Underthislawitisevident，thatnopoormancouldmarrytilltherewasacottagevacanttoreceivehim；fornoinmateswereallowed。Thelastcircumstancewhichremainstobeassigned，ashavingcheckedandpreventedforaseasontheevilconsequences
resultingfromourpoorlaws，istheshameandreproachofbeingrelievedbyaparish:butthesehavelongsinceceasedto
operate。Itishightime，therefore，thatmoreeffectualprovisionshouldbemadefortheprotectionofindustryinaffluence，
andforthereliefofindustryintheseasonsofdistress。
SECT。XIThebestpoliticiansinEuropehavecondemnedthepresentsystemofourpoorlaws。Amongthesewemayreckontwo
greatanddistinguishedwriters；oneuniversallyadmiredforhisincomparableworkonthespiritoflaws；theotherforhis
mostelegantandjudiciouscommentonthelawsofEngland。Anobleman，whostandsforemostamongtheliteratiinthe
northofBritain，hasmorefreelyandmorefullydeliveredhisopinion，andperfectlycoincidesinsentimentwiththoseable
lawyers。Theserespectableauthorshavecondemnedtheprinciples，whilstothershaveblamedonlytheexecutionofour
laws。Butallwhoareevenintheleastdegreeacquaintedwiththesubjecthavelamented，thattwomillionsshouldbe
annuallyexpendedonthepoorwithoutrelievingtheirdistress。
SECT。XIIIfitwerepossibletomeetwithproperpersonstoexecuteourlaws，theywouldnotbesohurtfultothecommunityasthey
areatpresent。Butwhereshallwefindmenqualifiedtobeatoncetrusteesandguardiansforthepublicandforthepoor？
Anoverseershouldbeenduedwithmorethancommonpatience；willingtohearwithcalmnessandcomposurethe
complaintsofthemostuntowardandperverse；blestwithacommandoftempersuchasfewpossess。Heshouldbediligent
andactive，thathemayvisitthehabitationsofthepoor，andexaminewithhisowneyesthenature，theextent，andthe
causeoftheirdistress。Heshouldbeamanofgoodunderstanding，sharp，sensible，andwell—informed，thathemayknow
whatisthebest，thecheapest，andthemosteffectualmethod，atoncetorelieveandtoemploythepoor。Heshouldbea
manofpenetration，quickindiscerning，andreadyindetectingthefalsepretencesofimpostors。Heshouldbeamanofthe
mosthumaneandcompassionatedisposition；notmerelythathemayshedthesympathizingtear，butthathemayexert
himselftotheutmosttocomfortandsupportthesick，andproperlytosweetenthebittercupforthosewhoaredrinking
thedregsoflife。Heshouldbeatthesametimeamanoffirmnessandresolution；nottobewornoutandteazedinto
compliance，noryettobemovedeitherbythreatsorbydeceitfultears。Heshouldbeinexorablyjust，consideringthepublic
fund，outofwhichheistorelievethepoor，asamostsacreddepositcommittedtohiscare，inconfidencethathewill
administerittothebestofhisjudgmentandability。Heshouldbeamanofadisinterestedandhonestdisposition，that，in
thedischargeofthisimportanttrust，hemayneitherdirectlynorindirectlydefraudthepublic，eithertofavourhisfriendsor
topromotehistrade。Inoneword，ifinhimshouldcentrealltheexcellencies，whicharescatteredwithasparinghand
amongthehumanrace；ifhehadnoothertrade，occupation，orpursuitwhichrequiredhisattention；if，thusqualified，he
werewillingtogiveuphistimeforthebenefitofthepublic，andforthecomfortofthepoor；ifasuccessionofsuchwere
tobefound，andiftheirpowerweresupreme，subjecttonocontroulfromtheinterferenceofamagistrate；theburthen
mightyetbctolerable，andsomeoftheevils，naturallyattendantonthepresentsystemofourpoorlaws，insteadofbeingseverelyfelt，wouldforthepresentbeseenonlyatadistance。Manyparisheshavebeensensibleofthisdifficulty，moreespeciallyinthecloathingcounties:butasif，whilsttheyseverely
feltit，theyhadonlyindistinctlyseenit，theyhavemadeapplicationtoparliament，complainingthatthebusinesswastoo
muchfortheattendanceandattentionoffouroverseen；andthereforepraying，thatoneadditionaloverseermightbe
appointedwithabsoluteandsoleauthoritytograntrelief。Theirargumentappearstobeabsurd，buttheirmeaningisprecise
