The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1818-09-22 00:00:00

10 NOON; TUESDAY, SEPTihiI3ER 22, 1818.

TO PARENTS AND GLIAIIIIIANS.
ISS I 1E1.1) ER, IS, Kett.jokrintivignart.
bail VACANCIES in her FAMILY for`T
YOUNG LA IMIES The nowebee 'whiz limited to Twelve,
she reitiosemie an early applicralrou Got% 1111..5e who ♦i+h a.
Cuilllmit in the Education of liven- Children ititelleetnal and
religcmp advantages, aariseiateil with snperiuir domestic
vita, rte:• Masters of the first eminence attend.
TerMs may he obtained foams the Rev. Dr. Winter, Great
Gisreowninare; 1)r. Essex, Krnailiztein; the
Rev. J. Li ifehild; Kensington; and the Rev. D. Washbourn,
Hammersmith.

THE POOR LAWS.

EkTR Act, FROM THE MIN Val Or EVIDENCE
TA KEN EKFORE THE LORDS' CONINITTELE UN
Tus roes LAws IN 41,480.

sir 3. B Riddell, Awl. I.P. examined.
Hari• the Poor in Scotland all access In education for their
ehibheu?--Whenerer I pour person finfbe himself unable
to pay the expense of educating his children, he makeo ap.
Oration to the kirk session, and his children are then eila-
cak-d ■t the parish school, at the expense of the heriturs of
the parish. To the bait of my recllilectiou, the farmers
usually hear no pert of that expense, although by law they
are liable tor half the schoolmaster's salary.
la it usual for the clergy in Scotland to he eoneerned in
the management of the poor, wills the other itiliabitauts and
persomi, who pay to the asscsament!—lt is the practice of
the clergyman of every parish in Scotland to attend the
quarterly or half-yearly mettiogs of 'scram*, and there to
point out those objects which are must deserving, and which
most iciptire parochial aid, and during the intervening pe-
riods to attend with the utmost care said kindness to all the
wants of his flock.

Is UM instruction usually daily instructioo ?—Tite is.
siritriluu is daily instruction.
Du they usually &Mud tru Sundays likewise ?—dot on
Sundays.

Do you attribute any part of their frugal habits to the
education they riccive?--Undoubtedly, very materially.
What is tie size of the different holdings in the parish of
Comers or cottagei•?-11wie are many farms in the parish
that are rented forma 0001. a year, down to 150 f. a year, and
some leas; the holdings of cottager* not attached to farms
*chimes exceed • quantity of land sittlicient to enable them
to keep a cow in the summer, and to provide a sufficient
supply of potatoes fur thrir families, and they purchase the
winter provender of their row.
What proportion of the Whirrs have the means of keep.
ing a row '—Every cottager attached to an arable farm has
kis cow kept by his master as pot of his wages, and every
other (-onager in the parish who is inclined to keep a cow,
is allowed in rent a ►lure of a cow common.

Have the agricultural laboureis, particularly. as easy
access to public houses in Scutlaud as they have to
Eugland ?.—I think they have as easy access to pub•
tic houses as labourers is England can have ; s..d that
their uhstainiug from too forgoer' attendance there,
araxa (ruin good and respectable habits, suit from au
inchuation to save, fur the toneet of tbrir families, as large
a portion of ilicir weekly earnings as they eau dn. hi the
parish in which I live, coolaiueng 7641 proms, 1 recollect
tool NE 141011111Ke ur • notations drualtatil.
Du yea *ran AA this reel* houses are as avaterous
in Scotland, in proportiou to the population, as in Eng-
laa.l?-1 tb:iik they arc as wvintrous iu the country pa-
ri•lws.

