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　　TheBillexcitedgeneralopposition。Bentham’sanalysisisthemostfamous

　　ofthecriticismsthathavesurvived，butinsomesenseshisoppositionwas

　　lessseriousthanthedismayofmagistratesandratepayers。Hostilepetitions

　　pouredintotheHouseofCommonsfromLondonandfromallpartsofthecountry；

　　amongotherstherewerepetitionsfromShrewsbury，Oswestry，Worcester，Bristol，

　　Lincoln，Carmarthen，Bedford，ChesterandGodalming。83*Howlettattacked

　　theschemeonthegroundofthedangerofparishrobberyandcorruption。

　　Pittapparentlymadenoattempttodefendhisplan，andhesurrenderedit

　　withoutamurmur。Wearethusleftinthecuriousanddisappointingposition

　　ofhavingbeforeusaBillonthemostimportantsubjectoftheday，introduced

　　andabandonedbythePrimeMinisterwithoutawordorsyllableinitsdefence。

　　Whitbreadobserved84*fouryearslaterthattheBillwasbroughtinand

　　printed，butneverbroughtunderthediscussionoftheHouse。Pitt’sexcuse

　　issignificant：’Hewas，asformerly，convincedofitspropriety；butmany

　　objectionshadbeenstartedtoitbythosewhoseopinionhewasboundto

　　respect。Inexperiencedhimselfincountryaffairs，andintheconditionof

　　thepoor，hewasdiffidentofhisownopinion，andwouldnotpressthemeasure

　　upontheattentionoftheHouse。’

