essays-1-第6章
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rived as to serve for the dyer and for the clothier at the same time。
A fulling…mill was established upon a stream of water which runs by one side of the court round which the building is erected； and adjoining to the fulling…mill； is the dyers…shop； and the wash…house。
This whole edifice； which is very extensive； was fitted up； as has already been observed； in the neatest manner possible。 In doing this； even the external appearance of the building was attended to。 It was handsomely painted； without； as well as within； and pains were taken to give it an air of ELEGANCE； as well as of neatness and cleanliness。 A large court in the middle of the building was levelled； and covered with gravel； and the approach to it from every side was made easy and commodious。 Over the principal door； or rather gate； which fronts the street； is an inscription； denoting the use to which the building is appropriated； and the passage leading into the court； there is written in large letters of gold upon a black ground 〃NO ALMS WILL BE RECEIVED HERE。〃
Upon coming into the court you see inscriptions over all the doors upon the ground floor； leading to the different parts of the building。 These inscriptions； which are all in letters of gold upon a black ground； denote the particular uses to which the different apartments are destined。
This building having been got ready； and a sufficient number of spinning…wheels； looms； and other utensils made use of in the most common manufactures being provided； together with a sufficient stock of raw materials； I proceeded to carry my plan into execution in the manner which will be related in the following Chapter。
CHAPTER。 IV。
An account of the taking up of the beggars at Munich。 The inhabitants are called upon for their assistance。 General subscription for the relief and support of the poor。 All other public and private collections for the poor abolished。
New…Year's…Day having； from time immemorial； been considered in Bavaria as a day peculiarly set apart for giving alms； and the beggars never failing to be all out upon that occasion； I chose that moment as being the most favourable for beginning my operations。 Early in the morning of the first of January 1790； the officers and non…commissioned officers of the three regiments of infantry in garrison； were stationed in the different streets； where they were directed to wait for further orders。
Having； in the mean time； assembled； at my lodgings； the field…officers； and all the chief magistrates of the town； I made them acquainted with my intention to proceed that very morning to the execution of a plan I had formed for taking up the beggars； and providing for the poor； and asked their immediate assistance。
To show the public that it was not my wish to carry this measure into execution by military force alone； （which might have rendered the measure odious；） but that I was disposed to show all becoming deference to the civil authority； I begged the magistrates to accompany me； and the field…officers of the garrison； in the execution of the first and most difficult part of the undertaking； that of arresting the beggars。 This they most readily consented to； and we immediately sallied out into the street； myself accompanied by the chief magistrate of the town； and each of the field…officers by an inferior magistrate。
We were hardly got into the street when we were accosted by a beggar； who asked us for alms。 I went up to him； and laying my hand gently upon his shoulder； told him； that from thenceforwards begging would not be permitted in Munich；that if he really stood in need of assistance； （which would immediately be enquired into；） the necessary assistance should certainly be given him； but that begging was forbidden； and if he was detected in it again he would be severely punished。 I then delivered him over to an orderly serjeant who was following me； with directions to conduct him to the Town…hall； and deliver him into the hands of those he should find there to receive him； and then turning to the officers and magistrates who accompanied me； I begged they would take notice； that I had myself； WITH MY OWN HANDS； arrested the first beggar we had met； and I requested them not only to follow my example themselves； by arresting all the beggars they should meet with； but that they would also endeavour to persuade others； and particularly the officers； non…commissioned officers； and soldiers of the garrison； that it was by no means derogatory to their character as soldiers； or in anywise disgraceful to them； to assist in so USEFUL and LAUDABLE an undertaking。 These gentlemen having cheerfully and unanimously promised to do their utmost to second me in this business； dispersed into the different parts of the town； and with the assistance of the military； which they found every where waiting for orders； the town was so thoroughly cleared of beggars IN LESS THAN AN HOUR； that not one was to be found in the streets。
Those who were arrested were conducted to the Town…hall； where their names were inscribed in printed lists provided for that purpose； and they were then dismissed to their own lodgings； with directions to repair the next day to the newly erected 〃Military Work…house〃 in the Au； where they would find comfortable warm rooms；a good warm dinner every day； and work for all those who were in a condition to labour。 They were likewise told that a commission should immediately be appointed to enquire into their circumstances； and to grant them such regular weekly allowances of money； in alms； as they should stand in need of； which was accordingly done。
