The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-02-26 00:00:00

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SOCIETY FORME NTH XD ICIT Y. SUPPRESSION of
Yesterday a General Meeting was 'held at the
Crown and Anchor, for the purpose of hearing the
Report of the Society's Committee.
At one o'clkk the Chair was taken by Mr.
TUILGES Bovines, who stated, that the honour of
being Chairman'at sueb a Meeting was what he least
of ell expected, as be had come there merely to ob-
tain information.
The Report of the Committee was then read. It
enumerated several Sub? Committees and Deputations
into which the Committee had divided themselves,
bud stated that they had invited the Clergy and Pa,
Officers• engaged in the emotion of the Poor
Laws throughout the Metropolis, to a conference,
the result of which had been most satisfactory, and
calculated to ensure the necessary co-operation ; that
in the course of their investigation, the Committee
bad bad their attention attracted by an Act of
Parliament passed in the year 1662, which appeared
to have been called far under circumstances peculiarly
similar to the present, and from which they thought
proper to submit an extract of the preamble; that
the provisions of that Act were for constituting cor-
porations or workhouses in London and Westmin-
ster, and parishes and districts throughout the king. i
dom, with large powers for the apprehension of va.
grants, &c. employing them in workhouses to be
built, and for levying rates for the ezpences of build.
° big and management.; that that Act bad never been
acted upon, except in London ; but that they thought
proper to notice it, as it might hereafter become use-
ful ; that they had benefited largely from the result
of Mr. M. Martin's experience, who had deeply in.
vestigated the subject ; that they had classed the
points on which they expected themselves likely to
meet with' general concurrence, under several heads,
the principal of which were—
Thai there should be a central superintending office
for examination, with Local Committees for subse-
quent investigation.
That they should have accurate accounts of existing
charitable institutions, and immediate communication
*with parish officers.
That tickets should be issued for distribution to
street beggars, containing a reference to the office
where each case would Ile considered.
That such sturdy beggars as would not beesamined,
hat cautioned begging, should be dealt •ith according
to law.
The Report earnestly recommended the formation
of Local Committees, in the districts into which they
had divided the Metropolis and its environs.
Dr. It ‘NDOLTH said, he had been connected with
societies of a similar description in Bath and Bristol,
and he had no doubt that the difficulties which pre-
sented themselves to the Committee would be all
finally surmounted though of this he had but faint
hopes, if Local Committees
_were not established for
the assistance of the great Central Committee. The
Rev. Gentleman then read a passage from a small
work, which stated how unlikely it was that Insti.
I utioes for prevention would ever become so popular
as those for relief, because the latter were so many
apps ate to the feeling, and the former only to the
under%tansling. The passage also deplored, in feel-
ing terms, the effects of poverty, and strongly en-
forced the necessity of preventing it as much as pos-
sible. The giving of tickets would effectually remedy
much of the evil complained of; and, by their use,
impostors would soon quit their posts when they saw
they were no longer profitable ; indeed, the refusal
of a beggar to take a ticket would be a strong proof
that. his case would not bear investigation. As long'
as mistaken charity continued to relieve street beg.
gars eithout examitiaticti, the penalties of the law
would not deter impostors from forging a tale of
charity. The Reverend Gentleman concluded by
wishing that all might concur with the object of the
-Institution, and he was sure the most happy effects
would be produced. lie then moved that the Report
should be approved.
Mr. Comarmourt rose to second the motion. lie
SRN very great difficulty in coming to a successful re-
sult on the objects of the Institution ; but if all join.
rd hand in hand, it was practicable, however diffi-
cult. Legislative regulations might be necessary,
end he trusted that they might be satisfactorily pro-
cured when required.
The motion was then carried unanimously.
It. Twtstee, Esq. rose to propose the Thanks of
the Meeting to the Doke of Northumberland, for
his having consented to become President of the
Society.
