Part 27 (1/2)
ESTIMATE.
1. Asylums for the Relief of Objects of Charity .
and Humanity 30,000
2. Asylums and Hospitals, for the Sick, Lame, and Diseased 50,000
3. Inst.i.tutions for Benevolent, Charitable, and Humane Purposes 205,000
4. Private Charities 150,000
5. Charity Schools for Educating the Poor 10,000
6. To which add the annual a.s.sessments for the Poor Rates, paid by the Inhabitants of the Metropolis and its Environs 255,000
Total estimated amount of the annual Sums paid for the support and benefit of the Poor in the --------- Metropolis, &c. .700,000
7. Besides the endowed Establishments, for which the Poor are chiefly indebted to our Ancestors 150,000 --------- Total .850,000
In addition to this, it is highly proper to mention the n.o.ble benevolence, which has been displayed by the Opulent of all ranks, but particularly the Merchants, in the very large sums which have been, at various times, subscribed for the relief of the brave men, who have been maimed and wounded, and for the support of the widows, orphans, and relations of those who have meritoriously lost their lives in fighting the battles of their country.
Such exalted examples of unbounded munificence the history of no other nation records.
It is to this source of elevated virtue, and n.o.bleness of mind, that an appeal is made, on the present occasion, in behalf of those unhappy fellow-mortals; who, in spite of the unexampled liberality which has been displayed, still require the fostering hand of Philanthropy.
The cause of these distresses has been explained; and also the evils which such a condition in human life entails upon Society. It is not pecuniary aid that will heal this _gangrene_: this _Corruption of Morals_. There must be the application of a correct System of Police, calculated to reach the root and origin of the evil.--Without _System_, _Intelligence_, _Talents_, and _Industry_, united in all that relates to the affairs of the Poor, millions may be wasted as millions have already been wasted, without bettering their condition.
In all the branches of the Science of Political Oeconomy, there is none which requires so much skill and knowledge of men and manners, as that which relates to this particular object: and yet, important as it is to the best interests of the Community, the management of a concern, in which the very foundation of the national prosperity is involved, is suffered to remain, as in the rude ages, when Society had not a.s.sumed the bold features of the present period,--in the hands of changeable, and in many instances, unlettered agents; wholly incompetent to a task at all times nice and difficult in the execution, and often irksome and inconvenient.
One great feature of this evil, on which it is deplorable to reflect, is, that nearly one million of the inhabitants of a country, the utmost population of which is supposed to be short of nine millions, should be supported in part or in whole by the remaining eight.
In spite of all the ingenious arguments which have been used in favour of a System admitted to be wisely conceived in its origin, the effects it has produced incontestably prove, that with respect to the ma.s.s of the Poor, there is something radically wrong in the execution.
If it were not so, it is impossible that there could exist in the Metropolis such an inconceivable portion of human misery, amidst examples of munificence and benevolence unparalleled in any age or country in the world.
Impressed with these sentiments, so far as they apply to the state of indigence in the Metropolis, a design has been sanctioned by the _Benevolent Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor_, the object of which is to establish a department for inquiring into the history, life, and the causes of the distress of every person who asks relief in any part of the Metropolis: not with a view to support these unfortunate persons in idleness and vice; but to use those means which talents, attention, and humanity can accomplish--(means which are beyond the reach of parochial officers), for the purpose of enabling them to a.s.sist themselves.[95]
[Footnote 95: An office has for some time past been inst.i.tuted under the direction of _Mathew Martin, Esq._ a.s.sisted by one or two philanthropic individuals, for inquiring into cases and causes of distress.--The generality of the poor persons have been invited to the office by the distribution of tickets, directing them when and where they are to apply. On such occasions a small relief has been afforded, arising from a fund const.i.tuted by private benevolence;--but the chief advantage which these poor people have derived has been from the consolatory advice given them, and still more from the a.s.sistance afforded by the indefatigable industry, and laudable zeal of Mr.
Martin, in getting those into workhouses who have parochial settlements in the Metropolis, or a.s.sisting in procuring the means of pa.s.sing them to their parishes, where such settlements are in the country. Seasonable pecuniary relief has been also extended in certain cases, and small loans of money, made to enable those who are able to work to redeem their apparel, and tools to rescue them from despondence, and to help themselves by their own labour, in such employments as they could either themselves obtain, or as could be procured for them.
From the beginning of the year 1796 to the end of the year 1797, Mr.
Martin investigated the cases of 120 poor persons, who attended him in consequence of the tickets which were distributed.--Of these 21 were men; the greater part maimed or disabled by age or sickness, only two of whom had any legal settlement in London.--Of the women, 99 in number, 48 were widows, about one-third were aged--some crippled, and others distressed for want of work, while many were embarra.s.sed by ignorance of the mode of obtaining parochial relief, or by the fear of applying for it--of the wives, in most cases, the difficulty arose from want of work or incapacity of doing it, on account of a child in arms. There were cases of very great distress. Above half had two or more children. Some of them infants, and the chief part too young to work. Of the women 24 claimed settlements in London and Westminster--33 in different parts of England--22 belonged to Scotland and Ireland, and the remaining 20 said they could give no account of their place of settlement. In most instances by an application to their parishes, and in some to their friends, Mr. Martin was enabled to obtain effectual relief to all of them; the gift of a little food, and hearing their melancholy story, afforded some comfort; and had a small fund been appropriated to this object, it might have been possible to have enabled those who were in health to have earned a livelihood. See 12th Report of the _Society for bettering the Condition of the Poor_.]
In the Metropolis the Magistrates interfere very little in parochial relief, except when appeals are made to them in particular cases, or when called upon to sign orders of removal, which is generally done as a matter of course. Hence it is that the poor are left almost entirely to the management of the Parochial Officers for the time being, who frequently act under the influence of ignorance or caprice, or are irritated by the impudent importunity of the profligate Gin-drinking poor. These Officers also, it is to be remembered, have private affairs which necessarily engage the chief part of their attention, and are frequently no less incapable than unwilling to enter on those investigations which might enable them to make the proper discriminations: the modest and shame-faced poor are thus frequently shut out from relief, while the vociferous and idle succeed in obtaining pecuniary a.s.sistance, which is soon improvidently dissipated.
The distress which is thus shewn to prevail, by no means arises from the want of competent funds:--the misfortune is, that from the nature of the present mode of management it is not possible to apply these funds beneficially for the proper relief of those for whom they were intended. A much more moderate a.s.sessment, under a regular and proper management, would remove great part of the evil.
The expence of the cla.s.s of persons denominated _Casual Poor_, who have no settlement in any parish in the Metropolis, amounts to a large sum annually.--In the united parishes of St. Giles in the Fields, and St. George, Bloomsbury, this expence amounted to 2000_l._ in the year 1796. It arose from the support of about 1200 poor natives of Ireland, who but for this aid must have become vagrants. The shocking abuse of the vagrant pa.s.ses previous to the year 1792, produced the Act of the 32 Geo. III. cap. 45. which requires that Rogues and Vagabonds should be first publicly whipt, or confined seven days in the House of Correction, (females to be imprisoned only, and in no case whipped) before they are pa.s.sed, as directed by the Act of the 17 Geo. II. c.
5. Hence it is that so many who are either on the brink of vagrancy or have actually received alms, are permitted to remain a burden on the parishes; the Magistrates being loth to incur the charge of inhumanity, by strictly following the letter of the Act, in whipping or imprisoning poor miserable wretches, whose indigence have rendered relief necessary.
In all the 146 parishes within and without the walls, including the Bills of Mortality, &c. it is not improbable that the casual charity given in this way may amount to 10,000_l._ a year.