The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-15 00:00:00

ON, TI{URSDAY, APRIL 15, 18-11.

WIYISH 14STITUTION.
-
• PALL-AALL.
_The- GALLERY for the EXHIBITION and SALE of
the WORKS of, BRITISH ARTISTS, IS OPEN DAILY
-Tom Ten iithe 'Morning till Five in the Evening.
t
• ' 'Admission, Is. Catalogue, Is.
WILLIAM BARNARD, Keeper.

•
HE • WREMNITZ HITE LEAD
WORKS; BELVIDEB7E-ROAD, LAIIBETH.
The I'roprietors of the abnye Works beg to offer to the
Consumers of WHITE LEAD a very superior article in co-
lour and quality, at the following low prices, for prompt pay-
ment :—First Quality, 245. .per cwt. ; Second Ditto, 225. ;
Third Ditto, 20s.—The White Lead is made up in kegs, to suit
Shippers and ethers.

PAUPERISM IN SCOTLAND.

An admirable Report has just been published, drawn
up by a member of the Committee (David Milne, Esq.,
Advocate), appointed in April last year at a general
meeting hell in Edinburgh of landed proprietors con-
nected with different parts of Scotland, called in conse-
quence of the establishment of an Association for ob-
taining an official inquiry into the state of pauperism in
Scotland. The appearance of Dr. Alison's pamphlet
relative to the prevalence of disease and destitution
among the poor in our large towns, and the proposal
which it recommended of introducing the English
system into Scotland, had the effect of awakening a
lively interest the subject. No party cal el in goes- '
Lion the general facts adduced by Dr. Alison, far
less did any body dispute the benevolent intentions
of that distinguished philanthropist. But there cer-
tainly did prevail a difference of opinion as to the
propriety of following out Dr. Alison's views to the
full extent, and of eetirely changing the system of
pauper relief in Scotland, merely because in two or
three large towns the amount of poverty and its con-
comitants, disease and distress, exceeded the statutory
and ordinary means of remedy. Whilst some con-
tended for the adoption of Dr. Alison's proposal, and
advised, as a preliminary step, that a Government Com-
mission should be appointed to make inquiry into the
state of pauperism in Scotland ; there were others, who
were decidedly opposed to the substitution of the Eng-
lish for the Scotch system, and who were persuaded
that no Government Commission was receasary, be-
lieving that the means of inquiry already existing in
Scotland were sufficient. The advocates for official in-
quiry, and a change of system, formed themselves
into an Association, whose principal objects were
to circulate Dr. Alison's work, and to petition the
Government to appoint a Commission to investi-
gate the state of pauperism, and the whale manage-
ment of the Poor in Scotland. To avert this dan-
gerous innovation upon our Poor-law, and at the same
time to procure all possible information upon the sub-
ject, the Committee whose able Report is now before
us organised themselves, and held various meetings, at
which resolutions were passed explanatory of the ob-
jects they had in view. These objects in the first in-
stance were for the purpose of bringing the matter
under the consideration of county meetings, the Ma-
gistretes of royal burghs, and the Moderators of Pres-
byteries, in order to elicit information as to the work-
ing and adequacy of the means provided for the neces-
sary relief of the poor. The result of these arrange-
ments is contained in the Report just published, from
which it appears that a great number of Counties and
Presbyteries are opposed to the projected innovations
upon our management of pauperism. We now subjoin
a few extracts from the Report :
The Committee proceed now to state, what has been
done in diffsrent parts of Scotland, by the " natural
guardians of the poor," in accordance with the sugges-
tions in the resolutions transmitted by them as above
mentioned.

In the following counties, at the general meeting of
Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Supply,
held on the 30th April last, the subject brought under
their attention by the resolutions was fully considered,
and certain resolutions adopted :—Aberdeen, Argyll,
Ayr, Berwick, Caithness, Clackmannan, Fife, fladding-
ton, Inverness, Kincardine, Linlithgow, Mid-Lothian,
Morayshire, Nairne, Peebles, Perth, Ross, Roxburgh,
Selkirk, and Stirling,..
There probably are other counties in which the sub-
ject has been considered and resolutions passed, from
which this Committee has as yet received no eamenuni•
cation. Tracy are aware of only two or three counties
in which it was thought unnecessary to eater on rcccrd
any formal expression of opinion.
On the whole, the Committee may state, Ist, That
in none of the counties or towns in Scotland have the
constituted authorities expressed their approval of the
proposed changes on the Scotch system of Poor-laws,
or of the proposed inquiry into the state of the poor in
Scotland by a Government Commission ; 2d, That out
of the thirty-two counties in Scotland, there are twenty
in which tee Committee has ascertained that these pro-
posed objects of the Edinburgh Association were cen
sidered, and made the subject of resolutions strongly
disapproving of these objects ; 3d, That, to show their
readiness and anxiety to inquire into the existence of
the defects and abuses alleged in the administration of
the Poor-laws, at least fourteen counties have (to the
knowledge of the Committee) already appointed Com-
mittees to ascertain the condition of the poor, and draw
up a report containing full information on the subject.
The Committee, in reference to the mode of in-
quiry adopted in the countie., would particularly refer
to that followed in Berwickshire, Flfe.shire, and Had-
dingtonshire, as examples werthy of imitation, In
these counties, schedules have been printed, with the
view of ascertaining not merely the number and condi-
tion of the poor, but also of eliciting the moral effects
of the existing system, and not on the poor alone, but
on other classes also. Their inquiries invite suggestions
for the improvement of the existing laws, or the admi-
nistration of them, if such should occur to any indivi-
dual acquainted with the condition of the poor, whether
in the towns or rural parishes of these counties. The
Committee cannot doubt, from the zealous and able
manner in which the investigations are there carried on,
that a very large and valuable mass of information will
be obtained.

