TH

LETTER XIV on the Management of be squandered by a fraudulent, or a the Affairs of the Poor. negligent, and a mistaken policy. HERE is no fact in political It is certainly unjust to make the economy more notorious, nor frugal and the industrious maintain more generally acknowledged, than the idle and the drunken; yet this that our parochial burdens have in- is the daily practice of officers and creased, are rapidly increasing, and magistrates. It is oppressive, when ought to be diminished; but where sums are raised for the use of the we are to begin, and what we are to poor, and applied to other purposes; do, are questions which are left un- and it is a great defect in the legis decided; and the difficulties which lation of that country, which does have baffled the efforts of our ances- not provide laws to punish, in a sumtors, still continue to perplex the mary way, all those who are guilty boasted wisdom of the present day. of malepractices in misapplying pubIt must be expected that where lic money.

there are great obstacles to surmount, There are but few parishes in the there will be many clashing opinions kingdom where abuses in the collectoffered to the public, according to the ing and distributing of money raised prejudices, or motives, which influ- for the poor are not public and noence the person who offers them; or torions; and it cannot fail of having it will be confined to that point of a bad effect on the minds of the sight in which he views his object.- people, by making them dissatisfied This is the reason why one is for re- with those who have the managepealing the whole code of the poor ment of parochial business. laws, as a system of error and in- There are some who consider what justice; while another only wishes is misapplied, or negligently distrito have a part of them expunged from buted, as "cheese parings and candle our statute books; and a third is for ends;" but if they could be collected abolishing workhouses, and relieving into one sum, they would amount the poor in their cottages. These to nearly two millions annually; but seem to be the prevailing opinions; if we are arrived to that pitch of inand many of the writers, who have difference, as to think such sums beoffered their thoughts to the public neath our notice, it will not require on parochial relief, abound with in- the spirit of prophecy to say what vectives against workhouses. must be the consequence. But this

Before the poor laws are totally is not the only evil. The first motive repealed, it should be considered to industry is the fear of want; place whether it be not the duty of a this fear at a distance, by holding out social, a reasoning, and a reflecting the prospect of a provision for life, being to support those with whom and you open the door for idleness, they have long associated, when dis- and its inseparable companions, to ease, and the infirmities of old age, enter in: and ought they, who are have rendered them incapable of la- truly worthless, to be pensioned out bour, and who have the will, but not of the labour of those industrious the power, of procuring the neces- persons who must abridge tl emselves saries of life; and whether we should of the common necessaries of life to not expect it from others: And does contribute towards such pensions?— not our religion require that we should Where those evils are known to exist, do to them, whatever we think we and they cannot be disputed, every have a right to expect, if we were state that suffers it must be charged placed in their situation, and they with inattention, or gross neglect, in our's? of the internal police of the Kingdom.

It is in vain to endeavour to evade, by any subtilty of argument, so plain, They who are for repealing only a and necessary a duty, as the providing part of the poor laws, are sure to in for the worn-out traveller of life; clude the statute of the 9th of George but we ought not, as we hitherto have the First. This is the stumblingdone, to suffer what is provided to stone and the rock of offence to our 3 Q

UNIVERSAL MAG. VOL. VIII.

politicians, magistrates, legislators, born facts will not bend, nor is it and writers on political economy; right they should bend, to prejudices they consider it as the great obstacle formed in the closet by speculative which prevents them from establish- men, I shall beg leave to lay before ing such a system of frugality, as the public, what hath been done in would relieve those who are obliged five years by eleven parishes in the to contribute, and be a blessing and a county of Kent, which had for some comfort to those who partake of the time maintained their poor in their parochial bounty. cottages, till the burden became insupportable.

An author, in making general reflections on that part of Mr. Whit- In December 1801, Cundall, Lower bread's bill, which fixes limits to out Hardes, Petham, and Waltham, united pensioners, says, "The most import- for the better supporting of their poor, ant part is, that the overseers shall under Gilbert's Act. They built a not be compelled to give to the sup- house capable of containing one hunport of a poor person's family any dred persons without crowding, to greater sum than what they may which they laid twenty acres of land, earn who are to be relieved, or might and out of which they had two acres earn, with reasonable diligence, ac- of garden. In eighteen months the cording to the following proportions. four parishes saved 4141. 15s. 43d. One-fourth of the usual price of la- This encouraged Posling to join them; bour of a man for a day; one-fifth and in two years more the five pa for a woman, and for every child under rishes saved 7961. 6s. 14d. 12 years of age; and one-sixth for every other child under 12 years."

