The Sun. — London, England, 1817-03-20 00:00:00

PLAN for the EXTINCTION of POOR RATES Unlroductory neni(rles, re• published from `fir E Su N mondayl " If We mold impress our licatlctS ant) the l'lth- he gent ral:y with tote tylhe part oh the ioteksti we tee' in the subject on which .We are about to address tiivm ) %ye shttoin thitilvourselves happily. Tett'arilCd : to Tilt. iui,th to our fellow. crehithiles chth , only be gratified by at least partial success, and when Mull say that the mere con seionAness of having'..attetilptcd to do good is it sufficient reward, we may tillte it for .grinted that they were thever much ith earnect with the Mahler. Ott the contraty, we marine slut tlone are no deeper ntortiliPations, evil) of selfishness, than those of philanthropy, and th - e Imot! sinci're and anxious we are in our ben evolvnt endeavours the greater will our disappointment be At 'their failure. " Bid a Newspaper is no place for wasting word 4 on.introduction The flitiiivet to which we would desire to call attention is the amelioration of :the condition of the lowest class of the people, . and that 'too by means which wonld immediately decrease, and finally extinguish Poor Rates, and improve 111 C temporal, moral, and spiritual sitna tion of char class and alkiilier classes of the com munity. The improvement of society Intlt, it bas been coMmOnly said, begin at the top and descend (through the middle ranks) to the bot tom : we ate not sure that in the present frame of society the axiom ought not to he reversed ; but Of this we are certain, that improvement beginning at the bottom would be mast speedily felt it, its general effects, , and produce at once the greatest access of benefit to the liftman species. In shot t, it: is 'it this part that the disease most afflicting to 1111111,Inity, most adverse to national prospetity, and most subversive of pol:tical economy, is seated, and its this part only can IC be directly at tacked.,and combated with medicanients to abate its virulence and remove its obstroctions. " To how many 'ingenious hypotheses on this vitally importaur-point we have given ,01sT best at tention it would be idle to say, were it not for the purpose of that they have been numerous, and of various merit. Their consideration has at least enabled us. to come to the sithjeet with some information, and . with a strong impression in MOM' of what is praetierl, in preference to what; Is theoretical: And this is the foundation of our leartieiit hope to see the plan, which has recently occupied our adopted. This phn is,braught . .forward by no speculator, however pure and telligent, but, forfunately, we trust for this coun try and manic Ilia, by a Lientleman who has already shorn, on a large scale, what may be accom-• 'dished for the %Mime of the lower orders, the stirantage oitheir superiors, and the benefit of all. ‘Ve need scarcely add that we speak of Mr: Owist of Lanark. Pnritting with indefatigable diligence the track in which he has .been.so pre-eminently distinguished as a benefactor to his kind, Mr. Owtot has matured a plan of the nature we have described, and we mint it no mean gratification to have had it with even its details presented for our considerat ion. We will not trouble our Readers with our pleasing anticipation nt• its result, but, as we desire to promote it to the. utmost of our power, we,must express our firm conviction that it is as praciicable as it is admirable. " Some differences of opinion may exist c.►n the quantum of borthen imposed upon the Count► y by the Poor Rates, it may be called :four, five, or 1 eight millions a-year ; but all agree tit the condo- ,ion that this impost is felt more heavily than any other by the community at large, and by that fttothineotal branch of oar National wealth which combines the Agricultural awl Loupled Interests. " To c►rse the Kingdom of this nppression, to convert the drain of pauperism i►.