andclear。Theywouldbethusatlibertytochoosethemostproperpersonforthecharge；andhe，havinglittleelsetodo，
couldpaymoreattentiontothebusiness。Theeventhasinsomemeasureansweredtheirexpectation；but，atbest，thiscan
beconsideredonlyasagoodexpedienttopalliateoneofthosemanybadeffectswhichflowfromaperniciouslaw。
SECT。XIIIToremedytheseevils，varioushavebeentheschemesrecommendedtothepublic，bymenwhohavebeenreveredforthe
strengthoftheirunderstandings，theextentoftheirknowledge，andtheuprightnessoftheirintentions。Theyhavechiefly
recommendedpalliatives；andsuchonlyhavebeentried，yetwithlittleorwithnoeffect。Theyhaveindeedcheckedtheevil
foratime，andonlyforatime，toreturnwithaccumulatedforce:for，notwithstandingalltheirefforts，thetaxcollectedto
relievethepoorisswelledinmanyplacesfromtenortwelvepoundsannuallytofivehundredpoundsayear，whereno
manufactureshavebeenestablished；andinthemanufacturingparishes，fromlittleornothingtofifteenhundred，twothousand，andeventhreethousandpoundsayear。Thelegislaturebeganwithrequiringtheconsentoftwojusticesofpeace，beforetheoverseerscouldhavepowertorelieve
thepoor。（15）Theytheninsistedthatnoneshouldberelieved，butthosewhowereputuponthelistbytheparishioners
assembledintheirvestry，orbyauthorityunderthehandofajustice。（16）Afterthisitwasenacted，thatnojusticeofpeace
shouldgrantanorder，withouthavingexamineduponoaththepartymakingapplicationtohimforrelief。（17）Uponalltheseconditionswehearthelegislatureconstantlycomplainingthattheevilstillwentonincreasing。Theexpedientwhichhasbeenmostoftentried，hasbeentocompelboththepauperandhisfamilytoweartheRomanPin
scarierclothupontheirshoulders；（18）andfromthismuchwasexpected，butinvain。Ithasoperated，indeed，asapartial
repealofabadlaw，repealinghoweverallthatcouldbeconsideredasvaluable，andleavingallthatisnoxioustothestate；
discouragingonlytheingenuous，themodest，andthemeek，thattheremaybethemoreforthosewho，losttoshame，have
longsinceforgottoblush。Ofallhumaninventions，nonecanbemorecruelthanthis。Youinvitethepoor，youofferhim
relief，butyouwillgiveitonlyuponthiscondition，thatheshallreceiveitwithamarkofinfamy。Theoverseersareliableto
afine，iftheydonotimposethismarkupontheindigent；butsuchistheirhumanity，thattheyriskthepenaltyratherthan
reproachthewretchedwithhispoverty。Shouldtheygivethisbadgetosome，theymustimposeituponall。Theworthless
andtheimpudentwouldnotregardit；themodestwouldsoonerdiethanwearit。Thereisnodoubtthattimewould
reconcilethemtoit，moreespeciallywhentheysawnoneorfewwithoutit；butthen，whatpurposewoulditanswer？Whilstittookeffect，itwouldbehurtful:whenitceasedtooperate，itwouldbeuseless。###第10章Findingthefutilityofthisdevice，themostcommonrefugehasbeentoparochialandprovincialworkhouses；againstwhich
thereappearinsuperableobjections。Itwasthought，thatwithwatchfulattentionthepoorwoulddomoreworkunderone
roof，andbefedmuchcheaper，thanwhendispersedintheirseveralcottages。Anexpectation，however，whichexperience
hasneveryetconfirmed。Eveninparochialworkhouses，andinthosewhichareunderthebestregulation，thepoordoso
littlework，thattheproduceoftheirlabouralmostescapesournotice，whilsttheyaremaintainedatamostenormous
expence。Intheircottagestheymightlivecomfortablyontheaverageoffourpoundseach；whereasunderthemanagement
ofthepublictheycostfromfivetoten，andeventwelvepoundseach，perannum。Itisnotreasonabletoimagine，thatmen，
deprivedofliberty，willworkforotherswiththesamechearfulactivityaswhenworkingforthemselves；orthattheywill
becontentedwiththehardandhomelyfare，whichtheycouldeatwiththankfulness，whilstasfreementheywere
surroundedwiththeirfriends。Itishopethatmustsweetenallourlabours。Letamanhavenopursuit，noexerciseforhis
hopesandfears，andyoumayaswelltakethemarrowfromhisbones，whichwasdesignedbynaturetosuppleallhis
