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may there be inquired into. But I would recommend the reading of the whole series. of that society's reports, as calculated to give an instructive, though not a perfect picture of the poor; and though by no means devoid of harshness, as being a society having the suppression, and not the relief of mendicants, for its primary object.

not bearing to see them perish. Report, 1824, c. 17,319 -an officer in the army. Report, 1826, c. 20,033; ib. c. 20,124; ib. c. 20,532-a girl highly educated. Report, 1828, c. 22,256-a master silk-weaver; ib. c. 22,036-acabinet-maker, with ten children; ib.c.33,030 -a medical man, who had become security. Report, 1830, c. 24,230-lieutenant of marines, son insane. Report, 1835, c. 22,722-son of a lord mayor. Report, 1837, c. 31,355-medical man. Report, 1839, c. 34,112-fever from low living. These are all cases of persons reduced to the condition of street-beggars.

CHAPTER III.

The Causes of Poverty.

NUMBER OF CHILDREN ECONOMY OF THE POOR ILLNESS-OLD AGE, AND WIDOWHOOD-DESERTION BY HUSBAND WANT OF EMPLOYMENTLOSS OF TOOLS, AND CLOTHES-COMING TO LONDON SHIPWRECK, AND OTHER ACCIDENTS WANT OF SETTLEMENT-DIFFICULTY OF OBTAINING PARISH RELIEF INSUFFICIENCY OF PARISH RELIEF VICE DRUNKENNESS-WEAKNESS OF

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It is impossible to enumerate all the causes of poverty, or the half of them. They are as various as the circumstances of life; the changes and chances of which are infinite. But individuals, acquainted as they are each with their own peculiar situation, cannot themselves tell in what quarter they are likely to meet with reverses; and those who have observed the providences which have befallen them, will have found that the greatest joys and blessings, the greatest evils and reverses, have generally come to them from a quarter in which they were least

looked for, and at a time when they were least expected. In every station we are subject to these visitations. We may have fortified ourselves by all manner of worldly entrenchments and securities-we may have built our barns as great as you please, and stored them as plentifully; but every fortress yet erected by man has already been pulled down by man from its height and confidence, and the greatest store has ever proved to be as a heap of snow or sand, under the disposing hand which specially orders all the events that happen to us.

What, then, must the case be with those who live from hand to mouth, and have but one dependence! whose whole support is in the strength of one arm, the vigour of one mind, the health of one frame, the credit of one name, the integrity of one character. The former are not a whit less in the hand or under the control of Providence; and examples are abundant, if proof of it were our present purpose. But in these cases his support and our dependence are more di

In these,

rectly seen and acknowledged. too, God delights more especially to shew his providence and power for good and for ill; to awaken trust and dependence, and exercise faith. Their reverses also and changes are sent for the use and instruction of the rich, and are intended as exercises for their study and benevolence.

The accidents of life are as various as the circumstances of it. The reverses of trade and of the labouring poor are subject to no rule or classification, though certain causes of distress are much more prevalent than others. This is a truth which ought especially to be kept in mind. It is an answer to those who establish universal causes of poverty. Neither idleness, nor vice, nor the unequal division of property, nor want of education, nor all these together, nor a hundred more than these, are the causes of all the poverty which exists; no one can tell, or ascertain, or guess at, all the causes from which poverty arises. Every such pretension must be defeated by the next day's

investigation; and any general rules by which we may bind ourselves must work injustice, and will be more and more defeated by a wider and more impartial experience. "The poor shall never cease out of the land;" and if all the present causes were provided against, still would God in his own way, and by his own means, fulfil his own decree, which was given for our use; and still must it ever be the duty of the rich to keep the poor and poverty continually under their eye-to look upon it, to acquaint themselves with, and minister to it.

Wetherby's shop in Fleet Street, near St. Dunstan's Church, was taken down to widen the street. A jury awarded him a compensation. The situation of the shop had been very favourable, from its prominent projection into the street. He took another house half-way down Fleet Street, and endeavoured to re-establish himself. His customers did not follow him. He did his best to form a new connexion, but failed. He was forced to give up the house and the shop

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