Star. — 1802-03-12 (London, England)

OOK.  Mr. SiMiON rote, in purfuance of his notice, to move for leave to bring in a Bill for the better Re. keying and Diftinguilhing the Induftrious Parifh Poor, for Regulating the Accounts of Overfeers and for making certain Provifions refpating Bat! tards. The fubjed was one which appeared to him to be of great importance ; it had occupied the attention of many perfons, and many plans had been fubmitted to the Public. But there appeared to him to be one great leading oblation to every plan that had been brought forward, which was, that they attempted to lay down one univerfal regulation for every Parini, which was impradicahie, from the many differences there were between Parithes. The objed of his BiU would not be to shake the foundation of the Poor Laws of this Country, which for fo long a period had been found fo beneficial. There was, very properly, a great degree of jealonfy entertained in that Houfe about altering the fyitem of our Poor Laws, but that was by no means his with. He pmpoled limply to bring in an Enablin Ad, viz. an Ad to enable every Parini, as far as was confiftent with law, to legiflate for itfelf if it pleated. then proceeded to Rate a variety of inconvtniences arifing from the prefent mode of relieving the Poor, particularly the great burthen of the Poorrates : he admitted, that hisplan would not render the Poor-rates unneceffary, but he thought it would tend very confiderahly to diminith them, • =moor nhiftcht for charity. and  the Parifh Accounts. In order tiafeertaia who were the molt proper objeCts of charity, he fhould propofe in the iiil, that a perfon fhould be appointed, and paid by the Parifh, whole duty it lhould be to obtain information of the condition and condo fl of the Poor. He was as:arc, that when a perlon applied for relief, and rad he was fiarving, it would be impoilible to refute him, even though his condo& had Leen improper, but he thought great advantages would mink from the adoption of this plan. There might In, he was aware, parithes in which this regulation would not be neceffary, therefore he did not mean to compel parithes to adopt this regulation. but to leave it to their option it they thought it neceffary. The next evil which, in his opinion, required a remedy, was the manner in which the Parifh accounts were kept. They were orly laid before the Parifh once a year, and then they were in general too voluminous and too complicated to be minutely inveftigated. Inaead, therefore, of, having them examined once a year, he fhould propofe to have them examined once a quarter, and that a certain number of perfons, among whom the refident Clergyman fhould be one, fhould be appointed to examine thefe accounts. There were the general outlines of his Bill ; but! there was another objeCt which appeared to him ! to be of great importance, and which he had I thought it right to conned with this Bill, and that was the fituation of adjudged Ballards. They! were, in general, the children of perfons in the loweft fituations of life, and though the mother was not, in general, wanting in natural affection,' yet The was in general prevailed upon to give up! the infant to the father, who put it out to nurfe, and in a few days it was heard of no more. This was was not mere fulpicion, he was unfortunately in polleffion of many fads which would be lufficient to convid thofe perfons of murder. He therefore propofed to put thefe children under the proteCtion of the Magqtrates, and to take care that the child fhould be left in the care of the mother until it had attained the age of (even years. That it fhould on no account be given up to the father, unlefs by a licence obtained- from the Magiftrate, letting forth the place to which it was going. There were the general outlines of his plan ; he hoped the Houle would give him permillion to bring in his Bill ; it might, after being printed, nand over for two or three.weeks. when. Gentlemen would have full time to confider it,' and to make what ohjedions, or propofe what amendments they thought proper. He then concluded with moving for leave to bring in a Bill for the better relieving and dittinguifhing the Induftrious Parifh Poor, for regulating the Accounts of Overfeers, and for making certain Peovilions refpating adjudged Baftards. Leave was given to bring to the Bill.—Adjourned.  LUNI)O Af'.