　　PoorLawReformwasthusabandoned，buttwoattemptsweremade，atthe

　　instanceofPitt，oneofthemwithsuccess，tosoftenthebrutalitiesof

　　theLawofSettlement。Neitherproposalmadeitanyeasiertogainasettlement，

　　andPittveryproperlydeclaredthattheydidnotgonearlyfarenough。Pitt

　　hadallAdamSmith’sjusthatredoftheserestrictions，andinopposingWhitbread’s

　　Billforaminimumwagehepointedto’aradicalamendment’oftheLawof

　　Settlementasthetrueremedy。HewasnottheformalauthoroftheActof

　　1795，butitmaysafelybeassumedthathewasthechiefpowerbehindit。

　　ThisAct85*providedthatnobodywastoberemoveableuntilheorshebecame

　　actuallychargeabletotheparish。Thepreamblethrowslightontheworking

　　oftheSettlementlaws。Itdeclaresthat’Manyindustriouspoorpersons，

　　chargeabletotheparish，township，orplacewheretheylive，merelyfrom

　　wantofworkthere，wouldinanyotherplacewheresufficientemployment

　　istobehad，maintainthemselvesandfamilieswithoutbeingburthensome

　　toanyparish，township，orplace；andsuchpoorpersonsareforthemost

　　partcompelledtoliveintheirownparishes，townships，orplaces，andare

　　notpermittedtoinhabitelsewhere，underpretencethattheyarelikelyto

　　becomechargeabletotheparish，township，orplaceintowhichtheygofor

　　thepurposeofgettingemployment，althoughthelabourofsuchpoorpersons

　　might，inmanyinstances，beverybeneficialtosuchparish，township，or

　　place。’Thegrantingofcertificatesisthusadmittedtohavebeenineffectual。

　　ThesameActprovidedthatordersofremovalweretobesuspendedincases

　　wherethepauperwasdangerouslyill，aprovisionthatthrowssomelight

　　onthemannerinwhichtheseordershadbeenexecuted，andthatnoperson

　　shouldgainasettlementbypayingleviesortaxes，inrespectofanytenement

　　ofayearlyvalueoflessthantenpounds。86*

　　Fromthistimecertificateswereunnecessary，andifalabourermoved

　　fromParishAtoParishBhewasnolongerliabletobesentbackatthe

　　capriceofParishB’sofficersuntilhebecameactuallychargeable，but，

　　ofcourse，iffromanycausehefellintotemporarydistress，forexample，

　　ifhewereoutofworkforafewweeks，unlesshecouldgetprivateaidfrom

　　’theopulent，’hehadtoreturntohisoldparish。Anattemptwasmadeto

　　remedythisstateofthingsbyMr。Bakerwho，inMarch1800，introduceda

　　Bill87*toenableoverseerstoassistthedeservingbutunsettledpoor

　　incasesoftemporarydistress。HeexplainedthattheprovisionsoftheBill

　　wouldapplyonlytomenwhocouldusuallykeepthemselves，butfromthehigh

　　costofprovisionshadtodependonparochialaid。Hefoundapowerfulsupporter

　　inPitt，whoarguedthatifpeoplehadenrichedaparishwiththeirindustry，

　　itwasunfairthatowingtotemporarypressuretheyshouldberemovedto

　　aplacewheretheywerenotwanted，andthatitwasbetterforaparishto

　　suffertemporaryinconveniencethanfornumbersofindustriousmentobe

　　renderedunhappyanduseless。ButinspiteofPitt’sunanswerablecase，the

　　Bill，whichwasdenouncedbyMr。Buxtonasoppressivetothelandedinterest，

　　byLordSheffieldas’subversiveofthewholeeconomyofthecountry，’by

　　Mr。Ellisonassubmergingthemiddleranks，andbySirWilliamPulteneyas

　　beinga’premiumforidlenessandextravagance，’wasrejectedbythirtyvotes

　　totwenty-three。

　　Anotherpolicythatwaspresseduponthegoverningclasswasthepolicy

　　ofrestoringtothelabourersomeoftheresourceshehadlostwithenclosure，

　　ofputtinghiminsuchapositionthathewasnotobligedtodependentirely

　　onthepurchasingpowerofhiswagesattheshop。Thiswastheaimofthe

　　allotmentmovement。Thepropagandafailed，butitdidnotfailforthewant

　　ofvigorousandauthoritativesupport。Wehaveseeninapreviouschapter

　　thatArthurYoungawokein1801tothesocialmischiefofdeprivingthepoor

　　oftheirlandandtheircows，andthathewantedfutureEnclosureActsto

　　bejusterandmorehumane。Cobbettsuggestedalargeschemeofagrariansettlement

　　toWindhamin1806。TheseproposalshadbeenanticipatedbyDavies，whose

　　knowledgeoftheactuallifeofthepoormadehimunderstandtheimportant

　　differencebetweenatotalandapartialdependenceonwages。’Hopeisa

　　cordial，ofwhichthepoormanhasespeciallymuchneed，tocheerhisheart

　　inthetoilsomejourneythroughlife。Andthefatalconsequenceofthatpolicy，

　　whichdepriveslabouringpeopleoftheexpectationofpossessinganyproperty

　　inthesoil，mustbetheextinctionofeverygenerousprincipleintheir

　　minds。Nogentlemanshouldbepermittedtopulldownacottage，until

　　hehadfirsterectedanother，upononeofMr。Kent’splans，eitheronsome

　　convenientpartofthewaste，oronhisownestate，withacertainquantity

　　oflandannexed。’HepraisedtheActofElizabethwhichforbadetheerection

　　ofcottageswithlessthanfouracresoflandaroundthem，’thatpoorpeople

　　mightsecureforthemselvesamaintenance，andnotbeobligedontheloss

　　ofafewdayslabourtocometotheparish，’89*andurgedthatthisprohibition，

　　whichhadbeenrepealedin1775，90*shouldbesetupagain。

　　Thegeneralpolicyofprovidingallotmentswasnevertried，butweknow

　　somethingofindividualexperimentsfromtheReportsoftheSocietyforBettering

　　theConditionandIncreasingtheComfortsofthePoor。Thissocietytook

　　upthecauseofallotmentsveryzealously，andmostoftheexamplesofprivate

　　benevolenceseemtohavefoundtheirwayintothepagesofitsreports。

　　Theseexperimentswerenotverynumerous。Indeed，thenameofLordWinchilsea

　　recurssoinevitablyineveryallusiontothesubjectastocreateasuspicion

　　thatthemovementandhisestateswerecoextensive。Thisisnotthetruth，

