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them to farm derive a profit from allowing them to go out to ask charity. One person at Hoxton farms the poor of 40 parishes, all within the city; the number of paupers about 300, many of whom beg.

In another house at Hoxton, the poor of 17 parishes are farmed; in some parishes there are no poor to be sent to farm.

At Mile End there is a house where the poor of nearly 40 parishes, mostly in the city, are farmed; some from neighbouring parishes; 350 paupers at Mile End, and 150 in another house at Old Ford.

The whole number may go out twice a-week, Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The persons farming them do not admit that the paupers beg to their knowledge; they have not, however, always distinguishing dresses. It is alleged the paupers have their meals on going-out days, and that they have religious instruction.

The poor of three parishes, six only in number, farmed in a house near the Minories; they are allowed to go out on Fridays and Saturdays, or Sundays; on other days not without leave.

A police magistrate states he had proof of hundreds of parish paupers begging on a Sunday.

A custom prevails in workhouses in general, to suffer the paupers to go out occasionally for holidays at certain times of the year.

A pauper, farmed out by a city parish, had a weekly allowance from the farmer of the poor at Hoxton, by whom he was permitted to go out to beg.

From the evidence of two members of the Committee, who visited the

houses at Hoxton and Mile End, it appears they were much crowded, and extremely filthy; nine, and ten, and eleven persons in a room; no space in the rooms when the beds were let down; no classification of the paupers; in one of them no infirmary. A practice of "flating" prevailed, which is an allowance of 2ld. in lieu of a dinner. In one of the houses at Hoxton, the paupers had the means of going out when they chose to do so. Twenty-two persons slept in a room 28 feet by 15; idiots were mixed with other paupers. Great complaint of the clothing being very defective, and of the insufficiency and quality of the food. On the whole, the situation of the paupers in the houses of these contractors appears to be very wretched.*

One class of paupers is so numerous as to render it desirable to make a spe. cial statement respecting them. We allude to the natives of Ireland, in which part of the united kingdom there are no laws for the support and maintenance of the poor. Some of these come to England (chiefly to London, or to places near it) in search of work, at a particular season of the year, and frequently do not return.

Much pains, by very particular inquiries, were taken in the year 1815, by a remarkably humane gentleman, to ascertain the number in London, only distinguishing the parishes; the result of which was, that 6876 adults, and 7288 children, were then found, making a total of 14,164.

In a court in Mary-le-bonne parish, containing only 24 very small houses, 700 of these poor people were found in a situation likely to occasion a considerable risk of contagion. These are,

This seems to be the entire cause of the evil. The poor are cruelly, or harshly and illiberally treated in poor-houses, and thence they become mendicants as an alternative.-EDITOR.

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The chief clerk to the magistrates at Guildhall states, that these people are passed to Bristol and Liverpool, where they take ship to go across. And the clerk to the Lord Mayor supposes there are agents in those ports to convey paupers to Ireland, who are passed under the 17 Geo. II. c. 5.; but the Committee will have occasion to state, that on inquiry it has been found there is a misconception respecting that.

It is stated, that not one in ten who are passed to Ireland are shipped.

A few of the poorer sort are enabled to return to their country by the Irish Society, lately instituted; but the funds of that benevolent establishment are too limited to enable it to give much assistance to such as are desirous of going home.

The allowance for the passage of the paupers is so small, that they have been nearly famished when that has been a long one.

Probably 5000 more Irish poor in London in the latter end of June than there had been five weks before.

Some reform has been attempted among the lower Irish in the capital, by the establishment of a free school for their benefit in the parish of St Giles; but unhappily it has not succeeded to any considerable extent, notwithstanding the meritorious exertions of a very intelligent and humane master, who attributes the failure principally to the parents taking the children from the school for the more profitable occupation of begging.

Another class of beggars to which the Committee are desirous of drawing the attention of the House, are persons who receive pensions, from the Royal Hospitals at Greenwich and Chelsea for naval and military services, as some of them are amongst the most importunate of those who infest the

streets.

Some who have pensions as soldiers or sailors are among those who apply by letters for charity; one sailor, who had lost a leg, is one of the most vio lent and desperate characters in the metropolis.

Among beggars of the very worst sort there are about thirty Greenwich pensioners, who have instruments of music, and go about in parties.

