1751. PROCEEDINGS of the POLITICAL CLUB, &c. 497

therefore, I hope, and am perfuaded, he will infift upon his motion, in which he shall have my hearty concurrence.

The next that spoke upon this Occafion, was Decius Magius, whofe Speech A was in Subftance thus.

I

Mr. Prefident,
SIR,

Shall not trouble you much with

B

the Weft-Indies, and the French carrying on an open war against our infant colony of Nova Scotia?

This therefore is an epithet which is notoriously falfe; and tho' I make no doubt of his majesty's application, or of his judgment as to the foundation on which the present tranquillity may be moft fecurely established; yet I am very fure, that we have not authority, from any fort of knowledge, to fay, that the endeavours of his minifters have been unwearied, or that the foundation they have chofen is the fureft. Then with regard to the treaty with Spain, if it be fuch as we have had in our news-papers, and I have fome reason to believe it is, I am furprifed how any minifter could fay, that any particular differences between the two nations have by this treaty been fettled, unlefs it be those we have tamely given up; for befides the affiento contract, and our South Sea company's demand upon the king of Spain, there is no one difference fettled, but what was before fully fettled by the treaty in 1715, which treaty was, I hope, confirmed by the general treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle; for by that treaty in 1715, the Pie del fardo, now fo much boasted of, was established, and our right to gather falt in the ifland E of Tortugas was acknowledged. In fhort, there is no one particular difference adjusted by this new treaty, but what had been adjusted by the former, except, as I have faid, the afiento contract, and the debt due by Spain to our South-Sea company, F both which we have given up for the trifling fum of 100,000l. I fay trifling, Sir; for it must be deemed fo, when we confider the value of the company's demand, and that of the affiento contract even for the four years. I fhall grant, Sir, that in G the laft article of the affiento treaty it is infinuated, that former affientists had fuftained loffes; but that was probably inferted as an excufe to the Spanish fubjects, for his Catholick maRrr jelty's

the fervility of the addrefs propofed: All I fhall fay upon that fubject is, that if an indigent author, to whom I had before been very bountiful, fhould dedicate a book to me with a dedication fo full of plain and fulfom flattery, I fhould be apt to tofs his dedication into my fire, and himself out at my window; for I will main- C tain it, that there is not an epithet made use of in this addrefs, but what is notoriously falfe, or fuch an one as we have no authority to make use of, either from parliamentary knowledge or any other fort of know. ledge; for I muft infift upon it, D that the fpeech from the throne, which must always by us be confidered as the fpeech of the minifter, can be no authority for us to give a laudative epithet to any publick tranfaction. The Hon. gentleman who spoke laft on the other fide of the house, was pleased to say, that the present tranquillity is better than a dangerous and expenfive war, and in that refpect may be called happy. I fhall moft readily grant, Sir, that any fort of tranquillity is better than fuch an ill concerted and worse conducted war as the last was; but I must deny, that in that respect it can be called a happy tranquillity; for then every tranquillity must be a happy tranquillity; but furely there are different forts of tranquillity, and can we call the prefent tranquillity happy, when we know, that the Spaniards are every day feizing and confifcating our fhips in SI MNovember, 1751.

-n.

498 PROCEEDINGS of the POLITICAL CLUB, &c. Nov.

never find, during the life of the prefent emperor; because by one of the conftitutions of the empire it is exprefly declared, that no fuch election fhall ever be made during the life of the then reigning emperor, unless it be unanimously agreed by the electoral college, that fuch an election is become abfolutely neceflary for the immediate fafety of the empire; and this, I think, we may be affured the prefent electoral college will never unanimously agree to: The king of Pruffia in particular has for his part in a manner declared against any fuch election, and in his letter upon this fubject seems to refer to this very conflitution.

