TheBillexcitedgeneralopposition。Bentham’sanalysisisthemostfamous
　　ofthecriticismsthathavesurvived，butinsomesenseshisoppositionwas
　　lessseriousthanthedismayofmagistratesandratepayers。Hostilepetitions
　　pouredintotheHouseofCommonsfromLondonandfromallpartsofthecountry；
　　amongotherstherewerepetitionsfromShrewsbury，Oswestry，Worcester，Bristol，
　　Lincoln，Carmarthen，Bedford，ChesterandGodalming。83*Howlettattacked
　　theschemeonthegroundofthedangerofparishrobberyandcorruption。
　　Pittapparentlymadenoattempttodefendhisplan，andhesurrenderedit
　　withoutamurmur。Wearethusleftinthecuriousanddisappointingposition
　　ofhavingbeforeusaBillonthemostimportantsubjectoftheday，introduced
　　andabandonedbythePrimeMinisterwithoutawordorsyllableinitsdefence。
　　Whitbreadobserved84*fouryearslaterthattheBillwasbroughtinand
　　printed，butneverbroughtunderthediscussionoftheHouse。Pitt’sexcuse
　　issignificant：’Hewas，asformerly，convincedofitspropriety；butmany
　　objectionshadbeenstartedtoitbythosewhoseopinionhewasboundto
　　respect。Inexperiencedhimselfincountryaffairs，andintheconditionof
　　thepoor，hewasdiffidentofhisownopinion，andwouldnotpressthemeasure
　　upontheattentionoftheHouse。’
　　PoorLawReformwasthusabandoned，buttwoattemptsweremade，atthe
　　instanceofPitt，oneofthemwithsuccess，tosoftenthebrutalitiesof
　　theLawofSettlement。Neitherproposalmadeitanyeasiertogainasettlement，
　　andPittveryproperlydeclaredthattheydidnotgonearlyfarenough。Pitt
　　hadallAdamSmith’sjusthatredoftheserestrictions，andinopposingWhitbread’s
　　Billforaminimumwagehepointedto’aradicalamendment’oftheLawof
　　Settlementasthetrueremedy。HewasnottheformalauthoroftheActof
　　1795，butitmaysafelybeassumedthathewasthechiefpowerbehindit。
　　ThisAct85*providedthatnobodywastoberemoveableuntilheorshebecame
　　actuallychargeabletotheparish。Thepreamblethrowslightontheworking
　　oftheSettlementlaws。Itdeclaresthat’Manyindustriouspoorpersons，
　　chargeabletotheparish，township，orplacewheretheylive，merelyfrom
　　wantofworkthere，wouldinanyotherplacewheresufficientemployment
　　istobehad，maintainthemselvesandfamilieswithoutbeingburthensome
　　toanyparish，township，orplace；andsuchpoorpersonsareforthemost
　　partcompelledtoliveintheirownparishes，townships，orplaces，andare
　　notpermittedtoinhabitelsewhere，underpretencethattheyarelikelyto
　　becomechargeabletotheparish，township，orplaceintowhichtheygofor
　　thepurposeofgettingemployment，althoughthelabourofsuchpoorpersons
　　might，inmanyinstances，beverybeneficialtosuchparish，township，or
　　place。’Thegrantingofcertificatesisthusadmittedtohavebeenineffectual。
　　ThesameActprovidedthatordersofremovalweretobesuspendedincases
　　wherethepauperwasdangerouslyill，aprovisionthatthrowssomelight
　　onthemannerinwhichtheseordershadbeenexecuted，andthatnoperson
　　shouldgainasettlementbypayingleviesortaxes，inrespectofanytenement
　　ofayearlyvalueoflessthantenpounds。86*
　　Fromthistimecertificateswereunnecessary，andifalabourermoved
　　fromParishAtoParishBhewasnolongerliabletobesentbackatthe
　　capriceofParishB’sofficersuntilhebecameactuallychargeable，but，
　　ofcourse，iffromanycausehefellintotemporarydistress，forexample，
　　ifhewereoutofworkforafewweeks，unlesshecouldgetprivateaidfrom
　　’theopulent，’hehadtoreturntohisoldparish。Anattemptwasmadeto
　　remedythisstateofthingsbyMr。Bakerwho，inMarch1800，introduceda
　　Bill87*toenableoverseerstoassistthedeservingbutunsettledpoor
　　incasesoftemporarydistress。HeexplainedthattheprovisionsoftheBill
　　wouldapplyonlytomenwhocouldusuallykeepthemselves，butfromthehigh
　　costofprovisionshadtodependonparochialaid。Hefoundapowerfulsupporter
　　inPitt，whoarguedthatifpeoplehadenrichedaparishwiththeirindustry，
　　itwasunfairthatowingtotemporarypressuretheyshouldberemovedto
　　aplacewheretheywerenotwanted，andthatitwasbetterforaparishto
