lous.

"the public, if the charity of well"disposed persons were not intercept"ed by some common strollers, who are most importunate, and who least "deserve it !"

66

Of all the modes of giving charity, the least advantageous, undoubtedly, is that of bestowing it upon common beggars. No examination can here take place into the merits or wants of the applicant; but the presumption is strong against his deserving relief, since he would, in that case, have been entitled to legal provision from the parish to which he belongs.Such an exhibition, besides, implies a total absence of that honourable pride which is usually attendant on habits from our streets has therefore, properof honest industry. To banish beggars ly, been a leading object in the recent systems of police. To effect this laudable purpose, however, in a sweeping manner, and without any examination, might involve persons who are really necessitous: some might be ignorant where to apply for relief; others might find it difficult to transport themselves to the place, and to produce due evidence of their claim. The humane passenger, therefore, would still have the feeling, that the object soliciting his bounty may be in real distress. A remedy can only be found in some arrangement, by which these different persons may have their wants and claims investigated, and may be transmitted and recommended to the quarters where they would be entitled to relief. We are happy to state, that such an institution is immediately to be formed in this city, under the most respectable auspices, and as we have been favoured with the following report of a committee, appointed by the Commissioners of Police, in which the nature and objects of this institution are so fully and so well explained, we conceive that no apology can be necessary for presenting it at length to our readers.

Report

Report of the Committee appointed by the Commissioners of Police, to inquire into the Practicability of suppressing the Practice of common begging, and relieving the Industrious and sickly Poor.

COMMITTEE.

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh.
Mr Sheriff Rae.
Bailie Walker.
Robert Johnston, Esq.
John Connel, Esq. Advocate.
William Inglis, Esq. W. S.
Andrew Storie, Esq. W. S.
Mr James Brown.
Mr Andrew Walker.

In every great city, the practice of common begging has been found to be an evil of no ordinary magnitude; and its suppression, whether in the more open form of importuning the passenger, or in that of private solicitation, forms an object worthy of attention in a well-regulated system of Police. In this undertaking, however, the hands of the magistrates require to be strengthened by all the aids which individuals or societies can afford. It is always the idle and the dissolute who resort to this line of life; and while it occupies in lazy labour those who are thus engaged, it frequently requires as much health and strength for its performance as would be sufficient, if well directed, to support the individuals by honest industry. It extorts from the public, supplies almost as large as would be required for the relief of the really necessitous, and diverts those supplies from their proper channel. It con firms corrupted morals, and trains up children in vice, ignorance, idleness, and deceit ; it entails upon the public a succession of vagrants of the worst description, and poisons society with a race of people hostile to the real welfare of a country. The horrible appearance of misery which impostors often exhibit, would be a reproach on

our national humanity and justice, were it not generally known to be the effect of artifice. It is not from a wish to spare the eyes or feelings of sickly sensibility, that we would remove this disgrace from our streets, but because we are convinced that real distress is over-looked, while attention is occupied by obtrusive imposture; and because we know, that charity is deadened by habitual acquaintance with deceit and we know, too, that many delude themselves with a pernicious notion, that they have discharged the high duty of charity, when they have bestowed trifles for which they have no use, for the mere purpose of removing the annoyance of importunity. This ir ritable indolence, which cannot with. stand the pertinacity of beggars, and which disdains the labour of investigating the justice of the appeal made to their humanity, is undoubtedly the principal cause of all that diversity of imposture which assumes the appearance of distress, aided by the ignorance and credulity of many in the lower stations of life, especially of servants, which leads them by nume rous donations of their mites, and often by bestowing what is, properly speaking, not their own, to give great encouragement to common beggars.

The disposition to sympathise and to relieve is assuredly amiable, but the mode is extensively mischievous: it fosters idleness, in the first instance, and becomes the cause, more or less remote, of the numerous vices of which idleness is the common parent.

