Chapter IV: Part 4

Which Proposals being considered of in several Meetings of the Citizens Appointed for that Purpose, were with some Alterations made the Model for an Act of Parliament, which past _Anno Septimo & Octavo Gulielmi Tertii_, being the first Act of that Nature, from which sundry Acts for many other Places have taken their Frame; and tho’ the Promoters thereof, met with more difficulties and discouragements in the Execution, than they did expect, yet to the Honour of those Gentlemen it must be said, that they never lookt back, but with the utmost Application, prosecuted what they had undertaken, till they brought it to such a State, as to render it Plain and Practicable to their Successors; And this good Effect it hath had, that there is not a common Beggar, or disorderly Vagrant, seen in their Streets, but Charity is given in its proper Place and Manner, and the Magistrates are freed from the daily Trouble they had with the Poor, and the Parishes they lived in, and are discharged from the Invidious Fatigues of their Settlements, when a great deal of what should have maintained them, was spent in determining what Parishes were to do it.

I wish it could be said so of the Two Metropolitan Cities of _England_ and _Ireland_, where such Swarms of Lazy Beggars pester the Streets, that they are not only Troublesome, but also Nauseous to the Beholders; And the Church Doors are so crouded with them, that you can scarce pass to your Devotion; nor do you know when you bestow your Charity rightly, Those who do not deserve it, taking such Methods to move Compassion, that you cannot easily distinguish them from those who do.

And since I have mentioned this Act, and the well Executing thereof by the first Undertakers, I think it cannot be amiss to set it forth _Verbatim_ (being never yet Printed, save only some Copies for the Use of the Corporation) together with the steps whereby the first Guardians proceeded, and as it was laid before the Parliament _Anno_ 1700; which I have done in the Appendix, because it may probably be of Use to those, who shall be willing to take Pains in a Work of such Service, both to God and the Publick.

But because this Act was adapted only for Cities and great Towns, and can’t be a Model for the Counties at large, I will here subjoyn such Methods as may be proper to carry on this Charitable Design throughout the whole Kingdom, if Power be given by some Publick Act of Parliament, for all Places to Incorporate who are willing (but may not be able to be at the Charge of a Private Act) and to Build, or otherwise Provide, Hospitals, Work-Houses, and Houses of Correction, for the better Maintaining and Imploying their Poor, under the Management of such Corporations; which in the Counties must be by uniting One or more Hundreds, whose Parishes must be comprehended in one Poors Rate, and each of them contribute to the Charge thereof, not by bringing them to an equal Pound Rate on their Lands and Personal Estates, as in Cities and great Towns, but by Taxing every Parish according to what it paid before, there not being the same Parity of Reason for that way of Raising Money in the Hundreds, as there is in Cities and Towns; because in the former, the Parishes do not receive an equal Benefit from the Labour of the Poor of other Parishes, as they do in the latter; which Hospitals, Work-Houses, and Houses of Correction, to be provided at the General Charge of the Parshies thus united, according to the Proportion that each of them pays to the Poor.

The Guardians of these Corporations to consist of all the Justices of the Peace Inhabiting within the several Parishes thus united, together with a Number of Inhabitants chosen out of each Parish, in Proportion to the Sum of Money it Pays; which Choice to be made every Year, or once in Two Years, when one half of those that were first chosen must go out, and the Remainder stay in, to Instruct those who were last chosen; the Electors to be the Freeholders of ### _per Annum_; and on the Death of any Guardian, another to be chosen in his Room, by the Parish for which he served.

That the Guardians being thus settled, they shall have Power to chuse a Governor, Deputy-Governor, Treasurer, and Assistants, Yearly, and to hold Courts, and make By-Laws, and appoint a Common-Seal; and also to Summon the Inhabitants to answer to Matters relating to the Corporation; and to compel all People, who seek for Relief, to dwell in their Hospitals and Work-Houses, if they see fit; and to take in Young People of Both Sexes, and breed them up to Work, who they shall also be obliged to Teach to Write and Read, and what else shall be thought necessary, and then to bind them out Apprentices; and likewise to Provide for the Aged and Impotent, and to assist those whose Labours will not Maintain their Charges, and to apprehend Rogues, Vagrants and Beggars, and cause them to be set at Work, and also to inflict reasonable Correction where they see it necessary, and to entertain proper Officers, and pay them out of the Stock; with a Clause to secure them from vexatious Suits; And they must be obliged once in ### at least to hold a General Court, where the Governor, Deputy-Governor, or one half of the Assistants, together with such a proportionable Number of the Guardians as they shall agree on, shall be present.

