登陆注册
15524700000024

第24章 SECT.XIV(3)

That the improvers of land should be subject to this expence is not just,and that men should be obliged to inclose theselands is neither just nor wise;because hedge-rows consume much land,stint the growth of corn,cause it to lodge,preventits drying,and barbour birds.If men are left at liberty,without restraint,when they find it for their interest to inclose,theywill inclose.

Should the House of Commons,agreeable to the resolutions of 1775,enter seriously into this business,and adopt suchregulations as may effectually relieve the public from the grievous and still increasing burthen,which for more than half acentury has been the subject of serious investigation and of loud complaints;it will be necessary for magistrates to paymore than common attention to the police,till industry and subordination shall be once more restored.The reins have beenheld with a loose hand,at a time when the idleness and extravagance,the drunkenness and dissipation,with the consequent crimes and vices of the lower classes of the people,called for themost strenuous exertions of the magistrate,and the most strict execution of the laws.

If the labouring poor,in health,previous to marriage,and whilst their families are small,are compelled to raise a fund fortheir own support,in case of sickness or old age;there can be no doubt,that when at any time,from peculiarcircumstances,this fund shall prove inadequate,the most liberal contributions will be made to relieve any occasional distress.No one can doubt of this,who has witnessedthe generous efforts which were lately made to assist the woollen manufacturers in Gloucestershire during the stagnation oftheir trade.Money was collected for them from all the adjacent counties,and in the metropolis,to feed and to employ them.At Minchin Hampton inparticular,when the poor's tax was seven shillings in the pound on the rack rents,and their poor were more than commonlydistressed,two thousand two hundred persons were cloathed,fed,and set to work,by voluntary benefactions.It should beadded,for the credit of these poor people,that they worked from six in the morning till eight at night.Had the manufacturefallen to rise no more,the manufacturers must in reason have retired,or must have turned their hands to something else;because no fund,no tax,no charitable contributions,can support such a multitude of people when their trade is gone.Incases of sudden emergency assistance will be loudly called for,and the affluent will not be tardy in sending a supply.TheEnglish have never yet been charged with want of charity.They need not many arguments to excite their pity andcompassion:the only difficulty is to restrain the impetuosity of their benevolence,and to direct their bounty towards themost worthy objects.

Besides these sudden emergencies,affecting the whole districts where extensive manufactures are established,individualsmust be ever subject to occasional distress,from various accidents and from unexpected losses,which,without the kindassistance of a friend,they are not able to support.In such circumstances,where can the sufferer look for help?Not to theoverseers of the poor;for their authority does not extend beyond food and raiment.To make good his losses,and tosupport him in his station,industry in distress can find no sufficient refuge but in the generous aid of his more affluent andcharitable neighbours.This refuge will never fail him;nor will they ever suffer him to want,if they are able to relieve him,and if he has proved himself worthy of compassion.

To relieve the poor by voluntary donations is not only most wise,politic,and just;is not only most agreeable both toreason and to revelation;but it is most effectual in preventing misery,and most excellent in itself,as cherishing,instead ofrancour,malice,and contention,the opposite and most amiable affections of the human breast,pity,compassion,andbenevolence in the rich,love,reverence,and gratitude in the poor.Nothing in nature can be more disgusting than a parishpay-table,attendant upon which,in the same objects of misery,are too often found combined,snuff,gin,rags,vermin,insolence,and abusive language;nor in nature can any thing be more beautiful than the mild complacency of benevolence,hastening to the humble cottage to relieve the wants of industry and virtue,to feed the hungry,to cloath the naked,and tosooth the sorrows of the widow with her tender orphans;nothing can be more pleasing,unless it be their sparkling eyes,their bursting tears,and their uplifted hands,the artless expressions of unfeigned gratitude for unexpected fayours.Suchscenes will frequently occur whenever man shall have power to dispose of their own property.When the poor are obligedto cultivate the friendship of the rich,the rich will never want inclination to relieve the distresses of the poor.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 中华人民共和国循环经济促进法