Mr. Rosvceorr seconded the motion. lie could
not help expressing a hope that it would he the end"
stud result of their labours, to remove the stain of
Mendicity epon the' three kingdoMs altogether and
for ever. They had all seen what had been done in
the City. They had all known how the semen had
been relieved. It had been seen how their distress
hadlieen not only alleviated, but removed. If any
man had been asked• their 'oulsoher, he-would perhaps
have computed it at thoessilds,beteellectedly, they
had fallen short of 1500. The great majority of them
had bee° very much in waist, and well deserved the
assistance they procured; 500 of them were in em-
ployment ; 600 would soon be se,":end a very small
number in proportion would-give any trouble or dir.
flculty to the Committee. He mentioned that, to
show how much less our erils'were in reality than in
imagination. Phould ithe said, that the country that
paid 12.000,0001. a' year for tea and tobeccoodroeld
not assist and even remove Mendicity ? His °pilaw,
was, that every slate and' stage- of Mendicity could
and ought to be prevented. - '"
Mr. iluser said,' he feared- the gaell.lhey would;
he elate to do, noraithstenang threeeeellence
their object, and the•time and talents employed in
it, would be very limited. Their present funds, he
understoorl, amounted, in the whole, to about 20001.
Wow Mr. Colnohnon, in his well-known work on
the Police,of tbPietropelis, had said, that no less
than 20,000 p.etions rose every morning in Loudon,
who did net know how to procure a breekfast, and if
that were troll, as Imbed no doubt it watt, the funds of
the Socieretwuuld do littlelnore than purchase the
one. - H.tett comet-need almostritat-those funds never
woultterapadequate Le the object proposed—;fie re.
morel off Mendicity. • It Atli been hinted, that they
intended 'to apply to Parliament: If they did, he
hoped they would impress epos t:.at House the rie-
srv4ity of limit &foisting ; but when be saw the Other

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day 400,0001. sent to She King of Spain, on a pretest
(l*d-cries of question !) he was merely •going to
observe, if he had not been interrupted, that he
could have wished to have seen similar sums appro-
priated to the relief of the wretched at home. Mr.
Hunt was proceediAg amidst cries of got:lion and
no politic:, whets the Chairman rose and submitted
to him whether the course •he was adopting, was!
relevant to a motion of thanks. Mr. Hunt con.'
tinned, that unless they got the assistance of Par-I
filament with large Sums of money, they had no
chance of success. He agreed must cordially with
so much of. the Report as he had beard, particularly
that.part which recommended that all sturdy beggars
be dealt with as they deserve. The Object of the
Meeting he thought 'Most praiseworthy, and as far
as his means would go either in perms or pocket,
they were at their service.• '
The vote of Thanks to the Duke of Northumber-
land Was then put, and carried unanimously.
Mr. C. BARCLAY thought the evil one that no
gislature could entirely remedy ;, but the Society,
might do much good. He concluded by moving the
Thanks of the Meeting to the several Noblemen and
Gentlemen wino had accepted the office of 'Vice-Pre-
sidents of the Society.
Mr. JOSEPH HUME seconded the motion. He be-
lieved the Worthy Chairman would submit some-
thing to the Legislature that would produce five
thousand-fold the effect that that Society could do.
1 But, because they could not do all, were they to do
nothing ? They could not get to the•top of the lad.
der by taking the first step. It was only by exer-
tion that they could hope to succeed.
The motion was carried unanimously. -
Mr. Tooxe moved the Thanks of the Meeting to
Mr. Martin, for his exertions in the cause.; and that
he should be requested to accept the office of Vibitec
to the Society. In making that motion, he die) it
with the same feelings with which he would have
done it tp Howard for his investigation of prisons,
or to Granville Sharpe and Mr. Clarkson, who had
so strenuously exerted themselves for the Abolition
of the Slave Trade.
Mr. DUNCAN CAMPBELL. seconded the motion,
which was carried unanimously. •
Mr. JOHN SMITH moved that -Mr. W. Williams
should be thanked for his .ervices as Treasurer, and
should be requested to continue the same;. which was
seconded by Mr. MARTIN, and carried unanimously.
A Board of Management was appointed, and a set
of Auditors; and after several other Gentlemen had
spoken, the Thanks were given to the Chairman for
his services, and the Meeting broke up.