►ro a source of pro. ductiee labour, to "br ng comfort where - only wretchedness exists, and by a wise anti salutary arrangClitent to render Misery contented and hippy, while it exchange:l tkpentlence for itolcpcodeoce, and instead of subsisting on 41ins, subsisted upon its okyn exertions—such is the graati outline of Air. Ow Etes " SO Many blessings:: ConteMpilitechtlie incredulous wiA vr:ry naturtlly exel,;int, that the plan nail viiin . nary. We pledge our.,elves that it is nut so, but vests op principles am, detaiis c►F Moral arid litthem Ideal I ;!;11()11 ,(11t it 1 5 " t evert clillicult : WO_ tiautigh t r liwits,o!lopt.l to delay the (letaili: till tiretlilc,.. , l ty or Tiitir,.tlity next, we are convince!" that ,yvi4 lay them bef, re the tvorld, we Shill carry the general COTI• sent with one pro pus ion—that HO system of potitical ►:coiuotmmy was ever• dev'ise►l s►► . . perfectly aderuutte to produce the ifiCStimi,ble elfects .%ve have stakti than this to which ‘‘c hide. At present we confine ourselves toile fact th4t the plan 11,4 met the warmest uthnirat►oti of many of onr greatest Statists—has been exathhird by the benevolent Committee, 'of which the Arch bishop of CANTE BB 1.1 it I' is the and iefetied by this body to the Committee of the llonie of Commons ort the Poor Laa.s, wilt whom it ntrA is, and from tVhom ‘ve trust it vrill come IO thc Legi,lature with tin noSninnuts testimony in its favour." * * * In furthetance.of this great, benevolent, and patriotic;.pnrpose, 111 r. Owetv addressed to Ow Archbishop nt CANTLItUttItY, and the Gentlemen ieho were present at the fitst Meetinti if the Coilitttittee for the Relief of the iNlantaacturing and Labouring Poori a comprehensive Alernorial', explaining his plan in its general bearings, and accomponied by documents, drawings, and eaten. lat ions by professional men, which embraced every pat tienlar necessary fur carrying it into execution, and entered minutely into the expcnce* and pro ducts of the undertaking., The Summary with which this Address con. clittNs, trill bring the subject fully' within the comprehension of the Public, and we subjoin it with that %iew SUMMARY OF ME EFFECTS OF MIL OWEN'S PLAN, 'l'o relieve the poor and Woi king Classes from their pre sent distress, and to render it unnecessary for the country to hear 'he bitreen of their permanent support in idleness, the unemployed Tour must ne provided with the means by which their labour may he brought into action, ,and also with the knowledge which is requisite to direct that labour belie ! tidally for themselves and the community. This can only be done hr allotting to them certain portions of laud, and st►p. plying them with the Materials and information necessary to its advantageous cultivation. And such provisions may be made for them in the billowing manner, with such ahem.: thins and modifications as the wisdom of Parliament may suggest, " The poor to be made national. The present Poor-rates lo he mortgaged to the amount of fire . or six years of its an • n sal ieveuuc. The money to be borrowed as it may after. wards he acquired. This Nod to be applied to the purchase of land in portions of from to acres each, and to the erection of establishments near to or upon the centre of such lands, each to be Calculated to accommodate from 500 to bOO persons—men, women, and children. " The outline of a Pima fur such Establishments is an nexed to this Address. It' is drawn on the supposition that the land is level, but a moments ieflection will make it evi• dent that the plan is subject to hatinite modifications, depend i ink Out the peculiar localities of the land on which the Esta blishment. may he formed. The following are some Of the advantages which May.be derived from such arrangements for the manufacturing and labouring poor :• 'r let, Expensive as such a system fur the unemployed poor may appear to' a superficial observer, it will be found on in vestigation; by those 'whose minds are capable of compre hending such a combination, to be by tar the most economical that has yet been devi‘ed. MI, Many of the unemployed Poor are now itt a state /. of groks igitoranee;and have been teained in hued habits—a situation in wilich, atniler the present system. they are likely generations. The arrange meots proposed afford the certain ate ens,' in . a manner the most gratifying to all, parties, interested,, of overcoming both their ignorance and their bad habits in one generation. " Zid, The greatest evils which at present ,afilict society, .arise front mankind eking trained in principles of competi tion. The proposed arrangements offer the best mode of uniting men iu common measures for their mutual benefit, by presenting am easy practical plan, of gradually withdraw ing the causes of difference and animosity