The Sun.
London, England, 1819-07-23 00:00:00

FRIDAY, JULY 23, 1819.

PAUPERISM.

COMPARATIVE STATE OF PAUPERISM NOW AND

Xl"filE REVOLUTION.

Among the numerous complaints that are made
of the distresses of the present times, and the state
to which our country is reduced,
_there is none
more frequent or more eitaggerared than that of
the increase of Pauperism. The landed interest
in particular complain on this head, and although
it will be admitted that the poor rates have in-
creased in a most rapid Manner, yet the cause is
by no meaus attributable to the increased number
of paupers. The tendency of the poor laws to de-
grade the most numerous class of the English po-
pulation, cannot, perhaps, be rated too high, but
their direct action upon the national wealth, and
more especially their pressure upon the landed in-
terest, is greatly over-rated. It is estimated, upon
good authority, that there are iu England and
\Vales 900,000 persons who receive parish assist-
ance, 'including those who leceive occasional re-
lief, as well as those who derive_ their whole sup-
port from the parish. The amount of assistance
given is estimated pretty certainly at eight mil-
lions, of which one feaorth, or two millions, is
spent in late expences, and the expences orre-
moral. Now, since the main evil of the present
system lies in its action upon the moral and social
condition of the people, it is of far inore impart-
ance, towards a just comparison of our present
state, with our state in a former period, to deter-
mine the proportion of the population which re-
ceives support, than the proportion of the na-
tional income which is received. Taking, then,
the period of the Revolution, in 1688, for one
term in time coMparison; and the present year as
the other, we shall find, that in the harmer period,
accoidiug to the calculation of Gregory King,
(approved by Daveuant and Checkedby a variety
of collateral evidrnce,) four hundred thousand fa-
milies were it) a state of pauperism ; now, allow-
ing 34 persons to each (a very low esti-
mate,) we shall obtain a total of thirteen hundred
thousand, who, ai that-day, received parish assist-
ance, independent of a vagrant population, esti-;.
mated by (King-at thirty thousand, many ot vt•limn
drew parish allowances, and all of whom, espy.:
eially the gypsies, burdened the landed property
male 01 less. The total number ot paupers, then,
in 1688, exceeded a minim, by three hundred and
hirty thousand ; the total lumber, in 1818, fell
4hort of a nillil.o by one hundred thousand, So
much tot tier number ; now, then, trir
the,relative number ; .that is, the nuruher io pro-'
portion to the triode population. Kitts corniares
the EnOish population, 16'88, at one million-
three hundred and forty-trine thousand -.6,e
hundred and eighty•six faMilies ; that is, allowing
an average of four one-thirteenth head to-each
family, five million Is Ve lcundreii thousand five
{intoned and twenty souls in England and Wales..
In 18,'g, the population of the same parts of our
island eleven millions, ,or just double what
it was in 1688 thus it will appear; that the
paupers constituted not much less than a fourth
part of the whole nation in 1688, and something
less titan a twelfth in ISIS. Now, the yearly
expellee of the very poorest family (ot 34 heads),
was,. at the-Revolulion, seven pounds six shilliogs,
and threepence. Three htindr,d thousand pounds
of tire whole aunt necessarylor all the paupers,
.was supposed to be raised by the accidental eha•
rities in the streets, and at doors.' One letnatk,
howeser, must be'made in favour of the former
period, that is, as to the actual amount of the..
poor rates, )0)1cl), in 1680, were only 665,5621;
and ire 1698, 819,0001 : thus, the average rdiel
allowed to each family cannot have cxcee:led
or about 123. annually, to tit:l) head, which proves
that the greatest number of the. paupers must have
bad occasional relief only;; while; in 18,18, the
average relief to each pauper is near 71. ; that the
paupers never receive so much 'is pretty certain,
and, in addition to the. two !gallons spent in law
expences, may he added some millions more con
stoned by the rapacity of parish officers, and the
wanton and unnecessary expenditure which those
who are the guardians of the public money, so
frequently indulge in, In tile first year of the
teign'of Geo. 1. the paupers were fifteen hundred
thousand, and they were supposed to cost, an-
nually, in direct poor rates, 11. each, upon an
average. On comparing the value of,property in
Eogirted now and at the revolution, we find,that
the landed rental, at the former period, was
fourteen millions, and the total tiggregate ineome,
from all aources,,was,44,millions. The aggregate'
income at-the present day. is 64 times greater than
it was in 1688, and the territorial revenue, seven •
and one seventh times greater.. The landed
rental also six. times greater than it was in
1715-2,0, tivhe». the,poor rates were about a million
and a halt,. so that they are.not increased in the
same proportion, nOt to mention the two millions
spent-iii litigation, which has increased out of, sill
proportion. 'Die poor rates first began in 1573,
and the foll4wing is 'an' account of their in-
crease since that time
1550 kISB,BII 1751
1671 11(000 1776

1677
165
1698
1700

Q. Anne's 1_
reign. f

Professor Pictet states the number of petsonc
relieved, on the average of three years, 1813, 14,
15, as follows :

Out of the Workhouse • 423,679
In t he Rcorlshnuse
Occj'sionally relieved

Totai number of Paupers 920,977 it
•
From the above siattifielils it will he seen, t),at
the distro3ts of the landed interest, and the alarm. j

[PRicE SEVENPENCr.

. . .
ing amount of the poor rates, are to be traeal to
'other causes than the increase of pattperit,nt'oince
the Ittiniher of pet sorts receiving, 'parochial af‘ci.t-
anee is ore-third less than it was one hundred
and thirty years ago.

,* The, al)nce statements are taken from
BLaictovoon's Edinburgh Magazine.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.

SMITHFIELD MEETING.

GUILDHALL—LI consequence of the extensive
precautions taken by the Magistrates, and the.ju-
dicions arrangement of the police officers and con-
stables to prevent riot and confusion, but little
disorder resulted from the Meeting pn Winnt-s-
-day. Not a single prisoner Was in custody in the
Lord Mayor's district yesterday, and but three on
the list for this Justice-room, at all connected
with that meeting, viz., James Robinson, John.
Cooke, and Edmond Butterworth The tivo for-
mer were apprehended by Thompson, one of the
constables of St. Sepulchre's, who observed thent
busy trying persons' pockets in the crowd, and at
last saw Cooke pick a pocket of a handkerchief ;
he was prudent enough not to seize him in- the
crowd, but suffered him to retire with Robinson
up Long-lane, when he followed, and with the
assistance of a journey-man painter, who had
witnessed the theft, took them both in custody,
and conveyed them quietly to the Compter; the
handkerchief, a silk one, marked I. A., was toilful
on Cook. The prisoners were remanded to Tues.
day next. The property is to be advertised in the
mean time. The prisoners are known thieves.
The other fellow, Butterworth, was given in
charge to Dare, an officer, (luring the Meeting,
by several .gentlemen, one of whoni detected the
prisoner's •• hand in his, pocket ; but as none of
the parties appeared against him, and no property
was found upon •him, he was discharged, with au
admonition from the Magistrate.