That the Court shall once in Six Months agree and settle how much Money will be necessary for Maintaining and Imploying the Poor for the Six Months next ensuing, and certifie the same to the Justices inhabiting within the said Hundred or Hundreds, at a Meeting to be had for that Purpose, who shall proportion the same Regularity in each Parish, and grant out their Warrants to proper Persons to Assess the same, and afterwards, other Warrants to Collect, and Pay it to the Treasurer of the Corporation; with a Power to Inflict Penalties on the Assessors and Collectors, if they refuse or neglect to do their Duty, in Assessing, Collecting, and Paying the said Money, according to their Warrants.

That each Corporation be one Body Politick in Law, and be capable of Suing and being Sued, and be enabled to Purchase, Take and Receive, Lands, Tenements and Hereditaments, Goods and Chattles, for the Benefit of the Poor.

These, or such like Methods, being Rectified by the Wisdom of a Parliament, will soon appear to be of great Use to the Nation, and also to the Poor who are truly Objects of Relief; and will also put a stop to Wandering Vagrants, against whom, every Corporation will then be a Barrier, and none will expect Charity, but from the Parishes to which they belong, and who are the most proper Judges whether they do deserve it.

[Sidenote: Conclusion.]

And thus I have gone through what I Undertook, and have given my Thoughts of these Two Subjects; wherein I have no other View, than promoting the Welfare of this Kingdom, by Improving its Trade, and providing for the Poor in a Regular Method; Both which will tend to the Honour of His Majesties Government, and the advancing the Wealth and Prosperity of the Nation.

FINIS.

The Appendix.

Anno Septimo & Octavo

_GULIELMI_ III. Regis.

An Act for Erecting of Hospitals and Work-Houses within the City of Bristoll, for the better Employing and Maintaining the Poor thereof.

WHEreas it is found by Experience, That the Poor in the City of _Bristoll_ do daily multiply, and Idleness and Debauchery amongst the meaner Sort doth greatly Increase, for want of Work-houses to set them to Work, and a sufficient Authority to Compel them thereto, as well as to the Charge of the Inhabitants, and Grief of the Charitable and Honest Citizens of the said City, as the great Distress of the Poor themselves; for which sufficient Redress hath not yet been Provided: For Remedy whereof, Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in Parliament Assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the Twelfth Day of _May_, which shall be in the Year of our Lord, One thousand six hundred ninety and six, there be, and shall be, a Corporation to continue for ever within the said City of _Bristoll_, and the County thereof, consisting of the several Persons herein after mentioned (that is to say) of the Mayor and Aldermen for the time being, and of Eight and forty other Persons, to be Chosen out of the Honestest and Discreetest Inhabitants of the said City and County, by the Eleven Wards in the said City, and the Castle Precincts there, which to all Intents and Purposes, shall be from henceforth for ever a Ward within the said City (that is to say) Four out of each Ward, and of such other Charitable Persons as shall be Elected and Constituted Guardians of the Poor of the said City, in a manner as is herein after expressed: And the First Eight and Forty Persons shall be Elected at a Court for that purpose to be held within each Ward, by the Alderman of the same, or his Deputy, by the Votes of the Inhabitants of such Ward, Paying One Penny _per_ Week, or more, in his own Right, for and towards the Relief of the Poor of the said City, or of the major part of them then present.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that the said Eight and Forty Persons shall be chosen in manner, as aforesaid, the Twelfth Day of _May_ next following, and shall continue in their Office until others shall be Elected in their Rooms, according to the Direction herein after mentioned; And in case any of the said Persons so Elected, or any other Person Elected in their Room, shall, after their respective Elections, happen to Die, That then it shall, and may be Lawful to and for the Alderman of the Ward, for which such Person so Dying was Elected, or his Deputy, at a Court to be held within the said Ward for that purpose, within the space of Ten Days next after the Death of such Persons, to Elect others in their Place, in manner, as aforesaid; which Court and Election, such Alderman, or his Deputy, is and are hereby required to Hold and Make: Which said Mayor and Aldermen, and Forty eight Persons, and such other Charitable Persons, so Elected and Constituted for the time being, shall be called Guardians of the Poor of the City of _Bristoll_.

And to the intent that the said Guardians so Elected out of the said Wards may have perpetual Succession, Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said respective Aldermen for the time being, or their respective Deputies, shall and may, and are hereby required, on the First _Thursday_ in _April_, in every Second Year, from henceforth, to hold a Court in their respective Wards, and then and there, by the Votes of the Inhabitants of such Ward, so qualified, as aforesaid, or of the Majority of them then present, to Elect and Choose Two of the Honestest and Discreetest Persons out of the said Inhabitants of the said City, to be Guardians of the Poor of the said City for the said Ward; which said Two Persons, so Elected, shall be Guardians, and shall succeed the Two Persons before that time first Elected, and then being Guardians for the said Ward; and the said Two Persons so first Elected, shall immediately upon such Election, and Notice thereof given to them, cease to be Guardians.

