The National Register. — London, England, 1818-03-15 00:00:00

REVIEW OF LITERATURE. Considerations on the Lupo:icy and Pernicious Tadettey the Poor Lams, with Remarks on the Report of Ike Select Committee of the House of Commons, 4c. Bt CHARLES JERRAM, A. M. VICAR OF CHORHAY. THE subject of the Poor Laws has received such ample discussion in all classes, and occupied the attentibn of so many experienced and benevolent men, that it is a matter of no small difficulty to elicit any thing new concerning it. In this respect, we certainly cannot con gratulate Mr. Jerram, for it appears to us, that there ' are few suggestions in his book, with which we were not perfectly familiar, and which we have not had re peatedly pressed upon our notice by numerous writers. Befbre we proceed to the more agreeable task of com mending the Author fbr what he has done, we must observe that he does not display any very extensive re search into the theory, nor communicate many results of experience in the practical part. Indeed with all respect for the Magistracy generally, we think there arc few individuals in that body who can from mere local ex perience,. throw that light on the question at large, which its• importance demands. The Committee of the House of Commons have here undoubtedly been ofessen tial service in accumulating and cOM paring individual tcs timonies—and such communications, as far as facts and aexiliary suggestions go, add greatly to our knowledge of the subject. In the limited scope which Mr. Jerram allows him self, he directs our attention to some very important truths and seine salutary and efficacious remedies for existing evils.: His views are mostly correct, and his arrangement perspicuous and logical. With his leading position, that the Poor Laws as they stand, have a most injurious tendency, and do produce most pernicious ef fects, we decidedly agree, and we believe it is a &et, so generally admitted, that it is wholly unnecessary to dwell on the proofs of it. To those who are yet uncon vinced, we can only recommend a perusal of the Re port of the Condnittee above alluded to, which is illus trated by a mass of evidence of the most striking and decisive description. Mr. Jerram lays down the fol lowing principles.—First, That all hopes of entirely re rooting the evils of poverty are vain ; which we imagine does not require much argument to prove its truth, tbr whatever expectations sanguine philosophers may enter tain as to the amelioration of the condition of mankind, he trust indeed be an enthusiast, to say theleast,who can dream that all evils shall be eradicated from the earth ; and of these, poverty is, undoubtedly, one of the most extensive and inherent in the constitution of society. The Author then shows, that the administration of the present system el the Poor Laws tends greatly to aggra vate these evils, explaining very satisfactorily " that it creates the very evil it professes to remedy, and that it holds out a premium to idleness, improvidence and pro fligacy, by securing all the advantages which would be derived from sobriety, prudence and industry."—(p. 4t.) We have not space, nor is it necessary to enter into the arguments adduced in support of this conclu sion, obvious as they must be to every one who has hail any acquaintance with the subject at all, But we think , that neither the Committee of the House of Commons, nor Mr. Jerram, have probed the wound sufficiently— they have not gone far enough into the causes of this in creasing state malady, they have not traced the evil to its source, and as regards the Committee, it was scarcely to be expected they should. In our opinion, one of the prin cipal causes of the increase of pauperism, is the extra ordinary weight of taxation the people have been obliged to hear. This country has been culled upon to support a most expensive and protracted war ; to carry on which, the public debt was most fearfully augmented, and various heavy taxes became requisite. At the saute time, the nation had advanced a a high state of pros perity—the sails of commerce were spread in all parts of the world—innumerable wheels were in motion throughout the kingdom—speculation extended every whcie, and in proportion, as we acquired riches, we became lavish. What was the consequence ?