The Method of treating the Borough Paupers - Many maintained at their own Dwellings - Some Characters of the poor - The Schoolmistress, when aged - The Idiot - The poor Sailor - The declined Tradesman and his Companion - This contrasted with the Maintenance of the Poor in a common Mansion erected by the Hundred - The Objections to this Method: Not Want, nor Cruelty, but the necessary evils of this Mode - What they are - Instances of the Evil - A Return to the Borough Poor - The Dwellings of these - The Lanes and Byways - No Attention here paid to Convenience - The Pools in the Pathways - Amusements of Sea-port Children - The Town Flora - Herbs on Walls and vacant Spaces - A female Inhabitant of an Alley - A large Building let to several poor Inhabitants - Their Manners and Habits.
YES! we’ve our Borough-vices, and I know
How far they spread, how rapidly they grow;
Yet think not virtue quits the busy place,
Nor charity, the virtues crown and grace.
“Our Poor, how feed we?” - To the most we give
A weekly dole, and at their homes they live; -
Others together dwell, - but when they come
To the low roof, they see a kind of home,
A social people whom they’ve ever known,