The Sun.
London, England, 1817-08-08 00:00:00

DINNER TO MR. wooLEa.

A party of thirty sat tiotyn together yesterday
at the Eagle Tai.erir, late the Shepherd and Slap-
herdess, in the 'City-road.

Mr IVooLrh, on his health being drank, re-
turned thanks in a very long speech, in the course
of which he observed, that the present sateguard
of our Freedom, next to the Liberty of the tress,
was " Trial by Jory," and tool or knave must he
be, who would tear to submit his cause to a Jury
selected from his equals in Fociety. Such a Jut y
would decide justly, though sornetimes their de-
cision might rest on views different from those
which individuds took of their own conduct. F. r
him ,elf, however, he would never coMplain of the
course they might take ; Ire Would not impugn'
their vetdict, but would cheerfully bow to ally
decision which a Jury.of his countrymen, fairly
selected,.might pronounce agi.iitiSt )tits, Wha:ever
the conseqnences might be to Lim.
The health of Mr. Pearsoto (Mr. ‘Vooler's At-
torney) was also drunk.
Mr. IVoor.F.a expressed his satisfaction at the
toast which had just been given, and spoke at
some length on the merits of Mr. Pearson, and
particularly on the efforts he had made to effect it
reform with respect to Special Juries.
Mr. HONE, on his health being drunk, paid a
tribute to the ability and rectitude of Mr. Pear-
son, and spoke against the present mode of strik-
ing off Special Juries.
The healths of Mr. Steel, of Mr. Green, Mr.
Elliott (the Chairman), Major Cartwright, and
several others, were drunk with the usual hononrs,
and thanks were returned by those who were pre-
sent.

In the course of the evening a variety of toastt
against " Tyrants," " Despotism," and " Shi-
vely," and in honour of " Freedom," " Liberty,"
and " the Rights of Man," were drunk with great
applause.

MR. HUNT AND MR. DOWLING.

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUS".

rely upon your feelings as a Gentle,
man, and upon your impartiality as a Journalist,
for the prompt insertion of this letter in your

Within the last few tninntes, for the first time,
the report of a Speech purporting to have beery
delivered by Mr. ii.uNT at the Crown and Anchor
Tavern, on Thursday last, at " A Dioner to ce-
lebrate the Acquittal of \VATSON and others," met
my eye. The following passage of that speech
demands from me an immediate answer :

" He then alluded to the manner its which the
" public prints had vilified him and endeavoured
" to prove his Cowardice ; and appealed to the
" meeting to contradict those calumnies. If Mr.
" Dowling had offered to horsewhip him he,
" would not have held him before a Magistrate
"to keep the peace. Mr. Dowling insinuated
" himself into his (Mr. H's) company at' the
" Meetings in Spa-fields, and being connected
" with a respectable Journal he had unbosomed
" himself, and had confidentially told him all he
" was about to perform ; how that trust had been
" abused was too well known to all present to
" render it necessary for him to repeat."
What may'have been the object of Mr. Mint,.
beyond the traduction of my character by those
observations, I know not ; they have not, how-
ever, I apprehend, tended much to remove any
impression of that Cowardice which he says the
public prints have imputed to him, because they
were uttered in a place, and at a time, when he
knew 1 had no opportunity of defending myself:
To his credit they operate as a direct negative ;'
for I take leave to state, thus publicly, that his
assertion " that 1 insinuated myself into his corn-
pang at the Spa-fields' meetings, that. he unbo-
sumed himself to me, and told me all. he was about
to perform, and that I afterwards abused his con-
fidence, is a gross and malignant. falsehood !--I ne.
ver had any conversation with Mr. Hunt in Spa-
fields until the last meeting, and on that occasion
he sought my company, and not I was
seated at a table writing a preliminary description
or the collecting crowd for the paper with which
I am connected, when Mr. Hunt entered the
room. and approaching me, put into my hand a
number of printed slips of the resolutions he was
about to propose, which he requested, after they
were proposed, I would deliver to the Gentlemen,
connected with Newspapers, present. This was
all that passed between us, and indeed more would
have been superfluous, for Mr. Hunt well 'chew L
was there for the express purpose of reporting
" all he was about to perform." At the conclu-
sion of Mr. Hunt's speech I complied with his re.‘
quest, by delivering the copieS of his resolutions as
he had desired.--Perhaps 1 may be allowed to add,
in order to account for Mr. Hunt's selecting me
as his agent upon this occasion, that the t esoln-
Lions in question 'were printed at the office of my
employers, who he was fully apprised had made
the most extensive arrangements, under my super-
intendance, for giving, et length, a report of this
proceedings at the Spa-fields' meeting that very
evening. .

if it were necessary to support my statement,
as opposed to that of Mr. Hunt, by the evidence
of others, several Gentlemen who were present
on the occasion alluded to, 1 am satisfied, would.
feel pleasure in corroborating the facts which I
have detailed.