The class of beggars who are Greenwich and Chelsea pensioners is pretty numerous; they are represented to carry on the trade of begging to a considerable extent.

A marine, who complained he had only 77. a-year pension, said, he could make a day's work in an hour in any square in London.

Some are guilty of acts of violence when in the custody of the contractor for removing beggars.

A pensioner who had 187. a-year from Chelsea, when taken up begging, had bank notes in a tin box concealed in his waistcoat; and on many of that description frequently 8s., 10s., or 12s., are found, that they have got in a day.

A pensioner of 77. a-year, committed for begging; sailors frequently go four or five together.

Chelsea pensioners beg in all directions, at periods between the receipts of their pension. When the parish officers know that persons who receive relief from them are entitled to pensions, they deduct half the amount of the pensions on sending in a list to the office.

A Chelsea pensioner, who receives

18. 6d. a-day, is one of the most noto-
rious beggars who infest the town.
A Greenwich pensioner of 7. a-year
gets from 5s. to 10s. for writing beg-
ging letters.

The last description of beggars that remain for your Committee to take notice of, are those who seek charity by letters.

Some thousand applications by letters are made for charity to ladies, noblemen, and gentlemen, in the metropolis: two thousand on an average were within the knowledge of one individual, who was employed to make inquiries.

Some were from persons receiving pensions as sailors or soldiers, or from the public companies.

and it will be seen how ineffectual those have generally been where they were attempted.

Before they proceed, however, to do that, they think it right to observe, that

The frequent resort to gin shops is stated as a means of encouraging beg. gars in their practice.

And that lotteries have reduced some to want.

On the other hand, Sunday schools are stated to have produced a most beneficial effect on the morals and ha bits of the lower order of the people.

The sturdy beggars are sent to Bridewell, but are turned loose again.

Beggars are sent to Bridewell for merely begging; if insolent for a month, Several persons subsist by writing the city parish officer sends them alletters; one woman profits by the prac-ways out of his district. tice, who receives a guinea a-week as a legacy from a relation, and has laid out 2001. in the funds. Letters have been written by the same person in five or six different hands.

Persons who write begging letters are called twopenny-post beggars, and profit considerably by the practice.

Petitions carried about frequently obtain money; many persons live by writing these letters.

A man who keeps a school writes begging letters for 2d. each.

A gross imposition detected, that was attempted in a begging letter.

The vagrant act evaded by persons resorting to begging by letters. A person who has been an attorney's clerk much employed in writing such letters.

The facts here stated having impressed upon your Committee a clear conviction of the extent of the practices of mendicity in various ways in the metropolis, and having brought under their view the magnitude and pernicious consequences of the evil, they next thought it their duty to inquire what corrections had been applied;

The chaplain of Bridewell, who ap pears to have been not merely attentive to the duty required of him, but with much zeal to have exceeded that, states, that in the course of fourteen years, there were not six instances of persons having been reformed by having been committed to Bridewell. He mention ed one of a woman having been committed there thirty-nine times, for a week, a fortnight, or a month; and others a great number of times.

Beggars are not reformed in Bridewell; too short a time there.

Apprentices have been committed to Bridewell two or three times; but not many instances of that.

Vain attempts at reform of women. In ten days or a fortnight after the beggars from Bridewell are passed in to the country, they are on their hands again.

It appears from the whole of this evidence, that a uniform and active exercise of the duty of the magistrates would go far to clear the streets of the metropolis; but if the mendicants, when removed by the justices, shall be allowed to go where they please in the

country, the evil will only be transferred there, where the nuisance of their practices is as intolerable as in the capital.

There is clear evidence that when they are sent on their way to their parishes, they escape and disperse after the first stage.

Beggars who have been passed to their parishes, frequently return.

Reference has been had to the evidence of the person who contracts for conveying the beggars from the metropolis, to shew, that he conveys annually from 12,000 to 13,000 in a year; many times the same persons who have returned to the capital.

The legal authority for repressing the practices so justly complained of, and so clearly proved to exist, appears apparently to be confined to the provisions of the 17th Geo. II. c. 5. generally called the vagrant act; no instances appear where the magistrates have acted under any other.

