The National Register.
London, England, 1811-04-28 00:00:00

26q

baste resion to hope it will be enlivened by a liberal subscription
Thus circumstanced, authors naturally look out for a' Subject
orn whom they troy pour as much abuse as is necessary to gain a
reputation for being pointed, yet at the same time, one on whom
4ey can pour it with impunity.
There exists perhaps no fraternity which has been more fro-
..
erently selected as a proper subject for such essays on account
of the above considerations, then the society of beggars: Frotn
the time of th : Spectators and Guardians to the present day, and
with almost every. public writer from Addison, down to Hunt,
the attacks ou mendicants have been frequent and violent. These
theueli in some instances levelled at proper objects, I cannot
but think have had a tendency upon the whole to injure re..
tiler tsan to improve society.
I have often beheld with sorrow and surprise the perfect
apttLy with which the many pass by the most distressing ob-
lect-; afflietion could present to catch the eye of pity. Not only
have I known persons refuse them the slightest relief and treat
them with scorn, but I have heard such conduct defended and
even, praised as being that which ought to be universally adopted.
I hare been informed that there was no necessity for any person
appearing hi such a situation, and that almost all of the wretches
in the streets were impostors. I have then been told of the vast
sums of money they daily levy on the charitable, and then to
wind up the whole I have been treated with a pathetic, account
of the dreadful effects produced on pregnant women by such
obiscts being allowed to go abroad. The eloquence of the anti-
mendicants on this last subject is really surprising. I have seen
a y.rl)le company chilled with horror at the dismal stories told
of the vast numbers of children born without arms and legs,
(through such causes) who have wanted eyes, or come into the
world without noses. These have been carried to such a pitch
of
extravagance, that I have almost expected to hear their mo-
thers were delivered at the same time of wooden legs and
crutches to support the lame, or of little dogs to lead about the
blind. Theo. histories like most others are greatly improved in
the practsis of telling from one to another, at length they at-
tain psrfection, and that which was merely a " pity" at first,
becomes " most tremendously horrible" in the end. From the
circumstance of being exposed to the .danger, they spread as
much consternation around as the affecting tales of cow pock
disasters" which are so disinterestedly fabricated, and so in-
dustriously circulated in the neizhbourhood of the metropolis.

Those. however, why► think it worth while to make anyen-
quiry into the truth of these statements have constantly the sa—
tistliction of finding they have no foundation in fact. This hav-
ing been uniformly, the result of my enquiries, I now receive
inch stories with just as much respect u I pay to Parson Col-
trm'shistery of" the Samnford Ghost," and think them as much
entitled to credit as the solenut account of the Devil and Mr.
Booty running a race up mount Stronibo/o.

With respect to the. other reflections to Ow prejudice of street
beggi.rs I have a few words to offer, Ido n.•,t believe they get
vial large .urns from the public as many are disposed to ima-
gine. I ttn4k with Dr. Johnson "tie trade ii overstocked," an a
that in consequence their p.oftts nutst be small. This circum-
stance is of itself, I should think, sufficient to prevent many im-
postors taking up the profession, though that some inipositions
art practiced I can lot dly entertain a doubt.
Tlvr Lrat:d charge yet remains to be noticed. It has been said
a provision has been made tor thorn by the poor laws, and that
therefore their soliciting alms in the street, is in effect calling
upon us to contribute doubly to their support. To this I have to
F that those who know the insolence of parish officers will not
be snrprised at the reluctance of persons in distr, ss to seek pa-
rochial relief. Many koow not how to apply, and of those
wbo do, there are some v‘ hoare too much shocked when bullied
by tin bead!e to per....rere. It will he said that this rudeness is
necessary on accoun: of the applic.tt ions made by the insolent and
the dimulute it way be sus but still the consequence is that a