[PDF]Thoughts on the most safe and effectual mode of relieving the poor, during the present scarcity

The

Robert E. Gross
Collection

A Memorial to the Founder
of the


Business Administration Library
Los Angeles


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THOUGHTS


ON THE


MOST SAFE AND EFFECTUAL

MODE


O F


RELIEVING rUE POOR, ^c.


PRICE SIXPENCE} or 25^. /-fr HUNDRED.


J

THOUGHTS


ON THE


MOST SAFE AND EFFECTUAL

MODE


O F


RELIEVING THE POOR,


DURING


THE PRESENT SCARCITY


LONDON:

PaiNTKD FOR T, N. tONGMAN, NO. 39, PATERNOJTER-*OW.

1795-


THOUGHTS


ON THB


MOST SAFE AND EFFECTUAL

MODE

Of relieving the POOR, ^c.


THAT in times of fcarcity the
middling and higher clafles of fo-
ciety are bound to contribute, according to
their ability and the exigency of the cafe,
to the relief of the induftrious poor, is a
truth, fuggefted not merely by humanity,
but by juftice and found policy, and which
is more fenlibly felt in this country than
in any other. The prefent moment un-
B fortunately


( 2 )

fortunately calls, in an urgent manner,
for the application of this truth. But the
fame confiderations of humanity, juflicc,
and found policy require that the affiflance-
thus afforded be adminiftered with judge-
ment ; otherwife the fubfifliiig evil will be
encreafed rather than diminifhed, and evils
which exill at prefent only in apprehen-
iion may be realized. Every kind of pro-
vilion is at a high price, and there is reafon
to fear that the article the moil neceffary
for the fuftenance of man may prove defi-
cient, before our granaries can be reple-
niihed by the approaching harvefl, which,
thank God, exhibits the moil promifing
appearances, although from the backward-
nefs of the feafon it will be later than
ufual,

A general


( 3 )

A general blight which attacked the crop
of lajfi: year and deflroyed one third of the
growing ear, rendered the wheat harveil
remarkably unproducflive. But this is the
only article of which there is any ground
to apprehend an entire failure, for though
its fcarcity, has, in concurrence with other
caufes, been the means of advancing the
price of other provifions, thefe, by the aid
of the late providential rains, are daily be-
coming more plentiful, and have already-
experienced a confiderable reduction of
price. But the tardy advance of grain
towards maturity will render it impollible
for us to partake of the growing produce
of our corn fields for feveral weeks to
come, and there is unfortunately too much
reafon to fear that the flock of wheat
B 2 flill


( 4 )

fliil in hand may prove infufficient to laflr
till that defirable moment fhall arrive. To
obviate the danger of an entire failure of
this invaluable commodity, the only way
is to diminiih the confumption of wheat;
it is thus alone that the flock can be made
lo hold out beyond the time, in which, at
the ufual rate of confumption, it would be
exhaulted.

This is a truth fo obvious to every un-
uerfcanding that it would be a wafte of
time to attempt its illuilration. But it is
a truth which on account of its impor-
tance ihould be deeply imprefied on every
mind, and lliould produce an immediate
cffed: in every family. The queflion then
occurs in what manner is the rediid:ion to

be


( 5 )

be made in the confumptioii of wheat, io
as to be efFed:ual ? The retrenchment of
all fuperfluous and unnecelTary ufe of flour
and bread, and the prevention of all wafte
are the ieflbns firfl: fuggefled by fuch an
occalion. But it is more than poilible
that fuch precautions may not fuffice, and
prudence points out, as the only certain,
and adequate, means, the more spa-
ring USE OF BREAD, aided and pro-
moted by the adoption of all the fubftitutes
which can be readily procured. If each
individual would refolve to content him-
felf at every meal with a few mouthfuls of
bread lefs than he or (he is accuilomed to
eat, the danger would vanifli, and we
might look forward with hope and confi-
dence to the harveil, without having rea-
B 3 foa


( 6 )

fon to entertain apprehenllons on account
of the interval.

And vAio can hefitate to make fo fmall
a facrifice, when the object is to prevent
the greateft of all pubUc calamities — a ca-
lamity involving perhaps all others which
can befal a nation ? who can avoid feeling
the immenfe difference between a tempo-
rary and voluntary reflridtion and the ne-
ceffity of abflaining entirely, even for a
lingle week — or the advancement of the
article to a price which would operate as a
prohibition to the lower orders of the peo-
ple ? Every mouthful of bread that is now
faved in fuch a manner is added to the
common ftock, and it tends to fecure a
morfel for the poor man at a time when he

may


( 7 )

may otherwife be deftitute. Let no one
confider his individual facriiice as trifling.
It is his tribute towards the general wel-
fare, and he will be abundantly repaid by
the internal fatisfacftion which will accom-
pany his endeavours to promote the happi-
nefs and comfort of his fellow-creatures,
and of his fellow-fubjeds. Nor is the
value of any contribution unimportant.
The ilate is compofed of individuals — and
it is by a colledion of fingle drpps that
the rain refrelhes the land and produces
fertility and abundance.

