rivalry of neighbouring states under similar circumstances, whose disunion has always been the curse of their existence, and the stumbling-block in the way of their improvement. It remains for us to say a word on the specific provision for relief of the poor, which we consider fitted for adoption in Ireland. Its leading features are marked out by the great purposes which we expect it to fulfil. In the first place, to effect any of those objects with complete success, it must, of course, be compulsory, not merely permissive, as is suggested by many of those who advocated the introduction of a poor-law before the committee. It must establish a legal right to relief, in all cases of extreme want. The natural right undeniably exists; and a government which refuses to sanction a claim of so sacred and inalienable a character, neglects the very foremost of its duties, and merits the bitter retribution that, sooner or later, always follows the abuse of power. Secondly, it must necessarily contain both a provision for the infirm and impotent poor, and for the employment of the ablebodied, who cannot maintain themselves and their families. And we think the machinery of these two branches should be kept as distinct as possible. The employment of the excess of labourers might properly be entrusted, we consider, according to the plan proposed by Mr. J. Musgrave, to a committee, or local board of works, in each county, consisting of a limited number of members elected for one, for two, or perhaps for three years, either by those persons who pay a certain amount of county rates, or by the several parish vestries. The committee should meet at stated times, appoint their own officers, and act under the direction and control of a General Board of Commissioners, appointed by and communicating directly with government, and bound to lay annual reports of their proceedings before parliament; having competent engineers attached to it, and powers for executing canals, drainages, embankments, roads, railways, and other public works; and for borrowing money for these purposes on the credit of the local assessments. The expenditure of grand juries on such works should cease, and the county committees assume their functions of this nature. The wages of labourers ought to be paid in money; and to be a sufficiency for their maintenance. Neglect of work to be punishable, on complaint of the superintendent, by magistrates, with imprisonment. If emigration were ultimately proved to be requisite, as subsidiary to the domestic employment of the Irish poor, the county committees and General Board should have power to arrange and carry it into execution; and also to advance a small capital of twenty or twenty-five pounds to ejected tenants of good character and large families, upon their landlord's account, to enable them to cultivate cultivate lots of waste mountain or bog land, leased to them for the purpose; the property in which they should be enabled at any time to redeem, by payment of the original value of the land, together with the advances made to them.* The county committees should be answerable to the General Board for the proper expenditure of the funds entrusted to them; and their books open for examination at Quarter Sessions. For the relief of the impotent poor, and for the apportionment and We shall ere long devote another article to the subject of cottage allotments. We think with more pleasure of the effects already produced by our essays on that topic, than of any other circumstance in the history of this journal. Meantime we cannot refuse ourselves the gratification of printing in this place the following letter of Lord Braybrooke. That nobleman may depend on it that the patriotic and humane experiments which it details will be remembered to his honour long after half the statesmen of his day are as much forgotten as if they had never breathed. The letter is addressed to the Secretary of the Saffron Walden Committee engaged, with equally happy results, on a similar scheme of operations : 'Audley End, Dec. 18, 1830. In the autumn of 1829, my attention was directed to the subject of cottage allotments, by the perusal of a paper in the 41st volume of the Quarterly Review, "Upon the Condition of the English Labourers," and a pamphlet by John Denson, of Waterbeach, in Cambridgeshire, entitled, "The Peasant's Warning Voice to Landlords," which contains much useful information. I soon came to the conclusion that there could be no harm in trying the experiment, and I issued proposals for letting small portions of land to the poorer Inhabitants of Littlebury, and the plan, being approved by those for whose benefit it was intended, came into operation a few weeks before its adoption in the adjoining parish of Saffron Walden. The system has since excited general attention; and I flatter myself that a short account of the proceedings at Littlebury may not be uninteresting. The spot selected for the allotments was a portion of a very large field, in my own occupation, situated on the hill behind Littlebury church, and less than a quarter of a mile from the village. The number of holdings set out amounted to thirty-four, varying in size from thirty-one to forty-seven rods; and the land being inferior in quality to that at Walden, the rent was fixed at threepence per rod, and no demand was made for rates of any kind, and the parish is tithe free. The season proved very favourable, and the crops abundant. The rents were duly paid, and no instance of any complaint, or improper conduct, has as yet occurred. The prizes given by me for the best cultivated allotments, were awarded in October last, by three judges, nominated by the occupiers themselves, to the following persons: William Rider 32 rods 10s. .. Although no doubt was entertained of all the little tenants having been adequately remunerated for their labour, it appeared desirable, if possible, to obtain, in the infancy of the system, such details of the outlay and profit, as should effectually prove its beneficial results. To further this object, the Vicar of Littlebury, the Reverend Henry Bull, who is always foremost in acts of kindness and benevolence towards his parishioners, and has, from the first moment, evinced a great interest in the success of these proceedings, undertook to make the requisite inquiries from the occupiers, and drew out the following statement. Mr. Bull added, that the information was given without hesitation or reluctance, and that he believed it to be implicitly correct; remarking also, that in his intercourse with the poor men during the investigation, he heard nothing but pleasing expressions of satisfaction from them all. It was deemed