Star.
London, England, 1817-08-19 00:00:00

POOR LAWS.

The Report of the Committee of the )donee. of
Lords no the Poor Laws has been submitted to our
Readers. Wei)oped to have been 'able also to have
laid the Report of the committee of theikonsinons
on the same subject before them, but from its great
length, amounting, with the evidence, to 170 folio
pages, we despair of being able to accomplish it.—
This, however, is the less neceesary, as the Com-
mittee, from the lateness of the period to which their
labours were continued, avoided proposing any Le-
gislative enactments for the present. Indeed they
confess, that the information on this intricate subject.
is yet incomplete, the returns for 1815 not having
been even looked at. Viewed as offering any re-
medy, the Report—we mean• no disrespect—is alto-
gether a bundle of confusion. In fact the Committee
(and it is no wonder) seem to have been quite be-
wildered by the variety of misery, of assessment, of in.
equality, and of rate of increase throughout the king-
dom. They speak its terms of high praise of the manage
tent of the poor in Scotland, where the parishes have ,
very generally avoided having recourse to compul-
sory assessment. The funds for the poor are there,
except in comparatively fees places, derived from
charity, and are dispensed with that sound dis-
crimination, which is the ordinary transactions of
life belongs to real benevolence ; and the Committee
of the General Assembly state, that it is clear to
them, that in almost all the country parishes where
a regular assessment has been established, the wants
of the poor. and the extent of the assessment, have
gradually and progressively increased.
The idea of equalizing the rate has been looked
at by the Committee, but only in a cutlery manner.
On the first view it was obvious that to make it Na-
tional, like the public taxes, would aggravate the
evil intended to be remedied, “as it would be impos-
sible to devise adequate means to check the demands
upon it." Indeed it would be no difficult matter
to prove, that it would be an encouragement to
parishes, as such, to increase, instead of lessening
their expenditure for the parish poor: It would lead
to a struggle for the largest share of the cowman
plunder, because the more that should be obtained
-from such a fund by any parish. the better it would
be circumstanced compared with others; and this
feeling being common to all, the whole property of
the Nation would soon be absorbed by parish job-I
hers. But though the rate cannot, in this way, be
equalized, it does not follow that no approximation
to equality of contribution should be attempted.—
What are Parish rates but a sfstem of equalization
applied to distinct portions of the community ? Is it
inspouible or difficult to unite certain of these 'por-
tions, so as that the burthen may be sepal!, diffused
oter wider districts t It would be impossible to appit
this to a nation as one district; because be the opera.,
tion of different local authorities it would, as we have
stated, kfecome a system of mutual plunder; but the
parishes of a City or of a County might be united.
and with great benefit to the nation. Let us take foe
example London. Can any thing be more absurd or
more unjust than that those who live on one side of
any particular gutter should be compelled to pay a
ten shilling rate, while those oo the other side of the
same gutter ray a rate of only one *Ming and six-
pense in the pound I Will any one pretend to say that
the parishes in and about London should not be
united to Bach other pun? the Poor-rates, merely be-
cause it would be found impracticable to unite those
of Penitence and Newcastle. Is it just that a few
parishes, in which alone the labourers in the metro-
polis can find dwellings, owing to the high rent in
other rich parishes, should be compelled to maintain'
the largest portion of the poor—and these too. people
whose labour, when employed, is for other parishes,
as they only sleep and receive parish' relief in their
own ? If you do not remedy as evil like 'ibis, and so
much within your power, the inference will be that.
you are not in earnest. Let not the general evil be
perpetuated merely because you cannot at once devise
a general remedy.--Gearealr are made ep of iterrice-
lam Apply local and district remedies in the mean
time, without, however, losing sight of the extent of
the malady.
But why not attempt something for the reforma-
tion of the lower orders ! If there are otjjections to
Mr. OWEN'S Plant why not endeavour to obviate,
them, and make it less objectionable ? In some im-
portant points, we thick it has been misunderstood—
perhaps wlUully misreprerented. For example _.his
proposal to separate the children from their t arents-a-
-" Cruel f Monstrous l Unfeeling IP—Not quite so.
Change the terms, and the wisdom of the measure'
will be obvious. Separate the dee and :turd baler of
cloth from those which have got ewe, eeeird, and are.
hadenia: to the dinsphill. You mast either do this, or
submit to have the whole reduced to the same fer-
menting state of putridity. But let not this be your
ionlY labour ; open the wet bales, spread oui the goods
!end dry them : some of them buy thus be preserved
from destruction, and again joined to the remaining
lased stock. Is there any thing It:intelligible in this?
Is there any thing absurd in applying it. to the state
of morals ?