In proportion to the size of else parish ; are they a. wear
to their residences ?—As far a. my own kuowleilge pies they
are of more easy access in Seatland. I have known instance.
In England of a man not being able to buy a quart of beer
unless hr went two or three miles for it ; although, iu other
instances, the public house. are nunterues.
Is there any officer who has the management of the poor
in Scotland in the same say as the overseer of the poor bas
its gangland?-1 conceive it to be the duty of these officers,
who arc termed elders in Scotch parishes, who am members
of that which is termed the kirk session, to see that the poor
within the parish are properly relieved, and to provide, in
the event of any unexpected circumstance, fur their sup-
port, until such time as a quarterly or • haleyearly meeting
takes place ; and in order- to enable them to do that the
better, it is usual, when pai relies are assessed for any Riven
sum, which may be supposed to be the probable amount of
the expense of the earthing grouter, to add a few pentads,
which art lea in the lands of an officer termed kirk Ire..
Mini, that be may he rambled to give such relief as the mi-
nister soil his elders think fit to recommend.
Are those elders in constant communication with the mi-
nister, as well with Motion to the pour as ow church mat-
ters ?—Cusistantly.
Do the marriages usually take place at a very early age
in the agricultural districts ? I think nut ; generelly speak-
ing, young men do out merry until they have saved as murk
money as will conveniently fulmar the liou.e they are about
to inhabit ; and it is also considered as discreditable to a
youst4 woman to marry until she can carry with her not only
a very lame number of gowns and clothes of every descrip-
tion, bust likewise as money blankets, as ninny sheets, !zed es
large a portion of linen as will probably supply her fur the
rest of tier life.
In that respect the fei Huy, end practice in Scotlaud is as
different as ran be from that of ?—Very decidedly
so ; it has occurred 10 use very frequently to be solicited by
young. triennia alai were about to marry. to lend them a
few ;moods, that they might make a better appearance upon
the wedding day than they otherwise would have duo, ; and
I know of tau instance 111 which those few pounds have nut
been repaid me by instalments punctually un the days on
which they were engaged fur.
Does not it happen, by the operation of the Scotch law,
that at the time of those marriages there frequently is as
Large a family as there might have been if they lied been
woo lied ant the ages usual to Huglantl?-1 do out think that
happens frequently ; by the Sixilch law, if • woman had a
number of natural chilthers, they would be legitimatised;
but such instaieres have been very rare.
Have the goodui es to state to the Committee, in what
respects you consider the rhanagensient of the poor in
Nurthuniberlatid to be interior to the general management
of the poor to ?4c.tilati.l ?—1 eolo.ider that a lulerurer iu
Northumberland etnatidera himself entieed, whenever he
thinks tit, to call upon the Magistrates for parvenu! relief;
and that, there: me, in few rears they are as frugal as they
outlet to be, when they are in posses of abundant
out mily to summit their families, but to lay by part of their
earoinge.
If you have the teeans of comparing &fie generel mansee-
mint of the purr ut Northemaresteuil, with the Mailaienient
iu any of the midland owner. of Feselend, do you C44.i.
der it be tier its Notthombellaod Him its other F...jemit
eouotieo, wills which y us are arepiaiisied?-1 think it very
winch the same Ist Northumberland, as I have formerly
(nom! ii 14 Belliollo4TM suit Hocknizhavislaire ; if there is
any sum riury in the ettinagenteut of Stir poor in the north, it
Oro.* train cocurnitsucts purely harsh; that is, from the
die Wei .11 ..f Intl, and the habit of the Noithitialkeiand (aim.
ere of pey.tig their people in kind ; but with I. the
usitinerneot rit the poor, formic lift as they are to overs.wis
who are changed from stmt to inn.e, nod •l.or the Alni..i.ater
1.11.2; iu Ihr kAtt, Mi..h.s.ti much il•he141:111011, laf dart M-
imeo hence a in he diaile 'you thwuships, there 1. no flare
sop r...,i1y sit M:411.5r-in. i.t. ..pt thet his+ antes trout
the In Northoreli •um ',Sib lissi!eil is to
towliha'll,s; that 1 thsak has vane Orvistien; the towmhitba
r 11,11.1101 w emu 1.11. 11h/.1.141MS 41111, ro.ses.thr *hole Of this
011L'11114. of ma;setainiee Offr Pouf' in Ihstat lowtiAips fill,
Item thole twv or three farmers, they liaturelly feel an 11,1•

