fortheystillhadthedutyofcollectingandaccountingfortherates，but
　　thedistributionwasinthehandsofpaidguardians，oneforeachparish，
　　appointedbythejusticesoutofalistofnamessubmittedbytheparishioners。
　　Ineachsetofincorporatedparishestherewasa’Visitor’appointedbythe
　　justices，whohadpracticallyabsolutepowerovertheguardians。Iftheguardians
　　refusedrelief，theclaimantcouldstillappeal，asinthecaseoftheoverseers，
　　tothejustices。
　　Suchwastheparishmachinery。Themethodofgivingreliefvariedgreatly，
　　butthemaindistinctiontobedrawnisbetween1outrelief，oraweekly
　　pensionofashillingortwoathome；and2indoorrelief，orreliefin
　　aworkhouse，orpoorhouse，orhouseofindustry。Outreliefwastheearlier
　　institution，andithelditsownthroughoutthecentury，beingtheonlyform
　　ofreliefinmanyparishes。Downto1722parishesthatwishedtobuilda
　　workhousehadtogetaspecialActofParliament。Inthatyearagreatimpetus
　　wasgiventotheworkhousemovementbyanAct71*whichauthorisedoverseers，
　　withtheconsentofthevestry，tostartworkhouses，ortofarmoutthepoor，
　　andalsoauthorisedparishestojointogetherforthispurpose。Ifapplicants
　　forreliefrefusedtogointotheworkhouse，theyforfeitedtheirtitleto
　　anyreliefatall。Agreatmanyworkhouseswerebuiltinconsequenceofthis
　　Act：in1732therewerestatedtobesixtyinthecountry，andaboutfifty
　　inthemetropolis。72*
　　Eveniftheapplicantforrelieflivedinaparishwhichhadbuiltor
　　sharedinaworkhouse，itdidnotfollowthathewasforcedintoit。Helost
　　histitletoreceivereliefoutside，buthisfatewoulddependontheparish
　　officers。IntheparisheswhichhadadoptedGilbert’sActtheworkhousewas
　　reservedfortheaged，fortheinfirm，andforyoungchildren。Inmostparishes
　　therewasoutreliefaswellasindoorrelief：insomeparishesoutdoorrelief
　　beingallowedtoapplicantsofacertainageorinspecialcircumstances。
　　Insomeparishesalloutdoorreliefhadstoppedby1795。73*Thereisno
　　doubtthatinmostparishestheworkhouseaccommodationwouldhavebeenquite
　　inadequatefortheneedsoftheparishintimesofdistress。Itwasquite
　　commontoputfourpersonsintoasinglebed。
　　Theworkhousesweredreadedbythepoor，74*notonlyforthedirtand
　　diseaseandthedevastatingfeversthatsweptthroughthem，75*butfor
　　reasonsthatareintelligibleenoughtoanyonewhohasreadEden’sdescriptions。
　　ThosedescriptionsshowthatCrabbe’spictureisnoexaggeration：——
　　’TheirsisyonHousethatholdstheParish-Poor，Whosewallsofmudscarcebearthebrokendoor。
　　There，wheretheputridvapours，flagging，play，Andthedullwheelhumsdolefulthroughtheday；
　　ThereChildrendwellwhoknownoParents’care；
　　Parents，whoknownoChildren’slove，dwellthere！
　　Heart-brokenMatronsontheirjoylessbed，ForsakenWivesandMothersneverwed；
　　DejectedWidowswithunheededtears，AndcrippledAgewithmorethanchildhoodfears；
　　TheLame，theBlind，and，£；arthehappiestthey！
　　ThemopingidiotandtheMadmangay。
　　HeretootheSicktheirfinaldoomreceive，Herebrought，amidthescenesofgrief，togrieve，Wheretheloudgroansfromsomesadchamberflow，Mixtwiththeclamoursofthecrowdbelow；
　　Heresorrowing，theyeachkindredsorrowscan，Andthecoldcharitiesofmantoman：
　　Whoselawsindeedforruin’dAgeprovide，Andstrongcompulsionplucksthescrapfrompride；
　　Butstillthatscrapisboughtwithmanyasigh，Andprideembitterswhatitcan’tdeny。’76*
　　Agoodexampleofthismixtureofyoungandold，virtuousandvicious，
　　wholeandsick，saneandmad，isgiveninEden’scatalogueoftheinmates
　　ofEpsomWorkhouseinJanuary1796。77*Therewereelevenmen，sixteenwomen，
　　andtwenty-threechildren。WereadofJ。H。，agedforty-three，’always……
　　somewhatofanidiot，heisnowbecomequiteadriveller；’ofE。E。，aged
　　sixty-two，’ofasluggish，stupidcharacter；’ofA。M。，agedtwenty-six，
　　’afflictedwithaleprosy；’ofR。M。，agedseventy-seven，’wornoutandparalytic；’
　　ofJ。R。，agedseventeen，whohascontractedsomanydisorderlyhabitsthat
　　decentpeoplewillnotemployhim。Itisinterestingtonoticethatitwas