Here it is said, " for the first time limits are fixed, and the poor are told the painful but necessary truth, that they must principally rely for support on their own exertions."

Is the offering them a premium to be idle, the best method we can devise to promote industry? Let us see what experience says to it. As stub

As the advantages arising from the union could no longer be doubted, Upper Hardes, Horton, Lyminge, Lympne, Standford, and Smeeth, all joined in the plan, and in eighteen months the eleven parishes found a surplus of £1515 8s. 4d.

As a general account of the savings may not be much attended to, I shall annex a more particular statement of the parishes in the

TABLE I.

following tables,

The first table shews us the present varying the sources from whence it state of the reformed parishes. We is derived. To the Extracts from may see, with one glance of the eye, Ælian may follow, with this view, a how many families and individuals number of Passages from Polyænus. there are in each, as they were re- This writer was a native of Maceturned to parliament; how many pau- donia; but practised as an advocate pers; what is allowed each person at Rome, under the reigns of Antoweekly on an average; and the pro- ninus and Verus. Having gained portion they bear to the whole popu- great celebrity by his pleadings in the lation. This statement is certainly a Forum, he added to his fame by comgloomy one, and what must it have posing, at his leisure moments, a work been before any reformation was at- entitled "Stratagems of War," in tempted? It could not speak much eight books; written with inimitable. in favour of that innocent simplicity brevity, and in a very elegant style. and purity of morals of cottagers, There are several editions of this which have been, for some time treatise in Greek and Latin: the best passed, so highly extolled by writers is that by Mavicius, in 1691. Of this on political economy, by reviewers, by magistrates, and by legislators. [To be continued.]

To the Editor of the Universal Mag.
SIR,

author Dr. Harwood says, "I cannot forbear expressing a sincere wish that this entertaining writer, whose language is very easy and elegant, were introduced into our schools; or that those who begin to learn the

Greek language would read Polynus.

YOUR readers are probably satisfied with the Extracts from They would meet with few difficulÆlian, so as to wish for a change of ties, and would be highly entertained subject. It will gratify me if, before and improved.”

their appetite palls with Greek lite- The learned Upton had, previously rature, I can keep up their relish for to Dr. Harwood's expressing these it, and extend their acquaintance with sentiments, shewn that he considered it by a new entertainment, and by the subject in the same view, by

adopting various passages from Poly-
anus into his Greek selections for
schools.

I am, Sir, Your's,
JOSHUA TOULMIN.

24th Nov. 1807.

EXTRACTS FROM POLYENUS'

STRATAGEMS.

No. 1.- Pan.

Croesus, the Lydian, prepared to sail Pan was a general of Bacchus. He against the Islanders. Bias, of Priene, was the first inventor of the arrange- disheartened the Lydian, telling him, ment of an army in the form called "that the Islanders had brought a the Phalanx, and instituted a right great number of horses to oppose and left wing. On this account Bac- him." He, smiling, replied, “Juchus is represented with wings. He, piter grant that I may take the Islandmoreover, excited terror in the enemy ers on land!" Bias answered, "what by wisdom and art; for, when spies if they should pray to Jupiter that they informed him that innumerable forces may take Croesus, who dwells on of the enemy had pitched their tents land, by sea." The speech of Bias in the bosom of a wood, Bacchus was dissuaded Croesus from renewing his alarmed; but not so Pan: for he com- attacks on the Islanders. manded the army of Bacchus to raise a great shout in the night. They shouted: the rocks rebounded with The Oracle told the Athenians, the noise: and the echo repeated from that "the car-sounding Jupiter grantthe bosom of the wood, gave the ene- ed a wooden wall to the city of Mimy an idea of a greatly superior force. Struck with fear, they fled. In honour of this stratagem of Pan, Echo is celebrated in song as the mistress of Pan; and to him are ascribed the groundless and nocturnal terrors of armies.

Notes.-1. From this story is derived the word Panick, by which sudden alarm and fear are expressed.

2. In this narrative may be traced the tradition of that piece of the Jewish history, (Judges vi. vii.) in which we are told three hundred men only, by blowing their trumpets, and the noise created by breaking the pitchers which had held their lamps, put to flight the great forces of the Midianites collected against Israel.

No. 2.-Solon,

No. 4.-Themistocles' Explanation of the Oracle.

nerva." On this the rest of the Athenians gave it as their opinion, that "the citidal should be built." The mistocles said, that they must embark on their three-oar ships, for these constituted the wooden walls of Athens. They were persuaded; they embarked, they fought, they conquered.

