第 30 节
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朝令夕改 更新:2021-02-21 11:23 字数:9322
the institution will be sufficient to employ constantly a number of weavers of different kinds of cloth and stuff; the market for all the various kinds of yarn the Poor may spin will always be certain。 The same reasoning will hold with regard to various other articles used in great manufactories; upon which the Poor might be very usefully employed; and hence the great advantage of making Establishments for giving employment to the Poor as extensive as possible。 It is what I have often insisted on; and what I cannot too strongly recommend to all those who engage in forming such Establishments。
Although I certainly should not propose to BRING TOGETHER; under one roof; all the Poor of a whole kingdom; as; by the inscription over the entrance into a vast hospital began; but not finished; at Naples; it would appear was once the intention of the government in that country; yet I am clearly of opinion that an institution for GIVING EMPLOYMENT TO THE POOR can hardly be too extensive。
But to return to the subject to which this Chapter was more particularly appropriated; the relief that may be afforded by private individuals to the Poor in their neighbourhood; in case it should not be possible to get over all the difficulties that may be in the way to prevent the forming of a general Establishment for the benefit of the Poor; individuals must content themselves with making such private arrangements for that purpose as they may be able; WITH SUCH ASSISTANCE AS THEY CAN COMMAND; to carry into execution。
The most simple; and least expensive measure that can be adopted for the assistance of the Poor will be that of furnishing them with raw materials for working。 Flax; hemp; or wool; for instance; for spinning; and paying them in money; at the market price; for the yarn spun。 This yarn may afterwards be sent to weavers to be manufactured into cloth; or may be sent to some good market and sold。 The details of these mercantile transactions will be neither complicated nor troublesome; and might easily be managed by a steward of house…keeper; particularly if the printed tickets; and tables; I have so often had occasion to recommend; are used。
The flax; hemp; or wool; as soon as it is purchased; should be weighed out into bundles of one or two pounds each; and lodged in a store…room; and when one of these bundles is delivered out to a poor person to be spun; it should be accompanied with a printed spin…ticket; and entered in a table to be kept for that purpose; and when it is returned spun; an abstract of the spin…ticket itself; should be bound up with the bundle of yarn; in order that any frauds committed by the spinner; in reeling; or in any other way; which may be discovered upon winding off the yarn; may be brought home to the person who committed them。 When it is known that such effectual precautions to detect frauds are used; no farther attempts will be made to defraud; and a most important point indeed will be gained; and one which will most powerfully tend to mend the morals of the Poor; and restore peace to their minds。 When; by rendering it evidently impossible for them to escape detection; they are brought to give up all thoughts of cheating and deceiving; they will then be capable of application; and of enjoying real happiness; and; with open and placid countenances; will look every one full in the face who accosts them: but as long as they are under the influence of temptation as long as their minds are degraded by conscious guilt; and continually agitated by schemes of prosecuting their fraudulent practices; they are as incapable of enjoying peace or contentment; as they are of being useful members of society。
Hence the extreme cruelty of an ill…judged appearance of confidence; or careless neglect of precautions; in regard to those employed in places of trust; who may be exposed to temptations to defraud。
That prayer; which cannot be enough admired; or too often repeated; 〃LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION;〃 was certainly dictated by infinite wisdom and goodness; and it should ever be borne in mind by those who are placed in stations of power and authority; and whose measures must necessarily have much influence on the happiness or misery of great numbers of people。
Honest men may be found in all countries; but I am sorry to say; that the result of all my experience and observation has tended invariably to prove; (what has often been remarked;) that it is extremely difficult to KEEP THOSE HONEST who are exposed to continual and great temptations。
There is; however; one most effectual way; not only of keeping those honest who are so already; but also of making those honest who are not so; and that is; by taking such precautions as will render it EVIDENTLY impossible for those who commit frauds to escape detection and punishment: and these precautions are never impossible; and seldom difficult; and with a little address; they may always be so taken as to be in nowise offensive to those who are the objects of them。
It is evident that the maxims and measures here recommended are not applicable merely to the Poor; but also; and more especially; to those who may be employed in the details of relieving them。
But to return once more to the subject more immediately under consideration。If individuals should extend their liberality so far as to establish public kitchens for feeding the Poor; (which is a measure I cannot too often; or too forcibly recommend;) it would be a great pity not to go one easy step further; and fit up a few rooms adjoining to the kitchen; where the Poor may be permitted to assemble to work for their own emoluments; and where schools for instructing the children of the Poor in working; and in reading and writing; may be established。 Neither the fitting up; or warming and lighting of these rooms; will be attended with any considerable expense; while the advantages which will be derived from such an Establishment for encouraging industry; and contributing to the comfort of the Poor; will be most important; and from their peculiar nature; and tendency; will be most highly interesting to every benevolent mind。
END OF ESSAY TWO。
Footnotes for Essay II。
'1' This English Reader is desired to bear in mind; that the Author of this Essay; though an Englishman; is resident in Germany; and that his connections with that country render it necessary for him to pay particular attention to its circumstances; in treating a subject which he is desirous of rendering generally useful。 These is still another reason; which renders it necessary for him to have continually in view; in the Treatise; the situation of the Poor upon the Continent; and that it is an engagement which he has laid himself under to write upon that subject。
'2' The only step which; in my opinion; it would be either; necessary; or prudent; for the legislature to take in any country where an Establishment for the Poor is to be formed; is to RECOMMEND to the Public a good plan for such an Establishment; and repeal; or alter all such of the existing laws as might render the introduction of it difficult or impossible。
'3' This is an object of the utmost importance; and the success of the undertaking will depend in a great measure on the attention that is paid to it。
'4' This measure has been followed by the most salutary effects at Munich。 The commissaries of districts flattered by this distinction have exerted themselves with uncommon zeal and assiduity in the discharge of the important duties of their office。 And very important indeed is the office of a commissary of a district in the Establishment for the Poor at Munich。
'5' It will be best; if it be possible; to mention and describe the place; in the Proposals。
CONTENTS of ESSAY III。
of FOOD and particularly of FEEDING the POOR
Introduction。
CHAPTER。 I。 Great importance of the subject under consideration。 Probability that water acts a much more important part in nutrition than has hitherto been generally imagined。 Surprisingly small quantity of solid food necessary; when properly prepared; for all the purposes of nutrition。 Great importance of the art of cookery。 Barley remarkably nutritive when properly prepared。 The importance of culinary processes for preparing food shown from the known utility of a practice common in some parts of Germany of cooking for cattle。 Difficulty of introducing a charge of cookery into common use。 Means that may be employed for that purpose。
CHAPTER。 II。 Of the pleasure of eating; and of the means that may be employed for increasing it。
CHAPTER。 III。 Of the different kinds of food furnished to the poor in the house of industry at Munich; with an account of the cost of them。 Of the Expense of providing the same kinds of food in Great Britain; as well at the present high prices of provisions; as at the ordinary prices of them。 Of the various improvements of which these different kinds of cheap food are capable。
CHAPTER。 IV。 Of the small expense at which the Bavarian soldiers are fed。 Details of their housekeeping; founded on actual experiment。 An account of the fuel expended by them in cooking。
CHAPTER。 V。 Of the great importance of making soldiers eat together in regular mess