58 APPENDIX.
up twelve children, eight of whom were then in the
house; the eldest a cripple, incapable of earning any
thing. On inquiry, I found that the poor man paid
eight pounds per year rent to his landlord, a gentleman
of great property in the neighbourhood, who refused
to repair the cottage or allow him any thing for doing
it. I found that he received nothing from his parish,
having quitted it. I called on his landlord, to inquire
into his character and distress, but could obtain no
satisfactory information.
No 3.
Improper Employment of the Poor of Saint
Mary-le-Bone.
In referring to my assertion, that the Poor are em-
ployed improperly in disgraceful or unnecessary works,
I cannot give a better proof of the correctness of my
assertion than by an allusion to the parish where I live,
that of St. Mary-le-bone. I have made it a rule never
to interfere in the unhappy disputes of this parish, but
I must in justice say, that whenever I have looked in,
I have seen signs of good management, and every
attention paid by all employed. I have also met with
every facility to obtain information and explanation of
all expences incurred. I have just received an account
of the different persons in this Workhouse, which
shows the immense importance of employing them in a
proper manner; not only for the sake of these unfortu-
nate persons, but for the benefit of those who pay for
their maintenance, many of whom, if the high rates