joints。Youmayfeedhimwell；but，withoutmakinghimamoreusefulmemberinsociety，youwillleavehimtodragona
miserableexistence，aburthentohimselfandtothepublic。Itisnowamaximuniversallyreceived，thattheserviceofaslaveisthedearestservicewhichcanbehad。Letamanconsulthisownfeelings，andthereasonwillbeobvious。Theterrorofbeingsenttoaworkhouseactslikeanabolitionofthepoor'staxonallwhodreadthelossofliberty。Itisin
effectavirtualrepeal，asfarasitextends，ofthoselaws，whichshouldlongsincehavegivenplacetobetterregulations。
Butunfortunatelythemostworthyobjectssuffermostbythisrepeal，andtheadvantagetothepublicislittlemorethan
negative。Thequietandthecleanlydreadthenoiseandnastiness，evenmorethantheconfinementofaworkhouse。They
pantforthepureandwholesomeair，whichtheycanneverhopetobreathewherenumbersareconfinedwithinnarrow
limits，andsighforthatserenityandpeace，whichtheymustdespairtofindwherethemostprofligateofthehumanspecies
aremettogether。Bythefearofbeingsentencedtosuchsociety，many，whodeserveabetterfate，strugglewithpovertytill
theysinkundertheburthenoftheirmisery。Againstcountyworkhouses，improperlycalledhousesofindustry，the
objectionsaremuchstronger。Thebuildings，thefurniture，thesalaries，thewaste，andtheimposition，everythingisupona
largeandexpensivescale，withoutitsbeingpossibletopreserve，foranylengthoftime，asystemofeconomy。Atfirst，
indeed，theremightbegreatexertion；butthenoveltybeingover，fewgentlemenwouldbefoundpublicspiritedenoughto
continuetheirattendanceandattentiontoabusinessinwhich，asindividuals，theywouldbesolittleinterested，andfor
whichtheymustgiveupmoreimportantormorepleasantengagementsandpursuits。Byexperienceitisfound，that
withoutreckoninginterestupontheprimecostofeitherfurnitureorbuildings，thepoorintheseextensiveestablishments
arenotmaintainedforlessthanIhavestated。Butwhilsttheexperienceissoenormous，aretheyhappy？Farfromhappy，
theyarewretched。Withallthediscomfortsofaparochialworkhouse，theyfeelthemselvesinahopelessstateof
banishmentfromtheirrelationsandconnections。Itistrue，theyeat，theydrink，andtheyaremiserable。Thiskindof
banishmenthasthesameeffectinpartasarepealofthepoorlaws，becausefewarewillingtobethusrelieved。These
housesofindustrycannotbevindicated，eitherinpointofcomfortoreconomy:iftheyhavethereforeanymerit，itcanbe
onlythatkindofmeritwhichIhavestated；andifitbewisetohaverecoursetothem，itwouldbemuchwiserdirectlyto
repealthelaws，againstthedepredationsofwhichthesehousesaretoprotectyourproperty。Acountyworkhouse，atbest，
maybeconsideredasacolonytowhichafewofthesuperabundantmembersofthecommunityhave'beentransportedto
makeroomforothers；oritmaybeconsideredasanewmanufacture，beneficialinitsprogresstoemploytheidlehands；
beneficial，ifitwerepossibletomakeaprofitontheirlabour；yetlikeothermanufactures，underthepresentsystemofourlaws，increasingthenumberandthedistressesofthepoor。Thatgentlemenoflandedpropertyshouldhavetakenthealarm，andthatallwhofeeltheburthenofthepoorshouldwish
toberelieved，isnottobewonderedat。Yetsurelywemaybepermittedtoexpressastonishment，thatwhenintheyear
1775theHouseofCommonsweretoprovidearemedyforthegrowingevil，noexpedientshouldpresentitself，buttoerectcountyworkhouses。Theyresolved，1。Thatthelawsrelatingtothepooraredefective，andthegoodpurposesintendedbytheminmanyrespectsprevented。2。Thatthemoneyraisedforthereliefofthepoorisagrievous，and，ifnonewregulationsaremade，willbeanincreasingburthenuponthepublic。Theythenrecommendedcountyworkhouses，leavingtheparishesatlibertytodrawatdiscretiononthecountystock，forthereliefofsuchaswerenotproperobjectsforaworkhouse。Thecounties，however，werenotweakenoughtoacceptanofferwhichmusthaveentailedataxoffourshillingsinthe
poundontheirestatesforever，withoutprocuringanybenefittothepublic，totheland—owner，tothefarmer，ortothe
