Charities

Closely connected with the relief provided by the Poor-Laws is the relief provided by charitable foundations. As to the Administration and effect of those charities which are distributed among the classes who are also receivers of the poor-rate, much evidence is scattered throughout our Appendix, and it has forced on us the conviction that, as now administered, such charities are often wasted, and often mischievous. In many instances being distributed on the same principle as the rates of the worst managed parishes, they are only less pernicious than the abuse in the application of the poor-rates, because they are visibly limited in amount. In some cases they have a quality of evil peculiar to themselves. The majority of them are distributed among the poor inhabitants of particular parishes or towns. The places intended to be favoured by large charities attract, therefore, an undue proportion of the poorer classes, who, in the hope of trifling benefits to be obtained without labour, often linger on in spots most unfavourable to the exercise of their industry. Poverty is thus not only collected, but created, in the very neighbourhood whence the benevolent founders have manifestly expected to make it disappear.

These charities, in the districts where they abound, may interfere with the efficacy of the measures we have recommended, and on this ground, though aware that we should not be justified in offering any specific recommendation with respect to them, we beg to suggest that they call for the attention of the Legislature.

WE have now recommended to YOUR MAJESTY the measures by which we hope that the enormous evils resulting from the present mal-administration of the Poor-Laws may be gradually remedied. It will be observed, that the measures which we have suggested are intended to produce rather negative than positive effects; rather to remove the debasing influences to which a large portion of the Labouring Population is now subject, than to afford new means of prosperity and virtue. We are perfectly aware, that for the general diffusion of right principles and habits we are to look, not so much to any economic arrangements and regulations as to the influence of a moral and religious education; and important evidence on the subject will be found throughout our Appendix. But one great advantage of any measure which shall remove or diminish the evils of the present system, is, that it will in the same degree remove the obstacles which now impede the progress of instruction, and intercept its results; and will afford a freer scope to the operation of every instrument which may be employed for elevating the intellectual and moral condition of the poorer classes. We believe, that if the funds now destined to the purposes of education, many of which are applied in a manner unsuited to the present wants of society, were wisely and economically employed, they would be sufficient to give all the assistance which can be prudently afforded by the State. As the subject is not within our Commission, we will not dwell on it further, and we have ventured on these few remarks only for the purpose of recording our conviction, that as soon as a good administration of the Poor-Laws shall have rendered further improvement possible, the most important duty of the Legislature is to take measures to promote the religious and moral education of the labouring classes.

[1] App. (A.) Part I. p. 902.

[2] App. (A.) Part II.

[3] App. (A.) Part I. p. 337.

[4] Mr. Maclean, App. (A.) Part I. p. 537.

[5] Mr. Tweedy, App. (A.) Part I. p. 728.

[6] App. (B.) Question 21, p. 424 b.

[7] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 166.

[8] App. (A.) Part II. p. 10.

[9] App. (B.) Question 39. Chadlington, Oxford, p. 369 d.

[10] See App. (A.) Part I. p. 345.

[11] Mr. Cowell, Extracts, p. 374.

[12] Mr. Power, App. (A.) Part I. p. 241.

[13] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 223.

[14] App. (A.) Part I. p. 227.

[16] Mr. Maclean, App. (A.) Part I. p. 547

[17] Mr. Tweedy, App. (A.) Part I. p. 732.

[18] "I merely mean to state that 2s. is the utmost weekly pension or allowance gratuitously given to a single able-bodied labourer. An applicant of this description, if he said that he could not live on his wages, would probably be taken into the poor-house, or set to work by the parish at perhaps 5s. a-week; but he would not receive for doing nothing more than 2s. a-week, while the sums which a married labourer receives for doing nothing increase with the birth of every additional child."

[19] Mr. Wilson, App. (A.) Part I. p. 140.

[20] App. (A.) Part II. p. 1. 13.

[21] App. (A.) Part. II. p. 34.

[22] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[23] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 228.

[24] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[25] Mr. Cowell, App. (A.) Part I. p. 598.

