Inproportiontothisgreatwork,Iamtobeunderstoodthatthesework—houses,housesofcorrection,andstockstoemploythepoormaybegrantedtolessenthepoorinthisorthatparticularpartofEngland;andweareparticularlytoldofthatatBristol,thatithasbeensuchaterrortothebeggarsthatnoneofthestroulingcrewwillcomenearthecity。Butallthisallow’d,ingeneral,’twillbefeltinthemain,andtheendwillbeanencreaseofourpoor。
1。Themanufacturesthatthesegentlemenemploythepoorupon,areallsuchasarebeforeexercis’dinEngland。
2。Theyareallsuchasaremanag’dtoafullextent,andthepresentaccidentsofwarandforeigninterruptionoftradeconsider’dratherbeyondtheventofthemthanunderit。
Supposenowawork—houseforemploymentofpoorchildren,setsthemtospinningofworsted。——Foreveryskeinofworstedthesepoorchildrenspin,theremustbeaskeinthelessspunbysomepoorfamilyorpersonthatspunitbefore;supposethemanufactureofmakingbaystobeerectedinBishopsgate—street,unlessthemakersofthesebayscanatthesametimefindoutatradeorconsumptionformorebaysthanweremadebefore。ForeverypieceofbayssomadeinLondontheremustbeapiecethelessmadeatColchester。
IhumblyappealtotheHonourableHouseofCommonswhatthismaybecall’d,andwithsubmission,Ithinkitisnothingatalltoemployingthepoor,since’tisonlythetransposingthemanufacturefromColchestertoLondon,andtakingthebreadoutofthemouthsofthepoorofEssextoputitintothemouthsofthepoorofMiddlesex。
Iftheseworthygentlemen,whoshowthemselvessocommendablyforwardtorelieveandemploythepoor,willfindoutsomenewtrade,somenewmarket,wherethegoodstheymakeshallbesold,wherenoneofthesamegoodsweresoldbefore;iftheywillsendthemtoanyplacewheretheyshallnotinterferewiththerestofthatmanufacture,orwithsomeothermadeinEngland,thenindeedtheywilldosomethingworthyofthemselves,andmayemploythepoortothesamegloriousadvantageasQueenElizabethdid,towhomthisnation,asatradingcountry,owesitspeculiargreatness。
IfthesegentlemencouldestablishatradetoMuscovyforEnglishserges,orobtainanorderfromtheCzar,thatallhissubjectsshouldwearstockingswhoworenonebefore,everypoorchild’slabourinspinningandknittingthosestockings,andallthewoolinthemwouldbecleargaintothenation,andthegeneralstockwouldbeimprovedbyit,becauseallthegrowthofourcountry,andallthelabourofapersonwhowasidlebefore,issomuchcleargaintothegeneralstock。
IftheywillemploythepoorinsomemanufacturewhichwasnotmadeinEnglandbefore,ornotboughtwithsomemanufacturemadeherebefore,thentheyofferatsomethingextraordinary。
Buttosetpoorpeopleatwork,onthesamethingwhichotherpoorpeoplewereemploy’donbefore,andatthesametimenotencreasetheconsumption,isgivingtoonewhatyoutakeawayfromanother;enrichingonepoormantostarveanother,puttingavagabondintoanhonestman’semployment,andputtinghisdiligenceonthetenterstofindoutsomeotherworktomaintainhisfamily。
Asthisisnotatallprofitable,sowithsubmissionfortheexpression,Icannotsay’tishonest,because’tistransplantingandcarryingthepoorpeopleslawfulemploymentfromtheplacewherewastheirlawfulsettlement,andthehardshipofthisourlawconsider’disintolerable。Forexample。
Themanufactureofmakingbaysisnowestablish’datColchesterinEssex,supposeitshouldbeattemptedtobeerectedinMiddlesex,asacertainworthyandwealthygentlemannearHackneyoncepropos’d,itmaybesuppos’difyouwillgranttheskillinworkingthesame,andthewagesthesame,thattheymustbemadecheaperinMiddlesexthaninEssex,andcheapnesscertainlywillmakethemerchantbuyhereratherthanthere,andsointimeallthebaymakingatColchesterdyes,andthestapleforthatcommodityisremovedtoLondon。
WhatmustthepoorofColchesterdo,theretheybuyaparochialsettlement,thosethathavenumerousfamiliescannotfollowthemanufactureandcomeuptoLondon,forourparochiallawsimpowertheChurch—wardenstorefusethemasettlement,sothattheyareconfin’dtotheirowncountrey,andthebreadtakenoutoftheirmouths,andallthistofeedvagabonds,andtosetthemtowork,whobytheirchoicewouldbeidle,andwhomeritthecorrectionofthelaw。