elinition In iworide as well as they cues for those ironed
theigl, 1..4, by nerleeting to Anvils's OHM, with wink at
vsplitable priers. they should be Ina rhea ged tU 11w waist-
•uf their wises mild reindict'. 1 have betasionally
bossiest itu Mott lwriand a g lent deal of Intel/don ?ter
rus7rlhy fanners. in removing r 14.111 their parishes or 4rwn•
ships persons whom they snapeeted to he in pour en ruin-
statures, hot who haul slut yet Iter.onr hurlers...one to them,
sod who hid been admitted to the oreopattan of cottages,
upon bringing with them certificates (rows the polishes to
which They popes ly belonged; I believe that the mem. ist
amount of poor raig.i in those townships us Nuts thittilter-
hind, shirk belong to myself. may be stated at about 40J.
In the pound On real actual rent.

[The Earl of Egremont delivers in the following letter,
stating that lie is atlitaitited with the writer, and runsi.
dem the informations may be depended upon; and it is
toad.]
Opole. 21st Slay, 1817.
• lark Lord—) shall be happy to sugoest ago atterattuits to
the poor laws that are is my power. The Ilrel thin to Ise
done, as it strikes owe, it to improve the rworals of the prior,
and which I hope in some inra.tire will be obtained by edn
cation; another, and whit I conceive would mid much to
their hsppiueas, RP pre/rotting many from becoming chuige•
able to the parish, is to let them hate every necessary of
life, a% much to, eau lie (at home) by their own lire.idt a, is-
stead of hemg induced to frequent alehouses I think sine
great cause of the increase of poor Mew is the high
doly un malt, which has drivru nearly al! the labourer*
in the country as wch as in *rostra 1,, puhlie.hooses, and
first natter the pretence of bui,ng tif table beer to take
ant with them when they go to work; and if these go
with the best intention to buy only table•beer, it is a
great chance, before thsy have beets Ma times, that they
noel with some drunken fellow that may entice them to Wee
some other sort of beer, and these poor men soon feel the
fireside at an ahebuuac quite ac warm and comfortable us
their own, and very soon like it better ; and his frequeut
attendance not only wastes a considerah!e portion of his
earnings, but tends to clomp, his morals, as the worst cha-
racters in a parish ate those who frequent these limner, and
who delight in making others am bad as themselves, as few
of us like to be siugularly bad. The high duty on malt,
and the great number of licensed &lel:otters, I•thitik • get at
evil. Long since, I can remomber, there oas 'meth), a poor
family in this or the neighbouring parishes Sisal .;111 nut
brew, and which was almost left off when Lord Sidanouth
was prime eniuister 1801 or 1802. at the tone of
the peace of Atnieno, eirri in two years 245. per quarter
were added to the former duty of about lOs 70. per quar-
ter. Eight shillings of this 24.. IS now reprakd, and 1
much wish the remaining las. was also, asol three-Smiths
of the licenses in the country were taken away; If tins was
done, 1 mu persuaded it would add much to the improving
the moraltof the poor.
I am extsemelir sorry to see the PUMP of money expended
at earls session, by contesting Wilmot um. 1 am torus/Red
that uo less than 28 appeals were catered at the last seaters
sessions, and I believe not less than 24 or 25 at the Eviler
These appeals are principally its consequence of
sonic fallacious hiroug, and the various decisious in the
Court of King's flinch. If die servitude surly were to make
the smilrestosit, I ant persuaded moat of these litigations
would be avoided. 1 should think two years continued set-
situ& its the same service should he considered • settle.
mans, wader whatever hiring it might be; this would make
thematic, plain teal, as it regards setlltuarals atortinde
before marriage.
These are the principal objects that strike me at present;
any further opinion its my power to offer, I shall at all tints
be happy to do it; and sin,

My Lord,
Your I..ortlahip'• much °Mired faithful servant,
To the Earl of Egrentout. JOHN ELLSIAN, &•uwr.

