of money to assist her on the road. She repaid her bene factresses by many tears of gratitude, feelingly expressing in her own artless language, that this was the Lord's doing, who had wonderfully raised her up friends in a land of strangers.

Mary Errington, from Hadlon near Malton, aged 21, nearly deprived of the use of her limbs for the last six years, but retaining notwithstanding a very pleasing expression of countenance, and an uniform cheerfulness of temper. In addition to her obliging behaviour, she particularly attracted the attention of the visitors by her industry and willingness, whenever she was able, having happily been taught to read herself, (an acquirement not yet by any means so common as might be expected) to teach three other poor girls among the patients, who did not possess that advantage.-Unhappily her disease admitted not of relief, and after an abode of a few weeks, she was discharged as incurable.-Her father and mother came hither on foot, a distance of twenty miles, to devise the means of her returning home in safety. It appeared that she was the eldest of ten children, nine of whom were living, and that the parents had hitherto maintained them all without parish assistance; the father, Robert Errington, said, that by great care and industry they had been enabled to do this, with the aid of taking piece work as a husbandman, instead of daily wages. Being asked how he had contrived to have his children taught to read, he replied, that he had paid a school-master in the village two guineas annually for seven years, to teach all his chil dren. On inquiring how they could get their daughter conveyed home, he said, that as she was unable to ride on horseback, or to bear the motion of a cart, he must be obliged to pay for her in the diligence, but without making any complaint of the expence or of the pecuniary embar rassment to which it would subject them an embarrassment

however from which their new friends were happy, in part, to relieve them. He had a most open, honest countenance, which beamed with satisfaction on hearing the approbation expressed of their conduct; and with thankfulness and gratitude for the sympathy his daughter's suffering state had excited.

The ladies who visit in these respective institutions are appointed by the Governors at a quarterly meeting, for the ensuing three months. They have a book, in which they note down any abuses they may have observed, to be shown from time to time to the Gentlemen's Committee. Their observations, in the Lunatic Asylum, extend to the apparel and cleanliness of the female patients as well as to their humane treatment and the decorous demeanour of the nurses and keepers. The unhappy sufferers generally express the greatest pleasure in being thus visited, and the strong compassion excited by seeing the human intellect thus laid low, gives an interest which generally absorbs every other feeling.

In the Asylum, any lady of respectability known to the Governors, and who is willing to become a visitor, may be appointed without being expected to subscribe to the institution. A very equitable and wise regulation, for are there not many persons, (for instance the wives and daughters of unbeneficed clergymen, widows, &c. in confined circum stances) who could spare a portion of their time, and whose services would be invaluable, but to whom an annual contribution would be an insurmountable difficulty? Two of the ladies who are the present visitors, happen to be the wives of Governors, whose families, were it not for this equitable law, could not be of all the service which the exigencies of the institution require, without being burdened by a double subscription.

The writer is much concerned to say that a like spirit of

wisdom does not govern in the councils of the county Hospital, where it was decreed by a small majority at the late quarterly meeting, by an arbitrary interpretation of an antiquated rule, in direct opposition to the earnest wishes of many most respectable Governors, that no lady should in future be eligible as a visitor, who does not annually subscribe two guineas.'

The writer of the above paper has great pleasure in adding that since it was sent to a friend for insertion in the Pamphleteer, the Trustees of the Leeds Infirmary, with the unanimous approbation of the medical gentlemen who attend there, (many of whom have been long and justly celebrated for their eminent professional talents) have officially appointed a given number of ladies to visit the female wards of that institution. Is it not evident from this recent instance, that the reign of prejudice, on this subject as on many others, is gradually giving way, and that the hope above expressed of the final adoption of an arrangement so useful and important, will in process of time be universally realized?

York, April 24.

A pecuniary subscription of a certain amount is commonly necessary to constitute a Governor or director of a Charity-The reason is obvious; it is a sort of self choice, and if any man, by contributing any small sum should in cousequence become a Governor, the institution might be thrown into most improper hands. The case of a Visitor is essentially different: there, no self choice takes place, but the Governors at large select. Pecuniary contribution is no certain criterion of fitness. The unfettered choice of the Governors is not only a sufficient guard against improper persons being placed in office, but is often absolutely requisite for obtaining suitable visitors of the female sex. Female contributors to any considerable amount must necessarily be few, and to restrain the choice of Visitors to that few, will often render the plan altogether abortive, and in very many cases exclude persons most fit for the office, i. e. females of active habits, who are really conversant in business.

INQUIRY

INTO

THE CAUSE OF THE INCREASE

OF

PAUPERISM AND POOR RATES;

WITH

A REMEDY FOR THE SAME,

AND

A PROPOSITION FOR EQUALIZING THE RATES THROUGHOUT ENGLAND AND WALES.

BY

WM. CLARKSON, ESQ. .

LONDON.

NO. XVI.

Pam.

VOL. VIII.

2 B

ΤΟ

THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL;

BUT TO

THE HEADS OF PARISHES,

AND

MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,

IN PARTICULAR.

THE Author of the following small treatise for ameliorating the condition of the poor, and giving relief to the contributors in general, but more particularly to those who are the least able to bear so heavy a burden as the collection for the maintenance of the poor, which has been yearly increasing, has for some years past considered it practicable to give proper assistance to the really impotent, aged, and infirm, and check that desire for receiving parish relief which exists at present, but which in former times was considered degrading, and attached a kind of slur on those who applied for it: and he has for more than three years past endeavoured to procure the best information, and put on paper such ideas as occurred to him as the most likely to obtain the great object referred to; but observing at various times notices being given in the House of Commons by Members thereof, that propositions would be brought forward regarding the Poor Laws, he withheld from the public his ideas on the subject under the expectation that something efficacious would be put into practice; but in this he has been disappointed.

The delay, however, has been the means of his seeing confirmed his opinion of common beggars, and the absurdity of giving relief indiscriminately, by evidence before a Committee of the House of Commons.

The principle of his plan he has communicated to a few, whose situation in life was likely to make them judges of the practicability and efficacy of it, and through whose desire and recom