ThereisanothergrievancewhichIshallendeavourtotouchat,whicheverymanthatwisheswelltothepoordoesnotforsee,andwhich,withhumblesubmissiontothegentlementhatcontriv’dthisAct,Iseenonoticetakenof。
Therearearcanasintrade,whichthoughtheyarethenaturalconsequencesoftimeandcasualcircumstances,areyetbecomenowsoessentialtothepublickbenefit,thattoalterordisorderthem,wouldbeanirreparabledamagetothepublick。
IshallexplainmyselfasconciselyasIcan。
ThemanufacturesofEnglandarehappilysettledindifferentcornersofthekingdom,fromwhencetheyaremutuallyconvey’dbyacirculationoftradetoLondonbywholesale,likethebloodtotheheart,andfromthencedisperseinlesserquantitiestotheotherpartsofthekingdombyretail。Forexample。
SergesaremadeatExeter,Taunton,&c。stuffsatNorwich;
bayes,sayes,shaloons,&c。atColchester,Bocking,Sudbury,andpartsadjacent,finecloathinSomerset,Wilts,GloucesterandWorcestershire,coarsecloathinYorkshire,Kent,Surry,&c。
druggetsatFarnham,Newbury,&c。AllthesesendupthegrossoftheirquantitytoLondon,andreceiveeachotherssortsinretailfortheirownuseagain。NorwichbuysExeterserges,ExeterbuysNorwichstuffs,allatLondon;Yorkshirebuysfinecloths,andGloucestercoarse,stillatLondon;andthelike,ofavastvarietyofourmanufactures。
Bythisexchangeofmanufacturesabundanceoftradingfamiliesaremaintain’dbythecarriageandrecarriageofgoods,vastnumberofmenandcattleareemployed,andnumbersofinholders,victuallers,andtheirdependenciessubsisted。
AndonthisaccountIcannotbutobservetoyourhonours,and’tiswellworthyourconsideration,thatthealreadytransposingavastwoollenmanufacturefromseveralpartsofEnglandtoLondon,isamanifestdetrimenttotradeingeneral,theseveralwoollengoodsnowmadeinSpittlefields,wherewithinthisfewyearswerenoneatallmade,hasalreadyvisiblyaffectedtheseveralparts,wheretheywerebeforemade,asNorwich,Sudbury,Farnham,andothertowns,manyofwhoseprincipaltradesmenarenowremov’dhither,employtheirstockshere,employthepoorhere,andleavethepoorofthosecountriestoshiftforwork。
Thisbreachofthecirculationoftrademustnecessarilydistemperthebody,andIcraveleavetogiveanexampleortwo。
I’llpresumetogiveanexampleintrade,whichperhapsthegentlemenconcern’dinthisbillmay,withoutreJectionupontheirknowledge,beignorantof。
ThecityofNorwich,andpartsadjacent,wereforsomeagesemploy’dinthemanufacturesofstuffsandstockings。
Thelattertrade,whichwasonceconsiderable,isinamannerwhollytranspos’dintoLondon,bythevastquantitiesofworstedhosewovebytheframe,whichisatradewithinthis20yearsalmostwhollynew。
Nowastheknittingframeperformsthatinadaywhichwouldotherwiseemployapoorwomaneightortendays,byconsequenceafewframesperform’dtheworkofmanythousandpoorpeople;andtheconsumptionbeingnotincreased,theeffectimmediatelyappear’d;somanystockingsasweremadeinLondonsomanythefewerweredemandedfromNorwich;tillinafewyearsthemanufacturetherewhollysunk,themastersthereturn’dtheirhandstootherbusiness;andwhereasthehosetradefromNorfolkoncereturn’datleast5,000s。perweek,andassomesaytwicethatsum,’tisnotnowworthnaming。
’Tisinfeweryears,andnearourmemory,thatofSpittlefieldsmenhavefallenintoanotherbranchoftheNorwichtrade,viz。,makingofstuffs,drugets,&c。
IfanymansaythepeopleofNorfolkareyetfullofemploy,anddonotwork;andsomehavebeensoweakastomakethatreply,avoidingthemanyotherdemonstrationswhichcouldbegiven,thisispastanswering,viz。ThatthecombersofwoolinNorfolkandSuffolk,whoformerlyhadall,ortenpartsinelevenoftheiryarnmanufactur’dinthecountry,nowcombtheirwoolindeed,andspintheyarninthecountry,butsendvastquantitiesofittoLondontobewoven;willanymanquestionwhetherthisbenotalosstoNorwich;cantherebeasmanyweaversasbefore?Andaretherenotabundanceofworkmenandmasterstooremov’dtoLondon?