R F. PO ItT

OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE CHIMERA!.EMILY
OF THE cueuacu OF SCOTLAND, ON THE LET-
TER TO THE MODERATOR HT THE EARL OF
H•RDWiclui..

The Committee report, That, with the assistance of the
returns made to Mr. Kennedy's inquiries, they have Limn
able to prepare a statement of the management of the poor
in upwards of une hundred parishes ha Scutlaud, which i■
ready to be laid before the Assembly; that there are
still • very conriderabte number of additional eclueo,,
am muting nearly perhaps to another hundred parishes.
which it has out bee• possible, within the time allowed
them, to airliner; and that the Committee take the ninety
of suggesting the following reinatko, which have occurred
to them, on the Returns which they have already ai rant il.
They remark,
1. That the Scotch have uniformly proceeded on the
priheiple, that every Aisilsvidital is bound to provide for
himself by his own labour, as lung a. be is able to du en;
and that his parish is only bound to make up that pot lion
of the necessaries of life, which be cutout earn ur obtain by
calor lawful means.

2. That eve. in caws of extreme poverty, the relations
and neighbouri of the paupers have a pride Its providing for
their necessities, *Warr an whole ur in part; that this cir-
cumstance will aceiniut fur the small number of patipt ex in
some very populous parishes, and serve at the mine limy to
tXIIIIIIII • NCI, which sa obvious its w many of the nitwits
iu the country districts, that the sums given to the paupers
appear to he so dispeoport toned to whit their resit NeClF•lillie•
AIWA require. A Mali suns given to aid their other resources
affords Omni the relief whirls is inc. scary ; and it would be
both spinet the trite interests and the moral habits of the
people, if a more staple provision were made fur them by
their parishes.
3. That the distinction matte in a great proportion of the
retort's between the poor its the regular parish toll, dud the
hatultiotte pour who receive wily occasional supply, is of
equal impurtence to the murals and the best interests of the
country. Thum of the Aral dais receive a constant astwily
front the parish rands ; lbw" of the second are only assisted
when they are laid aside from work by sickness or sleet-
dental GISMO, and especially during that remote of the year
which chiefly affects time health, ur suspends their usual la.
bona's. They receive at that time Midi 3.1.1.141itC as their
inlasediate necessities &Mond, fur the limited period whin
they am in this siteminti ; but when the cause attach ,uca.
alumni this demand erases lit upetite, the paiisls assistance
is Withdrawn, and thy tenant lo I heir tattoo r, limier a cet-
vi lion, which they. relttiquish4 that Ina h their sithaist-
enet. and their cntstrurt must ultimately depend tin their per-
sonal industry.
.4. 'I hat a appears from the relent/ .which hare yet been
examined, that in a great peoporinin of iliecountry parishes
io whieh leg3l sot smenti have been initottecid, they have
been Biters-aids abandoned, either In ramie it has been found
by expellent', that whatever ailibliuti alt or•lioary fishlike
✓t
rob, 0, might be Icie;il at much its.. 'Teo... by ratans
of
vulicatiory contribution% when :al t recai powwow 1111 the
;ove .-Imuld render it ueressaly, sir because a imular assess-
ment in those. parishes has very generally her olnwieed to
produce an in3iix of Owners ft oilier ;wishes, who iu
thrrr yi ars iby the dectaium of ibex •ts ut met fur the last
f ray yealie fall ofqlllre A legal am l Wool, if ilium,: mat
time they have toppolled theibt.-Ivr. by their Oen i &SAHA r y
orkewv,titeg to this any Ihr paleclital burden beyond all rem-
ok.ualst. .t ion. It so clear, bum the re•iii xarnined,
dud the i (-mai hi contained poi them, that 010
juisteo tu sot tocottsidereble MII Tuber of paruthesi though lilt
eci•Tilllle Ally be iiilliertnt slt other sit uati oti • which Lave
Ito( set fellen smiler the view of the Committer; rod that
the volonyary coutoihutioes which life sato dated in plate of
h gal as-.contents, ilnits4l. In some initiancT. they are (serval
mid pat met, (ruin the inattitinun and dismulii,aiieu of itache