Independently of these eminently meritorious and always rare actions, governments might render publicity subservient to the perfection of a great variety of services, in the performance of which the regular discharge of duty is more important than the display of extraordinary virtues.This project might be realized by the formation of a comparative table of the subordinate administrations of cities, parishes, or counties.This table would require to be renewed at fixed periods, and might be made to show which districts were most exact in the payment of taxes---in which the fewest crimes had been committed---in which useful establishments had been formed---in which the most liberal exertions had been made for the relief of calamity---what hospitals had been conducted with the greatest economy, and had been most successful in the cure of diseases; what tribunals had decided the greatest number of causes, and from which the smallest number of appeals had been made; in what instances efficacious precautions had been adopted for relieving any particular district from causes tending to render it unhealthy,---from mendicity, from smuggling, from vice, and from misery.
Such official reports, independently of their political utility to the government, would, without parade, produce all the good effects of reward---of that reward in honour which costs nothing to the country, and yet maintains all the moral energies in full activity.Every distinguished service might find a place in these annals; and the people, always prone to exaggerate the vigilance and means of information possessed by their governors would soon be persuaded that a perpetual inspection was kept up, not only with respect to their faults, but also their meritorious actions.
This project is borrowed neither from the Republic of Plato, nor the Utopia of More.It is even inferior to what has in our time been carried into effect, in an empire composed of more than a hundred departments; in which tables, exhibiting in columns all the results of civil, economical, rural, and commercial administration, were formed with greater facility and promptitude than would have been experienced by any Russian noble had be been desirous of obtaining from his superintendents an account of the state of his property.
If rewards were established for virtue, when exhibited by the indigent classes, it would be improper to seek for striking instances of its display, or to suppose that they are actuated by sentiments of vanity, which operate feebly upon men accustomed to dependence, and almost constantly employed in making provision for their daily wants.Institutions of this nature, suited to small communities, ought to be adapted to local circumstances and popular habits.In a village or a town, for instance, it might be proper to assign a distinguished place in the church for the old men: this distinction, united to a sentiment of religion, and granted with discretion, need bear no appearance of flattery, but might be a mark of respect towards old age, rendered honorable by the blameless life which had preceded it.There exist in England many charitable institutions for decayed tradesmen, in which their situation is much preferable to that of the inhabitants of poor houses:
they have their separate dwellings, their gardens, and a small pension.
Those only whose conduct has been generally honorable being admitted to these asylums, the metal badge which is worn in some instances, so far from being considered as a disgrace, is regarded as a mark of honour.
Different agricultural societies bestow rewards upon servants who have lived during a certain number of years in the same place; this circumstance being with reason considered as a proof of fidelity and good conduct.
Some of these societies also give rewards to day-labourers who have brought up a certain number of children without having received assistance from their parishes.This is an encouragement to economy, and to all the virtuous habits which it implies: but as a means of remedying the inconveniences arising from the poor laws, its effect is extremely feeble.
In both these cases, the reward generally consists of money: but the money is connected with honour, the notoriety given to the reward operates as a certificate in favour of the individual in his particular district.