poor，Anotherexperiment，andthelastwhichIshallmention，isthemostabominablethateverwasinvented:itistofarmthe
poor，Insomeparishestheyarefarmedatsomuchanhead，butinothersthecontractisforagivensum。Inoneparishin
Gloucestershireacontractorhadagreedtotakealltheexpenceofthepooruponhimselfforaverymoderate
consideration。Takingthepresentnumbersinconfinement，hehasonlytwoshillingsaweekforeach；yetoutofthisheisto
beatthechargeofalllitigationsandremovals，andtorelieveallotherswhoarenotproperobjectsforaworkhouse，andafteralltomakeaprofitforhimself。Alltheseexpedientshavethesametendency。Theyareadoptedwithaprofessedintentiontolowerthepoorrates；anditis
confessed，thatmanyaretherebydeterredfrommakingapplicationforrelief，whowouldotherwisebeaburthentothe
public。Butthenisnotthisapartial，impolitic，oppressiverepealofabadlaw，withoutreducingthetax；foritcontinuestoincrease，andwithoutmakingabetterprovisionforthoseamongthepoorwhoaremostworthyofattention？Havingthusendeavouredtodisplaytheimperfectionswhicharemostobviousinourmanagementofthepoor，letusnowexaminetheprovisionmadefortheirreliefbyothernations。###第11章Intheearlyagesoftheworldtherecouldbenogreatdifficultyinthismatter，asthequantityoffoodwasmorethancould
beconsumed。Inprocessoftime，whenpropertyhadgotfootingintheworld，they，whohadneitherflocksnorherds，
becameslaves，and，sellingthemselvesforbread，togetherwiththeirchildren，constitutedtheprincipaltreasureoftherich。
Whentherichhadsofirincreasedtheirstock，thattheircattlehadnotsufficientroomtofeed，theyquiltedtheirancient
habitations，andsoughtnewsettlements。Thusitissaid，thatAbrahamwasveryrichincattle，thathehadsheepandoxen，
andmenservantsandmaidservants，andcamelsandasses，andsilverandgold。ThesamenearlywastheprosperityofLot。
Butwhenthelandwasnotabletobearthemwiththeirflocksandwiththeirherds，theyagreedtopart，andLotchosefor
himselftheplainsofJordan。WhentheoffspringofAbrahamsettledinthelandofCanaan，theycontinuedthesamemode
ofrelievingthedistressed，onlywiththisexception，thatintheseventhyearthepoor，whohadsoldhimself，wastogoout
free。Thiscustomofexchangingtheirlibertyforbreadwasfollowedbymostofthenationsuponearth，andwasthegeneral
practiceoftheworld，tillChristianityprevailed，andbecametheestablishedreligionoftheRomanempire。Themilder
geniusofthisreligion，whichproclaimslibertytothecaptive，andtheopeningoftheprisondoorstothemthatarebound，
abhorrenttoslaveryinallitsforms，hasalmostbanishedthatcruelcustomfromourworld；andinitssteadhasmadethe
bestpossibleprovisionforthepoor，leavingthemtobesupportedbythefreebountyoftherich。Itistrue，themistaken
zealofitsfirstconverts，inflamedbytheexpectationofthattranscendentglorywhichthegospelhadrevealedtothem，
pouredcontemptupontheirvisiblepossessionsofhousesandoflands。Thesetheysold，andbeingallofoneheart，andof
onesoul，theyagreedtohaveallthingscommon。（19）Butnosuchcommunityofgoodsreceivedthesanctionofdivine
authority。WhenPeterreproachedAnanias，itwasforhisfalsehoodonly:"Whilstthelandremained，wasitnotthineown；andafteritwassold，wasitnotinthineownpower？"（20）Thepositiveinjunctionsofthegospelareclearanddistinct，andshouldneverhavebeenforgot。"Everymanaccordingas
hepurposethinhisheart，solethimgive；notgrudgingly，orofnecessity:forGodlovethachearfulgiver。"（21）These
voluntarycontributionswerecollectedonthefirstdayofeveryweek，whentheyassembledat。theirpublicworship。The
Christiandispensationgivesthehighestencouragementtotheoverflowingsofbenevolence，butatthesametimeleaves
everymanatlibertytogiveornottogive，proceedinguponthismaxim，thatitshouldbelawfulforamantodowhathe
willwithhisown。Whilsthoweverthefollowersofthisreligionarelefttotheirownjudgmentanddiscretion，theyare