In conclusion, Sir, I have only to state for the
information of those whom it may interest, that
unless recalled, I shall he in this town till Monday
next, and shall then proceed to Monmouth.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient bumble Servant,
VINCENT GEORGE DOWLING,
Hereford, Atig. 6, 1817.

P. S. I am confident that the Editor of every
Paper, who May have given p<►hlicity to Mr.
Hunt's calumny against me, will do me titeltupii
lice to give insertion to this letter,

iti:l ANI ENT A ity I."APE-R.S.

POOR LAWS.

nr THE ,LORDS' C,,:kitITTEPS ON THE POOR

LAWS.

. _
Dv thg• Lords' Committees arimittted to consider
'tit the Poor• Laws, and report to the House;
and %rho welt- empowered to report the Evi-
'deuce taken before!'111,111 from-time to tinitt to
the Ilottse ; ant.V.to.•whont-several Petitions Oil
t ht. -ohieet 10t45e been. referred ;
Ordered
•n) iteport,, •
Th"T k'pplying li.emselves ,to the important.
subject +Ted 1,1 their enoSideration. the Cow-
mitt, a have telt it their thoy the firsr.instance
to dieivt Oieir to the Lll.‘l's whit!!! ire it)
be to.und opal) l i. a Stainte iltt“k.At, au early pet
t4l(e provisions of ot,«Nr. of ‘vnich.were, alkrwards
ftnbm•lied in the Act- of the 43d of F,lizaheth, and
laid the loondirtion of the present system. The
Statute of Labourers of the 23(1 of Ettward 111.
appears to hare been enacted in •constopience of
the (11,1111.6;01y t fleets prising front a pestilential
disorder that had prevailed.at that period, and
uhich roused so great .a scarcity of labourers in
husbandry. that au Act •was passed containing, the
: `! That every person under
• sixtv yeArs, of ante, alkle to wo:k, anti not deriving
any fixed maintenance front trade, handicraft, or
I►rrs.onal7proper.ty of own, nor posses,ing hind
regwring. his own labour, and not bei:lg already
toigage<l in. other, sorvice, should, it. rtopt;.red to
ettouze ili H st,tvii:e,fo trod Sttilahle to his station,
1), hchl to b so eng.agell .the person so,requir-
imt hint 31111 should teceive. the usual wages of,
the part of the country in NOlich he should Serve,
ern art..average of: the last twenty, or sik,.or-five

years." • •
'There are other .provision's to prevent a greater
*umber of _labourers being entpb)yed bTany one
person than are necessary for his service ; and
0140 for -the punishing of tho,eow,lto shall refuse
saitable scrtice and employment, by imprison-
ment', unless proper security.shall be given.
There then follows a series of Acts of.ihe same
year (23 Edward 111) to prevent agricultural la-
bourers tram quitting their service before :the time
ao!reed upon, without. license or reasonable cause
and against the giving o'r_receiving of higher thkin
the accustomed. Wages,; under pain of imprison-
ment in the case of ibe.artificers or workmen,
and of the fot feiture of. treble the value in the
ca•e of the 1...tr-t1 of a Town or Manor offending
agaitist the Statute. •
The 2d of Richard-11. confirms the above Atts,
and-iti the 12th of. Richard 11. other Statutes were
enarteo, restrati,ing labourers and servants from
avi.U.g the hunch ed, rape, or w w
apentake iuwhich
't;ad resided and were employed, -without .a
cerf tfica= e of the cause of their departure, and spe:.
cifyiAg the tinge of their teturn (12 Richard 11.