—The time arrived, when a re-action took place—pzlitiral occurrences changed the face of affairs—commerce in grasping too much, over-reached herself, and fell. Tile public barthens could not be suddenly removed, and in the stagnation of trade, they could not be borne. The middling class of society were thrown into un- . barrassment, and the poor into thmress. To remedy this is extremely difficult, but we have no hesitation in saying, that the remedy must bear relation to these psi mare causes. It must be the gradual and silent opera tion of wialom by preserving the country in a state of peace, and by enabling the middle ranks to reap the profits of their industry, without having an overweening desire for the accumulation of wealth. On this head we maid sass much more, but we must restrain onr sAves. Mr. Jerriun (p. Is.) seems to entertain similar views of the itupolicy of the rich, with respect to their poorer brethren, and we agree with him in thinking that much blame attaches to those men who have suf fered things to come to this extremity, when they had it in their power, by proper conduct—to mitignite its ?It :11(91 THE NATTONA IMISTER: .themselves to secondary causes, their remedial sugges- . dons are, consequently of the same claim. Mr. Jernun's 3d leading principle is, that the means which bid the fairest for success, lie within the poor themselves under the di rection and assistance of the teg,i.daturt, in conjunction with prudent and attire charity, to all which, as secon dary remedies, we fully assent, as We do also to the reverend author's observations respecting the morality of the poor. Here we cannot'do better than give' his 'own words. He says _ " In all attempts to improve the condition of the poor, ithis is - the first point to which oar first and principal effmts ;must be directed. We must give them principles—we most tin-nisi] them with motives—we must hold • oat induremetits. Tlit c y must' not he depressed, but elevated, taught to think, little inderd - of themselves, and their ow a moral attainments, but moat' highly of their exalted rank in creat!On and' their future destiny. Let tin it children then he careliolly iiistruc- Irak and tro:ptlaup in religions habits—let parents - be visited at their habitations• and kindly admonished of what' is evil. and invited to a constiint attendance on the ordinances of andlet if appear that a sincere regard is felt by their superiors, for. their best interests ; and they will feel their obligations, and' will Endeavour to return It by diligence in their business, sobriety in their conduct, and respect to their benefactors." II is concluding remark i s.s9riking.and just— " All ettbrts will be abortive without moral culture. Make the Poor, Christians, and they witiloot make themselves pau pers." THE HURRICANE, I:rETP.R,III Agen 7.—The heavy rains which fell on 'Tues day and Wednesdhy nights caused an unusual swell of the waters in the Western. counties, and with the tremendous hurricane accompanying theta, produced fatal and disastrous consequences. A great number of sheep and other cattle, which were grazing in the marshes on the banks of the Bite, were swept awa, by the torrent. The water was at a con- , sitlerable depth in Aiphington-street, St. Thomas, near this city, and ft thence to Alphington. The coaches were de layed some hours beyond their tismil times of arrival and set. ing out, owing to the interruptions. occasioned by the blow. ing down of trees in theditierent roads, united with the over flowing of the neighbouring streams, which rendered the roads impassible. The Subscription Coach, which left this city on Wednesday evening from London, did not arrive in Honitotr tmtil six the following morning, being stopped about miles on this side by the water, which was in some places over the backs of the horses. At Exmouth, the violence of the gale carried roultd the vanes of the wind-mill, with such velocity as to cause the works to take tire, and the vanes were blown oft, and dashed to picees. On the coast ninny boats have been lost. The trees rooted up in various places are ibmionerable; amongst those in Major F. E. Drake's park, near Lympstone, great havoc has been committed ; about no were blown down at Lindridge.park, the seat of the Rev. J. Templer, and a considerable number at Mainhead, Pea more, and other gentlemen's scats ; hot the most disastrous circumstance which has come to our knowledge is an accident which betel one of the waggons of Messrs. Brice anti Baker, of this city, on Thursday morning. As it was passing over Easton's-bridge, in the new road from this city to Culinmoton, about halt' a mile from the later place, a tremendous clap of thunder frightened the horses,. and they set off at NI speed : it being extremely dark, and the water over the road on the other side of the bridge, prevented their keeping in a proper direction, and just as they had passed it, the waggon and horses were precipitated into the river : we lament to add, that three passengers, a young man, woman, and her child were drowntil: 'rune violent storm of wind on Wednesday night, more re sembled a tropical hurricane than the gales which occasional ly visit this climate. Houses were partially unroofed, ehimnies blown down, and part of one of the battlements at the cathe dral fell with such violence as to penetrate a roof beneath, and occasion considerable damage. The Bristol and Bir mingham mail, on its approach to this city, about It o'clock, at night, tel lour inside and two outside passengers, had a very narow escape from being overset into a piece of water of great depth at Hardwiek-bridge, where