OBSERVATIONS, &c. THE HE true application of CHARITY,* like * like perfect knowledge in metaphysics, seems to have been left as a subject of indefinite research and inquiry; in order that the faculties of man might be stimulated and exercised with more earnest attention, to its perfection, and to his own improvement. If, indeed, this science were easily to be acquired, and the bearings, the limits, and the boundaries, precisely and correctly ascertained, one of the most potent incentives to benevolent researches would cease; the kind and amiable affections of the heart might lose their influence; and every sentiment, congenial with charity, might stagnate in • See Introductory Letter to the third volume of the Reports. torpid inactivity. In this, however, as in other objects of inquiry, while the distant undiscovered country of speculation rises in clouds before us, it is always in our power to know as much, as can be practically useful. So much, in any event, we may clearly discover, that whatever encourages and promotes habits of industry, prudence, foresight, virtue, and cleanliness among the poor, is beneficial to them and to the country;-whatever removes or diminishes the incitement to any of these qualities, is detrimental to the State, and pernicious to the individual. This is the POLAR STAR of our benevolent affections; directing them to their true end, and preserving them, not only from that capricious selection of objects, which, unjust in principle and injurious in effect, seeks rather to gratify personal whim and distempered humour, than to promote the well-being of its fellow creatures; but also from that indiscriminate and undirected bounty, which may 66 give all its goods to feed the poor," and yet possess no one individual characteristic, or property, of genuine and useful charity The only rational hope of diminishing our present parochial burthens, and of affording a remedy to those evils which are incident to populous and opulent states, must be founded on the success of measures for bettering the condition of the poor. It must be by the education of youth, by the moral and religious habits of mature age, by the improvement of the cottager's means of life, by the increase of his resources, and of his habits of industry and foresight, by these means, and by these only, that the condition of the poor can ever be essentially and permanently improved, the prosperity of the country augmented, and the parochial burthens eventually diminished. Without these means, workhouses, and alms-houses, public edifices, and hospitals, may be erected with increasing and unwearied diligence throughout the land, and yet never keep pace with the progress of indigence and misery. It cannot be too often repeated, that to promote virtue and good habits among our fellow subjects, rewards and incitements must be made use of; that, though punishment and terror may deter from criminal and atrocious actions; yet, to produce in the cottager a superior tone of conduct,-to give existence to any degree of exertion and prudence beyond the Observations on Report, No. LI. |