A scheme for the better relief and employment of the poor ; humbly submitted to the consideration of His Majesty and two Houses of Parliament / By a Member of Parliament [i.e. Thomas Gilbert].

  • Gilbert, Thomas, 1720-1789.
Date:
[1764]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A scheme for the better relief and employment of the poor ; humbly submitted to the consideration of His Majesty and two Houses of Parliament / By a Member of Parliament [i.e. Thomas Gilbert]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    / PREFACE. TT is a Truth too well known and too fatally experienced, that the Poor of this Kingdom are in general greatly difire (Jed, reduced to many Hardfhips, and frequently drove to feek their Livelihood in the publick Streets and Highways, not in total Id lentfs, but by Means the mojl un- juflifable, the mojl fatal to themfelves, the mojl pernicious to Civil Society. This is the more to be lamented, as we have many Laws wijely calculated to prevent thofe Grievances, and as enormous Sums are annually raifed for their Relief and Employment. Whether thefe Misfortunes arife from any Defedl in the Laws, or in the Execution of them, there Jeans no Necejjity to determine, but mofl probably from both. As the Evil appears to be univerfal, the Remedy ought to be equally fo. The Efforts which have been made to that End, within the laf Century, by Men in the highefl Stations, of' the greatejl Piety, Virtue and Ability, have proved unfuccefsfuL This has difeouraged many from attempting fo great and arduous a Tajk, but perhaps there never was a Time Jo favour able for it, as the prefent, when his Majtfy, by the glorious Succcfs. of his Arms, and the happy Conchjion of the War, has rejlored Peace and Tranquility to this Country, and added to it an immenfe Extent of Territory 5 and when from the late wife Regu-