And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Mayor, Aldermen, Eight and forty Persons, and such other Charitable Persons Elected and Constituted, as is herein mentioned and expressed, for the time being, shall for ever hereafter in Name and Fact, be One Body Politick and Corporate in Law, to all Intents and Purposes, and shall have a perpetual Succession, and be called by the Name of The Governor, Deputy-Governor, Assistants and Guardians of the Poor in the said City of _Bristoll_; And that they shall be Enabled to Plead and Sue, and to be Sued and Impleaded by that Name, in all Courts and Places of Judicature within this Kingdom; and by that Name shall and may, without License in Mortmain, Purchase, Take, or Receive any Lands, Tenements or Hereditaments, of the Gift, Alienation or Demise of any Person or Persons, who are hereby, without further Licence, Enabled to Transfer the same, and any Goods and Chattles whatsoever, for the Use and Benefit of the Corporation aforesaid. And for the better Governing of the said Corporation, the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Eight and forty Persons or the Majority of them, shall have, and hereby have Authority to meet on the Nineteenth Day of _May_ next following, in St. _George’s Chapel_ in the said City, or in some other convenient Place there, and shall on that Day, or any other Day or Time, that to them shall seem convenient, Elect and Constitute out of and from amongst themselves, the several Officers following (that is to say) One Governor, One Deputy-Governor, One Treasurer, and Twelve Assistants, to continue in the said Office for One Year, and no longer; and from thenceforth the said Governor, Deputy-Governor, Assistants, Treasurer, and other Officers, shall Yearly, and every Year, by the said Mayor, Aldermen, Forty eight Persons, and such other Charitable Persons as shall be Elected and Constituted as is herein mentioned and expressed, or the Majority of them, be Elected and Constituted out of and from amongst themselves, on the Second _Thursday_ in the Month of _April_, or any other Day or Time, as they shall think convenient, to continue in their respective Offices for One Year, and no longer; And the said Mayor, Aldermen, and Forty eight Persons, and such other Charitable Persons that shall be Elected and Constituted, as is herein mentioned and expressed, for the time being, or the Majority of them, shall have Power, in case of the Death of any such Officer so Elected and Constituted, before their said Year expired, to Elect and Constitute others in their Room, to hold the said Office for the Remainder of the said Year, and shall have Power and Authority at any time or times, for just Cause, to remove, displace and put out any such Officer out of his said Office, and to Elect and Constitute another in his Room.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Governor, or in his Default, the said Deputy-Governor, or in both their Defaults, Six of the said Assistants for the time being, shall have, and hereby have Power and Authority, and are hereby Enjoyned and Required from time to time, upon the Second _Thursday_ in every Second Month in every Year, accounting _January_ for the First Month, to hold and keep a Court or Assembly of the said Corporation within the said City of _Bristoll_, of One and Twenty of the said Guardians at least, on the Days and Time, and in manner, and for the ends in this Act mentioned; (that is to say) The said Governor shall hold the said Court or Assembly between the Hours of One and Two in the Afternoon; and in his Default, the said Deputy-Governor, or any Six of the said Assistants, shall, after the Hour of Two, hold the same; And also, the said Governor for the time being, shall have, and hereby hath Power and Authority, at any such other time or times as to him shall seem meet, to Summon, Assemble and Hold a Court or Assembly of the said Corporation, upon Two Days Notice or Warning at the least to be given of such Court or Assembly to be held; And in case any Twenty of the said Guardians, upon any Emergency, signifying it under their Hands to the Governor for the time being, That it is their Desire that an Extraordinary Court or Assembly of the said Corporation may be Called and Held, the said Governor shall be Bound, and is hereby Enjoyned and Required to Call and Hold such Court or Assembly at such time as the said Twenty Guardians shall so desire; and on his Refusal, the said Deputy-Governor for the time being, on such signification, shall be Bound, and is hereby likewise Enjoyned and Required to Call and Hold the said Court or Assembly, and on his Refusal, any Six of the said Assistants shall have, and hereby have Authority to Call and Hold the said Court or Assembly; at all which Courts or Assemblies all and every Member and Members of the said Corporation for the time being, are hereby Enjoyned to appear and be present, and not to depart from the same without the Licence of the said Court or Assembly, on pain to Forfeit such reasonable Sum and Sums of Money, not exceeding Five Shillings, to the Use of the said Corporation, as by the said Court or Assembly, or any succeeding Court or Assembly, shall be Assessed upon them, unless they can shew some reasonable Excuse to be Allowed of by the said Court or Assembly; And the said Court or Assembly are hereby Impowered to Summon to appear before them any of the Inhabitants of the said City to answer to Matters relating to the said Corporation, who are hereby Required to appear upon such Summons, and answer such Questions, on Forfeiture, to the Use of the said Corporation, of a Sum not exceeding Two Shillings and Six Pence for every Default to be Levied as is herein after directed.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, Thar the said Corporation, at the said Court or Assembly, shall have, and hereby have Power and Authority from time to time to make and appoint a Common Seal or Seals for the Use of the said Corporation, and to Make and Ordain By-Laws, Rules and Ordinances for and concerning the better Governing the said Corporation, and the Poor of the said City, and shall have, and have hereby Power to Purchase, Buy or Erect an Hospital or Hospitals, Work-house or Work-houses, House or Houses of Correction, and to Provide what other Necessaries they shall think convenient for the Setting to Work the Poor of the said City, of what Sex or Age soever they be, and shall have, and hereby have Power and Authority to Compel such Idle or Poor People begging or seeking Relief, who do not betake themselves to some lawful Imployments, and such other Poor who do or shall hereafter Receive Alms of the respective Parishes or Places where they Inhabit or Seek the same, or by any of the Laws now in force ought to be Maintained or Provided for by any Parish or Place within the said City, to Dwell and Inhabit in such Hospital or Hospitals, Work-house or Work-houses, and to do such Work as they shall think them Able and Fit for; and to detain and keep in the Service of the said Corporation, until the Age of Sixteen Years, any Poor Child or Children of the said City, left to be Maintained by the said City, or any Parish or Place in the same, or begging or seeking Relief, or which by any of the Laws now in force ought to be Maintained and Provided for by any Parish or Place within the said City, or the Child or Children of any other Person or Persons, that are or shall be willing or desirous to place or put their Child or Children in such Hospital or Hospitals, until their said Age of Sixteen Years; and after they shall have attained their said Age of Sixteen Years or sooner, the said Corporation, by Indenture, shall have Power to Bind and Put forth such Child or Children Apprentices, to any Honest Person or Persons within the Kingdom of _England_, for any Number of Years, not exceeding Seven Years, as they shall think convenient; which Indenture shall be binding to such Child or Children.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Court or Assembly so Constituted, as aforesaid, shall have, and hereby have Power to inflict such reasonable Correction and Punishment on any Poor Person or Persons within the said Hospital or Hospitals, Work-house or Work-houses, House or Houses of Correction, that shall not conform to such Rules, Orders and Ordinances so made, as aforesaid, or misbehave themselves in the same; And that the said Court or Assembly so Constituted, as aforesaid, shall have, and hereby have Power to appoint a Committee to consist of One and Twenty of the Guardians at the least, who, or any Five of them, of which Two shall be Assistants, shall from time to time, or at any time until the next Court, have Power to inflict such reasonable Correction and Punishment, as aforesaid, on any such Poor Person or Persons offending, as aforesaid.