all must have perished. The leaders, loosing their footing, trotted shunt rotund ; on which the guard got down, in the hope of being able to guide them through the .water, but in the attempt the horses fell into the ditch, and pulled the pour fellow in with them. In this perilous dilemma, and with no other pros pert than the coach being likewise drawn into the same abyss, a young naval officer, who was an inside passenger, intrepidly plunged into the flood, and, swimming with one hand, with the tither he dragged the guard on shore ; after which he went to the assistance of the horses, cut the traces, with a knife he took from his pocket, and saved the poor atiimats from drowning, as well as the coach from being upset, in that appalling sitnation' Finding it impossible to proceed, the whole of the horses were taken off, and went kick with four of the passengers and the guard, to 11 7 hitminster Inn, (about three miles), Burrowes, the driver, being left on the box in charge of the coach. • Gloucester Juurnal. THE BREAKWATER.—" PLYMOUTH, MARCH 3.--Yester day the gale came un with doable violence at S.S.W. and by high water increased to the severest storm I have seen since I have been (now seven years) at Ply h. The storm that did the Breakwater so .h damage in Jan. last year, was nothing to it, and it did not moderate until four o'clock. This enabled persons to get OR the Breakwater, and I have great pleasure in White, you that every thing was found us it ought to be, in a perfect firm state. I have myself been or, the work, an hour since ; but the w inn has again got into its old ri p t t ri (x . 1 1 .) and hl., % ing hard. A large East India ship, ants the Elm' user.' hr the &mud during the storm, and rode it not v,,% we, the Breakwater aCey must have both heti' inevitably lo,t. At the ciolotwocemealt of' the winder a few large stories wt re plaited by themselves on the top or finished part of the Bic:Ai% ater, to see it they would stand thew inter gales ; they sterol all but this last, and this' moraine I found them washed from the top, and 1% rug en the North Slope. There were three of them, one of 111111: UAW: and the other two of five tons each. They will be replaced as soon as possible." • The MRCICIIII rookery, at Newton (the seat of the family of the I farby us). Somerset:dare, was entir t ly blownduwu dims the hurricane on Wekluesday seliiiight. Nearly Into trees were torn up by the roots, and out ell the is! tie is•at only one tree stands. a::ociv of art careacioak: woe, frit at Tulin on rite :0 it .0. MARCH 13. Porn the LONDON GAZETTE,Tucseing, March 10. BANKRUPTCIES IiNLAREII. CrimeaAirt J. Oldham, Lancashire, shoemaker, item March tO• to April b. Rost: S. Swansea, Glamorg,anshire, dealer, from March 2.4 to April 10. BANKRUPTCY SUPERSEDED. BUDGE r J. B. Stoke-!ene, Somerset, brewer:. MARSDEg*IY. N. Salford; corn-dealer. NKIWPTS. Sou T TEN'. E. Fox and Knot-yaid; Swahili, dealin.Match is 28. April 21. at Guildhall. Att. Mr. Deykes, -Thavies-inn. CitAcxvow C. T. Scott's Wharf. Southwark, marble-merchant. March 14,28, April 21, at Guildhall; Att. Mr. Castle, Cursitor-• street. II t nE .1. Liverpool, money-scrivener, Inreh,l4, 11, April 21, at: Guildhall: Att. Mr. Chester, Staple-inn. MARSHAL!: .1. Great Grimsby, corn-merchant, 'Mar: 41 24, 21i April: 21, at Great Grimsby. Atts. Mr. Burton, Weldon, Northam tonshire. Woof J. Manchester, broker, April 6, In II ; at Alaneliester. Mts. Milne and Co. Temple. ITateuitis J Dedder.field, butcher, April 13, 14., 21. at )(udders. Att: Mi. Jamul), Basingliall-street. Ilhr.isma .1. Birmingham,. earthenware-dealer, 'Anvil .n, April 1, 21. at Stafford. Mt. M. Berridge, Hatton-garden. GirEcirtu .1. Frome Stlwood, arid-merchant, March 23: 24,. April 21, at Bath. Arts. Mike and :inn. Cook's Alain. Carry-street. JENKINS J. Dudley, Worcester. Aptill, 3, 21, at 'Worcester. Ait: Mr. Himachal!, iiverie-street. CONXTANTI N land Tv sox A. Kendal, Westmoreland, and Ito. m xantr M.Eewstone,Yorkshire, flax-merchants, April ;.4, 1:1, ail CoMe. Atts. Tillotson and Co. Temple. Davi Eg J. Llancon way, lien .spirit-deidcr, April 5. 4, 21, a Liverpool. Att. ND. Bird, Castle•ditch, 1 .iverpool. Prtorrou G. and W. Birmingham and Shetbdil, opticians, Nl a erii 23, 25, April 21, at Birmingham. Att.4. Si‘aiti and Co. Freda« iek'S-place, Old Jewry. DIVIDENDS. Greek-sheet, coaclimaker. April t. S. V. Gore, Bishopsgate-tireet, haberdasher, April 14. W. Horn, Limehouse, saitmakei, April 14. E. 