　　butitisnotverywideofthetruth，forthoughLordWinchilseahadimitators，

　　thoseimitatorswerefew。ThefullestaccountofhisestateinRutlandshire

　　isgivenbySirThomasBernard。91*TheestateembracedfourparishesHambledon，

　　Egleton，Greetham，andBurleyontheHill。Thetenantsincludedeightycottagers

　　possessingonehundredandseventy-fourcows。’Aboutathirdparthaveall

　　theirlandinseveralty；therestofthemhavetheuseofacow-pasturein

　　commonwithothers；mostofthempossessingasmallhomestead，adjoining

　　totheircottage；everyoneofthemhavingagoodgarden，andkeepingone

　　pigatleast，ifnotmore……Ofalltherentsoftheestate，nonearemore

　　punctuallypaidthanthoseforthecottagers’land。’Inthishappydistrict

　　ifamanseemedlikelytobecomeaburdenontheparishhislandlordand

　　neighbourssavedtheman’sself-respectandtheirownpocketsasratepayers，

　　bysettinghimupwithlandandacowinstead。Sofarfromneglectingtheir

　　workaslabourers，theseproprietorsofcowsaredescribedas’moststeady

　　andtrusty。’Wehaveapictureofthislittlecommunityleadingahardbut

　　energeticandindependentlife，themengoingouttodailywork，butbusy

　　intheirsparehourswiththeircows，sheep，pigs，andgardens；thewomen

　　andchildrenlookingafterthelivestock，spinning，orworkinginthegardens：

　　averydifferentpicturefromthatofthelandlessandill-fedlabourers

　　elsewhere。

　　Otherlandlords，who，actingontheirowninitiative，orattheinstance

　　oftheiragents，helpedtheircottagersbylettingthemlandonwhichto

　　keepcowswereLordCarringtonandLordScarboroughinLincolnshire，and

　　LordEgremontonhisYorkshireestatesKentwashisagent。Somewhowere

　　friendlytotheallotmentsmovementthoughtitamistaketogiveallotments

　　ofarablelandindistrictswherepasturelandwasnotavailable。Mr。Thompson，

　　whowritestheaccountofLordCarrington’scottagerswithcows，thought

　　that’wherecottagersoccupyarableland，itisveryrarelyofadvantage

　　tothem，andgenerallyaprejudicetotheestate。’92*Heseems，however，

　　tohavebeenthinkingmoreofsmallholdingsthanofallotments。’Thelate

　　AbelSmith，Esq。，frommotivesofkindnesstoseveralcottagersonhisestates

　　inNottinghamshire，lettoeachofthemasmallpieceofarableland。Ihave

　　rodeoverthatestatewithLordCarringtonseveraltimessinceitdescended

　　tohim，andIhaveinvariablyobservedthatthetenantsuponit，whooccupy

　　onlyeightortenacresofarableland，arepoor，andtheirlandinbadcondition。

　　Theywouldthrivemoreandenjoygreatercomfortwiththemeansofkeeping

　　twoorthreecowseachthanwiththreetimestheirpresentquantityofarable

　　land；butitwouldbeagreatermortificationtothemtobedeprivedofit

　　thantheirlandlordisdisposedtoinflict。’93*Ontheotherhand，astriking

　　instanceofsuccessfularableallotmentsisdescribedbyaMr。Estcourtin

　　theReportsoftheSocietyforBetteringtheConditionofthePoor。94*

　　ThescenewastheparishofLongNewntoninWilts，whichcontainedonehundred

　　andfortypoorpersons，chieflyagriculturallabourers，distributedinthirty-two

　　families，andtheyearwas1800。Thepriceofprovisionswasveryhigh，and

　　’thoughallhadaveryliberalallowancefromthepoorrate，thewholevillage

　　wasplungedindebtandmisery。Fromthishopelessplighttheparishwas

　　rescuedbyanallotmentschemethatMr。Estcourtestablishedanddescribed。

　　Eachcottagerwhoappliedwasallowedtorentasmallquantityoflandat

　　therateof&#163；1，12s。anacre95*onafourteenyears’lease：thequantity

　　oflandlettoanapplicantdependedonthenumberinhisfamily，witha

　　maximumofoneandahalfacres：thetenantwastoforfeithisholdingif

　　hereceivedpoorreliefotherthanmedicalrelief。Theofferwasgreedily

　　accepted，twowidowswithlargefamiliesandfourveryoldandinfirmpersons

　　beingtheonlypersonswhodidnotapplyforalease。Aloanof&#163；44

　　wasdividedamongthetenantstofreethemfromtheirdebtsandgivethem

　　afreshstart。TheywereallowedathirdoftheirplotonLadyDay1801，

　　asecondthirdonLadyDay1802，andtheremainderonLadyDay1803。The

　　resultsasrecordedin1805wereastonishing。Noneofthetenantshadreceived

　　anypoorrelief：alltheconditionshadbeenobserved：theloanof&#163；44

　　hadlongbeenrepaidandthepoorratehadfallenfrom&#163；212，16s。to

　　&#163；12，6s。’Theyaresomuchbeforehandwiththeworldthatitissupposed

　　thatitmustbesomecalamitystillmoreseverethananytheyhaveeverbeen

　　afflictedwiththatcouldputthemunderthenecessityofeverapplyingfor

　　relieftotheparishagain……Thefarmersofthisparishallowthatthey

　　neverhadtheirworkbetterdone，theirservantsmoreable，willing，civil，

　　andsober，andthattheirpropertywasneversofreefromdepredationas

　　atpresent。’96*

　　Somephilanthropists，fulloftheadvantagestothepoorofpossessing

　　live-stock，arguedthatitwasagoodthingforcottagerstokeepcowseven

　　inarabledistricts。SirHenryVavasourwroteanaccountin180197*of

　　oneofhiscottagerswhomanagedtokeeptwocowsandtwopigsandmakea

　　profitof&#163；30ayearonthreeacresthreeperchesofarablewithasummer’s

　　gaitforoneofhiscows。Theman，hiswife，andhisdaughteroftwelveworked

　　onthelandintheirsparehours。TheBoardofAgricultureofferedgoldmedals

　　in1801forthebestreportofhowtokeeponeortwocowsonarableland，

　　andSirJohnSinclairwroteanessayonthesubject，reproducedintheaccount

　　of’UsefulProjects’intheAnnualRegister。98*SirJohnSinclair

　　urgedthatifthesystemwasgenerallyadopteditwouldremovethepopular

　　objectionstoenclosure。