jelly's granting us an annual ship; or if
there was any real lofs, it might have
arifen from the reftraint former af-
fientists were under, as to the ports or
places where they were to import and
vend their negroes, whereas our
affiento company were exprefly freed A
from any such restraint; and we can
hardly fuppofe, that the importers
could be lofers, when they could
fell their negroes for 300 pieces
of eight, which by the treaty feems
to be the lowest price they might ex-
pect, and it was ftipulated, that all B
the duties to be paid upon importa-
tion, fhould not exceed 33 pieces of
eight and one third. Then as to
the annual ship, 1 fhall grant, that
from the pufillanimous conduct of a
late miniiter, that fhip and trade be-
came a nuifance to the nation; but C
if we had taken care, in our treaties
with the court of Spain, to oblige
them to make full reparation for the
unjuft feizures they made, they
would not have been fo ready to
repeat them upon a new rupture;
and I am perfuaded, that the national
gain upon the annual fhip alone,
would have amounted to near
100,000l. yearly, and confequently
that it would have been well worth
the nation's while to have refumed
the trade, tho' there was, by our
conceflion in the treaty of Aix-la- E
Chapelle, but four years remaining
of the term.

But, Sir, fuppofing it poffible that fuch an unanimous refolution of the electoral college could be obtained, I think, that our granting upon that account an annual fubfidy to any one of the electoral college, is the most effectual way we can take to prevent it; for if we grant a fubfidy to any one, every one will expect the fame, D and will refufe his confent until he has obtained it: And after we have thus taken the whole electoral college into our pay, they will all, for the fake of having the fubfidy renewed and continued, put off the election, until after the death of the prefent emperor; because, should the election be once made, our reason for granting those fubfidies must ceafe, and confequently they muft expect that our fubfidies will ceafe

It is therefore evident, Sir, that we should be a little more fparing in our congratulations upon the conclufion of this treaty with Spain, which to me feems calculated for no- F thing but to amufe the vulgar and ignorant And I can fee no national reafon for our engaging to pay any fubfidy to the duke of Bavaria; for if the election of a king of the Romans be faid to be the reason, if that be the fure foundation upon which the prefent tranquillity is to be cftablished, it is a foundation we muft dig for at a vast expence, and, in my opinion, a foundation we shall

alfo.

For this reafon, Sir, I can no way applaud the wifdom or forefight of granting any fuch fubfidy; and if it were poffible to bring on an election by fuch means, it would, in my opinion, give France a just reason for oppofing it by force of arms; because by the most fundamental and Geffential conftitution of the empire, the election of an emperor, or king of the Romans, ought to be free, which no election can be, that is directed by the influence of corrup

tion:

1751. PROCEEDINGS of the POLITICAL CLUB, &c. 499

tion: Nay, in opposition to such an
election's taking effect, the other
two colleges of the diet of the em-
pire would have a right to co operate
with France in having it fet afide;
and thus, instead of preventing, we
fhould precipitate an inteftine war in A
Germany, in which fome of the
electors, who had for years been tak-
ing our money, might perhaps de-
clare against us; for I am afraid,
that the hopes of a prefent addition
of territory, or a prefent view of the
imperial diadem, will always be B
more prevalent with most of the
princes of Germany, than a dif-
tant profpect of the good of their
country.

As to his majefty's union with his allies, I fhall always be glad, Sir, to hear of its fubfifting in its full vigour, provided we never think of keeping it fubfifting by a facrifice of the true intereft of the nation; and I can fee no reason why we should pay for keeping it fubfifting, at a time when we have fo little money to fpare; for we may always be more ufeful to our allies than they can ever be to us: In cafe of our having a war with France, we have not one ally that can be of ufe to us, without involving us in a war upon the continent; and the fupport of fuch wars will, I fear, at laft prove our ruin; because it makes us neglect profecuting the war by fea and in America, and because France can always fupport a war upon the continent of Europe at a much less expence than we can. The French armies are mostly compofed of their own national troops, have lefs pay than our armies have, and generally have all their provifions from their own country, or when they march to any great diftance, they fupport themselves at the

On

C

wife pay fubfidies to their princes; to which let us add, that all the provifions for our armies, except cloathing our own national troops, muft come frome foreign countries, and must be paid for by us in ready money. Nay, when we have been fo lucky as to penetrate into the enemy's country, I never heard that our armies fupported themselves at their expence, or that our generals accounted for the contributions they raifed.