It is undeniable that many of the lairer orders are
now in a state of the most gross ignorance, the will-
ing disciples of theft, -robbery, and every vice ruinous
to society. Would it be an am of cruelty to separate
Out innocent offspring from sncha source of costa.
ruination, and to train them sr t
tu incrtastrions

mord habits t No; and we go farther—those whc
say so must deliberately belie the climates of Their own
understanding or else must themselves be of such
demoralized habits cad modes of thinking, as to ren-
der them very unfit to be trusted with the education
of their own offspring—if it be a matter of impor-
tance to the community to have the rising generation
properly trained and instructed.

But it is verylosaible that this part of Mr. OWEN'S
plan may tiara been quite misunderstood by many.
It does not appear to vs to be at all intended to cut
off all communication littween the parents and chi!-
' dren ; but only that degree of communication which
' might defeat moral improvement.—lt is not a-sepa-
ration between parent and child that is intended, but
between vice and innocence; for even the manage-
ment of the children will be tinder those inmates who
from their moral habits may be worthy of so great a
trust ; and of course those parents who are not dis-
qualified by vice and ignorance, would be made in-
struments for the general reformation i,f the aclults•
and for preserving the.infants from contagion.
Is then a system proposing such b. nefits to be
scouted without examination, and discarded without
even an attempt to try its effects ! Had Mr. OwEN
said such and such is my plan—no other but mine
will answer—l will support no other ;—I will hear
of no alteration—no modification or change—no ad.
ditioo ; I will be Dictator I an excuse might be
iiitind for the virulence of some who oppose the plan
is tate. But his conduct has been very different.
.4 Let us see any practicable plan (bas been his lan-
guage), I care not from what quarter, or of what
party or sect its author may be; which may be cal-
culated to re.onnralize the poor, train them to habits ,
of industry and correct motives of action, and I will
give it every support in my power."
He may, it is true, have miscalculated some of Lis
means and their expected effects ; but he has called
for the aid of others—and shall it be said that none
but Mr. Owing can be found willing to turn their
attention to the subject, and to lend their powers to
the perfecting of a elan which aims at so much good
to mankind ? No, we do not think that this will be
the case. We have seen a poor man, the son of a
common soldier, devise, and, by perseverance, bring
to perfection, and introduce into general adoption, a
plan for giving education to those who can be in'
duced to accept the profered blessing ; and we may
hope that Mr. OWEN% plan (however it may be mo.
dified) for insuring the education of the poor, in spite
of their own reluriaitty, will yet receive the support of
the real friends of humanity. •

Mr. Pang Etc was on. Tuesday last elected Member
for the County of Wicklow. in the room of the late
much regretted Mr. PONSONRY.
The Friends of Reform, in Dublin, held a Meeting
on Thursday, in D'Aacsx's Tavern. It was rather
tfiin, and consisted of seven members only. The object
was to ascertain Sir FRANCIS Buanarr's intentions in
regard to the proffered Dinner to be given to him
by this Association. We understand that Sir Fat►ama
did not give any direct answer to the invitation, bat
he authorised a Gentleman to express his sentiments,
which amounted to a refual of the intended honour.
We bays also learned that a list is making up of dose
who are considered respectable persons for a Dinner
Party, to which Sir FRANCIS Will be invited.—DuMs
Journal

