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Sir Josiah Child's Proposals, For the Relief and Employment of the POOR.
THis is a calm Subject, and thwarts no common or private interest a∣mongst us, except that of the common Enemy of Mankind (the Devil) so I hope that what shall be offered towards the effecting of so universally acceptable a Work as this, and the removal of the innumerable inconveniences that do now and have in all Ages attended this Kingdom, through defect of such Provision for the Poor, will not be ill taken, although the Plaster at first essay do not exactly fit the Sore.
In the Discourse of this subject, I shall first assert some particulars, which I think are agreed by common Consent, and from thence take occasion to pro∣ceed to what is more doubtful.
1. That our poor in England have always been in a most sad and wretched condition, some Famished for want of Bread, others starved with Cold and Nakedness, and many whole Families in all the out-Parts of Cities and great Towns, commonly remain in a languishing, nasty and useless Condition, Uncomforta∣ble to themselves, and Unprofitable to the Kingdom, this is confessed and la∣mented by all Men.
2. That the Children of our Poor bred up in Beggery and Laziness, do by that means become not only of unhealthy Bodies, and more than ordinary subject to many loathsome Diseases, whereof very many die in their tender Age, and if any of them do arrive to years and strength, they are, by their idle habits contracted in their Youth, rendred for ever after indisposed to Labour, and serve only to stock the Kingdom with Thieves and Beggers.
3. That if all our impotent Poor were provided for, and those of both Sexes and all Ages that can do work of any kind, employed, it would redound some Hundreds of Thousands of Pounds per annum to the publick advantage.
4. That it is our Duty to God and Nature, so to Provide for, and Employ the Poor.
5. That by so doing one of the great sins (for which this Land ought to mourn) would be removed.
6. That our fore-Fathers had pious Intentions towards this Work, as appears by the many Statutes made by them to this purpose.
7. That there are places in the World, wherein the Poor are so provided for, and employed, as in Holland, Hambrough, New-England and others, and as I am informed now in the City of Paris.
Thus far we all agree: The first Question then that naturally occurs is, Question, How comes it to pass that in England we do not, nor ever did comforta∣bly maintain and employ our Poor?
The common Answers to this Question are, two.
1. That our Laws to this purpose are as good as any in the World, but we fail in the execution.