Star.
London, England, 1821-06-05 00:00:00

MR. SCAR LETT'S POOR LAY'S' BILL.

Friday morning, in pursuance of a Requisition
presented to the Churchwardens, a numerous and
respectable Meeting of the Inhabitants of St. Mary's
Parish, Leicester, was held at the Vestry, to take
into consideration the propriety of presenting a Peti-
tion to Parliament upon the subject of Mr.ScARLETT's
proposed Bill for an alteration of the Poor Laws.
The Rev. the VICAR having taken the Chair, and
the Requisition having been read—
Mr. STOCKDALK HARDY said, that, as one of the
persons who had signed that Requisition, he begged
to direct the attention of the Meeting to as important
a subject as any which had occupied the attention of
Parliament for many years. After some farther in-
troductory remarks, Mr. Hardy proceeded to com-
ment, clause by clause, upon the Bill of Mr. Scar-
lett, as amended in the Committee. As to the esta-
blishment of a maximum as to Poor-rates, this seemed
really a most Utopian scheme. They all knew the
price of provisions, and the demand for labour, al-
ways regulated the poor man's stock and comforts.
To say, therefore, that, under no circumstances what-
ever, more than a certain sum should be raised, was
to go upon the supposition that the rate of provisions
would always be the same, the demand for labour in-
variable, and the state of trade not affected by these
fluctuating circumstances which it has generally been
supposed and known to be. That part of the measure
which denied relief to any one marrying after the pass-
ing of the Act, except aged or impotent, was extraordi-
nary, and could never be adopted, except its supporters
were prepared to say, that all could obtain employ-
ment, and obtain it upon terms by which they could
live. Now, what had been the case in this District?
At one period during the last winter, 2000 Frame-
work Knitters had been receiving relief from the
Friendly Relief Society, because they could not ob-
tain work. What must have been the case had the
Bill of Mr. Sctulett been in operation? It was a most

singular fact, that since the establishment of the
Framework Knitters' Satiety, (a period of about
months), there had been no less a sum than £1;:00)
paid from it to unemployed workmen, although, 14
terly only Ss. 6d. per week could be afforded to a filar,
and his family. It was no less singular that se9ooo
of this £17,000 had been raised by the workmen them.
selves and wrung from their scanty pittance. These
circumstances, while they sheaved the utter imprae.
ticability of the Bill, yielded also a forcible answer to
those who maintained that the Poor were averse to,
or careless of, providing for contingencies. Mr.
Hardy then read a Petition to the House of Commons,
and moved its adoption by the Meeting.
Mr. FRISBY seconded the motion.

The question having been put,
Mr. PAGET moved that the Petition should be
again read, which having been done, it passed una-
nimously.—The Petition was then ordered to be pro.
rented by the Members for the borough.
Mr. STOCEDALE HARDY moved the thanks of the
Meeting to their worthy Representative, Mr. Mans.
field, for the strenuous opposition he had manifested
in his place in Parliament to Mr. Scarlett's Bill. Had
the other Honourable Member for the borough been
present in the House, he had no doubt he would hare
been equally active; but it was understood he wsi
unavoidably absent.
The motion was carried, and after thanks had b•;ep
voted to the CIIA InmAN, the Meeting was dissolved.