And for the better Carrying on so Pious and Charitable a Work, be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be Lawfull for the said Corporation, in their said Courts or Assemblies, from time to time, to set down and ascertain what Sum, or Sums of Money shall be needful for the Building and Erecting of such Hospitals, Work-houses, or Houses of Correction, so that the same do not exceed the Sum of Five Thousand Pounds, to be raised within the Space of Three Years, or any longer time, as to them shall seem meet, by such Quarterly or other Payments, as they in their discretion shall think fit; And also from time to time, to Set down and Ascertain what Weekly, Monthly, or other Sums, shall be needful for the Maintenance of the Poor in the said Hospital or Hospitals, Work-house or Work-houses, House or Houses of Correction, or within the Care of the said Corporation, so that the same do not exceed what hath been Paid in the said City towards the Maintenance of the Poor thereof, in any one of the Three last Years; And shall and may, under their Common Seal, certify the same unto the Mayor and Aldermen of the said City for the time being; which said Mayor and any Two of the Aldermen, or any Five of the said Aldermen without the Mayor, may and are hereby Required from time to time, to cause the same to be Raised and Levied by Taxation of every Inhabitant, and of all Lands, Houses, Tythes Impropriate, Appropriation of Tythes, and all Stocks and Estates in the said City and County of the same, in equal Proportion, according to their respective Worth and Values: And in order thereunto, the said Mayor and any Two of the said Aldermen, or any Five of the said Aldermen without the Mayor, shall have power, and are hereby required indifferently, to proportion out the said Sum and Sums upon each Parish and Precinct within the said City, and by their Warrants under their Hands and Seals to Authorize and Require the Church-wardens and Overseers of the Poor of each respective Parish and Precinct, to Assess the same respectively; And after such Assessment made, by like Warrant under their Hands and Seals, to Authorize the said respective Church-wardens and Overseers to Demand, Gather, and Receive the same, and for Non-payment thereof (being Lawfully Demanded) to Levy the same by Distress and Sale of the Goods of the Offender, restoring the Surplusage to the Party so Distrained; And if no Distress can be found, then it shall and may be Lawful to and for the said Mayor, and any Two of the Aldermen, or any Five of the said Aldermen without the Mayor, to commit such Offender to Prison, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize, till the same shall be Paid: And after the same shall be Received, to Pay the same unto the Treasurer of the said Corporation for the time being. Provided always, That if any Person or Persons, Parish or Precinct, find him or themselves to be unequally Taxed or Assessed, he or they may Appeal to the Justices of the Peace of the said City and County, at their next General Quarter-Sessions after such Assessment made and demanded, who shall and hereby have full Power and Authority, to take and make a final Order therein.