　　nottill1790thattheJusticesofthePeaceweregivenanypowerofinspecting
　　workhouses。
　　In1796，beforePitt’sschemewasbroughtin，theActof1722，whichhad
　　beenintroducedtostiffentheadministrationofthePoorLaws，wasrelaxed。
　　AnAct，78*ofwhichSirWilliamYoungwastheauthor，abolishedtherestriction
　　ofrighttorelieftopersonswillingtoentertheworkhouse，andprovided
　　thatclaimantscouldapplyforreliefdirectlytoamagistrate。TheActdeclares
　　thattherestrictionshadbeenfound’inconvenientandoppressive。’Itis
　　evidence，ofcourse，oftheincreasingpressureofpoverty。
　　Buttounderstandthearrangementsinforceatthistime，andalsothe
　　laterdevelopments，wemustglanceatanotherfeatureofthePoorLawsystem。
　　ThePoorLawswereasystemofemploymentaswellasasystemofrelief。
　　TheActsbefore1722areallcalledActsfortheReliefofthePoor：the
　　Actof1722speaksof’theSettlement，EmploymentandRelief。’ThatActempowered
　　parishestofarmoutthepoortoanemployer。Gilbert’sActof1782provided
　　thatintheparishesincorporatedunderthatActtheguardianswerenotto
　　sendable-bodiedpoortothepoorhouse，buttofindworkforthemormaintain
　　themuntilworkwasfound：theguardianwastotakethewageandprovide
　　thelabourerwithamaintenance。Thustheregrewupavarietyofsystems
　　ofpublicemployment：directemploymentofpaupersonparishwork：thelabour
　　ratesystem，orthesharingoutofthepaupersamongtheratepayers：the
　　roundsmansystembywhichpauperlabourwassoldtothefarmers。79*
　　ThiswasthestateofthingsthatPittproposedtoreform。Hisgeneral
　　ideasonthesubjectwereputbeforetheHouseofCommonsinthedebateon
　　thesecondreadingofWhitbread’sBill。80*Hethoughtthatpersonswith
　　largefamiliesshouldbetreatedasentitledtorelief，thatpersonswithout
　　asettlement，fallingintowant，shouldnotbeliabletoremovalatthecaprice
　　oftheparishofficer，thatFriendlySocietiesshouldbeencouraged，and
　　thatSchoolsofIndustryshouldbeestablished。’Ifanyonewouldtakethe
　　troubletocomputetheamountofalltheearningsofthechildrenwhoare
　　alreadyeducatedinthismanner，hewouldbesurprised，whenhecametoconsider
　　theweightwhichtheirsupportbytheirownlabourstookoffthecountry，
　　andtheadditionwhich，bythefruitsoftheirtoil，andthehabitstowhich
　　theywereformed，wasmadetoitsinternalopulence。’On22nddecemberof
　　thatyear，inanewParliament，heaskedforleavetobringinaBillfor
　　thebetterSupportandMaintenanceofthePoor。Hesaidthesubjectwastoo
　　extensivetobediscussedatthatstage，thatheonlyproposedthattheBill
　　shouldbereadafirstandsecondtimeandsenttoacommitteewherethe
　　blankscouldbefilledup，andtheBillprintedbeforetheholidays，’in
　　orderthatduringtheintervalofParliamentitmightbecirculatedinthe
　　countryandundergothemostseriousinvestigation。’81*Sheridanhinted
　　thatitwasunfortunateforthepoorthatPitthadtakenthequestionout
　　ofWhitbread’shands，towhichPittrepliedthatanydelayinbringingforward
　　hisBillwasduetothetimespentontakingadvice。On28thFebruaryof
　　thenextyear1797，whilestrangerswereexcludedfromtheGallery，there
　　occurredwhattheParliamentaryRegistercalls’aconversationuponthefarther
　　considerationofthereportofthePoor’sBill，’inwhichnobodybutPitt
　　defendedtheBill，andSheridanandJoliffeattackedit。WiththisitsParliamentary
　　historyends。
　　ThemainfeaturesoftheBillwerethese。82*SchoolsofIndustrywere
　　tobeestablishedineveryparishorgroupofparishes。Theseschoolswere
　　toservetwopurposes。First，theyoungweretobetrainedtherethisidea
　　came，ofcourse，fromLocke。Everypoormanwithmorethantwochildren
　　whowerenotself-supporting，andeverywidowwithmorethanonesuchchild，
　　wastobeentitledtoaweeklyallowanceinrespectofeachextrachild。
　　EveryallowancechildwhowasfiveyearsoroverwastobesenttotheSchool
　　ofIndustry，unlesshisparentcouldinstructandemployhim，andtheproceeds
　　ofhisworkwastogotowardstheupkeepoftheschool。Secondly，grown-up
