The Sun.
London, England, 1816-12-18 00:00:00

EMPLOYMENT and
.RELIEF if the POOR—

SUGGESTIONS for the EMPLOYMENT of the'. POOR on a
LARGE SCALE, without ADDING to the POOR'S
RATES.
That t he Magistrates, and Itoad-Commissioners,
he invited to. cane an immediate survey of the
Turnpike RDAs and Atblic High.ways,' within
their respective Districts, to be made by compe-
tent persons., with a Report or the improvements
they are respectively eapaitle of, either icy shorten-
ing the length, widening, lowering hills, filling
up vallies, or otherwise.

That the specific improvements Web may `be
resolved upon (to be sanctioned in every case by
two Justices), with the sum required for, each
road, or district of road, shall then be publicly
wade known by notice in the Church, and in the
provincial Newspapers, and hooks be opened for a
distinct Loan for each road or district ; receiving
sums as low as Five Pounds.
That these Loans be called the Exigency Loans
of 1816-17, or by some other marked Title, de-
noting the occasion which has called theta forth.
That on the Meeting of Parliament (and an
immediate communication might take place with
Government, so as to ascertain whether the mea-
sure would have their support), an application be
made to the Legislature, for a General Public Act,
authorizing a special Toll to be collected upon
each )toad, where the plan was adopted, Jar the
purpose of mee:ing the interest, and paying off
the principal of its own particular Loan, within
fourteen years : some portion being paid otF
qnarterly.--!.Suclr Tolls to be fixed by the Magis-
trates of the District, and to coutillue till the
• Loan is redeemed, but no longer.---A distinct ac-
count to he kept and rendered of these Tolls, to
be vet itied upon oath.
. That on Roads, not Turnpike, Parishes and
Townships shall Save an option to be determined
at a Vestry Meeting to be held for that express,
purpose, either to collect a Toll, or to pay the
Interest, and liquidate the Principal, by equal por-
tions within the same period of fourteen years,
by yearly Hightvay rates ; and if Friendly Socie-
- ties chose to lend a part of their permanent hinds
(which are considerable) that they, with the
lenders.of sunts under/0t.,-sboulditaveatu option
of priority in repayment ; and as to others, the
order to be regulated by
'That powers be given to the Magistrates, to
exempt, or fix a less rate of Toll, on carriages
employed for Agricultural purposes, or in other
cases where exemption, or modification should
appear expedient ; with such other provisions as
might suggest themselves When the details are
more fully gone into ;—the whole business to be
under the superiotendance of the Magistracy: .
This Plan appears to possess the following re-
commendations :
I. It creates no new system of jurisdiction—
'lder the existing Laws, the public roads are com-
mitted to the Magistrates, and there are already
local Surveyors, and Toll Collectors.
2. It draws down little, or no extra ,expense in
carrying into effect—lc survey et the dittervnt
Roads and obtaining a Report, is the whole that
would he incurred---expenses which probably fall
within the present- Highway Statutes---if so, the
preliminary steps may be immediately taken ; and
in the case of Turnpike Roads, .the Trustees are
roily competent to act in this respect.
3. It is not kcompulsory measure ;. but will be
optional with each Parish, Township, or District,
to adopt it, or not, and to what Went it pleases.
4. It interferes with no other. plan, whether by
way of charitable donation, or otherwise ; but
may be made auxiliary to all.
S. Whilst it would effectually administerio the
existing calamity, a permanent improvement in •
a patter of universal concern (good Roads).
would at the some time be accelerated and con-
ferred at a greatly reduced expellee ; whilst the
buttlien consequent upon the measure would be
so distributed upon the community at large, ss not
to be felt by individuals—indeed the parties paying
the. Tolls would have value received by the im-
proved state of the roads.
6. If extensively acted upon, it opens a field
fully adequate, for a great length of time, and
with powers of renovation Within itself, to the
employment of all who may be thrown out of
work, even if it should be the visitation of Provi-
dence to increase the number ; and as by way of
Loan, thousands will contribute, whose assist-
ance • cannot be looked for in any other shape,
funds may be counted 'woo to.aliooet any extent
that may be required. The appeal w ould be,
" You will render ten times more assistance by
lending 101. upon good security et interest, -than
by giving H." Besides, as it
,woeld necessarily
keep the poor's rates front• Orem:kis...4s would be
the obvious interest not only of thi land-owners
and farmers, but. of every parishioner, who bad
the means to be a lender—he must otherwise be a
payer out and out.
7. Whilst it is capable of general application,
it has the desirable charmer of acting locally, and
relieving the pressure of each, particular parish,
or township, within itself. to
8. The mottle of the employment is such that
it is not only healthy, but would accommodate it-
self to both -young' and old, avid possesses withal
this material feature, that in the event of a Slid-
tlen revival of any particular branch of trade, the
parties connected with it would he immediately
available in their former direction.
And lastly, it may be worthy of consideration,
whether it may not be motored into a measure of
lasting Policy, so as to provide a more eligible and
equitable method of making site keeping in repair
all the Roads of the Kingdom.-. 4, when a road
is in an indinable state, the Magistrates had power
• to borrow a loan to put the Road into repair at
once (such loan to be gradually redeemed within
a limited period by an annual rate), Thousands of
Pounds, which are now yearly expanded through
indictments and presentments, would be wholly
saved I—the grievance, instead of continuing, as
it does upon the present system, .year atter year,
would be immediately removed,. anti the hurthen
of repair he much more fairly distriblued upon
the occupiers of laud.—(Staffordshire Adaertiser.)

POLICE INTELLIGENCIL