Monthly or weekly returns to be made to the overseers, of strangers employed, and the wages they earned, and the money to be paid quarterly. The capital to be vested on similar securities as the property of wards in chancery. The interest to be remitted to the clerk of the peace, who should, at the quarter sessions, receive the principal sums collected by the parish officers, and pay them the preceding interest due, to be disbursed under the same limitation as the poor's rates are. Before any rate should be levied in the respective parishes, the account to be exhibited at all vestry meetings, and to the magistrates acting for each district. Whenever it shall appear that the overseers of any parish shall have more than one year's interest in hand, such surplus to be paid to the county rate. And when any parish shall have contributed to the county rate for a specified number of years, such parish to be entitled to draw for a certain portion of its capital, to be applied to repair the church, or any other work which should be recommended by such of the parishioners as should pay two-thirds of the rates, and be approved by the majority of magistrates who should have acted a specified time for the district. Should their number be equal, the one who should have acted longest for the district, to have the casting vote. Addition to the Scheme to alleviate the Poor's Rates, &c. It is a common complaint, that the lower class of people seldom save any thing in their youth to prevent their becoming burthensome to their parishes in age. I know three instances to the contrary within a stone's throw of my door. Two of them lent their money to neighbours who became insolvent. The third bought cottages, and lives comfortable in one of them now, as he works constantly with me, but the last time I had no employment for him, he was many weeks (I think thirteen) without a day's work; because the farmers knew he could not claim relief from the parish while he lived under his own roof. In an adjoining parish (North Creak) I am told there have been two attempts to establish a box club. But from heavy charges in the outset, they have both become bankrupt. Are not these disheartening circumstances to men who must pinch themselves hard indeed to save what they have so little prospect of enjoying comfort from? Could not agents be appointed (in the first instance) by such persons as pay two-thirds of the poor's rates in every parish (or larger district as might be found convenient), who should find sureties in proportion to the money that would pass through their hands; in receiving quarterly such sums as each individual in the district should bring to him, to be remitted to the office in London proposed to alleviate the poor's rates, &c. to be invested, in the name of the district, in a collective fund from all the districts in the kingdom, on similar securities to the property of wards in chancery *? Such interest as should be deemed by the inspectors of the office appointed by Parliament a proper dividend, to be remitted at stated periods to the agents of each district, to pay to individuals in proportion to their capital. Deducting from the whole, such a poundage as should be fixed, to pay him for his trouble. The sum to be subscribed, by each person, at one time, not to exceed what should be limited, to prevent the wealthy from crowding in large sums, to gain influence, and lower the dividends to those for whose benefit the scheme is proposed. Every person to have a power of transferring his stock, upon quitting a parish, to any other actual parishioner, and of bequeathing it at his death, with * This plan has, in a great measure, been carried into effect by the establishment of Saving-Banks. ED. My wish to alleviate the poor's rates suggested this restriction, to prevent parishioners disposing of their property in their life time. But considering that preventing parents from fitting out their children, would have an evil tendency, and hinder them from vesting their little savings in this fund, it would, perhaps, be best to leave every one the power of calling in what part of their capital they please, by giving a limited notice to the agent. as little expence as possible, and his heirs to be allowed to receive it within a limited time, with as little trouble as possible. Many lapses would probably happen, and the fractions in the interest, which would not divide to a quarter per cent. at each payment, being vested as capital, for the benefit of the district, would soon raise the interest to individuals, higher than that paid for the gross sum. And no person being admitted to subscribe to the fund of any parish in which he had not been registered as a parishioner, would contribute to increase the fund for the relief of the poor, and to fix people to parishes. And when the fund of any district should amount to a certain proportion of the property assessed to the poor's rates, then such contributors as should subscribe two-thirds of the money should elect their own agent, who should find the same proportionable sureties as before. The agents of each district to make returns at stated periods, to the office in London, of the gross amount of capital, which would be called for at the following period. And the broker of the office should (under the direction of the inspectors) against that time, sell out of the public funds, or call in such sums from securities as should produce the highest proportion of capital to be remitted to the agents of districts, to be divided, in proportion to the individuals, and any remaining fractions go to the capital of the districts. M. M. LETTER XCVII. From the same. Burnham, Dec. 19, 1794. A neighbour lately repeated to me an epigram* which, though written in the first person, is not in language which accords with the style of your letters. You have probably had your laugh at it, and your genius soaring above the trifling wit of a pun, I did not recollect that let is a lawful term for hindrance, as well as for permission. It is admitted that love makes men poets, may not friendship have the same effect? Certain it is I never made three rhymes in my life, and you may ridicule my wit and poetry as much as you please, if you will but admit there is more good humour in the following, than in that which furnished me with the idea, and believe me Your sincere and grateful Friend, Answer. Such swarms of patients do to me apply, M. MARTIN. Did I not practise, some would surely die : I LET-SOME. Alluding to the following illiberal and ridiculous jeu d'esprit : "When any sick to me apply, I physicks, bleeds, and sweats 'cmn; If after that they choose to die, What's that to me, I LETTSOM." ED. |