among individuals, and of making their interest and their duty very generally the same. " 4th, This system for the unemployed Poor will also afford the Most certain and effectual means of giving the hest habits and sentirueots to all their children,--as soon as so ciety shall :squire sufficient rationality and wisdom to dig corer what habits and sontiments, or what character ought to he given to tl►em. sth, It will lihewile afford the most powerful tneans of impro►•ing the habits and general conduct of the present on. employed Nor, who hate been neglected by society from their' lot mcy. 4, 6th, It will give in return, for their labour more valua ble, substantial, and permanent comforts to, the Poor, than bare ever yet been offered them. " 7th, In one generation it will supersede the necessity of Poor•rates or any pecuniary gifts of charity, by prereotitig tiny one from being poor or subject to such unnevessary degradation. " Bth, It will offer the means of gradthilly' quadrupling the population , of the most populous districts o f ' Europe ur Ame rica, and uf increasing the strength stud political power of the Country in which it shall he adoptedonore than ten-fold. " Dtb,.lt is easy of adoptinn. It may be put,into practice with l e ss ability and exertion than are requisite to establish a new manufacture in a view situation.< Many individuals of ordinary talents and common minds have formed establish - molts which' possess combinations muth.more complex and intricate; in short, there will nut he any 11014 required which it not daily perforated involution society; and which, ,sealer the arrangements proposed, will be still more easily performed. loth, It will effectually relieve the manufacturing, and 'dhow ing Pour'from their present di tee 3, withbut vidlently uvinaturely interfering viitit the resent arrangententi of society. . . " I Itl►, It will permit mechanic inventions and improve ments to he 'earied to any extent, for by the proposed mea sures, every improvement in mechanism will be rendered üb servient to, and in aid of Innusis labour. " And lastly, all ranks will be essentially Itenellted by this amelioration in the coodition of the labou►rinng' andmanu factoring Poor; and some plan founded of principles as have been now unfolded, is absolutely necessary to secure the well being of society." * * * Such are the ohjeets propepiell by a Gentleman h 11'0111 be hai lilt catty &me (and 8 lig W iy be &th) for hisylloke.creatur'es, mayilistly be eteemecl one cif tbe gtcatttit betteraeto f i. of mmltiti.l. But his big!, Claim tU Ji7T COlistitera- (ion in the present instance, arises not so much front the benevolence of his )iutpot, itnr Ote teal With which he devotes his lite to nccompliSh it, as to the talent find experience. ethic!) lie livings. to the field, Were A. It. or C. to ()tier Such a Hai), We Should Stin t at its magnitioft, ‘ei•h that it were possible to curly it into elfect, but regret th,it so gl o rious a theory w;is This we cannot di) with iNlr. EN,' llk is armed in. proof, and when we Star( a doubt of thti practicability of reatiming so large a t ion Of our species from vier, pLoiling 'them in virtue, rethicittg the weight and period of their labours, yet enabling them to sopply all their wants and enjoy, every degree of comfort ,--we are met at once with the ans%ver it hers ',cos done, and a scale sufficiently extensive to prove its universal practicability. At the INc.w LANAt u MILLS a population of Two Thousand Five Hundred Souls are• placed in this enviable situation. There, twenty-five years ago existed' the most mixed and depraved, because the most condensed inanufte (ming population in ;;cotlantl---and there at this hour exists the above number, regulat ed on a system of Wittiness and encourage... anent, with punishments so rarely needed as to be scarcely known, 'the aged reclaimed, the youth ful educated in good principles, and all contented and happy. ' Gracious Heaven ! how the heart of man must warm at such a picture; —how earnestly must every luind grasp at the hope, at the. prospect we will say, of seeing it ex tended throughont the kingdom of Great tail, at every step redeeming loads of mi , ery and pouring out blessings on the afflicted. In such a cause we invoke the . aid of every gond man: We call on our Gintemporaties in the al- powerful l'ress to enter into it ‘ritli siasm, enthusiasm is the only true lei:liar, with which etc c:►n take ul► a I'l.