　　peopleweretobeemployedthere。Theauthoritiesweretoprovide’aproper
　　stockofhemp，flax，silk，cotton，wool，iron，leatherorothermaterials，
　　andalsopropertoolsandimplementsfortheemploymentofthepoor，’and
　　theywereempoweredtocarryonalltradesunderthisAct，’anylaworcustom
　　tothecontrarynotwithstanding。’Anypersonlawfullysettledinaparish
　　wasentitledtobeemployedintheschool；anypersonresidinginaparish，
　　ableandwillingtobeemployedattheusualrates，wasentitledtobeemployed
　　therewhenoutofwork。Poorpersonsrefusingtobeemployedtherewerenot
　　tobeentitledtorelief。Theauthoritiesmighteitherpaywagesatarate
　　fixedbythemagistrates，ortheymightlettheemployedselltheirproducts
　　andmerelyrepaytheschoolforthematerial，ortheymightcontracttofeed
　　themandtakeaproportionoftheirreceipts。Ifthewagespaidintheschool
　　wereinsufficient，theyweretobesupplementedoutoftherates。
　　Theproposalsforoutsidereliefwerebrieflyandchieflythese。Aperson
　　unabletoearnthefullrateofwagesusuallygivenmightcontractwithhis
　　employertoworkataninferiorrate，andhavethebalancebetweenhisearnings
　　andanadequatemaintenancemadeupbytheparish。Moneymightbeadvanced
　　undercertaincircumstancesforthepurchaseofacoworotheranimal，if
　　itseemedlikelythatsuchacoursewouldenabletherecipienttomaintain
　　himselfwithoutthehelpoftheparish。Thepossessionofpropertyupto
　　thirtypoundswasnottodisqualifyapersonforrelief。Aparochialinsurance
　　fundwastobecreated，partlyfromprivatesubscriptionsandpartlyfrom
　　therates。Nopersonwastoberemovedfromaparishonaccountofrelief
　　fortemporarydisabilityorsickness。
　　ThemostcelebratedanddeadlycriticismcamefromBentham，whoisoften
　　supposedtohavekilledtheBill。Someofhisobjectionsarecaptiousand
　　eristical，andheisagooddeallessthanjusttothegoodelementsofthe
　　scheme。Pittdeservescreditforonestatesmanlikediscovery，thediscovery
　　thatitisbadpolicytorefusetohelpamanuntilheisruined。Hiscow-money
　　proposalwasalsoconceivedintherightspiritifitsformwasimpracticable。
　　Buttheschemeasawholewasconfusedandincoherent，anditdeservedthe
　　treatmentitreceived。Itwasintruthahugepatchwork，onwhichtheideas
　　oflivinganddeadreformerswerethrowntogetherwithoutorderorplan。
　　Asaconsequence，itsvariouspartsdidnotagree。Itissurprisingthat
　　thepoliticianwhohadattackedWhitbread’sBillasaninterferencewith
　　wagescouldhaveincludedinhisschemetheproposaltopaywagesinpart
　　outofrates。Thewholescheme，thoughitwouldhaveinvolvedagreatexpenditure，
　　wouldhaveproducedverymuchthesameresultastheSpeenhamlandsystem，
　　byvirtueofthisclause。Pittshowednomorejudgmentorforesightthan
　　theleastenlightenedofCountyJusticesinintroducingintoaschemefor
　　proddingrelief，anddealingwithunemployment，aproposalthatcouldonly
　　havetheeffectofreducingwages。TheorganisationofSchoolsofIndustry
　　asameansofdealingwithunemploymenthassometimesbeenrepresentedas
　　quiteanewproposal，butitwasprobablybasedonthesuggestionmadeby
　　Fieldingin1753inhispaper，’Aproposalformakinganeffectualprovision
　　forthepoor，foramendingtheirmorals，andforrenderingthemusefulmembers
　　ofsociety。’Fieldingproposedtheerectionofacountyworkhouse，which
　　wastoincludeahouseofcorrection。Hedrewupasharpanddrasticcode
　　whichwouldhaveauthorisedthecommittaltohisCountyHouse，notonlyof
　　vagrants，butofpersonsoflowdegreefoundharbouringinanale-houseafter
　　teno’clockatnight。Buttheworkhousewasnotmerelytobeusedasapenal
　　settlement，itwastofindworkfortheunemployed。Anypersonwhowasunable
　　tofindemploymentinhisparishcouldapplytotheministerorchurchwardens
　　forapass，andthispasswastogivehimtherighttoclaimadmissionto
　　theCountyHousewherehewastobeemployed。TheCountyHousewasalsoto
　　beproddedwithinstructorswhocouldteachnativeandforeignmanufactures
　　totheinmates。Howlett，oneofPitt’scritics，wasprobablyrightinthinking
　　thatPittwasrevivingthisscheme。