catt:'2l - •
of Richard 11. cap. 4. prohibits the
g;%-ine or taking of more wages than are limited
by Surtnte.. . .
The sth chapter of the same year directs, that
nn ut.ruu who has been hrmatzht up to the accu,
/whin ot,husbandry tci the age of twelve years,
Shull", he afterwards put to any Other trade anti
that:all covenants of apprenticeship contrary to
this 'Act shall he mill and void.. At the same
period a law yeas passed for the punishment ,of
it neranr Mendicants who were able to work.; and -
for providing for- such beggars, as were impotent,
In the towns and cities in which they might he re-
Sident •the thee of the proclamation of the.
and _providing. further, that'" if• the
people of the above cities and towns were nnwill,
ing or unable to maintain .them;. they, should be
conveyed to other towns in the hundred, rape,
or wt,peutake,"* or to the towns ;where they.
were born, in,forty days after the said. proclama- '
tion.:, IC-further. provided, .that all those who
went,iit pilgrimage as tnetrdicants, being. able to
work> should he treated in the sameY manner as
the aforesaid.servants and- labourers, unless they
bad letters testimonial of their pileriniage,-under
the seal of' the Ordinary. Clerks of the Uitiver•-•
sity; who go about begging, are also required by
the -Act to have letters testimonial from their
Chancellor,.tmder the same penally.
The 12th of Rib. ll.i.cap 9. ordains, that the
Act relating to servants and laboUrers .begging
and wandering, shall have force and be executed
as well in cities and boroughs as in other. towns
and places of the kingdom.
Bvihe I.3th'of Rich. IL cap. 8., it iraccorded
and appointed, that thejusticei of Peace in every
county-, at their Sessions held between Easter and
Niclutelm4s, :shag 'bake .proclatuation at their tbs..
acinutling to- the juice of victuals, how
ninety ee ery.,masoo,- carpenter, tyler, - and other
at titicerint,t3vorkinen, and also labourers by the
day, as well in harvest as in other. times of the
year, 'shall .receive daily. either. with or without
meat 'und di ink during that period, between the
aforesaid Session.
The hof Rich. 11. Cap... 6, directs, that in
every license front "henceforth to be made in the
Chaorery of the appropriation of any parish church,
it shall be expressly contained and CoMprised, that
the Dioct,sai) 'shall ordain a proper sum of money,
ticriording,.to the value-of such chinches, to be
paid, yearly, of their fruits and,protits, to the poor
paris.honers of tbe said churches, in aid of their
auti-sioteuauce, for ever ; and that. the Vi-
car be well and sufficiently endowed. Other Sta.-
tutes-were passed in the reign -ofllenry the Sixth
and Henry the Seventh, for continuing the Sta..
totes' of Richard. the Seconsi concerning the evages
of labourers, to which reference has been made;
itind.alsofor preventing persons .wishing-to change
their service
.frotn leaving their employersuithont
sufficient 4iotice tn,enabh: them-to provide other
fiery nits in their place. , •
Soule of.tbe-4-atly Statute& which ltave.l?een al-
ready c,ited, anA4 particaarly: that of the 2;1 of
Iticb; 11. refer t07410e-ptirmiple settlyuebt by
sidenCe, but .appear;:.to,haye.beeft
,etiacted other,
in the view-of pro4iiug a.gainst.akezcarpOof la-
bourers itthushit.tl4y Ovhich vyas. oeca4pnally felt
in tbosti::ViettACltkiCto.. Uri v e '..hatLan yreictence.to
the ciaitri of individuals to relief croin.-particular
di et.7s;., but, ltPtiltrov ide for the-mged oudinfirm,

* fieiith des Aitz Citccs nts.VA!les ne,v9illentou
ne poietif .stxffir trover, tine Ivi; S9i
trailleut aus autrt:s Vines atits•le JiltkA:cd; X 4; &c..;•: •='-'lO •

and tlicge nnutle to maintain' th'etrtstivts, who
were, therefore, compelle to snlisi.,t by begging;
the Statutei finVitig roe on't:of their, objects to :pre-
vent itinerant Mendlcity. ,
The first laiv in Which liny imnarative ' ate
used in respect ,to th.,••fellet of the poor, is the
27th Henry VIII. cap. 25, I. which provision
, .
is Ordered to be made by " alt Governors'Of Shires,
Cities, Towns, Hundre(ls, St.c. by way of volunta-
ry and charitable aims, for tf:c finding and keep,
lint; of every
.aged, poor, and impotent. person
Which %cm. born or• dwelt thiee years within the
saute It also. contains -proviiiinns fur the
pre .t.lltion of begging, and for put tin?, to s'er'eiee in
htishandry , nd othe'r cral:s or labours,all child re'n
above five and anger fonr(een years of age, who
live in idlencss,,and are taken begging.

The 2tith-ot Ilettiv VIII. cap 5, contains some
very 11111113[1e regulations fur the proteetitia of ap-
prewices al.,,tinst the exaction of fees, to which
they had been subjected " by the Acts and Ordi-
nances of divers wardens and fellowshipa, con-
trary to the meaning of an Act of the 19th of
Henry VII.; and also to prevent their being re-
strained by. oath or bond trout keeping- or setting
up any shop after the expiration of their appren-
ticeship."
The 3d' and 4th of ,Edwaril -VI. relates to the
punishment of rogues and vagabonds ; revises the
Statute of 22d Henry VIII. cap. 12, for the relict
of impotent and aged persons ; and directs thkit
maimed sore, aged, and impotent persons shall be
relieVed and cured, And habitations provided for
them, by the devotion of good people of- that.city,
town or village, where they were born, - or.had

dwelt .three years.
. ,
The sth anit,Gth of Edward VI'I. cap. 2, anti the
2d aitt3 3d 'of Philip Mary, cap. 5, relate to
the sitife object' of relief ; the hitter pro6ding a
" retne4,whetfe a parish is not able to relieve the-
poor therein, *old where' a town surcharged wit Ii
poor standeth of near two•connlies
The next Act .w.)!ich appears upon the Statute