And for the Encouragement of such as shall be Benefactors to so good a Design, Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Man charitably disposed, shall give One hundred Pounds, or more, towards carrying on the said Work, It shall and may be Lawful for the said Corporation, at a Court where there shall be present Three and thirty of the said Guardians at the least, to elect and constitute such Charitable Person to be Guardian of the Poor of the said City, and to continue in the said Office, as long as to the said Corporation shall seem meet.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Corporation shall have the Care of, and provide for the Maintenance of all the Poor of the said City, of what Age or Kind soever they be, except such as shall be otherwise sufficiently Provided for by the charitable Gifts of other Persons, or in Hospitals or Almshouses within the said City already Erected: And in order thereunto shall have full Power to Examine, Search and See what Poor Persons there are come into, Inhabiting and Residing within the said City or any Part thereof; And shall have Power to Apprehend or cause to be Apprehended any Rogues, Vagrants, or Sturdy-Beggars, or Idle or Disorderly Persons within the said City and the County thereof, and to cause them to be kept and set to Work in the said Work-houses, Hospitals or Houses of Correction, for the Space of Three Years.

Provided always, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act, or any thing herein contained, shall not any ways extend to give the said Corporation any Power or Authority over any Almshouse, or Hospital, or any other Charitable Gift or Use, within the said City, already Given, Settled or Erected, but that the same shall be wholly exempted therefrom; Any thing herein to the Contrary notwithstanding.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Corporation in their said Court or Assembly, shall have hereby Power to choose and entertain all such other Officers as shall be needful to be employed in and about the Premisses, and them or any of them, from time to time to remove as they shall see Cause; and upon the Death or Removal of them, or any of them, to choose others in their Place, and to make and give such reasonable Allowances to them, or any of them, out of the Stock or Revenue belonging to the said Corporation or Hospitals, as they shall think fit.

Provided always, and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Officer or Officers, who shall be Elected, chosen, Appointed or Employ’d, in the Execution of, or by Virtue of this Act, or any of the Powers or Authorities thereby given, shall be liable for or by reason of such Office or Execution, to any of the Penalties mentioned in an Act made the Five and Twentieth Year of the Reign of King _Charles_ the Second, for the Preventing the Dangers which may happen from Popish Recusants.

And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Treasurer for the Time being, and all other Officers belonging to the said Corporation, Hospitals, Work-houses, or Houses of Correction, shall, from time to time, before such Person or Persons as the said Corporation shall thereto appoint, account for such Moneys, Stock, and other Things belonging to the said Corporation, Hospitals, Work-houses, or Houses of Correction, as shall come to their respective Hands, or be under their respective Care, upon every reasonable Warning and Notice thereof, by the said Corporation to them respectively given; And on their Neglect or Refusal to Account, as aforesaid, shall or may be, by the said Mayor, or any Two of the said Aldermen, committed to the County Goal for the said City and County of _Bristoll_, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize, until they shall become conformable, and Account, as aforesaid; And if upon such Account there shall appear any Thing to be in their Hands belonging to the said Corporation, Hospitals, Work-houses, or Houses of Correction, they shall Pay and Deliver the same, as the said Corporation shall direct, or give such Security for the same, as the said Corporation shall approve of, on pain to forfeit Double the Value thereof, to be Recovered by the said Corporation, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint or Information in which no Protection, Essoign, or Wager in Law, or any more than One Imparlance, shall be admitted or allowed.

And it is further Enacted, That all other Pains, Penalties and Forfeitures by this Act appointed, shall be Levied by Distress and Sale of the Offenders Goods, by Warrant under the Hand and Seal of the said Treasurer for the time being, Restoring to the Offender the Overplus.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons shall be Sued for any Matter or Thing which he shall do in Execution of this Act, he may plead the General Issue, and give the special Matter in Evidence: And if the Verdict shall pass for the Defendant, or the Plaintiff shall be nonsuited, or discontinue his Suit, the Defendant shall Recover his Treble Costs. And this Act shall be Taken and be Allowed in all Courts within this Kingdom as a Publick Act; And all Judges and Justices are hereby Requir’d, as such, to take Notice thereof, without specially Pleading the same; And all Mayors, Justices, Sheriffs, Bayliffs, Constables, and all other Officers and Ministers of Justice, are hereby Required to be Aiding and Assisting to the said Corporation, and to such Officers as shall be employed by them, or any of them, in Execution of this Act, or any of the Powers or Authorities hereby given.

