An Essay Towards Regulating the Trade, and Employing the Poor of This Kingdom: Whereunto is Added, an Essay Towards Paying Off the Publick DebtsCary, John
History
An Essay Towards Regulating the Trade, and Employing the Poor of This Kingdom: Whereunto is Added, an Essay Towards Paying Off the Publick Debts
Cary, John
Great Britain -- Commercial policy; Great Britain -- Economic conditions -- 18th century; Poor -- Great Britain
But all things having stood still so long, we resolved now to lose no
more time; yet we had no Money, nor could we expect any in less than
Six Months, from the Poor’s Rates; therefore we resolved to make
our several Loans for Twelve Months without Interest to the
Corporation on the Credit of their Common Seal; in which Design many
of the Citizens lent their Assistance, whereby we became soon Masters
of about Six Hundred Pounds Stock. Likewise our Guardians, who were
appointed to pay the Poor in their several Parishes, voluntarily
advanced their weekly Payments, till they could be reimburst by the
Treasurer. The other Stock we Employed to furnish Beds and other
Necessaries for our House, Clothes and Provisions for our Children
to be taken in, and Materials for their Working.
We had now Two Committees; one for the Poor, the other for the New
Work-house.
The Committee for the Poor met twice every Week: And in this
Committee we proceeded thus;
_First_, We Voted that the Poor of the City should be visited in
their respective Parishes, and that new Poor’s Rates should be
made; and accordingly we ordered the Guardians of each Parish to
bring together the Poor on a certain day in some convenient Place,
where the Committee met, and without Partiality endeavoured to
provide for every one according to their Wants, We likewise took
notice of all the young Girls that were on our Poor’s Books, and of
such whose Parents took no due Care of them; and these we recommended
to the Committee of the New Work-house, to be taken in, and Employed
by them.
Our Poor’s Rates we made in this manner: Every One that expected
Relief came before us with their whole Families, except such as was
impotent and could not come: In our Books we put down the Name of the
Man, the Woman, and each Child; together with the Qualifications of
all, either as to Age, Health, Civility, &c. what each Person did or
could get by the Week, and in what Employment. We likewise set down
for what Reason the Charity was bestowed, that when that should
cease, or we could find out any other way to provide for it, the
Charity should likewise cease.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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