Part 9

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.

First Published in the Year, MDCXCVI.

To the Right Honourable the LORDS Spiritual and Temporal, and to the Honourable the Commons of ENGLAND in Parliament Assembled.

HAVING lately presented your Honours with _An Essay on Coin and Credit_, the chief Design whereof was to shew the Necessity of Setling a well-grounded Credit in this Nation, for Support of the Government, and carrying on its Trade; I do now with all Humility lay before you Proposals to answer that end, which I have not clogg’d with Compulsion to the Subject, supposing nothing of this Nature can be good, where a Common Consent, grounded upon Interest, doth not make it valuable.

Banks, as I humbly conceive, ought chiefly to be Calculated for the Use of Trade, and modeled so as may best content the Traders. What gives them Satisfaction, will answer all other Occasions of the Kingdom. Money passes through the Hands of the Nobility and Gentry, only as Water doth through Conduit-Pipes into the Cistern, but Centers in the Hands of Traders, where it Circulates, and may be said to be used; and among these, Ease, Profit, and Security, are Arguments strong enough to keep a Bank always full; Besides, when the Streights of the Government are taken off, greater Sums will come into Trade, which are now drawn out, in order to make Advantages, above what the Profits of Trade will bring in.

The Heads whereon I propose to build this National Credit, are these which follow:

That a Bank be Erected on the Credit of the Parliament, the Profit or Loss thereof to redound to the Nation, whose chief Chamber shall be setled in _London_, but lesser Chambers in other Places of this Kingdom, at such Distances, as may best Answer the Occasions of the Country; which Chambers to account with that of _London_, and that to Commissioners appointed by Parliament.

That this Bank shall take in what running Cash shall be offered, and shall give their Notes for it; and shall also allow Interest after the Rate of ### _per Cent. per Annum_, after the first ### days, till those Notes be paid, and shall also pay it again to the Proprietors, or any part thereof, when demanded.

That if any Man puts in his Money for a time certain, not less then ### Months, he shall receive Interest from the time of paying it in, to the time he is repaid.

That this Bank shall let out any Sum again on reasonable Security, either Real, Personal, or Goods, receiving Interest after the Rate of ### _per Cent. per Annum_, till the Borrower shall think fit to pay it in, which he shall do, by such Parts as will best suit his Occasions, and be discharged from the Interest of what he so pays, and only pay after the Rate aforesaid, for so much as doth remain in his hands.

That Lombards be Erected to attend this Bank, for the Benefit of Traders, under Regulations, which may encourage Trade.

That for the Benefit of Returns, the Notes given in any one Chamber of this Bank, shall be demandable in any other, together with the Interest due till payment, the Receiver allowing for such Returns after the Rate of ### for each Hundred pounds, in the Chamber where he receives his Money.

That to prevent Counterfeits, all Notes given out at any Chamber, shall be made payable to ### or Order, and Assigned from one to another, each Assigner to be Warrantee for the Note, both to the Bank, and also to every later Assignee.

That these Notes shall be taken by the King in all Payments, which will make them currant among the Subjects.

That this Bank do supply the King with all Loans at ### _per Cent._ Interest _per Ann._ from the time of borrowing to the time the Money is paid in again, and that it hath the Taxes, or Funds settled by Act of Parliament, for its Security.

That all Debts Contracted to this Bank, shall be of the same Nature with Debts Contracted to the King, and be first paid out of the Estates of the Debtors; and that Extents shall lye accordingly.

That an Account be kept of Profit and Loss in each Chamber, together with the Charges of the Officers, &c. And that it be return’d up every Three Months, as also Account Current, to the Grand Chamber in _London_, where the whole shall be Examined by the Commissioners, and they be liable to the inspection of the Parliament.

That Registers for Lands be erected in all Counties, &c. where desired, by Act of Parliament.

That Bills be past on the Bank by such as are appointed to buy for the Publick Use of the Nation, payable at the time of their Agreement; by which means every one will endeavour to Furnish the Government Cheapest, when their payments shall be punctual; the King will save a great deal of Moneys, paid now for Procuration, Excessive Interest, &c. and the Fleet and Army will be well paid.

That the Commissioners do once every Year at least, make up the Accounts depending between the Publick and the Bank, allowing ### _per Cent._ Interest as before; and make application to the Parliament for its Reimbursement.

That Bills and Bonds be made Assignable by Law, and the Property be thereby transfer’d to the Assigne.

That Trustees may put the Money belonging to _Orphans_ into this Bank, which shall be a discharge to them for so much of their Trust, the Interest to be duly issued out for the maintenance of the said _Orphans_; and that all Plate and Bullion belonging to the said _Orphans_ be by the Trustees Coined up at the next Mint, and the Money put into the Bank for the use of the said _Orphans_.

That the Money in this Bank be freed from Taxes.

Concerning which Credit I shall briefly speak to these Four Things.

I. First, _Its Security_.

II. Secondly, _Some of those Advantages the Nation will reap by it_.

III. Thirdly, _I shall make some Comparison between this Credit, and the present Bank of_ England.

IV. Fourthly, _I shall set forth the necessity of setling the Nations Credit in this present Sessions_.

I. As to the _First_, It hath the Legislative Power of the Kingdom of _England_ for its Foundation, a Security strong enough, and nothing else can be so, to build this Great Superstructure upon, the well Modeling whereof, will keep it from being subject to the Designs of Private Persons; This will last so long as the Peoples Liberties last, for no Change can weaken it, so long as the People of _England_ have a hand in making their own Laws, whose Common Interest will be so Riveted and Made up with the Security of this Bank, that they will in a short time become one thing, so that nothing less than a Conquest will be able to shake it; This we cannot fear from any Nation besides the _French_, nor from them neither, till _Holland_ is first subdued; therefore, as those States must first truckle, so far will our Bank be more secure than theirs; _France_ cannot Erect a Bank on any sort of Security, because, the Will of that Prince being his Law, alters according to his present Occasions; Nor can _Spain_ do it; where, not only the Government, but also the Profits thereof, are divided amongst its Ministers; As for _Sweden_, _Denmark_ and _Portugal_, the Princes of _Italy_ and _Germany_, few believe their Circumstances to be such, as to Render them capable of Erecting a Bank, which may draw the Eyes of _Europe_ to look towards it; _England_ only can do it, for as an easie Government is its own Security, so that Security encourages Trade, and these two, accompanied with the Profits offered to a Running Cash, will make all _Europe_ desire to settle their Moneys here.