It has been found that sheriffs have no right to interfere with kirk sessions and heritors in making up their lists of poor; and also that children able to assist in supporting their indigent parents, are hound in law to do so. These decisions are of great importance in ascertaining the true and good principles of Scottish law, founded in the spirit of charity and of duty. It cannot now be considered as eith er hard or imprudent for ministers to employ their legiti mate authority in behalf of the poor ; it is their duty to do so, and they are answerable to God and their country for the discharge of it No prudent or liberal heritor will or can refuse his proportion ; for if not voluntarily granted, it can easily be enforced, and on such principles as can be hurtful to no one.
In the mean time, while a better system of administering to the wants of the poor is in progress, and the practice of Scotland and England are approximating towards each other, with the principles of law and practice in both king doms; it must be of great importance, while residence is thus enforced, to see that the poor are not destitute of em ployment. In former times, the manufacture of wool oc cupied many of the females during the dead season, as it has been called ; and if this be now carried away into Eng land, it might be so far recovered by the use of persons trained correctly to assort the Scottish fleece; after which it can be worked up to advantage.
Many of those who administer to the wants of the poor, do so always, or for the most part, by distributing money alone. It would often be far better to give less money, and other necessaries—as oatmeal, or coal, or perhaps cloth, or wool, or flax ; or implements of industry, such as wheels, heckles, or combs. The Board of Trustees at Edinburgh
now give aid in erecting carding mills for wool, and in be stowing heckles for the working of flax ; and it must be a very particular situation indeed, where the minister, elders, and heritors, cannot materially contribute to the mainte nance of the poor, by stimulating, assisting, and rewarding their industry. With a permanent burden of only about one regular pauper in the hundred of her population, Scot land may surely find useful employment for the other two incidental claimants on her kindness and bounty, and may grant what is necessary in supplement without a grudge. The law has now clearly said that no annoyance shall be giv en in any inferior courts to ministers, elders, and hcritors, in making up lists, and finding provision for the poor ; and that no appeal from them shall be competent, except to the Supreme Civil Court of Scotland. The voice of duty, therefore, calls upon them, in connection with the dictates of humanity, of justice, and of good policy, not to neglect nor desert what is thus committed to them as a high trust, and which the principles of Christian charity render sa cred.
Females of high rank and accomplishments now appear at the head of many beneficent plans for the instruction of It r children, and the support of the poor, in various parts of Scotland. The co-operation of these will not be wanting to the minister and elders, if properly asked ; and it will tend at once to sweeten their labours of charity, and to en sure their success. K. K.