The Sun.
London, England, 1818-01-17 00:00:00

SATURDAY. JANUARY 17,..,1818

li-41711sal;S' ‘gANKS:

The gre'at advantages: Which may be derived,
indeed, which haVe alreathr at hen from these insist
' excellent Institutions, has induced us to takepar-
ticular notice of a Pamphlet recently published,
entitled Reasmis for the Esta idishme nt, and a 4-.
gestions for the Formation and Management, 'Of
banka for Savings; agreeably to 'the Act of Par-
liantent lately passed, for the Encouragement and
ProtectiOn of such Institutions; with an Appen-
dix, containing a set of approved Rttles and 'Re-
gulations for the Formation of Banks for ..lavitigS,
together with specimeos of the forms of accoont-
iog. &c. &c. by jou N Howl.cs, Es.q."—The pen
of Mr. Bow Les has never been exerted without
au highly o;t:eitorlons purpose, and he can take
up no subject which he does nrit sopport with
ability, knowledge, philanthroPhy, and gennine
Patriotism. We may,' indeed, venture to say that
there is no other- Political Writer to whim the
Public is more indebted. The honour and -inte-
rest of the CoOntry, its Constittitiou, its Reli-
gion, and all its best interests, have been the con-
stant objects of his persevering zeal. The attacks
which have been made upon. his character may be
deemed an attestation of the general merit and
loyalty of his productions, since they 'only cane
from COBBETT, and such low-minded Ruffians as
are uaturally the enemies of those who are friends
to good Order and good Government, and who
wish to rise by the destruction of every thing con-
ducive to the happiness of Society. IVe feel •
much pleasure in observing, that the Work be-
fore us has reached to a Fourth Edition, and
we earnestly hope that its contents will
be universally diffused over the British Em-
pire, as we are coovincil that they will tend
i:t no slight degree to its domestic comfort. This
Work is not one of mere theory, but by sound
reasoning, founded on facts, shows, not only the
great utility of Savings' Banks, but gives much
practical assistance to those;who are disposed to
.establish these valuable Iltstitotions. .It affords
the most lucid explanation of the late. Act of Par-
liament upon this interesting subject, and will en-,
able those who may not be able to proctue a copy
of the Act, to follow precisely its regulations, nod
to secure all the advantages which it is intended
to afford. It furnishes, in a most useful APPEN-
DIX, a set of approved Rules and Regulations
for the formation and management of a Savings'
Bank, with clear specimens of the mode of keep-
ing the Accounts of such an Institution, and a. des-
cription of the different Account-Books necessary
for that purpose. And the APrENDIx also con-
tains directions respecting the mode of procuring
Government Debentures for the-money deposited.
• In a word, this Work combines theory and pracs
tice in such a manner as will render it highly use-
ful to all persons who wish to promote the esta-
blishment ofSavings' Banks, and we can confi-
dently recommend it to the enlightened Politician,
as well as to the Friend of klutnanity. We shall
submit an Extract to our Readers, and resume the
subject
" bet it not,' however, be supposed, that the
benefits to be derived from Savings' Banks will
be confined to the lower classes. If, indeed, this
were to be the case, motives of pure benevolenee
would surely suffice, tis ioduee all persons of weight
. and influence to promote such institutions in their
respective neighbourhoods. But here the streams
of benevolence swell with blessings, until they
rise to the level of the highest - Every one
who reflects for a momeut must be sensible, that
the comfort and security of the superior orders
depend, essentially, upon the character, disposi-
tion, and habits, of the inferior. [low loudly
then ,are the former call. d upon, by considera-.
tions of self-interest, as well as by motives 4:1:
humanity, to enconrge lastitution:, the ten-
dency of which is- to tender the latter in-
dustrious, frugal,- and temperate! These Institu-
tions, moreover, by stimulating ind'tstry, tend
greatly to encrease that productive labour, Which
is, at all times, the main source of national wealth.
But at the present anoment, such institutions ate
imperiously called for, on the ground of national
policy, as being pt.culiarly calculated to afford re-
lief from a burden,, which preSses-urnn its with an
almost overt helming weight.: It is impossible. to
contemplate the enottnous and rapidly increasiog
amount of the assessments fOr the relief of the
po,r, in this country, without the most painful
reflections as to the pre-sent, and.t he most gloomy,
forehoditoss ,with regard to the future. This
evil is the more alarming, because the greatest
(Aleuts have'been long fruitlessly emploYed-ih en-
thavouring to find an effectual relosdy ; the ois-
coVery of which, inched, some persons ate alinost
disposed to consider as beyond the ken of the
Leisidature itself. Those persons who have most
experience in parochial affairs know hot too well,
that the far greater Rail of that distress, which

