The state of the poor in France became a national ob ject during the time of the revolution ; but there, as well as in Italy, there is no compulsory provision ; mendicity is al lowed to a great extent; there is a want of employment in winter; and though much attention is given to promote and apply the public charities in France, the numbers of poor are considered as rising to one-fifteenth of the popu lation in rural parts, to one-tenth in the towns, and to one seventh in Paris, the capital. It is believed also that one third of the burials in that city are at the public expense. It is impossible to ascertain the precise numbers and state of the poor in those nations where servitude still attaches them to the soil, devolving the burthen of their support al most wholly on the will and humanity of their lords ; and the same remark applies to countries in which slavery still remains.
Withyespect to the state of the poor in Ireland, and also to their vast numbers, every report as to both is melancho ly indeed. Iii the labours of agriculture they have little encouragement, being so extremely depressed under the system of holding, which entails on them enormous rents, and also by the tithe-system, that sweeps away a great part of the produce. In manufacturing industry and in corn merce, though they have partly succeeded in some branch es, yet in others they have not been much encouraged. Ca pital is wanting, and owing to habits of riot and insubordi nation, few men of capital are willing to embal k it among the people of Ireland. The great mass of the lower classes is in abject poverty; and their numbers arc far more than the proportion in any country yet or perhaps in any country whatever.
It would be in vain to attempt to construct a good system of providing for the poor, without a proper basis of facts and principles. The facts above detailed are interesting and valuable; but the more important part of this article still remains, to state the legitimate principles of provision for the poor, and of administering to their necessities.
In order to provide liar the wants of the poor, it is com monly necessary to have recourse to the highest authority, that of the legislature; and this authority may be exercised in two ways; in removing obstacles to full and free em ployment, associated with habits of industry and economy, or in making some positive provision for their support, out of specific means and funds. The latter mode is what oc curs generally, as the first and readiest, though it requires a degree of prudence and delicacy which few laws have yet attained. The former is the more correct and effectual mode, as it not only serves the poor, in the way most grate ful to their feelings, and most consonant with good princi ples and habits, but also tends to prevent the increase of poverty in the community. It may he proper to notice a third way; that of setting loose the poor on the commu nity as common beggars, in order to extort alms by impor tunity, or by other methods less or more nefarious, but all tending to propagate idleness, imposture, and low profliga cy over the country. This last mode is so pregnant with evils, that it appears astonishing how any enlightened le gislature should deliberately tolerate it, however it may have been introduced by temporary pressure and abuse, or want of means to meet it.
In the first mode of providing for the poor by legislative authority, we have stated that obstacles to full and free employment should be removed, and habits of industry and prudence encouraged. In the 43d of Elizabeth, the legis lature of England had this important object in view ; but they seem to have apprehended it very indistinctly, com mitting the authority of executing it to men who had not, and could not have sufficient means or influence ; and still this indistinct apprehension continues. It was not in the power of the church-wardens and overseers of the poor, even under the authority of the law, and with the support of the magistracy, to make effectual provision for full and free employment ; it never can be in their power to do this, with all the improvements lately made by law in their ad ministration. The greatest and most productive source of employment is land ; and so long as the land is locked up by entails in the hands of persons having neither due motives nor sufficient means to cultivate and improve it, one most important branch of employment must continue shut by law. The rights of common, which in England reqttire the authority of individual acts of parliament, in order to explain them, and to confer, on individuals, their several ascertained and improveable interests, ought long ago to have been placed under the influence of one general and equitable bill of enclosure, and thus employment and subsistence for thousands would have been at once attained. Above all, the tithe-system, which admits of one general and equitable commutation in the form of a valuation made once for all, as exists in Scotland, requires to be revised, that encouragement may he given for the best and most productive employment, on a great national scale. These measures can only be taken by the legislature itself; and it is only trifling with the great interests of the community, to leave them as they arc unattempted, and the proper employment of millions in triple fetters, while nominal powers (quite ineffectual) arc continued to a few individuals, in order to find or to force employment. The true policy of the legislature is here quite apparent ; and it ought to be extended in full influence to Ireland, and also to Scot land, in so far as concerns deeds of entail. To these mea sures, the united kingdoms must at last have recourse ; and the sooner they do so the better. Scotland has prospered under the valuation of her tithes, and the fair and easy mode of dividing her commons. Ireland would be still more a gainer by the former plan, which would obviate half of the heartburnings that cause her misery ; and land holders, though subjected to payment of tithes, would be soon more than indemnified in rents and improvements, with security and peace. The wise and liberal policy now adopted, in respect of commercial and manufacturing in dustry, tending also to relax the restraints imposed by the jealousy of other states, must eventually open a wider field of employment in these great interests, and will of course materially add to the prosperity and efficacy of agricultural industry and employment also.