unnecessary to apply to every individual, no particular selection having been made at the and levy of the funds for both purposes, something like the plan of assessment proposed by Dr. Doyle would we think be advisable. Let there be a vestry of six persons in every parish, annually elected at a general meeting of the rated householders occupying property of a certain annual value; with the addition of the resi the time of the inquiry; in proof of which, the names of the successful candidates for the different prizes do not appear in the list : These results agree very much with the statements of profits obtained by cottage tenants in other places, as quoted in the Quarterly Review, and which, I confess, appeared to me, when I first read the paper, as extravagant, little thinking that they would so very shortly be realised in my own neighbourhood. "In conclusion, it should be stated that I have, since harvest, received many fresh requests for allotments in Littlebury, as well as for the enlargement of the original holdings, affording the best proof that the system works well, and is becoming daily more popular in the parish. Arrangements are now completed for accommodating every applicant, due regard being paid to setting out the land as contiguous as possible to the cottages in those hamlets which are distant from the village. The quantity of the land apportioned in 1829 and 1830 is as follows: Rent. From Michaelmas 1829 Rods. BRAYBROOKE.' I am now engaged in extending the system to the neighbouring village of Wenden. I am, Dear Sir, Your's, &c. &c. 'Mr. John Player, Saffron Walden.' dent dent clergy, and magistrates, if any. Let this body applot the sums necessary to be levied on the different properties in the parish; the principle of applotment to be not merely the bare valuation, but consideration to be also given to the condition of the different estates or townships with regard to the number of paupers they contain, and thrown for relief on the common fund, whether by ejectment, or other circumstances. An appeal against the rate to lie to the Petty Sessions Bench in the first instance; and, finally, to the Quarter Sessions. Let the poor apply for relief to the vestry, who should judge of and determine their claims; with a power to the petty sessions bench to make an order for relief. The vestry under no pretence to grant more than trifling temporary relief to able-bodied labourers. These, if they continue chargeable, they are to send to the general county committee, with a certificate, to be employed on the public works, The vestry not to employ any labourers or pay wages in any shape out of the poor-rate, under a penalty, except with the sanction and by the direction of the county committee, who should only permit their employment on the roads or other public works, so as not to interfere with the ordinary demand for labour. The secretary of the committee will keep an account with every parish in the county, charging them with the wages of the labourers sent thence for employment, and giving them credit for their due proportion of the proceeds of the works, as the tolls on canals and roads, the rent or value of the land reclaimed by drainage, or embankment, &c. The books of the secretary will always enable this adjustment to be executed with sufficient accuracy at the end of any lapse of time; and if the expenditure is judiciously made, as must be the case under a well-arranged system, it is probable that the rate required to be raised for this purpose will in reality be but trifling, the capital borrowed upon the credit of the assessment supplying the greater part of the first outlay, and the produce of the works aiding materially in carrying it on. Power should be given to the vestry, with the warrant of a magistrate, to levy the rate by distress on the occupier,—one half (or two thirds?) to be set off by the latter against his rent to the owner of the property rated. The accounts of the parish vestry, who would elect their own overseer, secretary, and treasurer, should be open for inspection to every parishioner paying rates. Vagrancy and mendicity must be at the same time severely repressed; and a power of removal of paupers to their parishes given to the petty sessions, on application of the parish in which they are domiciled. An appeal to lie to quarter-sessions against an order of removal. With regard to the settlement of paupers, it should be deter mined-first, by industrious residence (not as a pauper) for three years. In failure of this-secondly, by birth. If this cannot be ascertained-thirdly, by the last residence, as is the case in Eng land. The general survey and valuation of lands which has been long going on in Ireland, will form a most favourable basis for a parochial assessment. And the experience which the principal inhabitants of most parishes have lately had, in the valuation and adjustment of local burthens, under the Tithe Composition Act, and in the applotment of grand jury cess, will greatly facilitate the practical establishment of a poor-rate. If difficulties spring up in its administration, practice will soon suggest resources for correcting them; and the legislature may, after a few years' trial, make any alterations that experience shall prove to be advisable; but even though some inconveniences should result, which it may be found hardly possible to obviate, we concur fully in the sentiment of Dr. Doyle,* that inconveniences, in a great and necessary measure of this kind, must be borne with. We should rather argue with Pope, that all partial ill is universal good,' than suffer the Irish poor to perish as they do now? Shall we have their blood upon us, rather than encounter a few difficulties, which, after all, will probably turn out to be inconsiderable? In all human institutions we find defects and evils. They are not absent even from the mighty works of Providence; and we cannot expect to manage a limited system of government in a wiser manner than that in which the Supreme Being governs the universe. Let parliament do its duty-we have no doubt it will— and we shall hear no more either of Mr. O'Connell, or of the repeal of the Union. ART. VIII.—1. The Wrongs of Man. Windsor. 1831. 2. The Question of Reform considered: with Hints for a Plan. London. 1831. 3. On Parliamentary Reform. By Charles Tennyson, Esq., M.P. 1831. 4. On Parliamentary Reform and the Distresses of the Country. By T. Barber Beaumont, Esq. Second Edition. 1831. 5. The State of the Nation at the Close of 1830: its Prospects from a New King and a New Ministry. By T. Potter Macqueen, Esq. 1831. 6. A Letter to the King on the present Crisis of the National Affairs. 1831. * Q. 4467. 7. England |