This, Sir, fhould make us cautious of ever calling upon any of our allies, or attempting to draw them into our quarrel, unless we can form fuch a confederacy upon the continent of Europe, as may be able to carry on the war against France with a probability of fuccefs, and without much of our affiftance; and the forming of fuch a confederacy we may render impoffible, if we should raife among the princes and states of Europe an opinion of our officioufly intermeddling in their affairs, which may be Dthe confequence of our giving our

felves fo much to do about the election of a king of the Romans.

To conclude, Sir, there are fo many, and fuch strong objections, against almost every part of the addrefs propofed, that I cannot but apE prove of the noble lord's motion for an amendment, and therefore it fhall have my hearty concurrence.

F

[This JOURNAL to be continued in our next.]

Remarks on Proposals lately made for repealing most of the Poor Laws, and for erecting County WorkHoufes.

EVERAL fchemes hav

expence of their enemies upon the GS ing been lately formed for the

continent of Europe are mostly compofed of foreign troops, have higher pay than the French have, and befides paying the troops, we must like

better maintenance of the poor, and refolutions taken for greatly altering the good and wholesome laws now in being, for their relief and employRrr2

ment:

300
ment And finding, upon the most
ftrict and impartial examination,
that the defigned alterations tend,
not to the amendment, but the an-
nihilation and total repeal of those
laws, and the introducing a new and
confused method, highly injurious A
both to the poor, and to most of the
parishes in this kingdom; a few ani-
madverfions upon them are neceffa-
ry.

REMARKS on the POOR-LAWS.

I must humbly premife this remark, that, from the projects formed, it appears, that the contrivers of them were never practically acquainted with the execution of our prefent laws relating to the poor: But what is here faid, is from many years actual experience, in a populous parish.

B

I. Let it therefore be obferved, that the defects complained of, are C not in the laws themselves, but actually in the execution of the laws; to which proper remedies may be applied, as will appear by a few in stances.

Nov.

unmarried, having no means to maintain them, and using no ordinary and daily trade to get their living by: And alfo to raise weekly, or otherwife, a convenient ftock of flax, hemp, wool, thread, iron, and other ware and ftuff, to fet the poor on work; and also competent fums of money, for and towards the neceffary relief of the lame, impotent, old, blind, &c. and alfo for the putting out of fuch children to be apprentices. And the justices of peace, or any one of them, are impowered to fend to the houfe of correction, or common goal, fuch as fhall not employ themselves to work, being appointed thereunto, as aforefaid."

The ftatute 7 Jac. I. c. 3 provides alfo for the binding out of apprentices, and the well employing the monies given for that use.

By ftature 12 and 13 Car. II. c. 12. Corporations, or work houses, are erected in the cities of London and Wellminster, and in other towns and places within the weekly bills of Dmortality.

The legislature hath provided, in the ampleit manner, for the employment and comfortable maintenance, of fuch poor in every parish as are able to work: And for the relief and indulgent care of the lame, in firm, impotent, or old, who are unable to labour. So that our prefent fyftem of laws relating to the poor, E is as perfect as any human inftitution can be: Which every intelligent perfon, who has examined them throughout, muft readily confefs.

But, for the fake of those who have not had leifure or opportunity to look into thofe affairs, I fhall give a few extracts from the laws now in force concerning the poor.