Rook, is the 3d Of Olialleth, cap. 3, which pro-
vides, that the poor and impotent pt;rsops of every

parish shall be relieved -of. that which every per-
son will of their charity give weekly; d that
the same relief shall be gathered-in every
by collectors assigned; and weekly:distributed to
the poor ; for none of them shall openly go or •it
begging. And if any pariShoner:shall obstivattly
retuse.to pay reasonably towards the relief of the
said poor, or shall discourage others, then the
Justices of the Peace at time Quarter Sessions ofay
tax hitn,toa reasonable weekly sum, wkich'; it he
refuse to pay, they may commit Won to piison.
And if any parish hiave in it, more impotent 'poor
persons than -they are able to relieve,
.then the
Justices of the PeaCe of the county-stay license so
many of them as they shall think good, to beg
in one or more Hundreds of the same county.

The object of this Act was probably to encou-
rage private charity, •by providing for its proper
distribution, as well as to prevent begging, either
by itinerants, or personsplaeing themselves by the
way-side tor that purpose.
It is Mu') the first Statute •that is absolutely
compitlsory in.respeet to an assessment for the re-
fief of tbe.poor.
The very next Statute of the same year, the
sth. Elizabeth, cap. 4. entitled, " Au Act con-
taining divers orders for Artificers, Labourers,
Ser:vants otilusbandry, and:Apprentices," relates
to so great a variety of regulations upon this snb-
ject, that your Committee will -merely give au ab-
straet of,t he preamble,. to convey an _idea of the
Act itself.

. .
" Although there reniain and Stand in force presently, a
great number of Statutes concerning, the
,retakMpg, depart-
ing, wages, and orders Of apprentices, servants, and ‘lithonr-'
era, as-well in husbandry, as in givers .other arts, mysteries,
and occupations" yet partly for the iitip;erfeet ion and contra-
riety that is found' in sundry of the said lai s,. and for the va-'
riety and number of them, mid for.that the wages and
allowancedimited and rated in many of the said Stattites are
in dive's places too small, and not aniivelahlelo this time,
respecting.-the advancement of prices of all thiiigsbe-
14niking to the said servants and - labourers, the said laws
cannot conveniently, without the great grief and burthen
of the poor labourer and hired man, he put in good and
due-executio : and as the said several Acts and Statutes were
At the time of the mating of them thought to be very good
and beneficial for the Commonweath of this Realm (as divers
of them are), so if the subitauce of as -many' of the said
laws as are meet to be continued shall he tli'iested and re-
duced into one sole Law and Statute and in the same and
tiniloirm Order prescribed and limited concerning the wages
and other ,orders for apprentices, servants, and labeOrers,
there is good hope that it will come. to pass that the "same
law (being duly executed) shall banish idleness, advance Ints-
bandry, and yikld pato the hired person, both in the time of
scarcity and in the time of plenty, a convenient proportion
of: wages."

The above Act appears to proceed upon the
presumption that persons
(who could, find em-
ployment would earn sufficient for their support;
and the 431' of Elizabeth was undoubtedly form-
ed upon the same basis ; the couseqnctice of
which would necessarily he; that it was only such
as could not -find work them Selves that the parishes
were obliged tqmvploy.
The:AM of Wizabeth gives power to the Jus-
.

tiers in•respect to the mothers and reputed father;
of bastard children, who were to be charged will

the weeldrpayinvot of. tnoney,.or assist in pro-
vitlin of other sustentation fur their relief; and
in default thereof to be committed to
,the con].

mon gaol.
It also contains provisions for the conveyance
of rogues from one parish to another ; for pro-
viding a stock .to set the poor on work in every
city artd town corporate`; for establishing houses -
of correction in every county ; and providing also
that lands holden in socage may,• during twenty,
•
years, be given towards the maintenance ofhouscs
of correction, and stock to the. poor:
. The 31st of Elizaheth, cap. 7, though not referring to the,
employment or relief of the pour, is so much connected with
the subject, that it seems proper to refer to it in this place.-
- It provides, that fur the avoiding of the great inconveniences
which- are found by experience to grow by the erecting of
great numbers and moltitudes of cottages, which are daily
more and more increased in many parts of the realist, no per-
sops shall erect any manner of cottage, for habitation or dwell-
ing, unless the same .persons do assign and lay to the same
, cottage or buildings tour acres of ground at tbe, least, to be
oecupteil and neanuted therewith, so long as the saute cottage
shall ,be. inhabited. There arc exceptions for cottages in
cities anti Inaouet towns; and for the habitations of workmen
1.0 mines and quarries; and also for cottages within one mile
if the sea •' for cottages on forests, Chases,' warrens, and
parks, and for dwellings .of herdStnen anti shepherds.
The probable object of this.'Act was tt, citable the labourer
to maintain °himself partly by the produce of the land under
,his own management, and partly by working for others ; thus
raising a middle class of labourers between the farmer and

the mere day-labourer.
The :30th of Elizabeth directs who shall be overseers of the
poor, 'by whoa, and when they Otall:be appointed, their office
ana duty, their accounts; their forfeitures, &c.
The Committee did.not conceive they sisould bave perform,