underthestrongestobligationstobeliberalintheirdonations，andtorelievethedistressesoftheirfellowcreaturestothe
utmostoftheirability。Inthedescriptionofthegreatandfinaljudgmentoftheworld，itissaid，"WhentheSonofmanshall
comeinhisglory，andalltheholyangelswithhim，thenshallhesituponthethroneofhisglory。Andbeforehimshallbe
gatheredallnations；andheshallseparatethemonefromanother，asashepherddividethhissheepfromthegoats:Andhe
shallsetthesheeponhisrighthand，butthegoatsontheleft。ThenshalltheKingsayuntothemonhisrighthand，Come，
yeblessedofmyFather，inheritthekingdompreparedforyoufromthefoundationoftheworld。ForIwasanhungered，
andyegavememeat:Iwasthirsty，andyegavemedrink:Iwasastranger，andyetookmein:naked，andyeclothedme:I
wassick，andyevisitedme:Iwasinprison，andyecameuntome。Forinasmuchasyedidituntooneoftheleastofthese
mybrethren，yedidituntome。"（22）FromthisdescriptionwemustnottoohastilyconcludethatthecharityofChristiansis
tobeindiscriminateandblind。Amongthevariousobjectsofdistressachoiceistobemade，selectingfirstthosewhichare
mostworthy，andreservingtheresidueforthosewhohavenothingbuttheirmiserytoexcitecompassion。Letthevirtuous
citizenbefed，thenlettheprofligateandtheprodigalshareallthatprudenceandfrugalityshallhaveleftbehindthem。To
reversethisorderisneitherpoliticnorjust:forsurelynothingcanbemoreinconsistentwithequity，thantogivethebread
ofindustrytoindolenceandvice。Christiancharitywasnevermeanttodiscouragediligenceandapplication，norto
promoteamongmenawantondissipationoftheirsubstance。TheApostleoftheGentiles，bothbyexampleandbyprecept，
teachesalessonwhichtoomanyamongthepoorhaveyettolearn。Wehearhimthusappealingtohisconverts:"Wedid
noteatanyman'sbreadfornought；butwroughtwithlabourandtravelnightandday，thatwemightnotbechargeableto
anyofyou:notbecausewehavenotpower，buttomakeourselvesanexampleuntoyoutofollowus。Forevenwhenwewerewithyou，thiswecommandedyou，thatifanywouldnotwork，neithershouldheeat。"（23）FormanycenturiesthenationsofEuropehadnootherwayofprovidingfortheirincreasingpoor，whenoccasional
benefactionsbecameinadequatetotheirwants，butbydrivingthemout，likeswarms，toseeknewsettlements。Itwasnot
thendifficultforwarliketribes，issuingforthincountlessnumbers，withtheirflocksandwiththeirherds，tomakean
impression，whenatanytimetheyfumedtheirarmsagainstthepeaceableinhabitantsofmorecultivatedcountries。Butnow
thatallhavequiltedtheshepherdlifeandtakentoagriculture；nowthateachnation，althoughmorenumerousthan
formerly，ishemmedinbynationsequaltoitselfinnumbers，wealth，andmilitaryardour；itisbecomenecessarytoprovide
fortheirpoorathome。Thistheyhaveattemptedbypublichospitalsandprivatebenefactions。Withregardtohospitals，
theyfindthattheseonlyremovetheevilforatime，andintheissueextendtheboundsofextremepovertyand
wretchedness。Theyatfirstpleasedthemselveswiththeidea，thattheyhadputanendtohumanmisery；buttheysoon
founditreturningbackuponthem，andthevacantplaces，whichhadbeenleftbythoseprovidedforintheirpublic
hospitals，filledupagainbyobjectsofdistress。WhenatLionstheyopenedanhospitalwithfortybedsforthereceptionof
thepoor，theycouldfillonlyhalfthatnumber，butnoweighthundredbedsarenotsufficient；andwhentheybuiltthe
hospitalofSaltpetriere，nearParis，ithadfewinhabitants，butnowtheylodgetwelvethousand；andyettotheir
astonishmenttheyfind，thatinsteadofhavingbanisheddistressandpoverty，theyhaveincreasedthenumberofthepoor。
Theeffecthasfilledthemwithamazement；buttheydonotseemtohaveasyetdiscovered，thattheyhavebeenattemptingtostoparapidriverinitsprogress，andtopushbackthewatersoftheoceans。InHollandtheirchiefdependanceisonvoluntarycontributions，andarigidexecutionofthelaws；andinHollandaretobe
seenmoreindustryandfewercriminals，thanaretobefoundinthebestgovernedcountriesinEuropeofthesameextent。