The National Register.
London, England, 1818-05-18 00:00:00

TIIE suiieets.above mentioned have of late desetr-,
c4lly occupied the public attention, and we think it right,
as fin as lies in our power to keep alive that attention ;
crovinced that the most important step towards ins_
provernent is the well-grounded conviction of its noses-
This necessiy is., hided* so obvfous,. that, on
Avhatevver other points the various partietrof out
lance may differ, they seem time and all to be agreed
on this ; and the only motive of variance in their senti-
ments is the mode of effecting the desired improve-
ments. It is unquestionably the most amiable trait in
the national character, that the higher and middling
classes of society, arc ever on the alert to ameliorate the
eendition of the lower. No nation in existence, nor of
which history records the manners, is to be compared
to our's for the virtues of Charity and Benev'olence.--a-
Virtues more eminently rare awl incomparably more
amiable than any that can possibly adorn either a na-
tion or an individual. Where amidst the records of
history do we find the patrician equally sensible of that
equality established by nature between himself and the
plebian ? Equally anxious to lighten the pressure of
grinding penury ? Equally willing to lay open to the
poor man, the road to all those advantages lie himself
enjoys, either in hic, property, or in the improved state
of the intellectual powers, by which, more than by any
other advantage, he stands distinguished from him?
We repeat it—the comparison is no where to be found
in ancient' or Modern times. If there be one fault in
our Poor Laws more generally conspicuous than ano-
•hor, it is that they embrace too much benevolence ; but
independent of the provision thus made for the pauper,
what sums are not voluntarily npproptleted to his com-
fort and hi.. Itopmvement Let not any one here
object that there are abuses: We speak here only of i
the benevolent spirit of the laws; not of their corrupt
or injudicious administration of them. We only pay
the just tribute of admiration to the virtuous fceliugs
of a benevolent nation; we do not mean to deny that
it: most praiseworthy objects are often defeated by nutty
intrigue, by avarice and hardheartedness in those en-
trusted to carry them into execution ;—but for all this,
the flea of good intent, of generous disinterested tender
feeling, mends estatdished,—and we congratulate our
countrymen that it does so. Among the many proofs
of this we will particularly notice those charitable
institutions for the education of youth, the abuses in
which formed the subject of the very eloquent speech
lately made by Mr. Brougham in the I louse of Com-
omits. We cottceive the country in general greatly
indebted to this gentleman for his conduct, and sin-
eerel:, hope he will have the satisfaction of seeing his
veil meant exertion crowned with success. But in
congratulating otr countrymen on the mass of genet-
r, ls feeling which exists among them, as evinced in
C.e extent and magnitude of the institutions before
eleationed, we cannot refrain front expressing our
reset, that the annals of the country should be "at a ined
with the record of such a motion as it has been found
neecs,;:r; to make in Parliament, for the protection of
von h, o rather, we should say, iiffarq://, against the
unfeciing exactions of a few avaricious individuals,
%dime conduct classes them more with the unfeeling
herd of Egyptian taskrnastcrs, than with any other
tescription of hutnan beings that we have known, heard,
or read of What will be thought of our humanity
by other civilised nations, when they hear that chil-
dren, infant:, are subject to Lit hours labour out of the
24, confined within the contaminated atmosphere of a
manufactory What opinion must they form of
the medical profession amongst us, when they hear