AN

ACCOUNT

OF THE

PROCEEDINGS

OF THE

Corporation of Bristol,

In Execution of the

Act of Parliament

For the Better

Employing and Maintaining

the

POOR

Of That CITY.

TO THE

Right Honourable

AND

HONOURABLE,

THE

Lords Spiritual and Temporal,

AND

Commons in Parliament

assembled.

May it please your Honours,

I HUMBLY make bold to lay before You an Account of our Proceedings in the City of _Bristol_, on the Act of Parliament for Erecting Hospitals and Work-houses for the better Employing and Maintaining the Poor of that City, which passed in the first Sessions of the Parliament begun at _Westminster_ the 22d of _November_ 1695. whereby the Power invested in the Corporation commenced from the 12th of _May_ 1696.

The first Thing we did was to choose Four Guardians for each of our Twelve Wards, as the Statute does direct, which, with the Mayor and Aldermen, amounted to Sixty Guardians, and made up our Court.

The Court being thus constituted, at our first Meeting we chose our Officers appointed by the said Act, _viz._ a Governor, a Deputy-Governor, Twelve Assistants, a Treasurer, a Clerk, and a Beadle.

This being done, we order’d the Guardians who dwelt in each Parish, to bring in an Account of all the Poor in their respective Parishes, their Names, Ages, Sexes, and Qualifications. Also an Account of the Charges expended for maintaining them in each of the last three Years, that so we might bring it to a _Medium_. We also appointed certain standing Rules for the better governing our Debates, and ordered all things done in the Court to be fairly enter’d in a Journal.

We likewise consider’d which would be most for the advantage of the Corporation, to build Work-houses, or to purchase such Houses, which being already built, might be altered and made fit for our purpose.

These things spent much time, and it was about the Month of _September_ before we could settle the _Medium_ of the Poor’s Rates, in order to certifie to the Mayor and Aldermen what Sum was necessary to be Raised on the City for the next Year.

But here we met with an unexpected _Remora_, Mr. _Samuel Wallis_ was succeeded in his Majoralty by Mr. _J. H._ and this Change made a great Alteration in our Affairs: For whereas the former had given us all the Incouragement we could expect from him, and had done us the honour to be our first Governor, the latter resolved to obstruct us all he could. And because the power of raising Money was vested in him and the Aldermen, he absolutely refused to put that Power in Execution.

This, together with his other Endeavours to Brow-beat the Corporation, kept us at a stand till _October_ (97.) only our Court met, and discourst things, and we laboured to keep up the Spirits of our Friends, who began to sink under these Discouragements, and to despair of Success, the Work seeming difficult enough in it self; our undertaking being nothing less, then to put to Work a great Number of People, many of which had been habited to Laziness and Beggary; to civilize such as had been bred up in all the Vices that want of Education could expose them to; and to Clothe, Lodge, and feed them well, with the same Sum of Money which was distributed among them when they begg’d, lay in the Streets, and went almost naked.

Yet all this would not have discouraged us, could we have prevailed on Mr. Mayor to have joyned with us. We often sought it, and he as often refused us, till his time being expired, his Successor granted our Request; and then, having lost much time, we were forced to make large steps.

The first we made was, a Vote to take on us the Care of the Poor of the City; and as I remember, this Vote passed in _October_ or _November_ 1697. though we had then no Money raised, nor could we expect any till after our _Lady-day_ 1698. So that from the passing that Vote to this time is about two Years.

The next step was to appoint a Committee of Twelve to hear the Complaints of the Poor, to relieve them, and set them at work; Six whereof were to go out every Month, and to be succeeded by Six more, to be chosen by Ballating.

We had formerly obtained from the Mayor and Common Council, in the Majoralty of Alderman _Wallis_, the Grant of a Work-house, which then lay unoccupied, and the Court had appointed a Committee to place as many Girls in it as it would conveniently contain, both as to Lodging and Working. This is that we called the _New work-house_.

But all things having stood still so long, we resolved now to lose 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 House, Clothes and Provisions 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 Publick 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 offered, 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 Relieved 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 their 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 does not require 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.

A Mistress, whose Business was to look after the Kitchen and Lodgings, to provide their Meals at set times, and other things which related to the Government of the House.

Tutresses to teach them to Spin, under each of which we put Five and Twenty Girls.

A School-Mistress, to teach them to Read.

Servants in the Kitchen, and for washing, &c. but these we soon discharged, and caused our biggest Girls to take their Turns every Week.

We also appointed an old Man to keep the Door, and to carry forth and fetch in Work, and such kind of Services.