IfitbesoatNorwich,Canterburyisyetmoreamelancholyinstanceofit,wherethehousesstandempty,andthepeoplegooff,andthetradedyes,becausetheweavershavefollow’dthemanufacturetoLondon;andwhereastherewaswithinfewyears200
broadloomsatwork,Iamwellassur’dtherearenot50nowemploy’dinthatcity。
Thesearetheeffectsoftransposingmanufactures,andinterruptingthecirculationoftrade。
Allmethodstobringourtradetobemanag’dbyfewerhandsthanitwasbefore,areinthemselvespernicioustoEnglandingeneral,astheylessentheemploymentofthepoor,unhingetheirhandsfromthelabour,andtendtobringourhandstobesuperiortoouremploy,whichasyettheyarenot。
InDorsetshireandSomersetshiretherealwayshasbeenaveryconsiderablemanufactureforstockings,atColchesterandSudburyforbayes,saves,&c。mostofthewoolthesecountriesuseisboughtatLondon,andcarrieddownintothosecounties,andthenthegoodsbeingmanufactur’darebroughtbacktoLondontomarket;upontransposingthemanufactureasbefore,allthepoorpeopleandallthecattelwhohithertowereemploy’dinthatvoiture,areimmediatelydisbandedbytheircountry,theinnkeepersontheroadsmustdecay,somuchlandlyeforotheruses,asthecattleemploy’d,housesandtenementontheroads,andalltheirdependenciessinkinvalue。
’Tishardtocalculatewhatablowitwouldbetotradeingeneral,shouldeverycountybutmanufacturealltheseveralsortsofgoodstheyuse,itwouldthrowourinlandtradeintostrangeconvulsions,whichatpresentisperhaps,orhasbeen,inthegreatestregularityofanyintheworld。
Whatstrangeworkmustitthenmakewheneverytownshallhaveamanufacture,andeveryparishbeaware—house;tradewillbeburthen’dwithcorporations,whicharegenerallyequallydestructiveasmonopolies,andbythismethodwilleasilybemadeso。
Parishstocks,underthedirectionofJusticesofPeace,maysooncometosetuppettymanufactures,andhereshallallusefulthingsbemade,andallthepoorersortofpeopleshallbeaw’dorbyass’dtotradethereonly。Thustheshop—keepers,whopaytaxes,andarethesupportofourinlandcirculation,willimmediatelyberuin’d,andthusweshallbeggarthenationtoprovideforthepoor。
Asthiswillmakeeveryparishamarkettown,andeveryhospitalastore—house,soinLondon,andtheadjacentparts,towhichvastquantitiesofthewoollenmanufacturewillbethustransplanted,toogreatanddisproportion’dnumbersofthepeoplewillintimeassemble。
Tho’thesettledpoorcan’tremove,yetsinglepeoplewillstroulaboutandfollowthemanufacturer;andthusintimesuchvastnumberswillbedrawnaboutLondon,asmaybeinconvenienttothegovernment,andespeciallydepopulatingtothosecountrieswherethenumbersofpeople,byreasonofthesemanufacturesareveryconsiderable。
AneminentinstanceofthiswehaveinthepresenttradetoMuscovy,whichhoweverdesign’dforanimprovementtotheEnglishnation,andboastedofassuch,appearstobeconvertedintoamonopoly,andprovesinjuriousanddestructivetothenation。Thepersonsconcern’dremovingandcarryingoutourpeopletoteachthatunpolish’dnationtheimprovementstheyarecapableof。
IfthebringingtheFlemingstoEnglandbroughtwiththemtheirmanufactureandtrade,carryingourpeopleabroad,especiallytoacountrywherethepeopleworkforlittleornothing,whatmayitnotdotowardsinstructingthatpopulousnationinsuchmanufacturesasmayintimetendtothedestructionofourtrade,orthereducingourmanufacturetoanabatementinvalue,whichwillbefeltathomebyanabatementofwages,andthatinprovisions,andthatinrentofland;andsothegeneralstocksinksofcourse。
