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

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