Books: Essays on Mankind and Political Arithmetic
S >>
Sir William Petty >> Essays on Mankind and Political Arithmetic
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 | 8
By impotent poor is to be understood all infants and old and
decrepid persons not able to work; also persons who by sickness or
any accident are for the time unable to labour for themselves or
families; and all persons (not being fit for labour) who were
usually relieved by the money raised for the use of the poor; they
shall have maintenance, as good or better, as within XXX years they
used to have.
This does not directly determine what that shall be, nor is it
possible, by reason a shilling in one county is as much as two in
another; but it will be the interest of the Corporation that such
poor be well provided for, by reason the contrary will occasion all
the complaints or clamour that probably can be made against the
Corporation.
Fifthly, that the Corporation do provide (as well for all such poor
which on the said XXX day of XXX shall be on the poor books, as for
what other growing poor shall happen in the said term who are or
shall be able to labour or do any work) sufficient labour and work
proper for such persons to be employed in. And that provision shall
be made for such labouring persons according to their labour, so as
such provision doth not exceed three-fourth parts as much as any
other person would have paid for such labour. And in case they are
not employed and set to work, then such persons shall, until
materials or labour be provided for them, be maintained as impotent
poor; but so as such persons who shall hereafter enter themselves on
the poor's book, being able to labour, shall not quit the service of
the corporation, without leave, for the space of six months.
The Corporation are to provide materials and labour for all that can
work, and to make provision for them not exceeding three-fourth
parts as much as any other person would give for such labour. For
example, if another person would give one of these a shilling, the
Corporation ought to give but ninepence. And the reason is plain,
first, because the Corporation will be obliged to maintain them and
their families in all exigences, which others are not obliged to do,
and consequently they ought not to allow so much as others.
Secondly, in case any persons able to labour, shall come to the
Corporation, when their agents are not prepared with materials to
employ them, by this proposal they are to allow them full provision
as impotent poor, until they find them work, which is entirely in
favour of the poor. Thirdly, it is neither reasonable nor possible
for the Corporation to provide materials upon every occasion, for
such persons as shall be entered with them, unless they can be
secure of such persons to work up those materials; besides, without
this provision, all the labouring people of England will play fast
and loose between their employers and the Corporation, for as they
are disobliged by one, they will run to the other, and so neither
shall be sure of them.
Sixthly, that no impotent poor shall be removed out of the parish
where they dwell, but upon notice in writing given to the
churchwardens or overseers of the said parish, to what place of
provision he or she is removed.
It is judged the best method to provide for the impotent poor in
houses prepared for that purpose, where proper provision may be made
for several, with all necessaries of care and maintenance. So that
in some places one house will serve the impotent poor of several
parishes, in which case the parish ought to know where to resort, to
see if good provision be made for them.
Seventhly, that in case provision be not made for the poor of each
parish, in manner as aforesaid (upon due notice given to the agents
of the Corporation) the said parish may order their poor to be
maintained, and deduct the sum by them expended out of the next
payments to be made to the said corporation by the said parish.
In case any accident happens in a parish, either by sickness, fall,
casualty of fire, or other ways; and that the agent of the
Corporation is not present to provide for them, or having notice
doth not immediately do it, the parish may do it, and deduct so much
out of the next payment; but there must be provision made for the
notice, and in what time the Corporation shall provide for them.
Eighthly, that the said Corporation shall have and receive for the
said one-and-twenty years, that is to say, from every parish yearly,
so much as such parish paid in any one year, to be computed by a
medium of seven years; namely, from the 25th of March, 1690, to the
25th of March 1697, and to be paid half-yearly; and besides, shall
receive the benefit of the revenues of all donations given to any
parish, or which shall be given during the said term, and all
forfeitures which the law gives to the use of the poor; and to all
other sums which were usually collected by the parish, for the
maintenance of the poor.