- .
col the tint* entra.tell to their Aar4e; if they 1/:tici not endea.;•
t.. bring miller your Lordships' view a shi3rt summary
..f the laws .preservcd ..4,1 the slatute tier subject,
from the perimiS at which the:diffet:ent. parts t.if the system

. .
appear to have been first established.. That.sttniniary is uuw
brought down to.the 4hd of Elizabeth ; in..wbich.the different
laws awl provisions that .had previously e:;ist;c4, fir several
years, are united and cUusoildated. From lapse of time, and
a departure from the true spirit, of the tabote'Att,.arising fre-
quently from the: Mullane exercise of its sunosedt:itow.ol,
abusys have niuloubtedlSr been introduced into tila geirt:al
administration of the Poot-La Of'England-; but the Outt-
mitt ee are tieee.rthetess decidedly of ..t.tifinion, that the gene,
rat system of those laws, interwoven as it is with the habits
of the people, ought, in•the cOnsideration'of any measures to
be adapted for their and improvement, .to be tis-
sentially maicitoined. It is under this Act that the fund for
employing the poor who arc abk to work, and for Maintain..
in;; those *bu are unabfe tit do so, is railed•at .'this. day, with
‘everal modification's and alterations, however, that hays: been

enacted hy sul•etpient Statutes.
It Must be obvious to any' One *lto et-insiders-the
.gentral
c'ppeptid prObahle:view of many of the Statutes which have•
beer) etinineratcd, that at the period of their enactment the
state of the country was eXtrentely difl'erent from that in
Which it. is tiow placed,'iti' many fmportant instances; and
that consegtteittly,.4 hough in thempinion of the Committee
the. system of the Poor Laws ought to be maintained, yet it
must be admitted that Soule of their provisions are-less'ap-
plicable, and perhaps 'More difficult in the execution,under
present circumstances, than at the time of the it original esta-
blishMent. At brat period the pOptilation of the cduntrywA
chiefly agricultural ; anti from the'tenor•of some of the early
laws to which reference has been made, it appears that ap-
prehensions occasionally existed of a deflciencyi,even in that
population, for the necessarYoecnpations of hasbandry.-- The
progressive increase which has since taken place in:-the gene-
ral pop:datiott of the kingdom, and the grpt proportion of
that populatiOn Adtkli dtiring a lung series-of years has found
a constant and advantageous employment in the occupations
of trade, handicraft, and manufacture, and in attendance
upon the more optsient. members of the'ciiimnimity (whose
numbers have also increased in a great prtitArtion) have'pro-
doced im porta tit ehanges.in the operation of the, Poor Laws;
for upon the Sodden failure of demand fer some of those ma-
.

nufactttres which had s 6 lout; atfOrdtd.' the gieatest.
encciu-
ragement and the most ample mcarts of suhsistence:tothel,
pulation of entire districts, the most serious distress lias en-
sued. The
,conseqnence has been, that thos'e elasse:s'of per-
sons upon whom the.alisessments *lie made for the necesSarV
maintenance and relief of the mannfacturer and artisan, when

suddenly deprived of their accustomed means of support,have,
ltl smne.instances, been exposed to a degree of pressure.and
embarrassment which has probably never been experienced to
so,great an extent-at any former period. --At the same timei
however, that the attention- of the Committee has been drawl
to the distress which has existed in some of the manufactur-
ing diSfricts, they 'think it material to'obServe, that .consi- -
&raider 'distress. likewise appears to have prevailed in many
parts of the country which :ire exclusively agricultural.
In the prosecution of this important 01.1 extensive inquiry.
the Committee have examined a variety of ‘titnesses, several
of 'shunt have attended voluntarily, without suminons, for the
porpose of offering such :information as they possessed re-
specting part .cular districts.. 'From the'gVneral result of the
'evidence, it has appeared to. the Committee,
,that though
some of the districts, and in some of the country parishes not
coritainimr.any hitge or populous towns, the increase in the
rates has not be-m 44 any great amount,-and iu soase.less
than
might have been expected under ail the circumstances of. the
present lime (referring more particularly she'd-le:as of
unfaCourable harvest-of last year throughoutEttrope' and
alio to the want of employment which has been severely felt
in many parts of the country) ; yet in Other districts which
are almost exclusively agricultural, the Committee have rea-
son to belieie that very great distress has prevailed,-and that
the rates hive been considerably angmented. In the manu-
facturing districts, as has been .already -observed; tvhere't her
population has oflate greatly exceeded. the ..deinand f0K,14-
boor, the burthen of the rates has been partictilarly.Seivere,.
notwithStanding the large —subscriptions Which havti been.
raiseithy private 'benevolence, and (as will appear frciin the
evidence annexed) a very general and meritorious attention
to the admihiStratilin of the funds; en fife part ottlie.ovee-•
seers and other persons. appointecao superintend the ma-,
nagement of the poor its sonic of the great manufacturing