►u ru►re thou reidiziog the fable of antignity, 'herein a I)ivioity is ,rei►resented ;As sc►►tter : ng abundance, an►i peace, and happiness over the face of the , A .Intiling P,tper (th Po:it) of %chid] we cLin state, that we have ever foond it libet,ll and prone to craft into cordial co'opet nt ion for the pro mo _ Lion of any object which had the oth'Ail,y o . of (!:c Country in view, has already, infinitely to it, ho. nour;taken up the matter tinder our pen. It gives a correct outline of Alr.o,vEN's Report, which begins with taking a view of the present aiStveSses of the people, attributing them chiefly to the depreciation of human labotor through the introduction of mechanism. As long a 4 the' war continued, the demand kept pace wit the increased produce or ow manufactures, peace found us in possession of an artificial farce, increased 15 or 20 told within 25 years;and which exceeded the labour of one hundre4l millions of the most industHotts human beings in the full strength of manhood." The demand ceasing with the %var, and machinery continuing to lie cheaper than human labour, thousands were thrown out of wotk, and reduced to the state `` an - of distress which still prevails, and most pre rail, while human labour is at a price far lets than is necessary for human subiistence.— The general remedies which n.tturally suggest ,themselves are, as Mr. Owi justly ob , erres, either to diminish considerably the use ot nt ichi nery, or to fiticl some other oectipatiou for the poor and unemployed ehisses, and starving infirm. factuvers, 'to which nvichinery nt ky be rendered subservient, instead of liciug put in direct Com petition with it, as is thc ease at present. In the existing state of Society the nnemployed working chs,e, are maintained by and consume a part of the produce of the wealthy and indw , trioni elassei, while their powers of body and mind re 'main unproductive. They are the lean ltine eat ing up the fat, without improvement in their own .pn the contrary, they acquire the worst of habits from idleness, the worst of vices from abjectness and misery ; and bLicomin s . the bane of Society, poison its whole frame upwinds. After enforcing the necessity of trainhig tip the children of this class in the practice of industry and in moral habits, Mr, Owe N b3.y4 down the incontrovertible principle that " the " same quantity and quality of labour unde► one direction will produce a far more valuable re " suit than under another." Upon this funda llental dogma his plan ILinges. The labour of the Pimi should be exerted under the best direction. Their eXpenditure,-untler the same, will be While their productiveness is' increased. Their coilatillS, 100, will be proportionally ittig.. 'Hunted. • " Unite," says Mr. OWEN, " the interests and the ditty of the Poor," now so often and so much at ./ariaoce, and remove them from unnecessary trmptations, which they have not been trained, and cannot therefore he ey.pected to resist : and :o n :: t i 11 6: .. a i n u i l p p i r t o ii: cinhleelaltificolfitgoeanteif:atti'oirocilli cetiir., d On these principles the Phin proerttk, iir p,„es to ettablish Sqoares of bnibliar 1/' nindate abatit 120 a persoto,; wee. '''' )(lltn i l l. children. and to he torronodeit by A ICP4 dlll ( 1"" )lt y of !awl fur cultivation. Tilt 4fi al killi' contaitt a public kitchen , 111Ci3 rooms, ;14isite accotntnotltit ions at ti4CllOl IV C.Otf°lll : C . C it ) ; 1 1 ) : c 1 ) 4 0 e i :1 1 ::; toia.illtil:tilhoebatoitlitenl:e'r 11 ( te 'in s ( c ) lt t' o e .;; (i n c r tl i ' 'etillill'rielli: . ' p f i l atteirteeilareafi g ,i ro b it e n a t t l i s ti l fi t ' e !):r i cc e::: : t r i r i ciiS : e r S e tt c tr i ltit . Ctli°,r t i : ll l t :irt : l :: '' of the square shall he lodging boast's 1 ' 1.11°1 ! seco pit; I ' p oor, each sufficien t to ommilale.,'' children with their father 80 mother. t:: fourth side is in dormit ories for the riliitillfl three years' of age, removed from their 10 and placed under the superin!ewlatteent Illel° tut ion, but still allowed free and proper loterce ‘s. it 11 the authors of rbe ir being. 'fl i ere tree' 0 e' OT: I.°olns, manufactor ies, and go rileat i :alining Establishment, tniltiog old br ' ii . ; ' houses, corn null, dairy, and int fine erclr: which such a Society can nend f' r itS $111. 