[26] Extracts, p. 144.

[27] App. (A.) Part I. p. 184.

[28] App. (B. 1.) Question 24, p. 9 b.

[29] App. (A.) Part II.

[30] App. (A.) Part II. p. 43.

[31] Extracts, p. 141.

[32] Mr. Power, App. (A.) Part I. p. 247.

[33] Mr. Richardson, App. (A.) Part I. p. 401.

[34] App. (B.1.) Question 26, p. 179 b.

[35] App. (B. 1.) Question 26, p. 177 b.

[36] App. (B. 1.) Question 21, p. 178 b.

[37] App. (B. 1.) Question 24, p. 246 b.

[38] App. (B. 1.) Question 25, p. 246 b.

[39] App. (B. 1.) Question 24, p. 257 b.

[40] App. (B. 1.) Question 24, p. 258 b.

[41] App. (B.1.) Question 24, p. 406 b.

[42] App. (B. 1.) Question 24, p. 293 b.

[43] App. (B. 1.) Question 25, p. 332 b.

[44] App. (B. 1.) Questions 24 8 27, p. 372 b.

[45] App. (B. 1.) Question 24, p. 378 b.

[46] App. (B.l.) Question 24, p. 407 b

[47] App. (B.1.) Question 39, p. 141 d.

[48] App. (B. 1.) Questions 38 and 43, p. 205.

[49] House of Lords' Report, 1830-31, page 185.

[50] Mr. Codd, App. (A.) Part I. p. 59.

[51] Mr. Codd, App. (A.) Part I. p.58.

[52] Capt. Pringle, App. (A.) Part I. p. 299.

[53] Mr. Power, App. (A.) Part I. p. 243.

[54] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p.186.

[55] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p.179.

[56] Mr. Stuart, App. (A.) Part I. p.346.

[57] Mr. Tweedy, App. (A.) Part I. p. 733.

[58] Mr. Villiers, App. (A.) Part II. p. 10.

[59] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[60] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[61] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 187, 188.

[62] Capt. Pringle, App. (A.) Part I. p. 306, 307.

[63] App. (A.) Part II p. 46.

[64] Mr. Richardson, App. (A.) Part I. p. 399.

[65] Mr. Okeden, App. (A.) Part I. p. 6.

[66] Mr. Okeden, App. (A.) Part I. p. 2.

[67] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 176.

[68] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 177.

[69] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 188.

[70] Extracts, p. 216, et post.

[71] Mr. Codd, App. (A.) Part I. p. 75.

[72] Mr. Codd, App. (A.) Part I. p. 75, 76.

[73] Ibid. p. 78.

[74] Ibid. p. 93.

[75] Mr. Codd, App. (A.) Part. I. p. 93.

[76] Ibid. p. 94.

[77] Extracts, p. 116.

[78] Extracts, p. 384.

[79] Mr. Power, App. (A.) Part I. p. 253.

[80] App. (A.) Part I. p. 230.

[81] App. (A.) Part I. p. 143.

[82] App. (B. 1.) Question 26, Easton. Southampton, p. 419 b.

[83] App. (B. 1.) Question 43, Castle Doningten, Leicester, p. 280 d.

[84] App. (A.) Part I. p. 334.

[85] See the whole of this transaction stated in a letter from the overseer of Royston. Extracts, p. 383; the answer of the magistrates, App. (A.) Part I. p. 652; and the reply of the overseer. App. (A.) Part I. p. 654.

[86] See Capt. Pringle, App. (A.) Part I. p. 297, 300, 307; Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 208, 209, 232; Mr. Stuart, App. (A.) Part I. p. 335, 344.

[87] App. (B. 1.) Question 40, p. 330 d.

[88] App. (B. 1.) Question 40, p. 249 d.

[89] App. (B. 1.) Question 39, p. 1699 d.

[90] Capt. Pringle, App. (A.) Part I. p. 304; Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. p. 179; Mr. Stuart, App. (A.) Part I. p. 344.

