essays-1-第58部分

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　institution　cannot　be　meritorious；　or　acceptable　to　God：　and　no　maxim　is　less　founded　in　truth；　than　that　the　merit　of　the　giver　is　undiminished　by　the　unworthiness　of　the　object。　The　truly　distressed　are　too　bashful　to　mix　with　the　herd　of　common　Beggars；　necessity；　it　is　true；　will　sometimes　conquer　their　timidity；　and　compel　them　publicity　to　solicit　charity；　but　their　modest　appeal　is　unheard　or　unnoticed；　whilst　a　dissolute　vagabond；　who　exhibits　an　hypocritical　picture　of　distress；a　drunken　wretch；　who　pretends　to　have　a　numerous　family　and　to　be　persecuted　by　misfortune；or　an　impudent　unfeeling　women；　who　excites　pity　by　the　tears　and　cries　of　a　poor　child　whom　she　has　hired　perhaps　for　the　purpose；　and　tortured　into　suffering；　steps　daringly　forward　to　intercept　the　alms　of　the　charitable；　and　the　well…intentioned　gift　which　should　relieve　the　indigent　is　the　prize　of　impudence　and　imposition；　and　the　support　of　vice　and　idleness。What　then　is　left　for　the　modest　object　of　real　　distress；　but　to　retire　dispirited　and　hide　himself　in　the　obscurity　of　his　cottage；　there　to　languish　in　misery；　whilst　the　bolder　Beggar　consumes　the　ill…bestowed　gift　in　mirth　and　riot？　And；　yet；　the　charitable　donor　flatters　himself　that　he　has　performed　an　exemplary　duty！

We　earnestly　entreat　every　citizen　and　inhabitant　of　this　capital；　each　in　his　respective　station；　no　longer　to　countenance　mendicity　by　such　a　misapplication　of　their　well…meant　charity；　contributing　thus　to　augment　the　fatal　consequences　of　the　evil　itself；　as　well　as　to　impede　the　relief　of　the　real　necessitous。

We　are　firmly　persuaded；　that　by　pointing　out　to　our　fellow…citizens　a　method　by　which　they　may　　exercise　their　benevolence　towards　the　indigent　and　distressed　in　a　meritorious　manner；　we　shall　gratify　their　pious　zeal　and　humanity；　and　at　the　same　time　essentially　promote　the　honour　and　safety　of　the　state；　and　the　interests　of　sound　morality　and　religion。

And　this　is　the　sole　object　of　the　Military　Workhouse；　which　has　been　instituted　by　the　command　of　his　Electoral　Highness；　where；　from　this　time　forward；　all　who　are　able　to　work　may　find　employment　and　wages；　and　will　be　cloathed　and　fed。THERE　will　be　the　really　indigent　find　a　secure　asylum；　and　those　unfortunate　persons　who　are　a　prey　to　sickness　and　infirmity；　or　are　worn　out　with　age；　will　be　effectually　relieved。

We　beg　you　not　to　listen　to　the　false　representations　which　may；　perhaps；　be　made　to　calumniate　this　institution；　by　putting　it　on　a　level　with　former　imperfect　establishments。Why　should　not　an　institution　prosper　at　Munich；　which　has　already　been　successful　in　other　places；　particularly　at　Manheim；　where　above　800　persons　are　daily　employed　in　the　Military　Workhouse；　and　heap　benedictions　on　its　benevolent　founder？Have　the　inhabitants　of　this　town　less　good　sense；　less　humanity；　or　less　zeal　for　the　good　of　mankind？　　Noit　would　be　an　insult　on　the　patriotism　of　our　fellow…citizens；　were　we　to　doubt　of　their　readiness　to　concur　in　our　undertaking。

The　only　efficacious　way　of　promoting　an　institution　so　intimately　connected　with　the　safety；　honor；　　and　welfare　of　the　state；　and　with　the　interests　of　religion　and　morality；　is　a　general　resolution　of　the　inhabitants　to　establish　a　voluntary　monthly　contribution；　and　strictly　prohibit　the　abominable　and　degrading　practice　of　street…begging；　the　unlimited　exercise　of　which；　notwithstanding　its　fatal　and　disgraceful　consequences；　is　perhaps　more　glaringly　indulged　in　Munich　than　in　any　other　city　in　Germany。