　　suffertemporaryinconveniencethanfornumbersofindustriousmentobe
　　renderedunhappyanduseless。ButinspiteofPitt’sunanswerablecase，the
　　Bill，whichwasdenouncedbyMr。Buxtonasoppressivetothelandedinterest，
　　byLordSheffieldas’subversiveofthewholeeconomyofthecountry，’by
　　Mr。Ellisonassubmergingthemiddleranks，andbySirWilliamPulteneyas
　　beinga’premiumforidlenessandextravagance，’wasrejectedbythirtyvotes
　　totwenty-three。
　　Anotherpolicythatwaspresseduponthegoverningclasswasthepolicy
　　ofrestoringtothelabourersomeoftheresourceshehadlostwithenclosure，
　　ofputtinghiminsuchapositionthathewasnotobligedtodependentirely
　　onthepurchasingpowerofhiswagesattheshop。Thiswastheaimofthe
　　allotmentmovement。Thepropagandafailed，butitdidnotfailforthewant
　　ofvigorousandauthoritativesupport。Wehaveseeninapreviouschapter
　　thatArthurYoungawokein1801tothesocialmischiefofdeprivingthepoor
　　oftheirlandandtheircows，andthathewantedfutureEnclosureActsto
　　bejusterandmorehumane。Cobbettsuggestedalargeschemeofagrariansettlement
　　toWindhamin1806。TheseproposalshadbeenanticipatedbyDavies，whose
　　knowledgeoftheactuallifeofthepoormadehimunderstandtheimportant
　　differencebetweenatotalandapartialdependenceonwages。’Hopeisa
　　cordial，ofwhichthepoormanhasespeciallymuchneed，tocheerhisheart
　　inthetoilsomejourneythroughlife。Andthefatalconsequenceofthatpolicy，
　　whichdepriveslabouringpeopleoftheexpectationofpossessinganyproperty
　　inthesoil，mustbetheextinctionofeverygenerousprincipleintheir
　　minds。Nogentlemanshouldbepermittedtopulldownacottage，until
　　hehadfirsterectedanother，upononeofMr。Kent’splans，eitheronsome
　　convenientpartofthewaste，oronhisownestate，withacertainquantity
　　oflandannexed。’HepraisedtheActofElizabethwhichforbadetheerection
　　ofcottageswithlessthanfouracresoflandaroundthem，’thatpoorpeople
　　mightsecureforthemselvesamaintenance，andnotbeobligedontheloss
　　ofafewdayslabourtocometotheparish，’89*andurgedthatthisprohibition，
　　whichhadbeenrepealedin1775，90*shouldbesetupagain。
　　Thegeneralpolicyofprovidingallotmentswasnevertried，butweknow
　　somethingofindividualexperimentsfromtheReportsoftheSocietyforBettering
　　theConditionandIncreasingtheComfortsofthePoor。Thissocietytook
　　upthecauseofallotmentsveryzealously，andmostoftheexamplesofprivate
　　benevolenceseemtohavefoundtheirwayintothepagesofitsreports。
　　Theseexperimentswerenotverynumerous。Indeed，thenameofLordWinchilsea
　　recurssoinevitablyineveryallusiontothesubjectastocreateasuspicion
　　thatthemovementandhisestateswerecoextensive。Thisisnotthetruth，
　　butitisnotverywideofthetruth，forthoughLordWinchilseahadimitators，
　　thoseimitatorswerefew。ThefullestaccountofhisestateinRutlandshire
　　isgivenbySirThomasBernard。91*TheestateembracedfourparishesHambledon，
　　Egleton，Greetham，andBurleyontheHill。Thetenantsincludedeightycottagers
　　possessingonehundredandseventy-fourcows。’Aboutathirdparthaveall
　　theirlandinseveralty；therestofthemhavetheuseofacow-pasturein
　　commonwithothers；mostofthempossessingasmallhomestead，adjoining
　　totheircottage；everyoneofthemhavingagoodgarden，andkeepingone
　　pigatleast，ifnotmore……Ofalltherentsoftheestate，nonearemore
　　punctuallypaidthanthoseforthecottagers’land。’Inthishappydistrict
　　ifamanseemedlikelytobecomeaburdenontheparishhislandlordand
　　neighbourssavedtheman’sself-respectandtheirownpocketsasratepayers，
　　bysettinghimupwithlandandacowinstead。Sofarfromneglectingtheir
　　workaslabourers，theseproprietorsofcowsaredescribedas’moststeady
　　andtrusty。’Wehaveapictureofthislittlecommunityleadingahardbut
　　energeticandindependentlife，themengoingouttodailywork，butbusy
　　intheirsparehourswiththeircows，sheep，pigs，andgardens；thewomen
　　andchildrenlookingafterthelivestock，spinning，orworkinginthegardens：
　　averydifferentpicturefromthatofthelandlessandill-fedlabourers