    中华人民共和国循环经济促进法

    为加强法制宣传,迅速普及法律知识,服务于我国民主法制建设,多年来,中国民主法制出版社根据全国人大常委会每年定期审议通过、修订的法律,全品种、大规模的出版了全国人民代表大会常务委员会公报版的系列法律单行本。该套法律单行本经过最高立法机关即全国人民代表大会常务委员会的权威审定,法条内容准确无误,文本格式规范合理,多年来受到了社会各界广泛关注与好评。
  • 新纪元:未来使命

    新纪元:未来使命

    世界到了6000年,丧心病狂的R国X组织,秘密研制超级基因武器与超能质子武器,企图统治世界。各国节节败退,没人发现这个持续了近千年的阴谋!世界告急!龙帝国秘密研制的时光科技是否可以化解危机?究竟谁会被选中,成为世界命运的改变者?挽救回一切?当然,我要拯救世界,哪能少的了妹子的帮助!清纯可爱的校花、聪明娇羞的萝莉、性感迷人的御姐、狂野泼辣警花……在新世界中,又会有哪些奇遇呢?一切尽在其中!
  • 鬼宅新娘

    鬼宅新娘

    她,17岁风光嫁人,却在第一晚跑回了家。王锐可怎么也没有想到的,自己居然嫁进了鬼宅,嫁给了鬼。有家,不能回,只能待在这有鬼的宅子里。危险随时都有,却总是化险为夷。她知道,是因为他。想见,却又害怕,因为那不是人啊。
  • 可能会再恋上你,世勋

    可能会再恋上你,世勋

    不会太虐,偶尔会甜,嘻嘻,喜欢的可以来看看,如果有啥伤害你们心中偶像的形象的,千万不要误会。谢谢
  • 机关

    机关

    本书收作者《一位公务员的风流案》、《官道》、《夏日机关》、《无法潇洒》、《机关军人》、《乐园》、《父亲和他的警卫员》7篇中短篇小说。
  • 执念书

    执念书

    她叫华裳,而他叫楚辞。执念与执着是护她一生平安的理由。“我不要天下,我就要你,哪怕你消于世,废于城。我守你的执念不曾变。”一场江湖纷争让她陷入了爱恨情仇。经过生死轮回,她和他是否还在一起。情和义,爱与恨。前世多少回眸,才换来今生的在一起。
  • 女鬼大人缠上我

    女鬼大人缠上我

    一栋死人住过的危楼,一架通往黄泉路的死亡末班车,下一站是吾岗城。刚大学毕业的我在外找工作四处碰壁,经济条件不太宽裕,就和别人一起合租,结果却住进了一栋恐怖的鬼楼。当活人和死人住在一起,无数惊悚怪事接踵而至。隔壁的白衣女孩、楼底下的死人、墙壁上的血印……午夜的幽怨哭泣声,是那冤死的女鬼发出的悲鸣。“死人禁区,生人勿进。”我从噩梦中惊醒才发现自己住进一间可怕的鬼楼,暮然回首,却发现阴曹地府的大门就在眼前展现。幸亏这个时候那个白衣女孩却帮助了我一把,并且教我学习了茅山道术。
  • 魔尊记事

    魔尊记事

    既然神不曾爱我,那么我选择背弃。无法拯救,所以堕落。
  • 冥夫暗宠:惹上鬼蛊小萌妻

    冥夫暗宠:惹上鬼蛊小萌妻

    以前做我的监护人,嫌弃我、打击我、鄙视我……——高冷的狱主大人。现在做我的师傅,给我挖坑、骗我钱财、压榨我的劳动力……——无耻的狱主大人。后来做了我的夫君,夜夜耕耘、日日不歇、阴魂不散……——郁沉,你敢不敢再禽兽点?
  • 术战三国

    术战三国

    在这里,拥有与我们历史一样的名将,在这里,拥有与我们历史一样的情节,但是在这里,你会发现,这不仅仅是三国,这是异界三国,相信你会沉浸在异界三国的战争,沉浸在诡异术法,霸气战神的世界里,无法自拔。