In　vain　will　the　institution　be　opposed　by　the　prejudices；　or　the　meanness　and　malice　of　persons　who　are　themselves　used　to　mendicity；　or　to　　exercise　an　insolent　dominion　over　Beggars。

It　will　subsist　in　spite　of　all　their　efforts；　and　we　have　the　fullest　confidence　that　the　generous　　and　well…disposed　inhabitants　of　this　city　will　be　　sensible　how　injurious　the　habits　of　encouraging　　public　mendicity　are；　when　an　opportunity　is　offered　them　of　contributing　to　an　institution　where　the　really　indigent　are　sure　to　find　assistance；　and　where　the　benevolent　Christian　is　certain　that　his　neighbours　and　fellow…citizens　are　benefited　by　his　charitable　donations。

The　simplest　and　most　effectual　way　of　ascertaining　the　extent　of　such　contribution　is　to　form　a　list　of　all　the　citizens　and　inhabitants　of　the　town；　with　the　name　of　the　street；　and　number　of　the　house　they　inhabit。　　This　register　may　be　called　an　Alms　Book。　　It　will　be　presented　to　each　inhabitant；　that　he　may　put　down　the　sum　which　he　means　　voluntarily　to　subscribe　every　month　towards　the　support　of　the　Poor。　　The　smallest　donation　will　be　gratefully　received；　and　the　objects　who　are　relieved　by　them　will　pray　for　them　to　the　Almighty　Rewarder　of　all　good　actions。

As　this　charitable　contribution　is　to　be　absolutely　voluntary；　every　one；　whatever　be　his　rank　or　　property；　will　subscribe　as　he　pleases；　a　greater　or　a　less　sum；　or　none　at　all。　　The　names　of　the　benefactors　and　their　donations　will　be　printed　and　published　quarterly；　that　every　one　may　know　and　acknowledge　the　zealous　friends　of　humanity；　by　whose　assistance　an　evil　of　such　magnitude；　so　long　and　so　universally　complained　of；　will　be　finally　rooted　out。

We　request　that　the　public　will　not　oppose　so　sure　and　effectual　a　mode　of　granting　relief　to　the　Poor；　but　rather　give　their　generous　support　to　an　undertaking；　which　cannot　but　be　productive　of　much　good；　and　acceptable　in　the　sight　of　Heaven。

To　convince　every　one　of　the　faithful　application　of　these　contributions；　an　exact　detail　both　of　the　receipt　and　expenditure　of　the　institution　will　be　printed　and　laid　before　the　public　every　three　months；　and　every　subscriber　will　be　allowed　to　inspect　and　examine　the　original　accounts　whenever　he　shall　think　proper。

It　must　be　obvious　to　every　one；　even　to　persons　of　the　most　suspicious　dispositions；　that　this　　institution　is　perfectly　disinterested；　and　owes　its　origin　entirely　to　pure　benevolence；　and　an　active　zeal　for　the　public　good；　when　it　is　known　that　a　Committee　appointed　by　his　Electoral　Highness；　under　the　direction　of　the　Presidents　of　the　Council　of　War；　the　Supreme　Regency；　and　the　Ecclesiastical　Council；　will　have　the　sole　administration　and　direction　of　the　affairs　of　the　institution；　and　that　the　monthly　collections　of　alms　will　be　made　by　creditable　persons　properly　authorised；　and　that　no　salary；　or　emoluments　of　any　kind；　will　be　levied　on　the　funds　of　the　institution；　either　for　　salaries　for　the　collectors；　or　any　other　persons　　employed　in　the　service　of　the　institution；　as　will　clearly　appear　by　the　printed　quarterly　accounts。　　By　such　precautions；　we　trust；　we　shall　obviate　all　possible　suspicions；　and　inspire　every　unprejudiced　person　with　a　firm　confidence　in　this　useful　institution。