towns.
Its the course of the evidence maree details are entn'nerated- -
of the actual amount ant/comparative inereate of the rates in
different places aild at different periods; and itiforne:tion has
kern also collected of the manner in
and of t he description of persons who partakeof it in different
parts of the kingdom. In 111411 V parishes a system hes been.
adopted, in.consequence of the aettrease- in the demand for
work, of employing latiourqs in ketatitur amongst the
farmers.; and in souse' places this practice has'bren carried-to .
such an extent, that fewer regular labourers have been em,
plowed Shaft the necessary works in hushandry 'would have re,
quired upon cacti farm : 'those works having been performed
he (what arc called) •roundsuien, at less than The, I+4oo-rate
of wages. Wherever superfluous- labourers • have been •etu-
ployed in works, not,of absolute necessity, but which hare
been undertaken and executed-by intik iilnals Pfir the-sake -•of
alTordieg relief aid furnishing --employment to those ubo
conk! not otherwise have obtained it, this practice, must have
afforded an importauf though temporary relief ; hut in the
ease referredto, as stated in the, evidence,' the effeet-orth-P,
system of roundsmetr has been to throw upon the general'
rates or parishes in which tile system has prevailed, ill the
most direct and obvious manlier, s very considera:ble propor-
tion of the wages of that labour, the charge of which ought,
to have been defrayed by the individuali for wrioth it was per-•
formed.
The Conniiiltee have also observed; in the course of their'
inquiry, that a practice which appears to-hare coMmeniced at'
the period of scarcity in the year 1795, and Which was coati-
; tined in the years 1890 and 1801, of suakingatp -to labourers
with families:l he insufficiently of their USeal Wages:by aid from
the poor rates, has been regularly continued in many parti of
the kingdom; a practice-which-, though it may lave preVented
for some time the raising- of the direct ps;iceof labour, has
been to a certain degree atteodedwith the injurious effect of
taxing those who have nu interest in it-with proportion of
the ezpence. .
:Independently of this indirect addition to-the. poor:Tates,
.the general amumtt of it receives a'still further increase by.
other charges of a pUblie neture,-in no way applicable to the
maintenance or relief of the poor. 'Of this description are
the various chargei connected with the Militia, and whate
ever sums are expended in the intilding and repairing of
gatsli, of county bridges, of shire halls,. the expence of cri,
prcsecutions, of indictments for' roads, and fines in
consequence of such - indictments; as well as other charges
which are of a public nature, and defrayed out of the county
rate.
The Committee hare therefore felt it au importani • part of
their duty to inquire into the mode-of assessing property tar
the poor rate : and into the..constructian. that has at an:
time been put npim those Words in the Statute of the 4:3d
of Elizabeth, which, in describing the persotl4 on whom
the rate is to be levied, appear to raise a distinction -between
the inhabitants of a parish and the• occupiers of land and
• • . •
houses. .

It appears that in different instances personal propeily has
been assessed to the poor-rates, though in souse cases appeals •
have been made against such a-mode of rating: Fruits the
decision; of the Courts, the principle of rating other proper-
ty than land and houses appears to have been generally ad-
mitted to be consistent with law; but the diffietilty has con-
sisted in describing the sort of property which is liable to•as-
sessment ; as it has been deemed essential that it should he
some local and visible property within the parish for which
the assessment is made. -
- Upon the subject Of the general' mode of assessment foe
the relief of the imor, Cite Committee are of opinion, upon
the fullest consideration, that nothing- can tend to. keep.. the
present system of the poor-ratls w:thio reasodahle bounds,
but that the assessment should continue to be levied upon
those Who are immediately.interested in the disbursement
and who, front personal knowledge o( the character and si-
tuation of the ludh'iduals, itre best enabled to judge of the
justice of their Claims and the extent of their wanti, ib cases
of application for relief.
The Committee have thought it right to examine evidence
respecting theinanagerneot of the,poor Scot land ; where,
a power exists by law to impose a compulsory assess•
meta for the relief of the poor, recourse-has settiAsi been'ilad
.to it, execiA under particular circumstances, and in popu-
lous and manufacturing towns, Colosiderable sums, are rapist,
by regular collections at the Churches, which are apVileti
the puipiaie of relieving-the poor at the dieretion of the'n-
ifistet and Elders, cOmpositnr (what is called)•the Kirk Ses
sion. By means of these collections, and of fprther volun-
tary contributions on the part of the heritors and other,inha-
bitants, the necessity forfora compulAoq ftsiNinient is gene-
rally avoided, except in times of particular distress..:_Upoa
this subject a Report received from the General Ay,mirly•-of,
the Church of Scotland, out the noitrigemeot of the poor lit
that part of the United Kingdom, baring been r,lerred to
the Conimittec, together with tunic 'interesting •details cost,
tajne4 in, other doementv, they subjuilt them fur your Lord-
ships' Nit ' •
o ton. .
It vtould have been gratifying to the Coutraitt'it', in tbeilis-