Being thus provided, we received in One Hundred Girls, and set them to Work at Spinning of Worsted Yarn; all which we first caused to be stript by the Mistress, Washed, and new Clothed from Head to Foot; which, together with wholesome Dyet at set Hours, and good Beds to Lye on, so incouraged the Children, that they willingly betook themselves to their Work.

We likewise provided for them Apparel for _Sundays_; they went to Church every Lord’s Day; were taught their Catechisms at home, and had Prayers twice every Day; we appointed them set Hours for working, eating, and playing; and gave them leave to walk on the Hills with their Tutresses, when their Work was over, and the Weather fair; by which means we won them into Civility, and a love to their Labour. But we had a great deal of trouble with their Parents, and those who formerly kept them, who having lost the sweetness of their Pay, did all they could to set both their Children and others against us; but this was soon over.

Hitherto things answered above our Expectations; our Children grew sober, and Worked willingly, but we very much questioned, whether their Labours at the Rates we were paid, would answer the charge of their Maintenance; and if not, our great doubt was how we might advance it, without prejudicing the Manufactures.

To clear the first, we supposed ourselves in a fair way, having appointed their Diets to be made up of such Provisions as were very wholesome, afforded good nourishment, and were not costly in Price, _viz._ Beef, Pease, Potatoes, Broath, Pease-porridge, Milk-porridge, Bread and Cheese, good Bear, (such as we drank at our own Tables) Cabage, Carrots, Turnips, &c. in which we took the Advice of our Physician, and bought the best of every sort. They had three Meals every day, and as I remember, it stood us (with Soap to wash) in about Sixteen pence _per_ Week for each of the One hundred Girls. We soon found the effect of their Change of Living, Nature being well supported, threw out a great deal of foulness, so that we had generally Twenty down at a time, in the Measels, Small-pox, and other Distempers; but by the Care of our Physician, and the Blessing of God on his Endeavours, we never Buried but Two, though we have had seldom less than One hundred in the House at any time.

Having thus provided for their Dyets, we next appointed their times of Working; which in the Summer was Ten Hours and a half every Day, and an hour less in the Winter; by which means we answered the two Objections raised against the Poor, (_viz._) That they will not Work, and that they spend what they get in fine feeding.

But we soon found, that the great cause of begging did proceed from the low Wages for Labour; for after about Eight Months time, our Children could not get half so much as we expended in their Provisions. The Manufacturers, who Employed us, were always complaining the Yarn was spun course, but would not advance above Eight pence _per_ Pound for Spinning, and we must either take this, or have no Work. On the other side, we were labouring to understand how we might distinguish, and put a Value on our Work, according to its Fineness. This we did by the Snap Reel, which when we were Masters of, the Committee made an Order, That the Master should buy in a Stock of Wool, and Spin it up for our own Accounts, and then proceeded to set the Price of Spinning by the Snap Reel, wherein we endeavoured to discourage Course Work, and to Encourage Fine, because we saw the latter was likely to bring more Profit, not only to the Poor, but to the Kingdom in general. We likewise ordered some things to be made up of the several sorts of Yarn, at the Rates we had set them; and on the whole, we found the Commodities made of fine Yarn, though they were much better than those made of Course, yet stood us in little more; because what the one exceeded in the charge of Spinning, was very much made good in abatement of the Quantity used. We therefore sent to the Manufacturers, and shewed them what Experiments we had made; but finding them still unwilling to advance above the old Rate, the Committee Voted that they would give Employment to all the Poor of the City, who would make application to them, at the Rates we offered to work, and pay them ready Money for their Labour.

We soon found we had taken the right Course, for in a few Weeks we had Sale for our Fine Yarn as fast as we could make it, and they gave us from Eight pence to Two Shillings _per_ Pound for Spinning the same Goods, for which a little before they paid but Eight pence, and were very well pleased with it, because they were now able to distinguish between the Fine and the Course Yarn, and to apply each sort to the use for which it was most proper: Since which, they have given us Two Shillings and Six Pence _per_ Pound for a great many Pounds, and we Spin some worth Three Shillings and Six Pence _per_ Pound Spinning.

By this means we had the pleasure of seeing the Children’s Labour advanced, which a little before I came up, amounted to near Six Pounds _per_ Week, and would have been much more, but that our biggest Girls, we either settle forth, or put in the Kitchen; and those we receive in being generally small, are able to do but little for some time after.

The encouragement we had received on this beginning, put us on proceeding further: The Court resolved to purchase a great Sugar-House, out of the Money directed by the Act to be raised for Building of Work-Houses, and fit it up for the receiving in the remainder of the Poor, (_viz._) ancient People, Boys, and young Children; which was accordingly done, and a Committee was appointed to manage it. This we called the _Mint Work-House_, because it had been hired by the Lords of the Treasury for that Use.