fPRTCD SEVEN,PpTr:.

. ,
~.,t,wells••tbe•lPOor-rates to theiractual anoint, is
caused by idleness and prodigality. How sale.'
tary then, in alleviating the evil in question, must
be the operation of those Provident Institutions,
which laniih. the most 'powerful intincentents of
which our nature is susceptible, to industry and
frugality. The labourer or mechanic, who is ac-
customed to frequent the Savings' Bank, is not
likely id find his way to the Work-bouse. Seeing
it in 'power to derive permanent, support from
his own industry, he will cherish a noble spirit of
independence ;—he will loathe the idea of he.ing-
indebted to parochial aid, and; instead of sinking
into that state of insensibility and carelessness,.
which reliance upon such aid, as an ultimate re-
source, iy sure to produce, lie will feel a lively so-
licitude for the future, and a tendet pox:cry for,
those wklin 'Providen& has mare dependent IT-
'OO hiTh.,':lftresiwild whichfue ii,Jenaittilecl to accti
mutate', foi';'..f the m'aintenance of a
,fattlily,.or for
the_support of his declining years, whilst it: in.:
spires hint with ‘grat;t tide to-those whoSe 'exeitlotis
have placed such au advantage within hiS 'teach,
will be a valid pledge for his good conduct; anti
• for his attachment to the State which affords sc=
curity to the fruit of his labours. At length',
these valuable 'lnstitutions, by gradually drying
up the main §owces of Pauperism, dray, perhaps;
reduce the evil within practicable limits ; when
it may be found possible to devise a better mode
of securing relief to ui)avoidable distress, and en-
tirely to get rid of a system, alike injurious both
to the higher and lower ranks ; weighing down
the former with a ptessure they are scarcely able
to sustain, and, instead of affording the 'latter
substantial relief, greatly increasing their misery},
.by. a debasement of their moral character.
" By such means every industriotis labourer,
however secluded his •situation, might soon have
•ati opportunity of obtaining Government security
ev• whatever savings the joint efforts of industry;
frugality, and good, tnauagement, in;ght enable
him to husband. Nothing then would remain,
but to.inducethe.persons, for Whose benefit these
Institutions are intended, to see their true:inter-
est, and to accept the advantages thus pia( ett
within their reach: if this cottld generally be
done, all ranks of the community would soot, ex,.
.perienee the most beueficial results. :The Liter
classes would,becot»e inure industrious, more 111,-
gal, more domestic, more regular ; they would,
by means of so salutary a change, be enabled th
make provision againSt the exigencies of sickness,
accident, and, old age ; and, in the
their actual con fbrts would be increased,—thelt;
domestic enjoyments would be' multiplied—their
mural tha-ract yr would be improved—their respect.:
ability would be promoted. At the.same titue, the
higher orders would find the reward, of, their be;
'nevolent exertions to ,promote the happiness of
their inferiors, not only in the improved .condi-
tion of the great mass of their fellow-subjeets,
but also in their own enjoyment of that social
quiet, order, awl security; which depend so unfelt
upon the.frugality, sohriety, and comfort of the
knowing population ; anti especially in the al-
leviation of that enormotiS hiqden—the poor-
rate, which has increased with such fearful rapi-
dity, and of which Swings' Banks hate most an.
ptopriately been denominated—the Sinking Entici.",