Henceforward；　then；　the　infamous　practice　of　begging　in　the　streets　will　no　longer　tolerated　in　Munich；　and　the　public　are　from　this　moment　exonerated　from　a　burden　which　is　not　less　troublesome　to　individuals　than　it　is　disgraceful　to　the　country。　Who　can　doubt　the　co…operation　of　every　individual　for　the　accomplishment　of　so　laudable　an　undertaking？　　We　trust　that　no　one　will　encourage　idleness；　by　an　injudicious　and　pernicious　profusion　of　alms　given　to　Beggars；　and　by　promoting　the　most　unbridled　licentiousness；　make　himself　a　participator　in　the　dangerous　consequences　of　mendicity；　and　share　the　guilt　of　all　those　crimes　and　offences　which　endanger　the　welfare　of　the　state；　injure　the　cause　of　religion；　and　insult　the　distress　of　the　really　indigent。

No　longer　will　these　vagabonds　impose　on　good…nature　and　benevolence；　by　false　pretences；　by　ill…founded　complaints　of　the　inefficacy　of　the　provision　for　the　Poor；　or　by　any　other　artifices；　nor　can　they　escape　the　strict　and　constant　vigilance　with　which　they　will　in　future　be　watched；　when　every　person　they　meet　will　direct　them　to　the　House　of　Industry；　instead　of　giving　them　money。

It　is　this　regulation　alone　which　can　effectuate　our　purpose；　a　regulation　enforced　in　the　days　of　primitive　Christianity；　and　sanctioned　by　Religion　　itself；　the　charitable　gifts　of　the　wealthier　Christians　being　in　those　days　all　deposited　in　a　common　　treasury；　for　the　benefit　of　their　poorer　and　distressed　Brethren；　and　not　squandered　away　in　the　encouragement　of　dissolute　idleness。

We　therefore　entreat　and　beseech　the　public　in　general；　in　the　name　of　suffering　humanity；　and　of　that　Almighty　Being　who　cannot　but　regard　so　laudable　an　enterprise　with　an　eye　of　favour；　to　give　every　possible　support　to　our　design。　　And　we　trust　that　the　clergy　of　every　denomination；　but　especially　the　public　preachers；　will　exert　their　　splendid　abilities　to　animate　their　congregations　to　　co…operate　with　us　in　this　great　and　important　undertaking。


APPENDIX　No　II。

SUBSCRIPTION　LISTS　distributed　among　the　　Inhabitants　of　MUNICH；　in　the　Month　of　JANUARY　1790；　when　the　Establishment　for　the　Relief　of　the　Poor　in　that　City　was　formed。

Translated　from　the　Original　German。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　VOLUNTARY　　SUBSCRIPTIONS　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　for　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Relief　and　Support　of　　　　　　The　Industrious；　Sick；　and　Helpless　POOR；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　and　　　　　　　For　the　total　Extirpation　of　VAGRANTS　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　and　STREET…BEGGARS；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　In　the　City　of　MUNICH。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　REMARKS。

These　voluntary　subscriptions　will　be　collected　monthly；　namely；　on　the　last　Sunday　morning　of　every　month；　under　the　direction　of　the　Committee　of　Governors　of　the　Institution　for　the　Poor；　consisting　of　the　President　of　the　Council　of　War；the　President　of　the　Council　of　the　Regency；and　the　President　of　the　Ecclesiastical　Council＇4＇；　and　the　amount　of　these　collections　will　always　be　regularly　noted　down　in　books　kept　for　that　purpose；　and　at　the　end　of　every　three　months　a　particular　detailed　account　of　the　application　of　these　sums　will　be　printed；　and　given　gratis　to　the　subscribers　and　to　the　public。

No　part　of　these　voluntary　contributions　will　ever　be　taken；　or　appropriated　to　the　payment　of　salaries；　gratuities；　or　rewards　to　any　of　those　persons　who　may　be　employed　in　carrying　on　the　business　of　the　institution；　but　the　whole　amount　of　the　sums　collected　will　be　faithf