Page images
PDF
EPUB

tation of the prophecy might be rightly formed, though the expectations of most men are disappointed. It is visible, I suppose, that the Papal power (if we agree to call that Antichrist) is now on the decline; whensoever that declension began, or how long soever it may be before it will be finished. And therefore interpreters may have aimed right, though they seemed to others, and perhaps to themselves, to be mistaken." Bishop Hurd's Lect. Vol. II. p. 69.

1

To this opinion I most cordially assent. It is indeed founded upon this general principle of Scripture, that events and things are dated, by the prophets, not from their acme but from their commencement. Thus the Lamb is said to be slain from the foundation of the world (Rev. xiii. 8.)-Our Lord is said to have received all power, when he began to receive all power, (Matt. xxviii. 18.)— In Rev. xvi. 17, it is said, "It is done," because the seventh vial was to occasion the sacrificial destruction of all the enemies of God, corresponding to the crucifixion of Christ; and in like manner a man is said to be born again in baptism, because baptism is the type and cause of the renovation of just men perfected in another world.

In a word, if we admit not this principle, it must be allowed that at least, with respect to England, the 1242 Julian years of Popish prevalence have long had a main accomplishment; for, to use the words of Mr. Gisborne;

Throughout the course of this century, and even to the present moment of its awful close, the church of these kingdoms has been blest with security and repose." [See Rev. xiv. 13, and Birch's Life of Tillotson, p. 132.] Gisborne's Survey of Christianity, p. 534. And here I must conclude for the present.

[blocks in formation]

a poor sick person a woman. I think she cannot sur vive three days; she has been ill of an asthma for some time; but she might have weathered many winters had she not gone to seek relief, imprudently, from the parish. She crawled to the workhouse, and was dismissed with the assurance, that it was in vain to ask for admittance; for, being an Irishwoman, she could not gain a settlement here, and consequently could not be received into the Workhouse. Be satisfied, Gentlemen, that she shall yet have relief as a casual pauper, I have already put things in such a train as to secure her this favour.

But why has she not relief AS A MATTER OF RIGHT? Do not England and Ireland form one kingdon? Whence then these odious distinctions between province and province? Can the UNION be deemed complete, till our poor people are reciprocally put upon an equal footing? I think I never before wished to be a Prelate; but if I were made a Bishop within a week, depend upon it, eight days should not elapse (and the Parliament sitting) before I would plead the cause of the poor Irish before the most august assembly in the world; and I am persuaded the voice of Equity and Humanity would not be raised in vain. I am persuaded I should find a number of coadjutors, whose united energy would presently perfect that identity of nation, which never can subsist between England and Ireland till this branch of our poorlaws be set to rights.

This poor creature, a Protestant, and a communicant of the Protestant Church of Ireland, has lived here nine years, he has borne two children here. So this country has had the benefit of her labour, and has had an increase of population from this poor woman, and barbarously (it is BARBAROUS POLICY) tells her, "you can gain no settlement here; we cannot help you; go home." "I am too ill to travel!"" Then die."-Prelates, and Peers, Commoners, whosoever you be that read these pages, if you have the power to remedy bitter evils likethis --set about it; and God's blessing will go with you; and the suffering members of your Saviour will pray for you, and their prayers will be heard on high. You have given us the Life of Skelton-O that he were yet living! I should not then have to look for a fellow-helper, nor would the poor want an advocate.

Some years ago Mr. Pitt, then in office, talked of revising our poor laws: but nothing was done. A friend

of

of mine printed, and circulated amongst the Members of Parliament of both Houses, the following paper; the principle of which, extended to Ireland, and Scotland too, would effectuate all I wish. The principle is simply this-That the parish benefited by the labour of any pauper, should provide for him in case of necessity.

A Suggestion for the Improvement of the Poor-Laws.

If the system of the Poor Laws could be so amended as to do away the necessity for removals, to diminish litigation, and consequently to lessen the expenditure of parochial money; almost every thing were effectuated which it may be reckoned expedient, at one effort, to attempt. To accomplish these desirable ends,—

1. Let the present law of settlement and removal be abolished.

2. Let that be deemed the parish, or the settlement, of each poor person, wherein he shall happen to reside at the time when disease or decay shall overtake him.,

It is to be presumed, that the parish wherein any poor man shall reside, has the benefit of his labour; and, therefore, that place which is enriched by the Labourer, should provide for the Pauper.

