The National Register.
London, England, 1817-05-05 00:00:00

EMPLOYMENT OF TIIF room

In another part of this day's Paper we have given
an Abstract of the Bill lately brought into Parliament
by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to authorise the
issue of Exchequer Bills and the advance of money out
of the Consolidated Fund, for carrying on Public
Works and Fisheries in the United Kingdom, and em-
ployment of the Poor. This is a subject of great in-
terest. We briefly touched upon it in our last. It
will not be necessary for us, in offering our further re-
marks upon this measure, to recapitulate every clause
of Mr. Vansittart's Bill. The reader can readily refer
to them, in the abstract given below.

It must be confessed, that very great difficulties ap-
pear to present themselves to the prompt execution of
this patriotic plan for the relief of the Poor ; but it
should not be given up in despair on that account.—
The sum to be advanced is one million and a half to be
issued in Great Britain. According to the Population
Returns in 1811, there arc in England 823, 88 fami-
lies chiefly employed in trade, manufactures, or handi--
craft.; in Wales there are 36,044 families so employed ;
and in Scotland 169,417 families ; making a total of
1,129,049 families. The total population of Great
Britain was 12,596,803 Persons ; and the total num-
ber of families either employed in agriculture, trade,
manufactures, or handicraft, was 519,168.
It is impossible to estimate the exact number of pool
among all these persons who arc at present out of em-
ploy ; but it would appear that, taking the most gloomy
view of the subject—and, God knows ! there have nut
been wanting persons to give our distresses as dismal an
aspect as they can possibly wear—the sum of 1,500,0001. .
judiciously husbanded, may be employed in the most
useful, and, at the same time, the most humane manner ;
and that, comparatively few industrious persons need to
be totally out of employ for want of capital to execute
public works, to the erection of which the labouring
part of the community is essential.
How many works of great promising utility, are at
this time arrested in their progress fin want of capital
in the original adventurers to complete them ! Canals
far advanced—Bridges half finished—Public Roads in-
complete—Mines, Railways, and Buildings of various
kinds, are left unprofitable to the projectors, not for
want of any obvious benefit that would result to the
proprietors; but solely on account of the sudden and
-unexpected stagnation in the Trade and Commerce of
the Country; by which money has become scarce, or,
which is the same thing, public credit weakened ; and
the confidence, and liberality which, in more auspi-
cious days, subisted between the Trading and the .Mo-
nied classes of the community checked. Dealers in
money have now but few inducements to lend ; be-
cause those who want it have no goad security to offer.
Confidence in the Government is, however, still un-
shaken-; at least, among those who have any money to
lend. It should not be lost sight of, that this sum of
a million and a half is ofli2red only by way of assist-
ance—that is in, aid of, or in addition to, the sums al-
ready in the hands of those who may borrow, for the
commencement or the completion of public works.—
This sum, therefore, will put into circulation, in the
shape of weekly wages, perhaps three times its own
amount—" It is only a little assistance which we
want—lt is merely a temporary help—An addition to
our own resources, just at this time—and then we
shall be able to go on Money begets Money*— says
the proverb—We know, if we could but have a little
lift, that we could keep on our men, and finish our
plans." Such is the kind of language we hear every
day. It comes, we admit, in numerous instances,
from the lips of mere needy adventurers—sometimes
from designing knaves—and often from well-meaning,
but too sanguine and imprudent speculators. But it
is true, nevertheless, with regard to very many per-
sons, and particularly public bodies, whose plans are
not merely feasible, but obviously important and valua-
ble. The wise man, before he begins to build his
house, will, we know, count the cost ; but who was
wise enough to have calculated on the sudden commer-
cial stagnation that we have recently experienced?
Who could have foreseen the embarrassments which a
bad season has produced ? We arc told that Lord
Castlereagh had a fine opportunity at Vienna—He