But it will be aikcd muft the porrj
whofe chief fupport is bread, be reduced to
a more fparing ufe of this precious com-
modity, on which they depend for tiieir
B 4 fubfiftence.


( 8 )

fubfiftence. I anfwer that the benefit of
a reduced confumption cannot be attained
unlcfs the reduction be general. The poor
src, on account of their numbers and their
iituation, the great confumers of bread,
and if they would be fiire of feeing a loaf
in their habitations when they fhall be em-
ployed in reaping the enfuing harveft, they
mufi: make up their minds to eat lefs than
ufual in the interim. But in conformity
to the obfervation before made, they are
entitled to extraordinary ailiflance, to en-
:?.ble them to effedl this partial and neceflary
tbilinence. The hardfliip (for it is admit-
ted to be a fevere one) of being obliged to
YcdrlCt themfelves in the article of bread,
muft be relieved by the bounty of thofe
who have it in their pov^'er to contribute

fuch relief.

The


( 9 )

The readinefs and liberality which are
every where difplayed in complying with
this call of humanity, refledt an additional
luftre even on the Britifh charadter, diftin-
guifhed as it is for every noble and gene-
rous feeling.

But it deferves the ferious attention of
the public, whether the mode in which
their benevolence is chiefly applIed,does not
tend to encreafe the evil which it feeks to
remedy, and to involve the objed:s of their
bounty in ftill greater diflrefs.

The plan which is generally adopted on
this occafion, has for its avowed objedt to
enable the poor to purchafe bread at a re-
duced price.

Nothing


( 10 )

Nothing can be more evident than that
the tendency of fuch a plan is to augment
the fcarcity, by preventing that decreafe
of conlumption, which for the reafons
above ilated is indifpenfably neceilary at
the prefent moment.

The rehef which the poor thus receive,
is in reality a misfortune, for it expofes
them to the danger of entire want.
In proportion to the cheapnefs at which
they can purchafe bread, will be the extent
of their confumption, and of courfe, (un-
lefs that cheapnefs be the effedl of plenty,)
the nearnefs of that period, when it
may be impoflible for them to procure it
at all.

The high price at a time of fcarcity is

adually


( I' )

adlually an advantage, for it operates as a
protedion of the commodity by preventing
an improvident confumption ; and all con-
fumption mull: be improvident which
would prevent the flock from lading the
time it is wanted. The price and the flock
are fure to bear a fair proportion to each
other, and the former affords the befl pof-
fible criterion whereby to judge of the
latter.

According to this indication we have
delufive evidence that the flock is inade-
quate, and that it is daily becoming mere
fo ; a fure proof that the confumption
is too great in proportion to the flock.
But as evils frequently, in the natural
courfe of things, produce their own re-
medy, the greatnefs of the price impofes

a reflraint


( 12 )

a reftraint upon the confumptlon, and
thereby preferves the ftock from being too
foon exhaufled.

The dearnefs of the article is thus a
fecurity againfl its total failure, and it is
of the utmoft importance that this fafe-
guard (hould not be deilroyed, by the
miftaken charity of enabling the moil
numerous part of the community to
purchafe under the a^ual price. Every
pound of bread they fo purchafe is an
anticipation of their future fupplies, and
a fource oi future diflrefs.

Whatever afTiftance is given them to
purchafe bread below the current price
is, in fa6t, a donation of bread to that

amount.


( «3 )

amount, and muft. In fplte of every pre-
caution, render the confumption fo much
greater than it would otherwife be.

The Immediate effed: is a further rile
In the priee of the commodity, and the
fpeedy effedl will be a degree of fear-
city, which will put it out of the power
of the rich to carry their benevolent wilhes
Into execution.

Such bounty is therefore in reality, an
Injury, rather than a benefit. It involves
thofe on whom it Is beftovved in ftill
greater difficulties, and expofes them to
extreme diflrefs.

For thefe reafons, whatever relief Is

afforded to the poor Hiould be confined

6 to


( H )

to other articles, and by no means bd
extended to bread. The only rational
and effed:ual way to relieve them in this-
article is, by means of a reduced con-
fumption, aided by every effort of care and
CEconomy, to bring the flock of wheat more
upon a par with the time it has to laft.
And in compliance with their indubitable
claim to fupport, they fhould, in propor-
tion as the price of bread is high, be
fupplicd with other provifions at a cheaper
rate.

Thus would the fuftenance of them-
felves and families be effectually provided
for, and they would have abundant rea-
fon for thankfulnefs, and none for com-
plaint. They would be foon enabled to
3 purchafe


( IS )

purchafe bread at a lower price, and,
confequently, in larger qauntities ; and
we fliould happily arrive at the joyful
moment of returning plenty, with the
fatisfa(flion of having checked, by prudent
management, the progrefs of fcarcity, and
of having effcd:ually relieved, by the judi-
cious exertions of benevolence, the dif-
trelTes of the poor.


FINIS,