1511:' The einplOylllCnt of the ‘r °loco is Cia rl in the c a re of their infants and houses; Olt, eating the gardens to raise pct, t'f ,, supply of the public kitchen; in 3ttetulim; No of the branches of the various Ittantifactor',s, i i sui te d lil,ll to aleki n their e. l *tort clothes ; but and Oitril lyor4c.:)sr.oiiiithidailsrisi:o:: acc°r`lillg CO rotation, in t:ie Liti.diett,niclar and dormitories. , , phter l ' Children to be trained in th e ' 6 l cupations: and without' taxing their str e4 I , ' , J ]; the reach matttrer yeurs, Uoil a re fit , so ii 1111'5'' lostroCiion iii;tl kalt;i, wi'l l bAb'll,,o d '"" art . the yr iintill olijco ' o ' f ''' . 0 , • , k trej•" ' . 1 .60, I _ , l s ° the . Men, , the .laboars of o.4l'''',l 0 1 i e I is c,, ' le - '•-'st harts of the manutactot'est 00 ,lotted, but by no 111C3113 to the ' %lc9 ilay..l,,botircr is now required to 'o' li ' .401 - 1 j l O oo '.-1.1 I,epere:Pa'sn,ceconniiprissirolg) the P6`11::11:311i4e:at-iiiii:: itcd the erection and tortiiiure of bg1 ,..01,r " iniat v.(l at 96,000/., or u cap i t ol °' itti Id o iftifi, l ll : yil._ ( rt . eist l ic i, c l: ) i s : tt i i t iki s , i gii,si . i)iiti ( it.twtt s i.rns it el y ,eei ise:it:,:ttitoil:(leirritce:iiiii:t•rtlict:ililyyl ..,01i.,11,:filtetle,',0iy, !a r ri t 4 t tt t iliy,i e ier t , l l:llitti4: : :, - lii i iii n i.le f oilil l ,t,tri l ir, ,t i,„: : ii f tryiit ' 4 ) ; , I, il l '1.1341 t t v 4,l * . eNren ire such es!-Ahli sllnle i j'ilio IN"' ' H t . °, the peTsons ad:Oiled witts i '' . I. o e „foff ' ''' ' l ld "II Y serve to Inca :toe their ° lie) 11 PI } ,.,ite' isHinio v to el" - - repay the capital 3".-1 ,rlihei 0 00 " .f. 111311 "light he atloptaby indicid"g ' 0 00 11 ` u f the a i l l i e tlsobri . ety to the rising geP tni i') ::;;Irt' le ) 1 11' lt woo t. nece'sity of Pour r ates, and q l ie f P"Pulittion of the country, at th e ° ti r : l i c it ect :l 4 ii)..(l‘Blll'ioccun‘l.(eill.r,aillts)iroilni a‘vneilee,,nti(e)ait:sviotei .‘ . l . : I li tal o : fe, We have exhausted Ou.i. liali(> IP* subject., 0 0 ,i, Co"" -, of • rr"vii!ei.sl %Morn tls to lewl 111‘'ir sli,di?' 111°Iifig. the Itnouledge :41141 provahiug,l .fitl4l4 , it' i si" "f rilko,freiniettyittrfoo:ttitiiii6oinn,lrtll.',:t,°::::;:tr.olo3ol°i(o.4„; tell...!';'Ll State, and advancement, of o ' l ic e s :e t t i t i t: . t je . i ,i ll , ; s d e i. g t : ' l :c l ii t o :l (, l ' , g i c i t ' v s P s i t ra : i a i t f is i ls : c el : t t re l l i r ,: ii i. i t : l v i i c t n e : l l: 3 bi o , el : ll : 4 t ti t l : : 4 6, 4 l or : ::' i ll t 4ll 4 llll3lcel b 6i'gs i t i l. ; ll 4: ift:ll l ll l ;:l4 l: ::?,' "et) to . i ile01" 1111' the , minutest poins6 0 , 36„itti:, ~, : it)celi")::::::t a;:,:10: . e s: 0 1 ::.1:::sr. it 1141%14;i cOt(iij.rlle; sert:"Iii::::e4::14711::1;.: e ir ( many . v r,j., ii t •t• eigo:l .., 11 0 , . res ck voloo% . . • pi o t surninunt. . se,.,ral (if ~,,,e tce f hb 1 0 , g o ' , starta, c lisc:,i , eil I —►• 'Ol e ' if ' a. tit Os 61 t . ,II A It 113. ply Yet remain, i anc. though we """ ) 1 .. -,0 '. %olic b iect , , tl' i - colitroversy, vet o 3 it ft' . I,oll' ~ . i ; Ire I'L OP inn • i tatance, ” e shrill All %Tit!) p--- ' ~ d ie ‘ ~, coitiinus .of T " 5 ,,, t„ i„,,414:3- .. 0 , ts , Itel' „la' • ill 011 its. bearin...ts. ',N.,:thill4, -'-- ofilii", tfie shake our firm reliance on Coe eliic3cY pl,iii• . ,rite ilfa lect ; nothing can divest tri ot 111 C r • fit i . ,/ c.iriYl" fli er c'Plition, that in noturing 1111• lie be i. execution, incalculable bleoiugg ti l ~ li r ' for ail "ranks in the country. ' ho VI ri ,.: T 115.. present artuttal expcnce of Poo r ' ll , te , s 100'''': 0 1 cui.kteti :at between e ight and nine millions:cos,, rill ' ir wit it t hi's, even the origiial.experce of ° I. l, ; , iot''': l ` rueie tTitic; but witest we loot; at the latter..:lli,o. re turg! prusluctirettris, Wloolle former ifi 3 f . : 10011 P 104 terminable drain, the expence l)tcualei ',l-, 11341.44:1V law eXpences alone for the yeAr en(li,v; ~..,2,.37,66''s under the prefient cystetrt, az:wanted r ''' . 'll4l* yeir they w ill double the s tun!! 4 0 3 . 5 t,fr e ' re , iito7,4. I'll o i The Opera of Don Giornovij, "i s i i i;l .4 , l isj oir 11. ` "rk , ii ;low retie A r,iii g . at lb c ,„podju it iS to be brought out inattlOt 'I-