By ftatute 43 Eliz. the churchwardens and overfeers of the poor are injoined to "take order, for fetting to work the children of all fuch, whofe parents fhall not by the faid churchwardens and overfeers be thought able to keep and maintain their children; and alfo for fetting to work all fuch perfons, married or

F

G

And by ftatute 9 Geor. I. "Churchwardens and overfeers of the poor, in any parifh, &c. with the confent of the major part of the inhabitants, affembled in veftry or other publick meeting for that purpose, are empowered to purchase or hire any house, or houses, in the fame parish, and to contract with any perfons for the lodging, keeping, maintaining, and employing any or all fuch poor in their respective parishes, &c. as fhall defire to receive relief or collection from the fame parish. And where any parifh fhall be too fmall to purchafe or hire fuch houfe or houfes for the poor of their own parish only, it fhall be lawful for two or more fuch parishes, with the confent of the major part of their inhabitants, and with the approbation of any juftice of peace, to unite in purchafing, hiring, or taking fuch houses. And if any poor perlon, or perfons, fhall refule to be lodged, kept, and

1751. DEFECTS in the Execution of the POOR-LAWS. 501

maintained in fuch houfes, he, fhe, or they fo refufing, fhall not be intitled to afk or demand relief or collection."

:

From these few extracts, it most plainly appears, that our laws have amply provided, that the vaft fums A raifed for the ufe of the poor, should be expended, not on their mere maintenance only, but on their employment That there is great care taken in them, that the children of the poor fhould be educated in habits of industry, by being bound apprentices-That tho' many parishes are too small separately to raise a stock, fufficient wherewith to employ their poor, yet they may unite for that purpole.

B

Such are our laws; and, therefore, what must be thought of the C mighty buftle lately made upon this fubject, as if it had been entirely neglected by former parliaments?

It appears, then, upon the least examination, that the defects complained of do not proceed from the want of good laws, but from a bad execu- D tion of them.

And from fact, and repeated experience, it is found, that the defects in the execution of the laws relating to the poor, are the following; which may eafily be redreffed, and call indeed for redrefs.

1. The rates are partially and unequally made. The leaders, who are generally the wealthiest and most confiderable men in parishes, fcreen themselves too much, and lay the burden on the middling and inferior inhabitants. And thefe cannot open ly complain, or loudly remonftrate against it, without much hurting themselves, and perhaps entirely lofing their bufinefs, which for the most part depends on the others.

E

F

Now, to remedy this inconvenience, it should be enacted, that a G

box, with a hole in the lid, fhould be depofited in the veftry, or near the door of every parish church, into which any aggrieved perfon might privately thrust a paper, containing his complaint, and denoting who is not equally rated with himself: And to these complaints proper regard ought to be had, when a new rate is made. Or if there should not, upon a proper application to the juftices, the rate ought not to be confirmed, till the aggrieved perfon has obtained redrefs.

2. Another defect in the execution of the poor-laws is, that the overfeers too readily diftribute the parish money, without confulting the rest of the parishioners, or even their fellow-overfeers or churchwardens: They frequently diftribute it to improper objects, to lewd, drunken, clamorous, or idle wretches; according to favour or affection to relations; to customers to their fhops, &c.

Statutes 3 Will. & Mary, c. 11. §. 11. and 9 Geo. I. §. 1, 2. forbid indeed fuch partial and audacious proceedings, but lay no penalty on the offenders: Whereas any officer prefuming to act in that manner, ought to pay the money out of his own pocket.

And to prevent the like inconveniences for the future, it should farther be enacted, that in order to provide for occafional poor (fuch poor as are not in the workhoufe, or in the ftanding yearly lift) the pa rishioners should stay at church every Sunday, after fermon is ended; (which would be the moft convenient in country parishes, where the houses are scattered about and at a distance.) Or elfe, that they should meet weekly, at a certain place and hour, and relieve occafional objects, who fhould then appear, or else make an order

for

• Lord chief justice Hale long ago obferved, that "Tradefmen, not enduring their personal Aates fhould be charged, throw the whole load on the rents of lands and boufes, which alone are not fufficient to raise a flock". •And that "The overfeers being parishioners are unwilling 19 charge themselves, or difplease their neighbours.”