in my own neighbourhood, and for some years past have given the state of them a great deal of my attention and observation. I am persuaded that whatever measure is adopted, the present poor rate should be immediately limited, and a plan prescribed for its gradual extinction. There should be total suppression of ale houses, except where it is necessary for the accommodation of travellers. There are no ale houses in France. What a difference must this make in the prices of all manufactures, public morals, and police. The clubs or friendly societies should be encouraged by all possible means. There might be a parish holiday or festival once a year, with music or any other attraction, and upon the same day throughout England.
"Courts of Conscience should be abolished and a power of arrests for small sums taken away, as well as all fees. Surely some County or Parish Court, which would be still better, might be planned if not revived, to do the business allotted to Courts of Conscience, without fee or reward; or if there must be any, let it be by way of salary from the parish or county.[1]
"It is a shocking consideration that the public prisons should be nurseries of vice and infamy instead of places of reform and contrition, and an idea not to be endured that any officers of the Crown, much less judges, should owe any emolument directly or indirectly to such a source, or that it should cost so much as it does to bring any criminal to justice.
"I have no opinion of hospitals.
"A separate Act might be passed relative to the education of children. To give the children of the poor two or three years daily education and eight or ten years Sunday education, which would consist in nothing more than in inculcating the simplest of the simple principles of the Gospel, namely, public obedience, the duties and affections of domestic life, and contentment, under the doctrine of future rewards and punishments. It were to
- ↑ The Courts of Conscience or of Requests were the local Courts for the recovery of small debts constituted under special Acts of Parliament previous to the general establishment of County Courts.