[91] Mr. Richardson, App. (A) Part I. 408.

[92] The witness whose examination the Report details.

[93] Mr. Cowell's Report, App. (A.) Part I. p. 610.

[94] App. (C.).

[95] See Letter of Mr. Cogshill, App. (C.).

[96] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. White Waltham, Berks, p. 29 c.

[97] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. Blunham-cum-Moggerhanger, Beds. p. 2 c.

[98] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. Pulborough, Sussex, p. 520 c.

[99] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. Langley Marish, Bucks. p. 39 c.

[1] Extracts, p. 86.

[2] App. (A.) Part I. p. 213.

[3] App. (A.) Part I. p. 180.

[4] App. (A.) Part I. p. 181.

[5] App. (A.) Part I. p. 244.

[6] App. (A.) Part I. p. 249.

[7] Extracts, p. 384.

[8] App. (A.) Part II.

[9] App. (A.) Part II.

[10] App. (A.) Part II.

[11] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. Westfield, Sussex, p. 531 c.

[12] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. Gillingham, Kent, p. 245 c.

[13] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. Minster, Kent, p. 255 c.

[14] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. Adstock, Bucks, p. 30 c.

[15] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36. Sherrington, Bucks, p. 43 c.

[16] Sir Thos. Cotton Sheppard, App. (C.).

[17] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 37, Blunham, Beds, page 2 c.

[18] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 37, Pershore Division, Worcester, p. 588 c.

[19] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 37, Lenham, Kent, p. 252 c.

[20] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 40, Stiffkey, Norfolk, p. 324 d.

[21] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 37, Summertown, Oxford, p. 380 c.

[22] App. (B. 1.) Quest. 36 and 37, Millford, Southants, p. 424 c.

[23] App. (A.) Part I. p. 24.

[24] App. (A.) Part I. p. 181.

[25] App. (A.) Part I. p. 188.

[26] App. (A.) Part I. p. 234.

[27] App. (A.) Part I. p. 248.

[28] App. (B. 1.) Question 39, Moulton, Northants, p. 338 d.

[29] App. (B. 1.) Question 36, Rougham, Suffolk, p. 466 c.

[30] App. (B. 1.) Questions 39 and 40, Castle Donington, Leicester, p. 280 d.

[31] Mr. Villiers, App. (A.) Part II. p. 25.

[32] Ibid.

[33] Mr. Villiers, App. (A.) Part II. p. 25.

[34] Ibid.

[35] App. (A.) Part I. p. 602.

[36] Extracts, p. 46. App. (B. 1.) Question 15, p. 528 b.

[37] App. (B. 1.) Question 15, p. 332 b.

[38] Extracts, App. (A.) Part II. p. 270.

[39] Extracts, p. 379. App. (A.) Part I. p. 586.

[40] Extracts, p. 380.

[41] App. (A.) Part I. p. 402.

[42] App. (A.) Part I. p. 243.

[43] App. (A.) Part I. p. 242.

[44] Mr. Villiers' Report, App. (A.) Part II. p. 29.

[45] App. (A.) Part I. p. 347.

[46] Extracts, p. 83.

[47] App. (A.) Part I. p. 399.

[48] Mr. Villiers, App. (A.) Part II. p. 18.

[49] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[50] App. (D.)

[51] App. (A.) Part I. p. 24.

[52] Extracts, p. 335. Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[53] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[54] Evidence of Mr. Barker, Extracts, p. 85.

[55] Evidence of Mr. Booker, App. (A.) Part. I. p. 88.

[56] Evidence of Mr. Hobler, App. (A.) Part I. p. 91.

[57] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[58] App. (A.) Part I. p. 89.

[59] App. (A.) Part I. p. 347.

[60] App. (A.) Part I. p. 228.

[61] App. (A.) part I. p. 251.

[62] Extracts, p. 85.

[63] App. (A.) Part I. p. 583.

[64] Mr. Walcott's Report from North Wales, App. (A.) Part II.