Butasthisispreparing,byeminenthands,tobelaidbeforethisHouseasagrievancemeritingyourcareandconcern,Iomitinsistingonithere,Andthisremovingofpeopleisattendedwithmanyinconvenienceswhicharenoteasilyperceived,as1。Theimmediatefallofthevalueofalllandsinthosecountieswherethemanufactureswerebefore;forasthenumbersofpeople,bytheconsumptionofprovisions,mustwhereevertheyencreasemakerentsrise,andlandsvaluable;sothosepeopleremoving,tho’theprovisionswould,ifpossible,followthem,yetthepriceofthemmustfallbyallthatchargetheyareatforcarriage,andconsequentlylandsmustfallinproportion。
2。Thistransplantingoffamilies,intime,wouldintroducegreatandnewalterationsinthecountriestheyremovedto,whichastheywouldbetotheprofitofsomeplaces,wouldbetothedetrimentofothers,andcanbynomeansbejustanymorethanitisconvenient;fornowisegovernmentstudiestoputanybranchoftheircountrytoanyparticulardisadvantages,tho’itmaybefoundinthegeneralaccountinanotherplace。
Ifitbesaidherewillhemanufacturesineveryparish,andthatwillkeepthepeopleathome,Ihumblyrepresentwhatstrangeconfusionandparticulardetrimenttothegeneralcirculationoftrademention’dbeforeitmustbe,tohaveeveryparishmakeitsownmanufactures。
1。Itwillmakeourtownsandcountiesindependentofoneanother,andputadamptocorrespondence,whichallwillallowtobeagreatmotiveoftradeingeneral。
2。Itwillfilluswithvarioussortsandkindsofmanufactures,bywhichourstatedsortsofgoodswillintimedwindleawayinreputation,andforeignersnotknowthemonefromanother。Ourseveralmanufacturesareknownbytheirrespectivenames;andourserges,bayesandothergoods,areboughtabroadbythecharacterandreputationoftheplaceswheretheyaremade;whenthereshallcomenewandunheardofkindstomarket,somebetter,someworse,astobesurenewundertakerswillvaryinkinds,thedignityandreputationoftheEnglishgoodsabroadwillbelost,andsomanyconfusionsintrademustfollowasaretoomanytorepeat。
3。Eitherourparish—stockmustsellbywholesaleorbyretail,orboth;ifthefirst,’tisdoubtedtheywillmakesorryworkofit,andhavingotherbusinessoftheirownmakebutpoormerchants;ifbyretail,thentheyturnpedlars,willbeapublicknusancetotrade,andatlastquiteruinit。
4。ThiswillruinallthecarriersinEngland,thewoolwillbeallmanufacturedwhereitissheer’d,everybodywillmaketheirowncloaths,andthetradewhichnowlivesbyrunningthro’
amultitudeofhands,willgothenthroughsofew,thatthousandsoffamilieswillwantemployment,andthisistheonlywaytoreduceustotheconditionspokenof,tohavemorehandsthanwork。
’TistheexcellenceofourEnglishmanufacture,thatitissoplantedastogothro’asmanyhandsas’tispossible;hethatcontrivestohaveitgothro’fewer,oughtatthesametimetoprovideworkfortherest——asitisitemploysagreatmultitudeofpeople,andcanemploymore;butifaconsiderablenumberofthesepeoplebeunhing’dfromtheiremployment,itcannotbutbedetrimentaltothewhole。
WhenIsaywecouldemploymorepeopleinEngland,Idonotmeanthatwecannotdoourworkwiththosewehave,butImeanthus:
First,Itshouldbemorepeoplebroughtoverfromforeignparts。Idonotmeanthatthosewehaveshouldbetakenfromallcommonemploymentsandputtoourmanufacture;wemayunequallydisposeofourhands,andsohavetoomanyforsomeworks,andtoofewforothers;and’tisplainthatinsomepartsofEnglanditisso,whatelsecanbethereason,whyinoursouthernpartsofEngland,Kentinparticular,borrows20,000peopleofothercountiestogetinherharvest。
Butifmoreforreignerscameamongus,ifitwere2millions,itcoulddousnoharm,becausetheywouldconsumeourprovisions,andwehavelandenoughtoproducemuchmorethanwedo,andtheywouldconsumeourmanufactures,andwehavewoolenoughforanyquantity。
