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to a fingle branch, whether relative to peace or to war. The Duke of Marlborough made an eminent figure in the cabinet, as well as in the field; and fo did equally the illuftrious Sully, who may ferve as a model to all minifters. The great aim in modern politics is, to fplit government into the greatest number poffible of departments, trusting nothing to genius. China affords fuch a government in perfection. National affairs are there fo fimplified by divifion, as to require fcarce any capacity in the mandarines. Thefe officers, having little occafion for activity either of mind or of body, fink down into floth and fenfuality: motives of ambition or of fame make no impreffion : they have not even the delicacy to blush when they err: and as no punishment is regarded but what touches the perfon or the purfe, it is not unusual to fee a mandarine beaten with many ftripes, fometimes for a very flight tranfgreffion. Let arts be fubdivided into many parts: the more fubdivifions the better. But I venture to pronounce, that no man ever did, nor ever will, make a capital figure in the government of a state, whether as a judge, a general, or a minister, whofe education is rigidly confined to one fcience *.

Senfible I am that the foregoing plan is in feveral refpects imperfect; but if it be found at bottom, polish and improvement are eafy operations. My. capital aim has been, to obviate the objections that prefs hard against every military plan, hitherto embraced or propofed. A ftanding army in its prefent form is dangerous to liberty; and but a feeble bulwark against fuperior force. On the other hand, a nation in which every fubje&t

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* Phocion is praised by ancient writers, for ftruggling against an abufe that had crept into his country of Attica, that of making war and politics different profeffions. In imitation of Ariftides and of Pericles, he studied both equally.

is a foldier, muft not indulge any hopes of becoming powerful by manufactures and commerce: it is indeed vigorously defended, but is fcarce worthy of being defended. The golden mean of rotation and conftant labour in a standing army, would difcipline multitudes for peace as well as for war. And a nation fo defended would be invincible.

SKETCH X.

Public Police with respect to the Poor,

AMO

MONG the industrious nations of Europe, regulations for the poor, make a confiderable branch of public police. These regulations are fo multiplied and fo anxiously framed, as to move one to think, that there cannot remain a fingle perfon under neceffity to beg. It is however a fad truth, that the disease of poverty, inftead of being eradicated, has become more and more inveterate. England in particular overflows with beggars, though in no other country are the indigent fo amply provided for. Some radical de fect there must be in thefe regulations, when, after endless attempts to perfect them, they prove abortive. Every writer, diffatisfied with former plans, fails not to produce one of his own; which, in its turn, meets with as little approbation as any of the foregoing.

The first regulation of the ftates of Holland concerning the poor, was in the year 1614, prohibiting all begging. The next was in the year 1649." It is enacted, That every town, village,

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or parish, shall maintain its poor out of the in"come of its charitable foundations and collecti<6 ons. And in cafe these means fall fhort, the "magistrates shall maintain them at the general expence of the inhabitants, as can moft conveniently be done: Provided always, that the poor be obliged to work either to merchants, "farmers, or others, for reasonable wages, in or"der that they may, as far as poffible, be fup

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ported that way; provided alfo, that they be "indulged in no idlenefs nor infolence." The advice or inftruction here given to magiftrates, is fenfible; but falls fhort of what may be termed a law, the execution of which can be enforced in a court of justice.

In France, the precarious charity of monafteries proving ineffectual, a hofpital was erected in the city of Paris anno 1656, having different apartments; one for the innocent poor, one for putting vagabonds to hard labour, one for foundlings, and one for the fick and maimed; with certain funds for defraying the expence of each, which produce annually much about the fame fum.In imitation of Paris, hofpitals of the fame kind were erected in every great town of the kingdom,

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The English began more early to think of their poor; and in a country without industry, the neceffity probably arofe more early. The firft English ftatute bears date in the year 1496, directing, "That every beggar unable to work, fhall "refort to the hundred where he laft dwelt or

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was born; and there fhall remain, upon pain "of being fet in the ftocks three days and three nights, with only bread and water, and then fhall be put out of town." This was a law against vagrants, for the fake of order. There was little occafion, at that period, to provide for

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the innocent poor; their maintenance being a burden upon monafteries. But monafteries being put down by Henry VIII. a ftatute, 22d year of his reign, cap. 12. impowered the juftices of every county, to license poor aged and impotent perfons to beg within a certain diftrict; thofe who beg without it, to be whipt, or fet in the ftocks. In the first year of Edward VI. cap. 3. a ftatute was made in favour of impotent, maimed, and aged perfons, that they shall have convenient houses provided for them, in the cities or towns where they were born, or where they refided for three years, to be relieved by the willing and charitable difpofition of the parishioners. By 2d and 3d Philip and Mary, cap, 5. the former ftatutes of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. were confirmed, of gathering weekly relief for the poor by charitable collections. "A man licensed to beg, fhall wear a badge on his breast and back "openly."

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The first compulsory ftatute was 5 Elizab. cap. 3. empowering juftices of peace to raise a weekly fum for the poor, by taxing fuch perfons as obftinately refuse to contribute, after repeated admonitions from the pulpit. In the next ftatute, 14 Elizab. cap. 5. a bolder ftep was made, empowering juftices to tax the inhabitants of every parish, in a weekly fum for their poor. And taxations for the poor being now in fome degree familiar, the remarkable ftatutes, 39 Elizab. cap. 3. and 43 Elizab. cap. 2. were enacted, which are the ground-work of all the fubfequent ftatutes concerning the poor. By these ftatutes, certain householders, named by the juftices, are, in conjunction with the church-wardens, appointed overfeers for the poor; and thofe overfeers, with confent of two juftices, are empowered to tax the parish in what fums they think proper, for maintaining the poor.

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Among a people fo tenacious of liberty as the English are, and fo impatient of oppreffion, is it not furprising to find a law, that without ceremony fubjects individuals to be taxed at the arbitrary will of men, who feldom either by birth or education deferve that important truft; and without even providing any effectual check against embezzlement ? At prefent a British parliament would reject with fcorn fuch an abfurd plan; and yet, being familiarized to it, they never feriously have attempted a repeal. We have been always on the watch to prevent the fovereigns encroachments, especially with regard to taxes: but as parish-officers are low perfons who infpire no dread, we fubmit to have our pockets picked by them, almoft without repining. There is provided, it is true, an appeal to the general feffions for redreffing inequalities in taxing the parishioners. But it is no effectual remedy: artful overfeers will not over-rate any man fo grofsly as to make it his intereft to complain, confidering that these overfeers have the poor's money to defend themselves with. Nor will the general feffions readily liften to a complaint, that cannot be verified but with much time and trouble. If the appeal have any effect, it makes a ftill greater inequality, by relieving men of figure at the expence of their inferiors; who muft fubmit, having little interest to obtain redress.

The English plan, befide being oppreffive, is grofsly unjuft. If it fhould be reported of fome diftant nation, that the burden of maintaining the idle and profligate, is laid upon the frugal and induftrious, who work hard for a maintenance to themselves; what would one think of fuch a nation? Yet this is literally the cafe of England. I fay more the plan is not only oppreffive and unjust, but miferably defective in the checking of

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