The Committee began to take in the Boys in _August_ last; these we Cloathed, Dyeted, and Governed, much after the same manner as we had done the Girls, but put them on a different Employment, (_viz._) Spinning of Cotton Wool, and Weaving of Fustians: We have now about One Hundred of them together, who settle well to their Work, and every Day mend their Hands; they get us already Six Pounds _per_ Week; they are likewise taught to Read, and we shall hereafter teach them to Write.

We next took in our ancient People; and here we had principally a regard to such as were impotent, and had no Friends to help them, and to such as we could not keep from the lazy Trade of Begging; these we Cloathed as we saw they needed, and put on such Employments as were fit for their Ages and Strengths, having our Eyes chiefly on those to which they were bred; we found it difficult at first to bend them down to good Orders, but by degrees we have brought them under Government.

Then we called in all the Children that were on our Poor’s Books, and put them under Nurses; those who can speak and go, are carried down into the School, to learn their A, B, C, &c. As they grow up, we shall put them into the Working Rooms.

The Boys are kept at a distance from the ancient People, who do also lodge in distinct Apartments, the Men in several Chambers on one Floor, and the Women on another; all do something, though perhaps some of their Labours comes to little, yet it keeps them from Idleness: Both the Old and Young attend Prayers twice a day, (except the Bedridden, for whom other Care is taken) and go to Church twice on _Sun days_.

We have now three standing Committees, (_viz._) For the Poor, for the New Work-house, and for the Mint Work-house: The first gives all Directions, and makes all Allowances, for the Poor, without whose Order no Guardian can act any thing considerable, except in Cases of absolute Necessity, which at the next Meeting of the Committee he must give an Account of, and desire their Approbation. The other two Committees have Power to Act in the Affairs of that Work-House for which they are chosen: They receive in both Old and Young; they bind forth Apprentices, Correct, order the Dyet as they please, oversee the Working, Sell the Manufactures when made, order the Payment of all Moneys, which cannot be done unless the Note be sign’d by the Chair-man; and generally direct every thing relating to those Houses.

The Accounts are made up thus: The Treasurers Account is audited every Year, by a Committee chosen for that purpose; at which time he is succeeded by another Treasurer, chosen by the Court: The Accounts of the Guardians who pay the Poor in their several Parishes are audited every Three Months, by a select Committee chosen likewise by the Court, and are then paid by the Treasurer: The Accounts for each Workhouse are audited by the respective Committee every Month, when the Master adjusts, not only his Account of Cash, but also of each particular _Specie_ of Goods he hath under his Care, the Ballance whereof is still carried forward to the next, which when allowed of is signed by the Chairman: And the Account for each House is so stated, that it shews at one sight, what the House is indebted; what Debts are outstanding, and from whom; what Goods remain in the House, and the Quantity of each _Specie_.

At the making up these Accounts nothing (unless very trivial) is allowed, for which an Order is not produced, or found entered in our Books, so that ’tis very difficult to wrong the Corporation of any thing, if the Guardians should endeavour it.

These Committees keep their Journal Books, wherein all they do is fairly transcribed, and signed by the Chairman.

This is what at present occurs to my Memory touching our Work-Houses at _Bristol_; I have been as brief as the nature of the thing would admit: The Success hath answered our Expectation; we are freed from Beggars, our old People are comfortably provided for; our Boys and Girls are educated to Sobriety, and brought to delight in Labour; our young Children are well lookt after, and not spoiled by the neglect of ill Nurses; and the Face of our City is so changed already, that we have great reason to hope these young Plants will produce a vertuous and laborious Generation, with whom Immortality and Prophaness may find little Incouragement; nor does our hopes appear to be groundless, for among Three Hundred Persons now under our Charge within Doors, there is neither Cursing nor Swearing, nor prophane Language, to be heard, though many of them were bred up in all manner of Vices, which neither _Bridewell_ nor Whippings could fright them from, because, returning to their bad Company for want of Employment, they were rather made worse then bettered by those Corrections; whereas the Change we have wrought on them is by fair means. We have a _Bridewell_, _Stocks_, and _Whipping-Post_, always in their sights, but never had occasion to make use of either.

What is done in that City, I humbly hope may be carried on by the same steps throughout the Kingdom; The Poor may be set at Work, their Wages advanced without danger to our Manufactures, and they thereby enabled to live on their own Labours, whereby the Charge of the Poor’s Rates may be saved, and a great many worthy Benefactors encouraged to give, when they shall see their Charity so well disposed of. This I have great reason to hope, because we have had near One Thousand Pounds freely given to us within the compass of one Year, and much thereof by Gentlemen who dwelt at a Distance from us, only were willing to Encourage a Work they saw likely to be carried on, which might be of good Example to the Nation.

I am,

Right Honourable

and Honourable,

Your Honours most

Obedient Servant

JOHN CARY.

AN

ESSAY

Towards Setling a

NATIONAL CREDIT.