They beg to add the expression of their earnest hope
that the other counties of Scotland may follow the ex-
ample of energy shown by the counties just mentionci.
The method of inquiry pointed out in their schedules
is extremely easy, and attended with little expense ; and
it is most desirable, whatever may be the result of in-
quiry, or whatever opinions may be entertained as to its
necessity, that a full and searching inquiry should every
where be instituted.

The Committee consider that they have stated enough
to show, that the Scotch counties generally arc not in-
sensible to the importance of the subject, and are ready
to inquire into the condition of the poor, and the mode
in which the Poor-laws operate for their relief'. They
farther have to state it as their opinion, that, when those
counties, which have not yet begun their ioquiries,learn,
through this Report, or otherways, the energetic way in
which others are acting in this respect, they may be in-
duced to follow the example ; for it is believed that the
circumstance which has operated most strongly in
delayieg hAuiry, is uncertainty as to the best way of
investigating the subject. Several counties have applied
to the Committee for suggestions, and copies of the ne-
cessary schedules. In such cases as these, the Committee
have no doubt that, if they were authorised to send such
schedules, which could be easily framed from those cir-
culated in the counties of Fife, Berwick, and Haddiug-
ton, there would be inquiries of the same satisfactory
chaiacter as in these counties carried on in almost every
part of ScotlanO.
The Committee will next advert briefly to what they
have learnt of the opinions and inquiries of other public
bodies.

They understand that in the following Presbyteries,
besides many others, the names of which are unknown to
the Committee, the object of the Edinburgh Associa-
tion for a ilovernment inquiry, with a view to an assi-
milation of the Scotch to the English Poor-laws, has
been deliberately considered, and opinions expressed by
all disapproving of it :—Aberdeen, Alford, Ayr, Biggar,
Chirnside, Cupar, Dumbarton, Dunfermline, Dumfries,
DURSO, Edinburgh, Fordoun, Irvine, Kirkwall, Kintyre,
Lauder, Mcigle, North Isles, Peebles, Penpont, Weetn,
Wigton.
It was scarcely to be expected that the Clergy and
Kirk-sessions,
.who bad only two years ago completed
laborious inquiries into the state of the poor and pours'
funds in their respective parishes, to enable the General
Assembly to make a Report to Government on this
very subject, should be willing so soon to renew their
investigations, especially on the mere suggestion of a
private Committee. It must also be remembered, that
Presbyteries have not, like county Magistrates, the
means of printing schedules and paying the expense of
laborious inquiries. But, nevertheless, almost all the
Presbyteries above mentioned, while they declare them-
selves opposed to any changes in the essential principles
of the Scotch system, which they consider admirably
adapted to relieve destitution, without drying up the
springs of industry ; at the same time express their
readiness to inquire into the condition of the poor, both
moral and statistical, and have, with that view, appointed
Committees of Inquiry. One Presbytery has already
sent to this Committee a copy of their Report ; and,
in other Presbyteries, a similar inquiry would appear to
be now going on, as the Committee have received re-
turns from the clergymen of parishes in different parts
of Scotland. Most of the Committees so appointed
have applied to the Edinburgh Committee for the neces-
ary schedules, which, however, they had not the means
of supplying.—Edinburgh Advertiser.

The son of a farmer named Packer, seeing that
Captain Seymour and some other gentlemen, who were
out with her Majest3's hounds last Saturday, were about
riding over his father's crops, attempted to stop them, and
in doing so a pole which he had in his band at the time
came in contact with the Captain's eye. It is said that he
purposely struck Captain Seymour, who contemplates
legal procceiings against his assailant.
RAILWAY FROM ENGLAND TO SCOTLAND.
._The decision of the Commissioners on this subject does
not in the slightest degree alter our opinion of the expe-
diency of a railway from Newcastle to Edinburgh by the
coast line, and we hope and believe that the project will
still be persisted in. The interest of the North Midland,
York and Midland, and Great North of England Railway
Companies, is so deeply involved in the measure, that we
have no doubt it would receive their cordial and hearty
support.—Tyne Pilot.