N.B. The same story is related by Cornelius Nepos, in his life of Themistocles.

No. 5.-Themistocles' Advice. The Greeks, having been victorious at Salamis, intended to have sailed to the Hellespont, and to destroy the bridge, that the king might not escape. Themistocles advised to the contrary; saying, "the king, being The Athenians and Megarensian shut up, will speedily renew the fight; waged war a long time for the pos- for desperation frequently achieves session of Salamis. The Athenians what fortitude cannot perform." He were worsted, and passed a law, that- therefore sent, as a second ambassador, it should be death to any one who the eunuch Arsaees, to apprise him, advised sailing to the attack of Sala- "that if he did not immediately make mis. Solon, superior to the fear of his escape, the bridge of the Hellesdeath, repealed the law in this man- pont should be destroyed." The king, ner-He affected madness, and go- being alarmed, anticipated the Grecian ing into the Forum, he sang elegiac army, passed over the bridge and fled. songs of a martial strain. By these Thus Themistocles secured the vic he roused the Athenians for the fight. tory of the Athenians from any Seized with the spirit of the Muses risk.

No. 6.-Themistocles deceives the joyed attributes somewhat approachLacedaemonians. ing to hunan.

The Athenians rebuilt the walls of Placed in the lowest state of hu the city. The Lacedæmonians were man nature from the defect of civilijealous at it. Themistocles had de- sation, and from an inconceivable inceived them. This was the nature of difference about his intelligence, a the deceit. He went as an ambassa- savage might easily recognise his dor to Lacedæmon, and denied that image in the conformation of apes; the walls were rebuilt. "If ye do he might think that animals which not believe me," he said, "send some like him had the use of their hands, of your principal men to examine, which walked on two feet, which reand detain me." They were sent. sembled him in the face, which were Themistocles privately dispatched a without a tail, &c. &c.; he might messenger to the Athenians, with or- think that these beings, all whose acders, to keep the spies in custody tions are derived from a great confortill the walls were rebuilt; and, when mity of organisation, were of his spethey were erected, not to dismiss eies: hence, in all countries, the inthem before they had received him habitants of which are not far reback again." These things were moved from a state of nature, they done. The walls were built: The- give to many species of ape the name mistocles returned home: the spies of man. If they perceived any thing were given up: and the Athenians, less noble, and even a little approach against the will of the Lacedæmo- ing to the brute in these creatures, nians, were surrounded with walls. they contented themselves with disN.B. The walls had been destroyed tinguishing them by the name of the in the Persian war, and the Lacedæ- wild man, or man of the woods. This monians, to prevent there being any conformity of organisation is so replace to be possessed by the enemy, out of the Peloponneses, had prohibited the raising them again.

[To be continued.]

DESCRIPTION of a SINGULAR SPE-
CIES of APE, called the "ENTEL
LUS." By DUFRESNE, Zoologist to
the Museum of Natural History.*

HE animals most worthy of our

markable, that our travellers have not been able to avoid following the opinions of the savages, and adopting their nomenclature with regard to some apes: an opinion so extraordinary gave the alarm to philosophers and naturalists.

Listening at first only to the voice of prejudice, or of a deranged imagination; the one have endeavoured between

which appear to participate the most outangs and man, there are, even in of our nature; and it has already been their conformation, many differences; remarked with great propriety, that but they have proved it badly; the for this reason the savages, insensible others, on the contrary, behold so to the grand views of nature, indiffer- few, and so unimportant differences, ent to all her wonders, were however that they do not hesitate to consider the seized with astonishment at the sight orang outang as a man degenerated, of apes and perroquets; the apes on ac- or issuing from the union of women count of their exterior affinity to man, and a species of ape more distant in and the perroquets because of their imi- its forms. tation of speech appeared to them singular beings, and superior to the rest of animals; merely because they en

In the midst of these exaggerated opinions, it appears evident to an ob server free from prejudices, that the species of apes forms a link, which, in * This excellent memoir was read considering man only in respect to or-. to the Society of Natural History in ganisation, approximates and places 1797, but was not printed. The au- him among the mammiferi; and that thor presented it to Latreille, who in- the genus of orang outangs, such as corporated it in the late magnificent they have been fixed by Cuvier and edition of Bufion, in 114 volumes, Geoffroi, is another link which aledited by Sonnini, and from which we most connects man intimately with have extracted it. the other apes, but at the same time