[65] Mr. Majendie's Report from Sussex, App. (A.) Part I. p. 180.

[66] Captain Chapman's Report from Somerset, Cornwall, and parts of Devon, Gloucester, and Wilts, App. (A.) Part I. p. 476, 477.

[67] Mr. Whipple, overseer of St. James, Clerkenwell, App. (A.) Part I. p. 62.

[68] Mr. Wilkes, assistant clerk and overseer of St. Andrew, Holborn-above-Bars, and St. George the Martyr, App. (A.) Part I. p. 70.

[69] Mr. Nicholson, overseer of Wandsworth, App. (A.) Part I. p. 71.

[70] Mr. Codd's Report on the Western Division of the Metropolis, App. (A.) Part I. p. 73.

[71] Mr. Chadwick's Report, Evidence of Mr. Brushfield, of Spitalfields, App. (A.) Part II.

[72] Mr. Majendie's Report from Sussex, App. (A.) Part I. p. 182.

[73] Captain Pringle's Report from Hants, App. (A.) Part I. p. 291.

[74] Major Wylde's Report from Lincoln, App. (A.) Part II.

[75] Mr. Majendie's Report from Sussex App. (A.) Part I. p. 201.

[76] Mr. Power's Report from Cambridge, App. (A.) Part I. p. 245.

[77] Mr. Stuart's Report from Suffolk, App. (A.) Part I. p. 350-381.

[78] App. (A.) Part I. p. 14.

[79] App. (A.) Part I. p. 556.

[80] App. (A.) Part I. p. 476.

[81] App. (A.) Part I. p. 72.

[82] App. (A.) Part I. p. 151.

[83] App. (A.) Part I. p. 168.

[84] App. (A.) Part I. p. 264.

[85] App. (A.) Part I. p. 280.

[86] App. (A.) Part I. p. 326.

[87] App. (A.) Part I. p. 350.

[88] App. (A.) Part I. p. 413.

[89] App. (A.) Part I.

[90] App. (A.) Part I. p. 685.

[91] App. (A.) Part I. p. 665.

[92] App. (A.) Part II.

[93] The Questions numbered 33, 34, and 35 of the Rural Queries, and 10, 11, and 12 of the Town Queries.

[94] App. (A.) Part I. p. 168.

[95] App. (A.) Part I. p. 181.

[96] App. (A.) Part I. p. 209.

[97] App. (A.) Part I. p. 232.

[98] App. (A.) Part I. p. 249.

[99] App. (A.) Part I. p. 297.

[100] App. (A.) Part I. p. 335.

[101] App. (A.) Part I. p. 351.

[102] App. (A.) Part I. p. 478.

[103] App. (A.) Part I. p. 681.

[104] App. (C).

[105] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[106] App. (B. 1.) p. 224 c.

[107] App. (A.) Part I. p. 479.

[108] App. (A.) Part I. p. 481.

[109] App. (A.) Part I. p. 129.

[110] App. (A.) Part I. p. 239.

[111] App. (A.) Part I. p. 780.

[112] App. (A.) Part I. p. 182.

[113] App. (A.) Part I. p. 558.

[114] Eden, vol. i. p. 575.

[115] Eden, vol. i. p. 582.

[116] App. (A.) Part I. p. 546.

[117] App. (A.) Part II. p. 14.

[118] House of Commons' Report on Poor Laws, 1817, pages 110, 111, 113.

[119] App. (A.) Part I. p. 1.

[120] Extracts, p. 228. App. (A.) Part II.

[121] App. (A.) Part II. p. 16.

[122] Extracts, p. 233.

[123] Extracts, p. 235.

[124] App. (A.) Part I. p. 168.

[125] App. (A.) Part I. p. 252.

[126] App. (A.) Part I. p. 474.

[127] App. (B. I.) Question 44, Answer by Mr. Portman, Blandford Division, Dorset, p. 137 d.

[1] 1 James II. c. 17: 3 W. and M. c. II.

[2] 8 and 9 W. III. c. 30.

[3] 8 and 9 W. III. c. 30.