Whatever was raised for or applied to the use of the poor, ought to
be paid over to the Corporation; and where there are any donations
for maintaining the poor, it will answer the design of the donor, by
reason there will be better provision for the maintenance of the
poor than ever; and if that maintenance be so good, as to induce
further charities, no doubt the Corporation ought to be entitled to
them. But there are two objections to this article; first that to
make a medium by a time of war is unreasonable. Secondly, to
continue the whole tax for one-and-twenty years, does not seem to
give any benefit to the kingdom in that time. To the first, it is
true, we have a peace, but trade is lower now than at any time
during the war, and the charge of the poor greater; and when trade
will mend is very uncertain. To the second, it is very plain, that
although the charge may be the same to a parish in the total, yet it
will be less to particular persons, because those who before
received alms, will now be enabled to be contributors; but besides,
the turning so many hundred thousand pounds a year (which in a
manner have hitherto been applied only to support idleness) into
industry; and the employing so many other idle vagrants and sturdy
beggars, with the product of their labour, will altogether be a
present benefit to the lands of England, as well in the rents as in
the value; and further the accidental charities in the streets and
at doors, is, by a very modest computation, over and above the poor
rates, at least 300,000 pounds per annum, which will be entirely
saved by this proposal, and the persons set at work; which is a
further consideration for its being well received, since the
Corporation are not allowed anything for this service.
The greater the encouragement is, the better the work will be
performed; and it will become the wisdom of the parliament in what
they do, to make it effectual; for should such an undertaking as
this prove ineffectual, instead of remedying, it will increase the
mischief.
Ninthly, that all the laws made for the provision of the poor, and
for punishing idle vagrant persons, be repealed, and one law made to
continue such parts as are found useful, and to add such other
restrictions, penalties, and provisions, as may effectually attain
the end of this great work.
The laws hereunto relating are numerous, but the judgment and
opinions given upon them are so various and contradictory, and
differ so in sundry places, as to be inconsistent with any one
general scheme of management.
Tenthly, that proper persons be appointed in every county to
determine all matters and differences which may arise between the
corporation and the respective parishes.
To prevent any ill usage, neglect or cruelty, it will be necessary
to make provision that the poor may tender their complaints to
officers of the parish; and that those officers having examined the
same, and not finding redress, may apply to persons to be appointed
in each county and each city for that purpose, who may be called
supervisors of the poor, and may have allowance made them for their
trouble; and their business may be to examine the truth of such
complaints; and in case either the parish or corporation judge
themselves aggrieved by the determination of the said supervisors,
provision may be made that an appeal lie to the quarter sessions.
Eleventhly, that the corporation be obliged to provide for all
public beggars, and to put the laws into execution against public
beggars and idle vagrant persons.
Such of the public beggars as can work must be employed, the rest to
be maintained as impotent poor, but the laws to be severely put in
execution against those who shall ask any public alms.
This proposal, which in most parts of it seems to be very maturely
weighed, may be a foundation for those to build upon who have a
public spirit large enough to embrace such a noble undertaking.
But the common obstruction to anything of this nature is a malignant
temper in some who will not let a public work go on if private
persons are to be gainers by it. When they are to get themselves,
they abandon all sense of virtue; but are clothed in her whitest
robe when they smell profit coming to another, masking themselves
with a false zeal to the commonwealth, where their own turn is not
to be served. It were better, indeed, that men would serve their
country for the praise and honour that follow good actions, but this
is not to be expected in a nation at least leaning towards
corruption, and in such an age it is as much as we can hope for if
the prospect of some honest gain invites people to do the public
faithful service. For which reason, in any undertaking where it can
be made apparent that a great benefit will accrue to the
commonwealth in general, we ought not to have an evil eye upon what
fair advantages particular men may thereby expect to reap, still
taking care to keep their appetite of getting within moderate
bounds, laying all just and reasonable restraints upon it, and
making due provision that they may not wrong or oppress their fellow
subjects.
It is not to be denied, but that if fewer hands were suffered to
remain idle, and if the poor had full employment, it would greatly
tend to the common welfare, and contribute much towards adding every
year to the general stock of England.
Among the methods that we have here proposed of employing the poor,
and making the whole body of the people useful to the public, we
think it our duty to mind those who consider the common welfare of
looking with a compassionate eye into the prisons of this kingdom,
where many thousands consume their time in vice and idleness,
wasting the remainder of their fortunes, or lavishing the substance
of their creditors, eating bread and doing no work, which is
contrary to good order, and pernicious to the commonwealth.
We cannot therefore but recommend the thoughts of some good bill
that may effectually put an end to this mischief so scandalous in a
trading country, which should let no hands remain useless.
It is not at all difficult to contrive such a bill as may relieve
and release the debtor, and yet preserve to his creditors all their
fair, just, and honest rights and interest.
And so we have in this matter endeavoured to show that to preserve
and increase the people, and to make their numbers useful, are
methods conducing to make us gainers in the balance of trade.
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 | 8