Ithinktherefore,withsubmission,toerectmanufacturesineverytowntotransposethemanufacturesfromthesettledplacesintoprivateparishesandcorporations,toparceloutourtradetoeverydoor,itmustberuinoustothemanufacturersthemselves,willturnthousandsoffamiliesoutoftheiremployments,andtakethebreadoutofthemouthsofdiligentandindustriousfamiliestofeedvagrants,thievesandbeggars,whooughtmuchrathertobecompell’d,bylegalmethods,toseekthatworkwhichitisplainistobehad;andthusthisActwillinsteadofsettingandrelievingthepoor,encreasetheirnumber,andstarvethebestofthem。
Itremainsnow,accordingtomyfirstproposalpage37,toconsiderfromwhenceproceedsthepovertyofourpeople,whataccident,whatdecayoftrade,whatwantofemployment,whatstrangerevolutionofcircumstancesmakesourpeoplepoor,andconsequentlyburthensome,andourlawsdeficient,soastomakemoreandotherlawsrequisite,andthenationconcernedtoapplyaremedytothisgrowingdisease。Ianswer,I。Notforwantofwork;andbesideswhathasbeensaidonthathead,Ihumblydesirethesetwothingsmaybeconsider’d。
First,’Tisapparent,thatifoneman,woman,orchild,canbyhis,orherlabour,earnmoremoneythanwillsubsistonebody,theremustconsequentlybenowantofwork,sinceanymanwouldworkforjustasmuchaswouldsupplyhimselfratherthanstarve。——Whatavastdifferencethenmusttherebebetweentheworkandthework—men,when’tisnowknownthatinSpittle—fields,andotheradjacentpartsofthecity,thereisnothingmorefrequentthanforajourney—manweaver,ofmanysorts,togainfrom15s。to30s。perweekwages,andIappealtothesilkthrowsters,whethertheydonotgive8s。9s。and10s。
perweek,toblindmenandcripples,toturnwheels,anddothemeanestandmostordinaryworks。
CurMoriaturHomo,&c。
Whyarethefamiliesofthesemenstarv’d,andtheirchildreninwork—houses,andbroughtupbycharity;IamreadytoproducetothisHonourableHousethemanwhoforseveralyearshasgain’dofmebyhishandylabouratthemeanscoundrelemploymentoftilemakingfrom16s。to20s。perweekwages,andallthattimewouldhardlyhaveapairofshoestohisfeet,orcloathstocoverhisnakedness,andhadhiswifeandchildrenkeptbytheparish。
Themeanestlaboursinthisnationaffordtheworkmansufficienttoprovideforhimselfandhisfamily,andthatcouldneverbeiftherewasawantofwork。
2。IhumblydesirethisHonourableHousetoconsiderthepresentdifficultyofrisingsoldiersinthiskingdom;thevastchargethekingdomisattotheofficerstoprocuremen;themanylittleandnotoverhonestmethodsmadeuseoftobringthemintotheservice,thelawsmadetocompelthem;whyaregaolsrumag’dformalefactors,andtheMintandprisonsfordebtors,thewarisanemploymentofhonour,andsufferssomescandalinhavingmentakenfromthegallows,andimmediatelyfromvillains,andhousebreakersmadegentlemensoldiers。Ifmenwantedemployment,andconsequentlybread,thiscouldneverbe,anymanwouldcarryamusketratherthanstarve,andweartheQueen’scloth,oranybodiescloth,ratherthangonaked,andliveinragsandwant;
tisplainthenationisfullofpeople,and’tisasplainourpeoplehavenoparticularaversiontothewar,buttheyarenotpoorenoughtogoabroad;’tispovertymakesmensoldiers,anddrivescrowdsintothearmies,andthedifficultiestogetEnglish—mentolistis,becausetheyliveinplentyandease,andhethatcanearn20s。perweekataneasie,steadyemployment,mustbedrunkormadwhenhelistsforasoldier,tobeknock’do’th’headfor3s。6d。perweek;butiftherewasnoworktobehad,ifthepoorwantedemployment,iftheyhadnotbreadtoeat,norknewnothowtoearnit,thousandsofyounglustyfellowswouldflytothepikeandmusket,andchoosetodyelikemeninthefaceoftheenemy,ratherthanlyeathome,starve,perishinpovertyanddistress。
