any perfon or perfons, to whom any fuch application shall be made, fhall refuse or neglect to permit such inspections, copies, or extracts, to be made, the faid minifter, churchwardens, or fuch other persons aforefaid, are to make complaint thereof to the justices at the faid meeting, who are by the faid act to fummon fuch perfons to produce the fame before them at a time and place to be appointed, when and where the faid minifter, churchwardens, or other perfons making fuch complaint, are to attend: and if the perfon against whom fuch complaint fhall be made, does not produce the fame, or fhew good caufe for his refufal, to the fatisfaction of the juftices, he is to forfeit a fum not exceeding ten pounds, nor less than five pounds. Given under our hands, the day of in the year of our

Lord

The above precept contains the notice which I am directed to give to you.

N. B. The high conftables, town clerks, or other proper officers, before they deliver the Schedules, are required to fill up the blanks which fhew the appointment of the day and place for the meeting, in the manner they are filled up by the juftices who fign the precept.

Obfervations

Obfervations on the returns made by the overfeers of the poor, by virtue of an Act of the last feffion; and on the Bill for procuring returns of charitable donations for the benefit of poor perfons.

THE legislature, by virtue of an act of the last feffion of Parliament, have procured an account of the money raised by the poor's rates within the year ending at Eafter 1776, which amount to no less than . 1,720,316. 14s. 7d. including £37,656. 10s. 8d. applied out of that fum for the purpose of paffing vagrants, and other county expenses; £.80,296. 145. 7d. for the rent of workhoufes, and other houses for the poor; and £.35,072 for the expenfes of litigations which account has been abstracted, and is now printing for the ufe of the members of both Houses of Parliament.

The fum thus raifed upon the landed property of this kingdom (for personal eftates contribute very little to it) is enormous: but it is to be lamented, that these very ample provifions do not administer that comfort and convenience to the poor, which might juftly be expected from them; many of the most neceffitous and industrious being exposed to want and distress, whilft the idle and profligate find means of obtaining their fupport from this money.

When the charities given for the benefit of the poor fhall be inquired into, they will be found to be very confiderable; and, if faithfully applied for the purposes directed by the donors, will be the means of affording relief and support to great numbers of poor perfons, and in their confequences of eafing the poor's rates: but it is apprehended, that many of them are either concealed, or very much perverted; and it too frequently happens, that where there are the greatest charities, idle perfons are induced to procure fettlements in thofe places, that they may be entitled to the benefit of them, and by that means, inftead of diminishing, increase the poor's rates.

From these several circumftances it appears, that there is fomething capitally defective in the laws and police of this country, with refpect to the relief and employment of the poor; for which, it is hoped, fome speedy remedy will be provided. Many attempts for that purpose have been made, but hitherto without effect: perhaps nothing can

Z4

contribute

contribute more to the fuccefs of any future endeavours, than
a perfect state of the grievance.

With regard to the poor fupported by parochial levies, the
expenfes, in every parith and place within England and
Wales, will appear from the returns already procured; and
by the bill now depending in Parliament, the like returns
will be had of all charitable donations, for the benefit of
poor perfons, within every fuch parish and place.

When those several returns fhall be completed, noble-
men and gentlemen will be enabled to trace the burdens of
the poor under the rates, and alfo the charitable donations,
into the feveral parishes and places where their eftates lie;
and will be naturally led to inquire how those great fums
have been employed

If any charities fhall appear not to have been applied to
the purposes for which they were given, it is not doubted but
means will be found to compel the defaulters to a due appli-
cation, according to the intent of the feveral-donors; which
may be the means of reviving many charities, now funk and
loft, by the death of trustees, or otherwife; and of correct-
ing fome abufes which may have crept into many others, by
mifapplications; and alfo of affording relief to many dif
treffed families, who modeftly conceal their neceffities; and
moreover may ultimately tend to reduce the poor's levies.

This bill is propofed to be executed and enforced by the
juftices of peace, clerks of the peace, high conftables, mini-
fters and churchwardens, much in the fame manner as that
of the laft feffions, for procuring returns from the overfeers
of the poor; and as the forms of the proceedings are fixed
by the Schedule, it will be done with little trouble, and at a
very moderate expenfe, confidering the magnitude of the
object,

INDEX