As the practice of common begging is thus fraught with evil to the individuals who betake themselves to it, so is it no less distressing to the community, where such practice prevails. Nothing can be more harassing, than to have a claim of either real or pretended distress made upon one at every corner of a street, and such claims often persisted in with a degree of perseverance, meant and

calculated

calculated to compel the passenger, in some measure, to compliance.These evils have been fully felt in this metropolis, and the public voice has, in consequence, been often loudly raised for the suppression of the practice here censured. This object was attempted under the former Police Act, by means of severe penalties, comprehending not only imprisonment, but also pains of a corporal nature. Such severe, and often unsuitable, punishments, shared the fate that might have been anticipated: they were not, indeed, and they could not be inflicted, and, consequently, the practice of common begging has continued undiminished. By the late Police Act, ample powers are vested in the Magistrates for the punishment of such offenders; but before such punishment can be duly applied, some means must be devised for the relief of the truly destitute. The instances of this description are doubtless few in number, compared with those whose wants are in a great measure pretended that such instances do, however, occur, especially in times of scarcity, is undeniable. To condemn such persons to imprisonment, along with the infant family which often attends them, is a proceeding at which the heart revolts.-Police-officers will not incur the odium of apprehending the objects of such distress, nor will judges be found willing to apply the heavy lash of the law to those who are the victims of such perfect misery. If even these difficulties should be got over, and punishment be inflicted, no good effect can result therefrom, excepting the temporary removal of the individual; for, at the expiry of the punishment, such objects have no resource but to recommence their former way of life, whilst their minds u have imbibed additional corruption by the communication to which such punishment must probably have led. Such, it is believed, must invariably be the result of any attempt

to put an end to the practice of common begging, by the means of punishment alone. On the other hand, if some method were devised by which the claims for public relief could be investigated, and the means of support and employment secured for the truly deserving, the difficulties of checking the practice of begging, which have now been pointed out, would entirely be removed.

The common beggars could then be known to follow that line of life, not from necessity, but from choice. The most charitable persons would not be disposed to afford aid to these worthless objects, whilst the public mind would readily go along with the apprehension and punishment of such vagrants. As the trade would thus, on the one hand, be no longer lucra tive, so, on the other, it would regularly be accompanied with correction, and, in these circumstances, little doubt can be entertained that it would speedily cease entirely to be followed.

Under the impression that a scheme of this nature might be rendered praeticable in relation to this city, the Commissioners of Police lately referred considerations of the matter to this Committee, who have now humbly to report their opinion, that it would be highly expedient, that a Society should forthwith be established in Edinburgh, for the suppression of Vagrants, Street-beggars, and Impostors, the relief of occasional distress, and encouragement of industry, similar to that which has long existed in Bath, Hull, Liverpool, Hamburgh, and other great towns, and which has proved the means of putting an end to common begging in these places, An investigation or inquiry into the circumstances of every case where relief is asked, is the basis on which such a plan must rest. By these means, relief will be alone afforded to real objects of compassion, and that only to such an extent as may be

proved to be indispensably requisite, taking into account the exertion which the individual may be capable of making for his own support.

On this basis, the above-mentioned Societies were founded, and have continued to regulate their proceedings; and it appears to the Committee, that, by adopting in the outset the general outline of the rules observed by some one of those Societies, much time and labour may be saved in organizing the institution now proposed to be set on foot.

For the success of such a plan, three things appear to be requisite.-1st, Funds sufficient to meet the expence necessarily attending it: 2dly, The aid of respectable individuals in the management of those funds, and in inquiring into the condition of those who apply for relief: 3dly, A fixed resolution on the part of the public, to withhold alms from all mendicants of whatever description.

With respect to the first of these, the Committee entertain no doubts that ample funds will be obtained by voluntary contributions from public bodies, and from individuals connected with this city. The inhabitants of Edinburgh have ever been liberal in the support of charitable institutions; and when the humanity of the plan thus proposed is kept in view, on the one hand, whilst the incalculable advantage of being relieved from the nuisance of common begging is recollected, on the other, the Committee are confident, that no exertion will be requisite to secure funds sufficient for the accomplishment of the object in view.