charg' e Itaportalit ant tiorti ilt7ps rtt ttisr>tt
them by your Lordships, if they could have suggested ail
measures that would have -pttittaced a diminution of. those
burthens winch have pressed u.illeavily of late years,plion t:rt •
occupiers of. ittit-.1 and houses; end ill tAis dee; they harx
en-
dcavuured to coll,:ct tIIC opillis;tts of those wittleses, ••selo.:
tro:n their general knowledge arii experience, were most
ly to atford information as to any t,tlterations that.
Silgsvstrd 41, the iireent lases, as. ;t t tety to the_
terests aud comfort of the pour, as to aii alleviation of too
pressure upon those who are liisble • ,
It roust be-evident to your Lortkl.ips that ;lie stbject is its
its nature au-extensive and ditticult, that litt.lr rho: e can he
expeZted;.especi:illy,in the first instance, Trold any eXertiont
eau be made by iadiricluals,..r lierhaps trout the col-
wisdom of I'.larlialuent, than .sack alieviotion of the
hutlbens, aii.may be derived from an improved ,ystew of tiia~
hag-meta, and from tendering: the laws I.llore Siii4ple
rxec~ttiou: -The great increase in the of the ttites ut
late years, littsatriseti not Only from caaseswLich. oars
been entnneratiol, tort fioni the, general disposition to -resorts.
to that species of maintenance utiliccottot of the facility Witt •
whicbit- bas beiM .fretiutott ly Which has tended' tie
weaken amota;itt the pta,ie that Ais„posittoti „to. econmilly W,ltie.tt
foruicr4 existvi in many pit::ts of .the ettitti;
.is highly desirabie, ou account of their clontfort and
deuce; to encourag,e,and revive. , • ""
Though tthire is reason to believe 014
of the. expense of.litigation arising from• appeols hastrevit at-,
all times rather exaggerated, yet it is undoubtedly desirable,
not, only in the view of lessening the charges, but for the
sake of those who may be the objects Of :removal, to make
some..alteration in the Law of. Settlements. The,Conimittee,
therefore. submit to the cOnSideration of the HoOse,whether •
it might trot he expedierrt'to provide that every persou-resitt-
tog for three years iii airy parish without being chargeable
(anti who-has oceit employed during•the above petiod in the
said parish), shall.obtain a'settlement ; and that ,in-case that
inode'of. settlement should .be adopted after a tittle to be fixed, •
510 persott.,shall acquire a get tle,nient lay hiring and service, or
by apprenticeship.; and the Couinaittee thhikihey way safely
recommend that no,ettleinent shall be acquired in any parish
-by reittnig.a tenement, unless it shall consist of an ,boose.•or•
land, or of an house with laud, and shall be held wider one •
latidlortLitud saute parish, at an annual &tact( fide rent
of twenty pounds, and les, titan cue year.
-The Cotinuitteelthewi4e Submit particularly front the evi-
ticatceivhicla ,they received front Mane tiester :tad'llirminghant,
tlrat a power should be give,' to remove persutis.befouguig-to
countittsnot within the operation of tue Poor LaWsiotto.st,all,
become chargeable to any paa:is Weir respet tire homes. -
it has also appeared to the.Coamititee, that great I...tivdt, tag,:
would arise (parfienlarly Ju !attic pirishes) trout the appoint.-
went of permanent Oversers ;Ana Surreyurs of the
ways, with salaries, and from the utittiO of small parishes tut'
.a situilar purpose; :tad that. it is advisable to give a power to •
parishes,, in certain cases, to occupy land 1.011.1 a VICIF to th!e
•Calpiupnent of the poor. •
lt,might likewise be proper to regulate the right of voting

in vestries, altar[ questions relating to the inana,genieitt. of
-the vuor,.according to the proportion in which the intiividirtil
is asscs,ed
_to the poor-rate.
In addition to the' abtive•sugg,estion of the appointinent or
a Permanent Overseer. the Committee are: of that.
great'adva ..t age wouktk, arise, in ririous ways, from •prccnring„
means of regular and periodical returns to be laude tU tic
Magistrates of counties, a clear and systematic account of Lice
stake of every palish' in respect to the waliageuielit of 414
rates imposed for the relief of the poor, and the einployinclit
and relief of those who are entitled to the care and iiae.utioa
of the Overseers; such accounts to be 'returned once in the .•
course of the year to• the .:'Quarter Sessions; to be teinlari;r
preserved, accessible
.to tote ihspi;ction of ;Any person afe.,

