not save, in the season of their strength, a provision for the season of infirmity; but as things are, there are still fewer where they can place out their savings at all, or,[ if at all, with security *. A great commercial establishment cannot stop its machinery to receive weekly shillings from a hundred or a thousand individuals. If it could, or would, the melancholy instability of country banks, often built upon no other foundation than the credulity of the neighbourhood, is a powerful objection to their becoming, without an especial guarantee, the depositaries of petty savings. No bankruptcy among these establishments takes place, which does not heap ruin on the heads of hundreds of the most deserving members of the community; those who by laborious industry and long self-denial have laid up their twenty, or fifty, or hundred pounds, as a support to a future family or their own declining years; and now find themselves by a sudden blow deprived of the hard-earned produce of a life of la

Happily this observation is fast losing its original justness, insomuch that it becomes necessary to remind the reader that the first edition of this work was published early in the year 1816.

bour. Neither does the evil stop with the immediate sufferers. The bursting of a single dam inundates a widely-extended level. Is this the fruit of frugality? Why should we hoard up, that others may squander our savings? This reasoning is too obvious, not to be unanswerable in the view of youth, and irresistible when backed by inclination.

The difficulty admits of easy remedy, though it is really the greatest of which our labouring poor can complain. If some of the more intelligent inhabitants of a district, or the principal landholders of a county, would bestow their attention upon this subject, as they have with great advantage upon Insurance Societies and other general interests, they would deserve the gratitude of the age, and receive the most satisfactory applause, the improvement of public welfare. In a small district, or a single village, an individual might effect something, by vesting a certain sum in the hands of trustees as a security to his poorer neighbours; and by devoting a few hours in every week or month to receiving their small savings, he might render them most

effectual service, without the least risk to himself, by allowing them 4 per cent. for their little capital*. But the system, to be useful, ought to be general; and, if general, could not be well managed without the regularity of habits of business and skill in the employment of capital. The establishment of county banks, with such security as should be satisfactory to the superintendents of the scheme, would be both desirable, and easily practicable; and might soon be made so far advantageous as at least to defray the expenses of management, since the customer would have just reason to be satisfied, if he could obtain:

* This seems to have been first done at Tottenham, about twelve years ago, The establishment was guaranteed by six trustees, between whom the money collected was equally divided; and for every additional £100 a new trustee chosen; so that none could risk more than his proportion of £100. The books were kept by. a lady, and never opened but on the first Monday in every month, either for receipts or payments. Any sum received above 1s.; and 5 per cent. given for every 20s. that lies twelve calendar months; every person so depositing money being at liberty to recal it any day' the books are opened.-See Reports of Society for the Poor; vol. iv.

without risk even 4 per cent. for his money. The security of the capital is of much more consequence than the rate of interest; and its insecurity, according to any mode already within reach of the poor of employing their savings, is one great reason why so little is at present saved.

It is a benevolent appointment of Providence, that judicious charity is twice blessed, and redounds to the advantage of the giver, sometimes not to his moral only, but temporal advantage. If a system of this kind should ever be universally established, its promoters will find the poorrates diminished, which now oppress landed property so heavily, not only by the amount of the sum thus annually saved from dissipation, but by all the habits which the constant custom of frugality and thoughtfulness would generate; and parish support will only be what it ought to be, the resource of irremediable misfortune, of orphan infancy or friendless age. Such a system seems alone to be wanting, in order to render this country, the happiest as well as the most intelligent of the world; it would form a natural union with the ge

neral education now diffused among the poor; it derives an evident facility from the state of public debt; and is peculiarly demanded by the sudden variations of prices which our present condition seems likely to entail upon us, as well as to correct the improvident habits which the existence of a poor-law has introduced among our peasantry.

It certainly cannot be pretended that these and similar advantages of an opulent state, spring up spontaneously, like the produce of the golden age: intelligence must be exerted to descry, and philanthropy to direct them. But it might form a serious objection against the divine goodness, if it were supposed that the condition of the majority of the community must always be deteriorated, as the community itself advanced in opulence. That this highest point of civilization is still capable of such a measure of general happiness, as belongs to an imperfect and preparatory state, is all that I undertake to prove. Should any one think the universal establishment or application of such beneficial plans impracticable, it will be easy to show