With respect to the second point, it will readily occur, how indispensably requisite it will be, to obtain the aid of respectable individuals in managing those funds, and in investigating every case of distress. The confidence and support of the public can alone be obtained and preserved, by the conviction, that every case is fully

and candidly inquired into; that all persons in real want are assisted; whilst every claim of an opposite nature is entirely disregarded.

As to the probability of now and hereafter finding individuals willing to undertake such duties, the Committee trust, that before this Report shall meet the public eye, they will be able to appeal to something more than presumption on the subject.--They acknowledge that a good understanding, some experience, as well as a compassionate heart, are necessary qualifications in those who become the visitors of the poor, and the immediate trustees of the public benevolence: they also acknowledge, that a man must not be fastidious who enters the habitations of poverty and misery,— who encounters rude manners without impatience, and who, inflexibly, detects imposition and deceit without being provoked; but such men they trust there are,-such men they trust this very measure will bring forward, with some of whom at least the public have not hitherto been acquainted.

As to the third requisite above mentioned, it will certainly form no part of the object of the proposed Society to restrain private charity: on the contrary, it will be their business to provide the benevolent with means of correct information as to the real objects of such charity. But giving of alms to those who importune the passenger must prove injurious to the scheme here in view; as such encouragement will, to a certainty, augment the number of beggars, while it will also be the means of preventing the worthless from quitting the city,-an effect which the plan in view seems well calculated to produce.

These reasons for discontinuing the practice of giving alms to beggars are so obvious, that little doubt can be entertained as to their having effect. And should any disappointment be hereafter experienced in this respect, an address to the public will certainly

be

be productive of any change in the practice that may be found requisite. It is obvious that the whole of the various charitable institutions of this city are calculated to aid, foster, and promote, the plan now proposed; because, in many cases, one or other of these institutions will be found, in their rules and enactments, ready to relieve cases of distress, when duly vouched. These societies do lasting honour to their generous promoters, and should confer no small lustre upon the character of the country: it is apparent, that a primary object of the present scheme will be to contribute to the funds of these institutions, agreeable to the measure of benefit which may be derived from each of them; in particular, an extension of the plans of the house of industry will demand early attention. Many advantages will doubtless accompany the operation of a Society, whose object it will be, not merely to give to the poor, but to take a fatherly charge of them, to aid them with counsel, -to furnish them with clothes, and other necessaries, when totally destitute; and, in some cases, with loans of small sums, to be repaid weekly; and so to continue the mode of relief, as to make every supply an encouragement to industry, when the objects of their bounty are able, in any degree, to earn their own bread.

It is, therefore, humbly reported to the General Commissioners as the opinion of this Committee,

First, That a Society should be formed in this city, upon the plan of that established at Bath, under the authority of the Magistracy, and with the sanction of the Commissioners of Police.

Secondly, That circular letters should be sent to the principal inhabitants of the city and suburbs, with

a

copy of this Report, calling their attention thereto; and requesting their attendance at a meeting afterwards to be called.

Thirdly, That the Committee be continued, to prosecute this desirable scheme, with full powers; and that the following gentlemen be added thereto : William Inglis.

Andw. Storie.
James Brown.
R. Johnston.
Andw. Walker.
John Walker,
Edinburgh, 5th October 1812.

The perusal of this report will, we think, be sufficient to satisfy our readers of the good sense and sound views of the persons under whose auspices this institution is to be undertaken. In order, moreover, to prove that similar plans have stood the test of experience, we shall make a few extracts from printed accounts which have fallen into our hands, of those successfully established at Hamburgh and at Bath. The former was published at Edinburgh in 1798, by a Mr Voght, and contains pretty ample details of the proceedings of a society formed at Hamburgh, for the management of the poor. The following account is given of its origin, and the principles upon which it was founded:

"Some years previous to 1788, a society had united for giving relief to the indigent sick. Another society had procured flax and spinning-wheels, established a spinning school, and gi ven work to all those who chose to work: their number yet was comparatively small.

"Some other humane gentlemen made personal visits among the poor, and, by giving their history to the public, awakened its attention to the sufferings of this numerous class, showing, at the same time, the necessity of a general measure.

"I lay some stress upon these preliminary essays; partly from my conviction, that the success of such an

un