'Mackintosh. Haymarket, accoutrement-maker, Mardi 31. ' It Clark, St. Mary-hill. shipbroker. Man h 51. J. B. Tolkien, St. Paul's Church-yard, china-seller, March 31. W. Hamilton sad M. Agar, Riches -court, Lime-street, merchants, April 11. J. and J. Bull, Red lion -court, Watling-street, merchants, April 4. W. gainsford, Southwark, linendraper, April b. J. Landsell, jun. Bexhill, farmer, April 14. P. Turley, Fast Gritistead, farmer, April 11. T. Hall. jun. F:veshain and Gosport, grocer, April 11. A. Calf. Barking. coal-dealer, April 7. T. Ansell, Little Wilds reet, stable-keeper. April 4. K. l E c k ti d, on . G rea t itussell-rtreet, linen-draper, April 41. N. Bell. Borehani Park, Herts, hayjobber, April 11. J.:Davies, Canterbury, linen-draper, April 18. A. Jarman, Southampton. tanner, April f. W. vincent, .1. Tanner, J. Barnes, and S. Ilancocks, Newbury, bankers, April 3. T. Dent, draper, Carlise, draper, April 9. .1. and' .1. i,ivock, Lowestoft, grocers, April 2. R. and It. B. Clough, D. Mason, and J. L. Jones, Denbigh and Llanwarst, bankers, April 10. .1. Johnson, Isle of Ely, farmer, April 3. I J. Hancock and :r. Dunkin. potters, April 7. W. Booth, Morley, potter, April 7. CF:lttit 'CATES—MA/tot .71. R. Stream, and T. Stubbs, (7heapsidc, warehousemen—C. Va. lentine, St. James's walk, japanncr—.l. 11. Watchorn, Oxford-t•trcett linendraper—A. Grenville, Plymouth-dock, china-merchant—N. 5. Johnsen, Manchester, manufacturer. MR. 11'.1I1'1131.1:V. Thursday a eery numerem Meeting of the friends of this Gentle man was held in the City of London Tavern, for adopting rotusnres to secure his return to Parliament at the next Gcneral Election. Mr. Alderman Goodbehere having taken the Chair, shortly ex plainer/ the object for which they were convened, and hoped that their efforts would be succes.ful in returning Mr. Wasthman to Par liament, on aceount of the unwearied and admirable exertions he had made in behalf of the people, exertions, winch had unifiimily dis played the profoundest wisdom, nonieration, and integrity thou, hear , hear !I. The diameter of this s ;elltielllan. his pre-eminent, qualifi cations ft:r the honour of representing the City, were too well known to require any eulogium. r. Kirby (late Sheriff) would not occupy the time of the Meeting long with any observations of his, but he felt it impossible, not to congratulate the friends of rational Reform and of the constitution, on the most respectable number, who this day assembled. lie was proud to see in the Chair the worthy Alderman, who was venerated and esteemed by his Citizemt, for his having so lung and faithfully advo cated :heir cause. Of Mr. Waithman's abilities he would say nothing, persuaded as he was, that There was but owe opinion among the In dependent Livery ott that object; and he sincerely hoped that their efforts this day woultt :be crowned with SilfCe::. Ile concluded by inoving a series of Resolutions. Mr. — oldhaM seconded the Resolutions. He stud Mr. W.'slester tions in behalf of the CO , could never be forgotten, particularly what he had done on Mod. Auctioins..the Bankrupt Laws, and above all what reformation he had wrought in ('hrist's Schaal. Mr. Favell addressed the Meeting on the same subject*. and hoped the friends of the ruse could remember that it was only by a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, that they could succeed,— II is woi th y Friend, and the respeetablethainnan, had dared to be hello in days of danger, when none appeared in their support, but they had now the satishection of seeing their great object accomplished. Among the friends of Retbrm no man knew better when to proceed and how far to proceed, than Mr. W. did, aud-it was proper that such characters should be rewarded with the highest haerairs their know-citizens ',Red bestow, fa Vialunt moistues were at all times to ha condemned Lapplausesl. Mr. Hunt came forward andltlemarrikd a. test of Mr. Waithman's principles. Mr. Williams.tthe.Cornroon C.‘mciltrian) said, he was happy this day to come iiimard in support of Mr. %V., from whom he had re peatedly, diffes ed. but the purity_of whose.motives. the integrity, per severance, and firmness with which he was actuated, he Ina: always adrairee. The Clerj y. of the country, the Merdatit, the Shipping Interest, and Land-owarts, were all duly re resented, and it Ira:. but fair that the trading Interest of the City should have the s,.me atl vanta. 'there was one retail dealer in the Ileuse already. hut he (alluding to Mr. Butterworth) always voted with Ministers. Me. W. had advanced en the cause firmly, had in the most gallant manrer weat!!ered the storm s and it was the duty of his fellow-citizens to re ward him. Ts. 444444444444 being read, were then unariroonsle aitorted 'Att. VI anthills!: eidnetorwaril amidst 'wet rho:6 in f o, to express hit gr.:tinkle for the flattering manner in which l.i; fritrid, had come for ward to salvocate his cause, and felt it rfifbrillt w tivseribe the dety sense their friendly regards. With re ptal to a test of I.is priuet plta, lie left them to judge Irvin his cominct for these last Reinke earls. and he believed he might safely ,uy . min had been more tit. luinniiihtl than he haillwen. :Should 1125 hillldS be successful ip returning hint, they might depend on every exeriitto hting made by fer vindicating their tights, and with plcitsure be should resi:zo • af;i4....t.L: jl./„.1V1:: ti;. y I:101 14:idt 71.510 W immi