[4] 9 Geo. I. c. 7.

[5] 35 Geo. III. c. 101.

[6] 59 Geo. III. c. 50; 6 Geo. IV. c. 57; I Will. IV. c. 18.

[7] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[8] Ibid.

[9] Ibid.

[10] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[11] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[12] Extracts, p. 368.

[13] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[14] App. (A.) Part I. p. 570.

[15] App. (A.) Part I. p. 570.

[16] App. (A.) Part I. p. 594.

[17] App. (A.) Part I. p. 673.

[18] App. (A.) Part I. p. 571.

[19] App. (A.) Part I. p. 230.

[20] Since this passage was written the law on this point has been materially improved by the 3d and 4th Will, IV. cap. 42, sec. 26 and 27.

[21] Nolan's Poor Laws, vol. ii. p. 288, 289.

[22] App. (A.) Part I. p. 452.

[23] App. (C.) p. 214.

[24] App. (C.) p. 216.

[25] App. (C.) p. 218.

[26] App. (C.) p. 220.

[27] App. (A.) Part I. p. 453.

[28] App. (A.) Part I. p. 165.

[29] App. (A) Part I. p. 330.

[30] App. (A.) Part I. p. 828.

[31] App. (A.) Part I. p. 647, 648.

[32] Mr. Chadwick, App. (A.) Part II.

[33] Ibid.

[34] App. (A.) Part I. p. 136.

[35] App. (C.) p. 222.

[36] App. (A.) Part I. p. 261.

[37] App. (A.) Part I. p. 9.

[38] App. (A.) Part I. p. 399.

[39] App. (A.) Part I. p. 539.

[40] App. (A.) Part I. p. 540.

[41] Mr. Maclean, App. (A.) Part I. p. 541.

[42] Mr. Walcott, App. (A.) Part II.

[43] Minutes of Evidence taken before the Select Committee of the House of Lords on Poor Laws, in 1831, p. 284, 285.

[44] App. (A.) Part I. p. 323.

[45] App. (A.) Part I. p. 133.

[46] App. (A.) Part I. p. 7-15.

[47] App. (A.) Part I. p. 26.

[48] "This practice is mentioned as a very common one in France, by M. de Chateauvieux, in his excellent Essay on the Condition of the Labouring Classes in France, which he has kindly enabled me to present to the Board."—App. (A.) Part I. p. 170.

[49] App. (A.) Part II.

[50] App. (A.) Part I. p. 254, 256.

[52] App. (A.) p. 439-443.

[53] App. (A.) Part I. p. 378.

[54] App. (A.) Part I. p. 677.

[55] App. (A.) Part I. p. 669.

[56] App. (A.) Part I. p. 575.

[57] App. (A.) Part I. p. 739.

[58] App. (C.) p. 154.

[59] Answers from Surrey, App. (D).

[1] App. (A.) Part II.

[2] App. (A.) Part II.

[3] App. (A.) Part II.

[4] App (A.) Part I. p. 600.

[5] App. (A.) Part I. p. 623.

[6] App. (A.) p. 617.

[7] App. (A.) Part II.

[8] App. (A.) Part II.

[9] App. (A.) Part II.

[10] App. (A.) Part II.

[12] App. (A.) Part I. pp. 635, 636.

[13] Mr. Villiers' Report, App. (A.) Part II. p. 44.

[14] App. (A.) p. 623.

[15] App. (A.) Part II.

[16] App. (A.) Part II.

[17] App. (B.) Ques. 39, p. 312d.

[18] Appendix (B.) Quest. 44, p. 31 d.

[19] App. (A.) Part II.

[20] App. (A.) Part II.

[21] App. (A.) Part II.

[22] Agricultural Report, p. 575.

[23] Ibid. p. 574.

[24] Ibid. p. 576.

[25] Agricultural Report, p. 575.

[26] App. (A.) Part II. Report from Cookham.

[27] App. (A.) Part. II. Report from Cookham.

[28] App. (A.) Part II.