Fromalltheseparticulars,andinnumerableunhappyinstanceswhichmightbegiven,’tisplain,thepovertyofourpeoplewhichissoburthensome,andincreasesuponussomuch,doesnotarisefromwantofproperemployments,andforwantofwork,oremployers,andconsequently,Work—houses,corporations,parish—stocks,andthelike,tosetthemtowork,astheyarepernicioustotrade,injuriousandimpoverishingtothosealreadyemploy’d,sotheyareneedless,andwillcomeshortoftheendpropos’d。
ThepovertyandexigenceofthepoorinEngland,isplainlyderiv’dfromoneofthesetwoparticularcauses。
CasualtyorCrime。
ByCasualty,Imeansicknessoffamilies,lossoflimbsorsight,andany,eithernaturaloraccidentalimpotenceastolabour。
Theseasinfirmitiesmeerlyprovidentialarenotatallconcern’dinthisdebate;everwere,will,andoughttobethechargeandcareoftherespectiveparisheswheresuchunhappypeoplechancetolive,noristhereanywantofnewlawstomakeprovisionforthem,ourancestorshavingbeenalwayscarefultodoit。
Thecrimesofourpeople,andfromwhencetheirpovertyderives,asthevisibleanddirectfountainsare,1。Luxury。
2。Sloath。
3。Pride。
GoodhusbandryisnoEnglishvertue,itmayhavebeenbroughtover,andinsomeplaceswhereithasbeenplantedithasthrivenwellenough,but’tisaforreignspecies,itneitherloves,norisbelov’dbyanEnglish—man;and’tisobserv’dnothingissouniversallyhated,nothingtreatedwithsuchageneralcontemptasarichcovetousman,tho’hedoesnomananywrong,onlysaveshisown,everymanwillhaveanillwordforhim,ifamisfortunehappenstohim,hanghimacovetousoldrogue,’tisnomatter,he’srichenough,naywhenacertaingreatman’shousewasonfire,Ihaveheardthepeoplesayonetoanother,letitburnand’twill,he’sacovetousoldmiserlydog,Iwo’nttroublemyheadtohelphim,he’dbehang’dbeforehe’dgiveusabitofbreadifwewantedit。
’Thothisbeafault,yetIobservefromitsomethingofthenaturaltemperandgeniusofthenation,generallyspeaking,theycannotsavetheirmoney。
’TisgenerallysaidtheEnglishgetestates,andtheDutchsavethem;andthisobservationIhavemadebetweenforreignersandEnglish—menthatwhereanEnglishmanearns20s。perweek,andbitjustlives,aswecallit,aDutch—mangrowsrich,andleaveshischildreninverygoodcondition;whereanEnglishlabouringmanwithhis9s。perweekliveswretchedlyandpoor,aDutch—manwiththatwageswillliveverytolerablywell,keepthewolffromthedoor,andhaveeverythinghandsomeabouthim。Inshort,hewillberichwiththesamegainasmakestheEnglish—manpoor,he’llthrivewhentheothergoesinrags,andhe’lllivewhentheotherstarves,orgoesabegging。
Thereasonisplain,amanwithgoodhusbandry,andthoughtinhishead,bringshomehisearningshonestlytohisfamily,commitsittothemanagementofhiswife,orotherwisedisposesitforpropersubsistance,andthismanwithmeangains,livescomfortably,andbringsupafamily,whenasinglemangettingthesamewages,drinksitawayattheale—house,thinksnotoftomorrow,layesupnothingforsickness,age,ordisaster,andwhenanyofthesehappen,he’sstarv’d,andabeggar。
Thisissoapparentineveryplace,thatIthinkitneedsnoexplication;thatEnglishlabouringpeopleeatanddrink,butespeciallythelatterthreetimesasmuchinvalueasanysortofforreignersofthesamedimensionsintheworld。
Iamnotwritingthisasasatyronourpeople,’tisasadtruth;andworthythedebateandapplicationofthenationsphysitiansassembledinParliament,theprofuseextravaganthumourofourpoorpeopleineatinganddrinking,keepsthemlow,causestheirchildrentobeleftnakedandstarving,tothecareoftheparishes,whenevereithersicknessordisasterbefallstheparent。