Orders were then issued to all the military guards in the different parts of the town； to send out patroles frequently into the streets in their neighbourhood； to arrest all the beggars they should meet with； and a reward was offered for each beggar they should arrest and deliver over to the civil magistrate。 The guard of the police was likewise directed to be vigilant； and the inhabitants at large； of all ranks and denominations； were earnestly called upon to assist in completing a work of so much public utility； and which had been so happily begun＇8＇。 In an address to the public； which was printed and distributed gratis among the inhabitants； the fatal consequences arising from the prevalence of mendicity were described in the most lively and affecting colours；and the manner pointed out in which they could most effectually assist in putting an end to an evil equally disgraceful and prejudicial to society。
As this address； （which was written with great sprit； by a man well known in the literary world； Professor Babo；） gives a very striking and a very just picture of the character； manners； and customs； of the hords of idle and dissolute vagabonds which infested Munich at the time the measure in question was adopted； and of the various artifices they made use of in carrying on their depredations； I have thought it might not be improper to annex it； at full length； in the Appendix； No。 I。
This address； which was presented to all the heads of families in the city； and to many by myself； having gone round to the doors of most of the principal citizens for that purpose； was accompanied by printed lists； in which the inhabitants were requested to set down their names；places of abode；and the sums they chose to contribute monthly； for the support of the establishment。 These lists； （translations of which are also inserted in the Appendix； No。 II。） were delivered to the heads of families； with duplicates； to the end that one copy being sent in to the committee； the other might remain with the master of the family。
These subscriptions being PERFECTLY VOLUNTARY； might be augmented or diminished at pleasure。 When any person chose to alter his subscription； he sent to the public office for two blank subscription lists； and filling them up anew； with such alterations as he thought proper to make； he took up his old list at the office； and deposited the new one in its stead。
The subscription lists being all collected； they were sorted； and regularly entered according to the numbers of the houses of the subscribers； in sixteen general lists＇9＇； answering to the sixteen subdivisions or districts of the city； and a copy of the general list of each district was given to the commissary of the district。
These copies； which were properly authenticated； served for the direction of the commissary in collecting the subscriptions in his district； which was done regularly the last Sunday morning of every month。
The amount of the collection was immediately delivered by the commissary into the hands of the banker of the institution； for which he received two receipts from the banker； one of which he transmitted to the committee； with his report of the collection； which he was directed to send in as soon as the collection was made。
As there were some persons who； from modesty； or other motives； did not choose to have it known publicly how much they gave in alms to the poor； and on that account were not willing to have put down to their names upon the list of the subscribers； the whole sum they were desirous of appropriating to that purpose； to accommodate matters to the peculiar delicacy of their feelings； the following arrangement was made； and carried into execution with great success。
Those who were desirous of contributing privately to the relief of the poor； were notified by an advertisement published in the news…papers； that they might send to the banker of the institution any sums for that purpose they might think proper； under any feigned name； or under any motto or other device； and that not only a receipt would be given to the bearer； for the amount； without and questions being asked him； but； for greater security； a public acknowledgement of the receipt of the sum would be published by the banker； with a mention of the feigned name of device under which it came； IN THE NEXT MUNICH GAZETTE。
To accommodate those who might be disposed to give trifling sums occasionally； for the relief of the poor； and who did not choose to go； or to send to the banker； fixed poor…boxes were placed in all the churches； and most of the inns； coffee…houses； and other places of public resort； but nobody was ever called upon to put any thing into these boxes； nor was any poor's…box carried round； or any private collection or alms…gathering permitted to be made upon any occasion； or under any pretence whatever。
When the inhabitants had subscribed liberally to the support of the institution； it was but just to secure them from all further importunity in behalf of the poor。 This was promised； and it was most effectually done； though not without some difficulty； and a very considerable expence to the establishment。
The poor students in the Latin German schools；the sisters of the religious order of charity；the directors of the hospital of lepers；and some other public establishments； had been so long in the habit of making collections； by going round among the inhabitants from house to house at stated periods； asking alms； that they had acquired a sort of right to levy those periodical contributions； of which it was not thought prudent to dispossess them without giving them an equivalent。 And in order that t