_ . .
ying to exaiiiipc them.
. ~.
~ ..
It is unnecessary Is) dwrlt tipon.theidrantageof.ptitilicity
all accounts bf,ptiliVio concern anti partical,ol.ls; 'oil ale aii..l.

vantage tibit might be...ettree3ett4odoin4w-froinlit:ati accounts
i)1 this description partaking- bothvf:sencrat aud.individu as
interest; and involvingi questions on which 'natty of the per-
ins to whose observation they ivotildiie regularly subutitteds,
area notTol y competent to
.4.tag,e; but interested. -in :tOrniin.gs
a.corrcct 4:id-impartial judgment, , • .
The Conitnitiee are also decidedly of opinion, from every
inforniation:thoy halve rectiVed,,fhat-itis expi,dient: to rcoak-
nri-ctiti the adoptiirowf Pro.vidolit Savings II:An, as likely tut
iacreare the coinfortsinsi,im prove the condition of the Poor„
and to reinter their less depcinlanf ott ptiri;eltial relief; wilicia
'under _the itest.atid mutt .coasidertite,adiniuis:;rati4tt tif it, CI:11
.never bsl.l9'satijactory•to the pct son• who is. the oli.,ect of it,
consistent wifth holloorahle.teeliusi Uf tarok awl
indepelidence writtli art,Thiplauted in i he lie. a I of lu l 1,
re,ource which is the resuleol'his own indostiy and the prO-
duce ti,4%.liisown exertions...,
The. Counnittee.ranuat conclude ,this Itaport rithoOt
dravodring to impress upon your
ions. orWeltsfit:ainPinnuence througuota the canasta S, the,
Kreat importance of -o jus,t, correct, tlid vigil nt zuhnon.,stia-
lion of the laws relating to..tbe poor ; and of reCoinutelidtu4;
the most earriest manner, to all who have the oppurtiiiiii.yi
the must.' unretnittiag attention to improve then general ma-
na'gvinent, and to correct Abose.evils.-which way have arisen,
from a negligent or.mistaken tidininisteation of
'The. advanced period of 1 heSessiou wally of coorse, peetiti!tt
the ,posibilitrof any immnediate alteration is the, prer;ent
laws but -so fat, front consitteritar; tlit§ circitnan.ance as ;',2.
platter of regret, the Combuitteit, art cf opinion, that morn
advantage will ulamately arise from-Oa/41K tiinv.for.
biaation upon the_ different -ing;gestions which have haul
made, Allan from baSlll7:adoptitig alte,cati'utat, wtaicia, line,._
ever useful they iny..at.preseitt appenr, !night possibly bete
after in the detail befoutti,l inceosi•telit,wiilt. a mul c 6ener4l,
plan of improvement in at; sy`steui itself.

THE :EXTENSIVE FoRGEEY descripti'Oa.
given by the boy Nash of tire perStio who employ-
ed him to present the forgery for C. 0./: 3s. ac the
house of Sir Sohtt•Teiring• and' CO.. hating
au-
swered theperson of the well-known HrOn Yo..
her's (lately discharged fvoin his adj,dg,:d
sonment), an titiicer yesterday brought that iu
dividnal in custody to the Mansion-horse. °poll
being confronted with the boy, as weil as 1,114
waiter of the: York Cot-Ice-house, they each iar
stantly deerared he was not the tnau. :Rohe' vs".
'immediately addressed the Lord Mayor, aunt
stated, that his apprehensions of a resettiblanc
to any person- suspected of forgery, or any ottici-
crime, was so great, thatlia felt it nectSsary
regulate his conduct in the nicest rnAw)er. Hr.
kept it diary of every movement he made, 'laid was
accurate cy a moment as 'to the time and.place ii
, %Odd', lie might be situate. 't his he believed was
the onty theanshe had felt olpaeserving his liter
Theininlic it 'scented had-latnted a high but a
very Etilwirdinary estimate of his taienrs, and the
f't:lice-appcar-ed to be sanguine in their expect a-
tinits that he would at ,le;igth make sonic des-,
perate- attempt. In this he .could a-sine them
they "would he disappoiuted.—Hoherts„ was of
-6)nrte. discharged'i and the Lord Mayor having
directed the Oli:ers to jiurstie their inquiries, the
boy Nash was again remanded.. •

()tie of the mail guaitts.43u the North-roa I has
travelled by nig-htfr,,nn July to July
9th gl7„ seventy4wo thousand six hundred ond
sixty-six miles, without-a single rest (a.
distance. _exec:y(l.ll/g many limes computed.
length of Europe), and. is.still pluceetiing ou
nocturnal journey.