[29] App. (A.) Part II. Report from Cookham.

[30] App. (A.) Part II.

[31] App. (A.) Part I. p. 615.

[32] App. (A.) Part I. p. 622.

[33] App. (A.) Part I. p. 621.

[34] App. (A.) Part I. p. 638.

[35] App. (A.) Part I. p. 617.

[36] App. (A.) Part II.

[37] App. (A.) Part. II.

[38] App. (A.) Part I. p. 618.

[39] App. (A.) Part I. p. 616.

[40] App. (A.) Part I. p. 613.

[41] App. (A.) Part. II.

[42] App. (A.) Part I. p. 601.

[43] App. (A.) Part II.

[44] See post 298.

[45] See pp. 44, 45.

[46] App. (A.) Part II.

[47] App. (A.) Part II.

[48] App. (A.) Part II.

[49] App. (A.) Part II.

[50] App. (A.) Part II. p.11.

[51] App. (B.) Question 30, p.38.

[52] App. (A.) Part II.

[53] App. (A.) Part II.

[54] App. (A.) Part II.

[55] App. (C.)

[56] App. (A.) Part II.

[58] App. (C.) pp. 164 and 173-4

[59] App. (A.) Part II.

[60] App. (A.) Part I. Report of D. C. Moylan, Esq. p. 280 a.

[61] Appendix (C.) p. 152.

[62] Appendix (A.)

[63] App. (A.) Part II.

[64] Tweedy, App. (A.) Part I. p. 808.

[65] App. (A.) Part I. p. 292.

[66] App. (A.) Part I. p. 296.

[67] Mr. Majendie, App. (A.) Part I. pp. 173, 174.

[68] App. (A.) Part I. pp. 217, 218.

[69] App. (C.) p. 167.

[70] App. (C.) p. 166.

[71] App. (C.) p. 167.

[72] App. (C.) pp. 1, 2.

[73] App. (A.) Part II.

[74] Capt. Pringle, App. (A.) Part I. p. 309.

[75] App. (A.) part II.

[76] App. (A.) part II.

[77] App. (A.) Part II.

[78] App. (A.) Part II.

[79] App. (A.) Part II.

[80] App. (A.) Part II.

[81] App. (A.) Part II.

[82] App. (A.) Part II.

[83] App. (A.) Part II.

[84] App. (A.) Part II.

[85] App. (A.) Part II.

[86] App. (C.) [The reference to this footnote is missing.—Econlib Ed.]

[87] App. (A.) pp. 431, 432, 433, 434, 435.

[88] App. (A.) Part II. pp. 6-8.

[89] App. (A.) p. 894.

[90] App. (E.)

[91] App. (A.) Part I. p. 456.

[92] App. (E.)

[93] App. (A.) Part II. Ex.

[94] App. (A.) Part I. 317.

[95] App. (A.) Part II.

[96] App. (A.) Mr. Chadwick's Report.

[97] App. (A.) Part II.

[98] App. (A.) Part I. p. 649.

[99] App. (F).

[100] 21st Article of Agreement for regulating the Friendly Society formed at Eltham, Kent.

[101] 8th Article for regulating the TRIPLE FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY, Blackfriars, London.

[102] App. (A.) Part II.

[103] Some allowance must be made in this case for the rapid increase of the town of Cambridge.

[104] Mr. Cowell's Rpep. Ap. (A.) Part I. p. 619 et seq.

[105] Mr. Majendie's Rep. App. (A.) Part I. p. 170; Mr. Stuart (A.) Part I. p. 375; Capt. Pringle (A.) Part I. p. 320; Mr. Maclean (A.) Part I. p. 573, 8c.

[106] App. (A.) Part I. p. 377.

[107] App. (A.) Part I. p. 574.

[108] Mr. Majendie's Rep., App. (A.) Part I. p. 203.

[109] Mr. Codd's Rep., App. (A.) Part I. p. 50.

[110] Mr. Codd's Rep., App. (A.) Part I. p. 50.