasoned；with fried bread； the portion （twenty ounces） at TWO PENCE。
No。 III。 A rich and nourishing soup； or barley； pease； and potatoes； properly seasoned；with fried bread； and two ounces of boiled bacon； cut fine and put into it。The portion （20 ounces） at FOUR PENCE。
No。 IV。 A good soup； with boiled meat and potatoes or cabbages； or other vegetables； with 1/4 lb。 of good rye bread； the portion at SIX PENCE。
Adjoining to the kitchen； four spacious eating…rooms will be fitted up； in each of which one only of the four different kinds of Food prepared in the kitchen will be served。
Near the eating…rooms； other rooms will be neatly fitted up； and kept constantly clean； and well warmed； and well lighted in the evening； in which the Poor who frequent the Establishment will be permitted to remain during the day； and till a certain hour at night。They will be allowed and even ENCOURAGED to bring their work with them to these rooms； and by degrees they will be furnished with utensils； and raw materials for working for their own emolument； by the Establishment。
