Idleness is the Foundation of all those Vices which prevail among us, People, aiming to be maintained any way rather than by Labour, betake themselves to all sorts of Villanies; the ill Consequences whereof cannot be prevented, but by encouraging Youth in an early delight of Living by Industry, and on what they call their Own, rather than by Dependance on others, which will keep up a true British Spirit, and put them on Honest Endeavours, and this will get them Credit and Reputation, and give them Opportunities of advancing their Fortunes; and if such an Emulation went through the Kingdom, we should not have so many Lazy Beggars, or Licentious Livers, as now there are; Nor is GOD more honour’d among any, than He is among such Industrious People, who abhor Vice, on equal Principles of Religion and good Husbandry, Labour being usually a Barrier against Sin, which doth generally enter at the Doors of Idleness.
[Sidenote: Mr. Edward Colson’s Two Almshouses in Bristol.]
The Third Consideration is, What Methods must be used to provide for those, who either are not able to work, or whose Labour can’t support their Charge; Here I take Alms-houses to be good Gifts, where they are designed to relieve Old Age, or Educate Youth; not to maintain idle Beggars, or ease Rich Parishes, but to provide for those who have been bred up in Careful Employments, tho’ not able to stem the Current of Cross Fortunes: Two such have been sumptuously Founded, and suitably Endowed, in the City of _Bristol_, _Edward Colson_, Esq; a Merchant and Native thereof, who is still living; one of them for Twenty Four Men and Women, who had formerly lived well; the Other for One hundred Boys, to be Educated in the Principles of Vertue, and afterwards set out to Trades, whereby they may get their Livelihoods; a Charity so great in it self, and carried on so free from Ostentation, that the like is not to be seen in any Part of this Kingdom, of the Free Gift of One Gentleman in his Life-time; which he hath settled in the Society of Merchants Adventurers within That City, of whose Care and Fidelity in the well Management thereof, he is fully Satisfied.
Another way to provide for those who are true Objects of Charity is, by taking Care that the Poors Rates be made with more equality in Cities and great Towns, especially in the former; where the greatest Number of Poor usually residing together in the Suburbs or Out-Parishes, are very Serviceable by their Labours to the Rich, in carrying on their Trades; yet when Age, Sickness, or a Numerous Family, make them desire Relief, their chief Dependance must be on People but one step above their own Conditions; by which means these Out-Parishes are more burthened in their Payments, than the In-Parishes are, tho’ much Richer, and is one Reason why they are so ill Inhabited, no Man careing to come to a certain Charge: And this is attended with another ill Consequence, the want of better Inhabitants making way for those Disorders which easily grow among the Poor; whereas, if Cities and Towns were made but one Poors Rate, or equally divided into more, these Inconveniencies would be removed, and the Poor be maintained by a more equal Contribution.