Remarks on the report of Her Majesty's Commissioners on the Poor-Laws of Scotland, presented to Parliament in 1844, and on the dissent of Mr. Twisleton from that report / by William Pulteney Alison.

  • Alison, William Pulteney, 1790-1859.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the report of Her Majesty's Commissioners on the Poor-Laws of Scotland, presented to Parliament in 1844, and on the dissent of Mr. Twisleton from that report / by William Pulteney Alison. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    Canongate parish, and others might not be receiving relief from any parish. Were these persons of good character 1 Some of them were of good character.—Vol. i. p. 64. The Rev. T. Gutheib, lately of St. John's Edinburgh. Do you think the present allowances not enough 1 I think them miserably dejicient. In many cases, people have no choice but to steal or starve. I may be allowed to add, that I know the system has a most injurious effect on the habits of the people ; and •■' elders and deacons are averse to go among the poor, because they have to look upon a vast amount of tempoi'al misery which they cannot relieve. I have trembled often when I have gone, at the call of duty, to visit these receptacles of wretchedness, because I felt that I could not relieve the misery which I must look upon ' in such cases ; and nothing but a sense of duty could compel me to visit the poor. Do you think those small allowances tend to promote a sense of independence among the people V I think the very reverse ; and I shall tell you why, because they are obliged to resort to begging, which never can promote the spirit of independence among the people. Is it common for parents to leave their children under the present system V I find many instances in which parents abandon their children altogether. May not that arise from the knowledo-e that the children will be provided for by the pai-ish? No ; / think it arises from the ruretchcdiy loiu state into luhich they have fallen—so low, that I have sometimes seen parents glad when *' their children died.''—Vol. i. p. 659. Mr D. DouD, late Member of the Town-Council, and one of the Managers of the Charity Workhouse, Edinburgh. Many of the out-pensioners are absolute beggars. I have seen '< them on the street, persons on the regular roll. From the in- adequacy of the reUef from the workhouse, and their inability to work, or to get work, they must beg. Are there any steps taken by the managers in regard to the education of the children of the out-door pensioners ? None.