That act professes to divide the vagrants into three classes-idle and disorderly persons, rogues and vagabonds, and incorrigible rogues; allotting different punishments to each, according to the degree of the offence. But the humble mendicant, asking alms in a state of nearly famishing, is included in the first class, and so is liable to commitment to the house of correction, in like manner as the sturdy and insolent beggar, living in a state of comparative luxury, is: "All persons going about from door to door, or placing themselves in streets, highways, or passages, to beg or gather alms, in the parishes or places where they dwell, shall be deemed idle and disorderly persons; and it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace to commit such offenders to the house of correction, to be kept to hard labour for any time not exceeding one month." If such persons shall resist being carried to the house of correction, they

are to be subject to the said punishments as rogues and vagabonds; and a reward of ten shillings is payable to any one, whether parish officers or not, who shall take up such persons.

MEMORIAL

To the American Senate and House of Representatives on African Coloni

zation.

THE President and Board of Managers of the American Colonization Society respectfully represent, that being about to commence the execution of the object to which their views have been long directed, they deem it proper and necessary to address themselves to the legislative council of their country. They trust that this object will be considered in itself of great national importance, will be found inseparably connected with another, vitally affecting the honour and interest of this nation, and leading in its consequences to the most desirable results.

Believing that examination and reflection will shew that such are its connexions and tendency, they are encouraged to present themselves, and their cause, where they know that a public measure, having these advantages, cannot fail to receive all the countenance and aid it may require.

The last census shews the number of free people of colour of the United States, and their rapid increase. Supposing them to increase in the same ratio, it will appear how large a proportion of our population will, in the course of even a few years, consist of persons of that description.

No argument is necessary to shew that this is very far indeed from constituting an increase of our physical strength; nor can there be a population, in any country, neutral as to its

effects upon society. The least observation shews, that this description of persons are not, and cannot be, either useful or happy among us; and many considerations, which need not be mentioned, prove, beyond dispute, that it is best for all the parties interested that there should be a separation; that those who are now free, and those who may become so hereafter, should be provided with the means of attaining to a state of respectability and happiness, which it is certain they have never yet reached, and therefore can never be likely to reach in this country.

Several of the states, deeply interested in this subject, have already applied to the general government; and concurring in the views of your memorialists, both from considerations of justice towards themselves and humanity to the coloured people, have expressed to the general government, their desire that a country should be procured for them in the land of their forefathers, to which such of them as should choose to avail themselves of the opportunity might be removed. It has been the one single object of the society, which your memorialists represent, to effect this end. They have made the most cautious and particular inquiries as to the practicability of such a plan, and its prospects of success, both in this country and in Africa; and they are warranted in declaring, that there are no difficulties which they do not confidently expect will be easily overcome by a moderate exertion of discretion and perseverance.

In this country, and in almost every part of it, they have found a zealous and decided approbation expressed, both in words and deeds, by a vast majority of all classes of our citizens; and this sentiment is continually increasing as the measure becomes more the subject of discussion and reflection. Its importance all admit ; and its prac

ticability, though doubted by many at first, is daily less questioned.

The two last Reports of the Society, to which your memorialists beg leave to refer, shew the success of their mission to Africa, and the result of their inquiries upon that continent. From those it is manifest that a situation can be readily obtained, favourable to commerce and agriculture, in a healthy and fertile country, and that the natives are well disposed to give every encouragement to the establishment of such a settlement among them. Thus it appears, that an object of great national concern, already expressly desired by some of the states, and truly desirable to all, receiving also the approbation of those upon whom it is more immediately to operate, is brought within our reach.

But this subject derives, perhaps, its chief interest from its connexion with a measure which has already, to the honour of our country, occupied the deliberation of the Congress of the United States.

Your memorialists refer with pleasure to the act passed at the last session of Congress, supplementary to the act formerly passed for the suppression of the slave trade. The means afford. ed, by the provisions of that act, for the accomplishment of its object, are certainly great; but the total extir. pation of this disgraceful trade cannot, perhaps, be expected from any measures which rely alone upon the employment of a maritime force, however considerable.

The profits attending it are so extraordinary, that the cupidity of the unprincipled will still be tempted to continue it, as long as there is any chance of escaping the vigilance of the cruisers engaged against them. From the best information your memorialists have been able to obtain of the nature, causes, and course of this trade, and of

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