demned by authorities deserving the most respectful consideration. Of these authorities he mentioned the Committee of the House of Commons which was appointed to consider the subject in 1735, Adam Smith in 1776, Mr. Pitt in 1796, and, lastly, the Committee of 1847, in whose recommendations, both as regards settlement and the area of chargeability, he expressed his entire concurrence. He concluded by declaring that "he did not believe the House could adopt any legislation upon the subject without prejudice to some class of interests, and he was convinced that they could not let the law remain as it was without prejudice to all. My anxious wish has been (he said), in devising a remedy, so to frame it that any interference with private interests may be as little as possible in point of amount, and as justifiable as possible in point of principle." This address produced a very marked effect, both on the House and in the country, and was generally considered to be conclusive against the power of compulsory removal, as well as against separate parochial chargeability; so that we may hope ere long to see the former abolished, and union chargeability substituted for the latter. When this is done, there will be little occasion for further changes in our English Poor Law, which may then be readily consolidated into one comprehensive code, easy of administration, and intelligible to all. In the hope of ere long seeing these necessary and highly important objects effected, I here close the present work, undertaken solely through a sense of duty, and in the preparation of which my time and thoughts have, with little intermission, been I trust not altogether unprofitably occupied, since the day I quitted office. 1 See ante, p. 394. APPENDIX No. I. POPULATION and AMOUNT of the POOR-RATES in ENGLAND and WALES, as the same are given at the several Periods in the present Work. No. II. STATEMENT of the TOTAL MONEY levied as PoOR-RATE in ENGLAND and WALES, and the amount expended thereout for the Relief of the Poor, for the Years ending Lady-day 1813 to 1853 inclusive; together with the Population, and the Prices of Wheat. 1834 1831 67 8 13,897,187 8,279,218 6,798,889 14,105,600 8,622,920 7,036,969 10 0 2nd maximum. 14,372,000 1835 44 2 14,564,000 1836 39 5 14,758,000 1837 52 6 14,955,000 1838 55 3 15,155,000 1839 69 4 15,357,000 1840 68 6 15,562,000 1841 65 3 15,906,741 1842 64 0 15,981,000 1843 54 4 16,194,000 1844 51 5 16,410,000 1845 49 2 16,629,000 1846 53 3 16,851,000 1847 59 0 17,076,000 1848 64 6 17,304,000 1849 49 1 17,534,000 1850 42 7 17,765,000 1851 39 11 17,922,768 1852 39 4 17,928,000 6,552,298 4,897,685 5 1853 42 0 17,929,000 6,522,412 4,939,064 5 8,338,079 6,317,255 8 9 New Poor Law. 7,373,807 5,526,418 7 7 2nd minimum. 6,354,538 4,717,630 6 43 3rd minimum. No. III. AMOUNT OF EMIGRATION from the UNITED KINGDOM in each of the several Years from 1815 to 1853 inclusive. No. IV. LIST of STATUTES in Chronological Order referred to in the 924. Athelstan, i. 13. 1017. Canute, i. 14. present work. 1235. 20 Henry III. c. 7, The Provisions 1259. 43 Henry III. c. 23, i. 21. i. 24, 25. 1285. 13 Edward I., Statute of Winches- 1328. 2 Edward III. c. 2, Statute of 1331. 5 Edward III. c. 14, i. 33, 55. 1350-51. 25 Edward III. i. 35, 39, 41, 1377. 1 Richard II. c. 6, i. 48. 1383. 7 Richard II. c. 5, i. 55, 97, 98, 105. 1388. 12 Richard II. i. 55, 66, 67, 69, 1389-90. 13 Richard II. c. 8, i. 59, 75. 1399. 1 Henry IV. c. 17, i. 62. 1421. 9 Henry V. c. 5, i. 73. 1427. 2 Henry VI. c. 6, i. 75. 1444. 23 Heury VI. c. 12, i. 79, 100, 102. 1450. 27 Henry VI. c. 1, i. 83. 1483-84. 1 Richard III. c. 9, i. 90. 1495. 11 Henry VII. c. 2, Act against 1495. 11 Henry VII. c. 11, i. 99. 163. 1532. 23 Henry VIII. c. 20, i. 126. 151. 1535. 26 Henry VIII. c. 1; i. 127. 157. 1551-52, 5 & 6 Edward VI. c. 2, i. 133, 140, 142, 188. 1551-52. 5 & 6 Edward VI. c. 5, i. 136. |