Friday, Mr. MIMI. the publisher of some disgust-
ing Parodies, was arrested, by the authority of three
Judges' warrants, and conveyed to the Ring's Bench
Prison. It is understood he will be tried on the charge
of blasphemy, some time in November next.
Thomas Baton, one of the alleged ring-leaders in
plotting the Derbyshire insurrection, and his son
Joie, against both of whom an indictment for high
,treason was found at 'the last Ass'zes,, were, after a
long and diligent search by the Derby Police 01E-
.
cers. taken at St. lye's, in Huntingdonshire; under
a Judge's warrant on Friday last, and, on the fol-
lowing day, lodged in the county gaol at Derby.
It is well worthy of remark, that no former Lottery
was ever known to contain so few Numbers as the
present (2,9 W) ; and when it is consideted that there
are Two Pt izes of W 20.000, and that an opportunity
of gaining g 1•0,009 is offered to Adventurers, by
purchasing Two Tickets of the same Number, the
rapid Sale which they. have already experienced is
not at all astonishing.
It must prove a subject of great exultation to Mr.
SIVICWRIGHT, that the present moderate Prices of
Lottery Tickets and Shares owe their origin to the
rumple set in his Contract, and there needs no better
proof of the estimation in which his plans were held
by the Public, than the simple fact, that they pur.
cbased wady Twit, iu may Tickets as were sold io
the late Contracts. The Small Lottery to be Drawn
lOth Starr saart contains only 2 9JO Numbers, with
Two Prix. aof Avo.ooo Sterlins I From Mr. Sive-
watsarr's popalarity, it VOSS 411114 at superfluous to
invite the. Public to his Offices.

Sunday afternoon the firm funeral passed along Wa-
terloo-bridge : it was a walking one, from the Surrey
side of the Thames. The carriage gates were thrown
open in order to let the procession pass, and the no-
velty of the circumstance drew an unusual crowd of
persons to the spot.- No toll, of course, was paid.
Miss O'Nuu. has been dangerously ill at Boulogne,
where she later arrived for the benefit of bar health,
but is now better.
EIieLISU PRONZIADZYCIIieI
day evening the novelty allied the Slwalskry was ar-
ranged in a new form ; it has assorted a most plea-
sing Character. A.spacUus walk, bounded by fresh
trees, and posseuing the agreeable quality of being
perfectly cool, terminates in a beautiful Chinese
building, from which are suspended variegated lan-
terns. The freqataters of this promenade appeared
highly delighted with the change.—The Atterpiece
of the Padlock, which was revived on Saturday, was
repeated last night with great success, after the new
land deservedly popular Opera of the Perlidll Ilswerr.
Mr. Auteuil is entitled to much praise for theustice
which he does tt the talents of native coMposits. •

NII4L LVTELLICZNOB.

ExtraZt of a letter from the Agent to Lunn'f.
Buenos Ayres, dated May 15:

" Sailed the private vessel Of war Liberty, alias St* r:s
la Chasabuco, on a cruise; she mounts so run, and 115 .r.ze.
It is understood she in the first instance goes round :o e!t;:i."
" Ma I7.—The private ve'sel of war Cl:ace:um, until
tilth ult. the following day she struck on the Cl and
received so much damage, that she has since i•eets c:ndemn..i,
Her owners are in trtaty for the British strip Courier, of prosaat
aying at Ensinada."

PORTSMOUTH, AUOUST ift. •
Arrived his Majesty's 'tt:p Hors: from a eruite.—.
Wind S. W.

DEAL, A:*GUST IP.

Arrived and !mica for the River the John, NMI.
wia.‘, from Jamaica; Cobourg, HuTctliwnx, trorn
Quebec; Rebecca, Row, from St. Thern.ti's ; Roue,
CARPENTER. from Honduras ; and Bs itauni 4 Ft-tllll,
Irons Gre ada. The Industry, HILLIER, in 6o o..ys
front Cu• uoa, for Bremen, passed by the bock of the
Goodwin sands yesterday, all well. S. • eral ot the
outward-bound sailed this morning, but the wind has
since b.cked to the Wests aro, dud they Ate tt ur-
ning. Came down from the R.ver the Waiter .ean,
for Trieste ; :tnd the F-rtiou,le, for Lisb n.