It seems also convenient, that these Work-houses, when setled in Cities and great Towns, should not be only Parochial, but one or more in each Place, as will best suit it; which would prevent the Poors being sent from Parish to Parish, and Provided for no where; and when once the Poor shall come by use to be in love with Labour, ’twill be strange to see an Idle Person; Then they will be so far from being a Burthen to the Nation, that they will become its Wealth, and their own Lives also will be more comfortable to them.
There are other things which will employ the Poor besides our Manufactures, and are also equally Beneficial to the Nation; such as Navigation, Husbandry, and Handicrafts; here if these or such like Rules were observed, they might be made more advantageous to all.
As First, Let the Justices of the Peace have Power to assign Youth to Artificers, Husbandry, Manufacturers, and Mariners, and to bind them Apprentices for a Time certain, at such Ages as they shall think ’em fit to go on those Employments, who should also be obliged to receive them; and tho’ this may at first seem hard, as hindring the Masters from taking Servants who may bring them Money, yet after some time it will not, when those who were so bound out themselves, shall only do for others what was done for them before; and this also may be now made good to them, by such an Overplus of years in their Apprentiships, as may be an Equivalent to the Money.
And as for those of elder years, who will rather Beg than Work, let them be forced to serve the King in his Fleet, or the Merchants on board their Ships; the Sea is very good to cure sore Leggs and Arms, especially such as are Counterfeits, against which, the Capstern, with the Taunts of the Sailors, is a certain Remedy.
Next, for Ale-houses, Coffee-houses, and such like Employments, let them be kept only by Aged People, or such who have numerous Families.
Let Masters of Ships be obliged to carry with them some Landmen every Voyage, which will increase our Seamen, and let the Justices have Power to force them to receive such as are willing to enter themselves, and to settle the Rates of their Wages.
Let Young People be prohibited from Hawking about the streets, and from Singing Ballads; if these things be allowed, they are fitter for Age.