　　elsewhere。
　　Otherlandlords，who，actingontheirowninitiative，orattheinstance
　　oftheiragents，helpedtheircottagersbylettingthemlandonwhichto
　　keepcowswereLordCarringtonandLordScarboroughinLincolnshire，and
　　LordEgremontonhisYorkshireestatesKentwashisagent。Somewhowere
　　friendlytotheallotmentsmovementthoughtitamistaketogiveallotments
　　ofarablelandindistrictswherepasturelandwasnotavailable。Mr。Thompson，
　　whowritestheaccountofLordCarrington’scottagerswithcows，thought
　　that’wherecottagersoccupyarableland，itisveryrarelyofadvantage
　　tothem，andgenerallyaprejudicetotheestate。’92*Heseems，however，
　　tohavebeenthinkingmoreofsmallholdingsthanofallotments。’Thelate
　　AbelSmith，Esq。，frommotivesofkindnesstoseveralcottagersonhisestates
　　inNottinghamshire，lettoeachofthemasmallpieceofarableland。Ihave
　　rodeoverthatestatewithLordCarringtonseveraltimessinceitdescended
　　tohim，andIhaveinvariablyobservedthatthetenantsuponit，whooccupy
　　onlyeightortenacresofarableland，arepoor，andtheirlandinbadcondition。
　　Theywouldthrivemoreandenjoygreatercomfortwiththemeansofkeeping
　　twoorthreecowseachthanwiththreetimestheirpresentquantityofarable
　　land；butitwouldbeagreatermortificationtothemtobedeprivedofit
　　thantheirlandlordisdisposedtoinflict。’93*Ontheotherhand，astriking
　　instanceofsuccessfularableallotmentsisdescribedbyaMr。Estcourtin
　　theReportsoftheSocietyforBetteringtheConditionofthePoor。94*
　　ThescenewastheparishofLongNewntoninWilts，whichcontainedonehundred
　　andfortypoorpersons，chieflyagriculturallabourers，distributedinthirty-two
　　families，andtheyearwas1800。Thepriceofprovisionswasveryhigh，and
　　’thoughallhadaveryliberalallowancefromthepoorrate，thewholevillage
　　wasplungedindebtandmisery。Fromthishopelessplighttheparishwas
　　rescuedbyanallotmentschemethatMr。Estcourtestablishedanddescribed。
　　Eachcottagerwhoappliedwasallowedtorentasmallquantityoflandat
　　therateof£；1，12s。anacre95*onafourteenyears’lease：thequantity
　　oflandlettoanapplicantdependedonthenumberinhisfamily，witha
　　maximumofoneandahalfacres：thetenantwastoforfeithisholdingif
　　hereceivedpoorreliefotherthanmedicalrelief。Theofferwasgreedily
　　accepted，twowidowswithlargefamiliesandfourveryoldandinfirmpersons
　　beingtheonlypersonswhodidnotapplyforalease。Aloanof£；44
　　wasdividedamongthetenantstofreethemfromtheirdebtsandgivethem
　　afreshstart。TheywereallowedathirdoftheirplotonLadyDay1801，
　　asecondthirdonLadyDay1802，andtheremainderonLadyDay1803。The
　　resultsasrecordedin1805wereastonishing。Noneofthetenantshadreceived
　　anypoorrelief：alltheconditionshadbeenobserved：theloanof£；44
　　hadlongbeenrepaidandthepoorratehadfallenfrom£；212，16s。to
　　£；12，6s。’Theyaresomuchbeforehandwiththeworldthatitissupposed
　　thatitmustbesomecalamitystillmoreseverethananytheyhaveeverbeen
　　afflictedwiththatcouldputthemunderthenecessityofeverapplyingfor
　　relieftotheparishagain……Thefarmersofthisparishallowthatthey
　　neverhadtheirworkbetterdone，theirservantsmoreable，willing，civil，
　　andsober，andthattheirpropertywasneversofreefromdepredationas
　　atpresent。’96*
　　Somephilanthropists，fulloftheadvantagestothepoorofpossessing
　　live-stock，arguedthatitwasagoodthingforcottagerstokeepcowseven
　　inarabledistricts。SirHenryVavasourwroteanaccountin180197*of
　　oneofhiscottagerswhomanagedtokeeptwocowsandtwopigsandmakea
　　profitof£；30ayearonthreeacresthreeperchesofarablewithasummer’s
　　gaitforoneofhiscows。Theman，hiswife，andhisdaughteroftwelveworked
　　onthelandintheirsparehours。TheBoardofAgricultureofferedgoldmedals
　　in1801forthebestreportofhowtokeeponeortwocowsonarableland，
　　andSirJohnSinclairwroteanessayonthesubject，reproducedintheaccount
　　of’UsefulProjects’intheAnnualRegister。98*SirJohnSinclair
　　urgedthatifthesystemwasgenerallyadopteditwouldremovethepopular
　　objectionstoenclosure。