Thenextarticleistheirsloath。
Wearethemostlazydiligentnationintheworld,vasttrade,richmanufactures,mightywealth,universalcorrespondenceandhappysuccesshavebeenconstantcompanionsofEngland,andgivenusthetitleofanindustriouspeople,andsoingeneralweare。
Butthereisageneraltaintofslothfulnessuponourpoor,there’snothingmorefrequent,thanforanEnglishmantoworktillhehasgothispocketfullofmoney,andthengoandbeidle,orperhapsdrunk,till,tisallgone,andperhapshimselfindebt;andaskhiminhiscupswhatheintends,he’lltellyouhonestly,he’lldrinkaslongasitlasts,andthengotoworkformore。
Ihumblysuggestthisdistemper’ssogeneral,soepidemick,andsodeeprootedinthenatureandgeniusoftheEnglish,thatImuchdoubtitsbeingeasilyredress’d,andquestionwhetheritbepossibletoreachitbyanActofParliament。
Thisistheruineofourpoor,thewifemourns,thechildrenstarve,thehusbandhasworkbeforehim,butliesattheale—house,orotherwiseidlesawayhistime,andwon’twork。
’Tisthementhatwontwork,notthementhatcangetnowork,whichmakesthenumbersofourpoor;allthework—housesinEngland,alltheoverseerssettingupstocksandmanufactureswon’treachthiscase;andIhumblypresumetosay,ifthesetwoarticlesareremov’d,therewillbenoneedoftheother。
Imakenodifficultytopromiseonashortsummons,toproduceaboveathousandfamiliesinEngland,withinmyparticularknowledge,whogoinrags,andtheirchildrenwantingbread,whosefatherscanearntheir15to25s。perweek,butwillnotwork,whomayhaveworkenough,butaretooidletoseekafterit,andhardlyvouchsafetoearnanythingmorethanbaresubsistance,andspendingmoneyforthemselves。
Icangiveanincrediblenumberofexamplesinmyownknowledgeamongourlabouringpoor。Ioncepaid6or7mentogetheronaSaturdaynight,theleast10s。andsome30s。forwork,andhaveseenthemgowithitdirectlytotheale—house,lietheretillMonday,spenditeverypenny,andrunindebttoboot,andnotgiveafarthingofittotheirfamilies,tho’allofthemhadwivesandchildren。
Fromhencecomespoverty,parishcharges,andbeggary,ifeveroneofthesewretchesfallssick,alltheywouldaskwasapasstotheparishtheyliv’dat,andthewifeandchildrentothedoorabegging。
IfthisHonourableHousecanfindoutaremedyforthispartofthemischief。IfsuchActsofParliamentmaybemadeasmayeffectuallycurethesloathandluxuryofourpoor,thatshallmakedrunkardstakecareofwifeandchildren,spendthriftslayupforawet,day;idle,lazyfellowsdiligent;andthoughtlesssottishmen,carefulandprovident。
Ifthiscanbedone,Ipresumetosay,therewillbenoneedoftransposingandconfoundingourmanufactures,andthecirculationofourtrade;theywillsoonfindworkenough,andtherewillsoonbelesspovertyamongus,andifthiscannotbedone,settingthemtoworkuponwoollenmanufactures,andtherebyencroachinguponthosethatnowworkatthem,willbutruineourtrade,andconsequentlyincreasethenumberofthepoor。
IdonotpresumetooffertheschemesIhavenowdrawnofmethodsforthebringingmuchofthistopass,becauseIshallnotpresumetoleadabodysoaugust,sowise,andsocapableasthisHonourableAssembly。
Ihumblysubmitwhatishereoffered,asreasonstoprovetheattemptnowmakinginsufficient;anddoubtnotbutinyourgreatwisdom,youwillfindoutwaysandmeanstosetthismatterinaclearerlight,andonarightfoot。
AndifthisobtainsontheHousetoexaminefartherintothismatter,theauthorhumblyrecommendsittotheirconsiderationtoaccept,inbehalfofallthepoorofthisnation,aclauseintheroomofthisobjectedagainst,whichshallanswertheendwithoutthisterribleruintoourtradeandpeople。
FINIS。