A Discourse on Trade, and Other Matters Relative to it

by John Cary

But all things having stood still so long, we resolved now to loose no more time; yet we had no Money, nor could we expect any in less than six Months, from the Poor’s Rates; therefore we resolved to make our several Loans for twelve Months without Interest to the Corporation on the Credit of their Common Seal; in which Design many of the Citizens lent their Assistance, whereby we became soon Masters of about six Hundred Pounds Stock. Likewise our Guardians, who were appointed to pay the Poor in their several Parishes, voluntarily advanced their weekly Payments, till they could be reimburst by the Treasurer. The other Stock we employed to furnish Beds, and other Necessaries for our Children to be taken in, and Materials for their working.

We had now two Committees; one for the Poor, the other for the New Work-house.

The Committee for the Poor met twice every Week: And in this Committee we proceeded thus:

First, We voted that the Poor of the City should be visited in their respective Parishes, and that new Poor’s Rates should be made; and accordingly we ordered the Guardians of each Parish to bring together the Poor on a certain Day in some convenient Place, where the Committee met, and without Partiality endeavoured to provide for every one according to their Wants, we likewise took Notice of all the young Girls that were on our Poor’s Books, and of such whose Parents took no due Care of them: and these we recommended to the Committee of the New Work-house, to be taken in, and employed by them.

Our Poor’s Rates we made in this manner: Every one that expected Relief, came before us with their whole Families, except such as was impotent and could not come: In our Books we put down the Name of the Man, the Woman, and each Child; together with the Qualifications of all, either as to Age, Health, Civility, &c. what each Person did, or could get by the Week, and in what Employment. We likewise set down for what Reason the Charity was bestowed; that when that should cease, or we could find out any other Way to provide for it, the Charity should likewise cease.

Having thus seen the State of all our Poor, and provided for them, the Committee sat twice a Week in the Public Court, to hear and provide for all casual Complaints; which we did in this Manner: We ordered that the Poor in their respective Parishes, should first apply themselves to their Guardian or Guardians, who were to relieve them as they saw fit, till the next Sitting of the Committee, when they were to bring them up with their Complaints, if they were able to come; and this we did, lest the Committee (three whereof made a Quorum) should be deceived; who could not be supposed to know the State of all the Poor in the City, and by this Means we had the Opinion of the Guardian of each Parish; nor could he easily deceive us, because he brought the Poor with him, and thereby the Committee became Judges of the Matter laid before them. At these Meetings, Care was taken of the various Cases and Exigencies which offer’d, and in all Things there was a Regard, as much as could be, to put People on living by their own Labours.

To such as were sick, we gave Warrants to our Physician to visit them; such as wanted the Assistance of our Surgeons were directed to them, and all were reliev’d till they were able to work; by which Means the Poor having been well attended, were set at work again, who, by Neglect, might with their Families have been chargeable to the Corporation; for some we provided Cloaths, for others Work; where we found People careful, but wanted a Stock to employ themselves and Children, we either lent or gave it; where they wanted Houses, we either paid the Rent, or became Security for it; where we found them opprest, we stood by them; where Differences arose, we endeavoured to compose them; so that in a little time all the Complaints of the Poor came to this Committee, which saved our Magistrates a great deal of Trouble, and Care was taken that none went away unheard.

The Committee at first sat twice a Week, but now only once in a Fortnight; not that we grew slack in the Care of our Poor, but because their Number being so much abated, by those received into our several Work-houses, the Business not requiring their meeting oftner.

The other Committee, viz. That for the new Work-house, having first furnished it in order to receive in the young Girls, began with such as were recommended to them by the Committee for the Poor; and this Method hath been generally observed ever since, both by that Committee, and also by the Committee since chosen for our other Work-house; not that either of them depends on the other, but because the first application for Relief is made to the Committee for the Poor.

But before we took in the Girls, we first considered of proper Officers to govern them; and these consisted of a Master, whose Business was to receive in Work, and deliver it out again, and to keep the Account of the House, &c.