One exception, in the Metropolis, and most large towns, may be admitted. House-rent is so high in some parts of the town, that the Labourers and Manufacturers are obliged to live in the out-parishes: in such instances, let the parish where the Employer shall reside, support, in the hour of distress, the Employed.

Two questions only will be necessary, when a poor man shall ask for relief:-" Where do you live?"" For whom do you work?"-Let the parish in which he may at that time reside, supply his wants, and let the parish where his Employer may reside, reimburse the expences in

curred.

An end will thus be put to removals, in all cases; the simplicity of the plan will nearly supersede litigation, (which arises chiefly out of the present involved law of settlements,) and a prodigious saving will be made of parochial money.

The

poor man (and let Humanity, as well as Economy,

be

be looked to) will thus be happily consulted for, and his wants readily relieved. He will be no longer exposed to the question ordinary and extraordinary, of examination, as it is called, and re-examination; where he must give an account, maugre the imperfections of a memory impaired by sickness, or weakened by old age, of his own life, and perhaps of his father's life; and, in many instances, must swear to what he has heard, and not merely to what he knows to be matter of fact. He will cease to be the victim of the Pass-Cart; while the most inexperienced Church-Warden may understand, and the most thorough-paced Beadle shall not explain away, his right to due immediate relief.

3. Let the punishment of vagrancy be imprisonment and hard labour.

In all other cases, let the Law stand as it does at present. Let all parishes enjoy their local Acts of Parliament; the execution of which, habitude has made familiar to them; and let no one suppose that the plan here suggested is a mere innovation; it only goes, generally speaking, to put ALL PAUPERS ON THE SAME FOOTING WITH THE CASUAL POOR AT PRESENT.

*****, A.M. Curate of ****
I am, Gentlemen,

April 8, 1804.

***.

Your old and faithful friend,

A LONDON CURATE.

ON THE FATE OF CURATES, &c.

TO THE EDITORS OF THE ORTHODOX CHURCHMAN'S

GENTLEMEN,

MAGAZINE.

I

HAVE been for some time out of town attending the last moments of a very faithful friend; and soothing, in the best manner I could, his disconsolate family. I have been in the chambers of "Inconvenience and Dis

traction,"

traction," in the very abode of "Sickness and of Sorrow." My friend was a Clergyman, a poor Curate; and, dying, became another instance of the neglect too often shewn to that class of the Clergy, who, after all, best merit encouragement-though they rarely meet with it-our Parish Priests. A Pamphleteer shall obtain preferment; a translator of books of such a cast as none of the unlearned read; a compiler of elementary treatises, or an abridger of other men's labours; a frothy Preacher of CharitySermons, who is to be found on a Sunday morning in any pulpit except his own; such as these shall rise in the Church, to opulence or competence; whilst too often the industrious Curate who tends the broken-hearted on the bed of death; who instructs the young, catechetically; who comforts the aged; who breaks the Bread of Life, and administers the Cup of Blessing, "rightly and duly;" who joins his parishioners in the holy Bands of Wedlock; who washes their offspring in the Laver of Regeneration; who performs the last mournful functions of his office at the foot of the grave, mixing sometimes his own tears for a friend, with those shed by his people for a relation; sinks, unfriended, at the last, into the cold earth, and leaves the wife of his bosom, and the children who so often (poor victims of misery) smiled in his face; to the eleemosynary bounty of some scanty charitable fund. Such was the fate of the poor man whose eyes I closed! The Sun of Patronage never shone upon him. Vicar after Vicar died off the living where he served as Curate, or was preferred from it, and no one thought of giving it to him. Ten pounds now and then, from a charity, bestowed under such a powerful sanction of testimonials, and I know not what formalities, as would more than have sufficed for an archbishoprick, such a donation, so given, was deemed a very handsome retribution for the labour of a life. He had a child or two apprenticed out, into the bargain; but he often received such rebuffs in asking for assistance of this kind, as degraded him in the eyes of his neighbours, in the opinion even of his family, and in his own estima tion. Poor man! he wept whilst he told me the history of his wretchedness. "But he is in Peace." His labours are ended. His heavenly. Master compensates the want of earthly patrons; and the joys of Heaven will shortly make amends for the poverty he encountered, and the privations he endured here below.

[ocr errors]

"Fear

« PreviousContinue »