To the Honourable, the House of Commons assembled in Parliament.  
Proposals humbly offered for a Provision for the POOR, and setting them to WORK.  


Imprimis  THAT this Honourable House do nominate and appoint such a number of Men, of known Estates, Integrity and Judgement in Merchandise, etc. either within or without the House, as shall be thought fit to be trusties, as we●l to receive the moneys collected for the Maintenance of the Poor, as likewise of a full Power to set to Work and Employ all Able, to correct Offenders, and in all Points to employ such Money and Produce of the Labour, for the Good not only of those able to work, but also for the Maintenance of the Aged, Cripples and Infants.  
That the Parties, thus named, to be trusties, be Incorporated by the Name of Governor and Company of trusties for the Poor; Or, and to meet at and choose a Governor and Deputy, and Committees, and so Annually, for ever, after the manner of the Bank of England. The Committees thus chosen, and sworn to be true to the Government and faithful in their Trust, to prepare By-Laws to be presented at a general Court of trusties within days, by the Majority to be Confirmed, Altered or Set-aside, as shall appear most conducing to the Good of the Poor; and that such By-Laws, thus made, all Justices of the Peace, Overseers of the Poor, Churchwardens, Constables and all Others, do obey so far as they do relate to the Poor, under the Penalty of for every Offence.  
That all the Money due, owing and remaining in Stock, and likewise all Lands, Rents, Revenues and Money yearly arising, and payable to the Poor out of the several Parishes of this Kingdom, etc. become payable to the said Committee of trusties; and, that the Overseers of the Poor and Churchwardens of every Parish, do, at or before the day of _____ 1694. give a true Account to the said Committee, under the Hands and upon Oath, of such Overseers, Churchwardens and Minister of every Parish, before some neighbouring Justice of Peace, of such Money, Stock, Lands and Rents payable to the Use of the Poor, and of all Persons as are chargeable to such Parish: And shall likewise, at or before the said day of _____ 1694. respectively pay to the said Commit, or to such as they shall appoint, all such Money due and owing to the Use of the Poor: And that the said Overseers, etc. do in like manner, and on or before the said day, give a true Account to the said Committee, of all such Sums of Money as was assessed or payable out of their respective Parishes to the Poor this present Year; which said Assessment to be Annually chargeable upon every such respective Parish, to be collected as formerly, and paid Quarterly to the said Committee, or those appointd by them.  
Except all Colleges, Hospitals and Foundations, that are (or hereafter may be) Erected and Endowed.  
That it may be lawful for the said Committee, or those appointed by them, To provide and erect Work-houses and Hospitals, for setting at Work and maintaining the Poor in the most convenient Places within this Kingdom, on the Linen or some other Foreign Manufactures; or such Manufactures of our own, that may not be to the Ruin of the present Industrious People of this Kingdom.  
That it may be lawful for the said Committee, or those by them appointed, where they find either Houses or Lands most proper to build such Work-houses and Hospitals upon, or to Endow them with, to purchase the same, and the Owners thereof be obliged to sell and deliver the said Lands or Houses within days after notice, at Years purchase, according to the present or last Rents, allowing for Damage by being Uninhabited or let run to Ruin.  
That after days notice given of any such Lands or Tenements, so purchased, by publication in the Gazette or no former Sale, Mortgage, etc. shall have any Claim or Title, either in Law or Equity, to any part, or the whole of the Purchase-mony; but where, within the time limited, there doth any Dispute arise, the Purchase-mony to remain in the Hands of the said Committee, Interest free, until the Matter shall be decided between the Clamants by Law or otherwise  
That for the better establishing the Linen Manufactures to the best Advantage to these Kingdoms, all sorts of Flax and Hemp, etc. of the Growth of Ireland, be Imported, Custom free, and from other Countries at a low and easy Custom; and that such additional Duties be laid on all Foreign Linens, Silks and Papers, as may encourage those Manufactures in this Kingdom.  
That a Sum not exceeding per Annum, be allotted towards the defraying the Expenses of the Persons chosen to be of the said Committee, to be paid them in proportion to their attendance at the Committee; and that it may be lawful for the said Committee, to allow such Salaries to their Officers, as shall from time to time appear reasonable and necessary.  
That whereas the beginning so great a Work will require an extraordinary Expense, the said Committee have power to borrow Money at per Cent. Interest, on the Security of the Poor's Rates.  
That every Committee of trusties, before the Expiration of the Year they were chosen for, do cause a fair State of the Poor's Stock, by way of Debtor and Creditor to be prepared; and that each Person of the said Committee do examine the same by their Books or such other Accounts as the same may refer to, and put their Hands and Seals to their said Books and Accounts: And like wise under their Hands and Seals certify the said State to be true, and a just Abstract of their Books and Accounts; and do deliver the same to the new elected Governor and Committees upon their Admission to their Trust; for Neglect whereof each Person neglecting to be punishable by And the Committee for the time being be accountable to every Session of Parliament.  
That so much of the Statutes made in the 39th Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, the 1st Year of King James I. And the 14th Year of King Charles II. as concern the Apprehending Rogues, Vagabonds and sturdy Beggars, be duly put in execution, and the Persons apprehended be sent to such Work-houses as the said Committee shall appoint. And that it may be lawful for the said Committee, or any or more of them to correct the Idle, Slothful and Offenders by   

Reasons humbly offered to the Honourable the House of Commons for passing the Proposals for setting the POOR at Work into an Act.  


Imprimis  ABove all others, it is most reasonable to suppose, That the Members in Parliament are the most competent Judges of Persons proper for such a Trust.  
II. That the Power cannot be less than proposed, because of the many Difficulties which unavoidably will attend so great a Work.  
III. That the Money ought to be paid in presently, and a Borrowing Clause allowed for as much as the first Years Expense will abundantly exceed any succeeding Years, Materials being to be bought, the Expense in fixing their Abode, and the small Earnings they will make of any Work at the beginning.  
iv That the Poor ought not to be employed on any of our own Staple Manufactures that are now in a flourishing Condition, because that will only change the Hands and not increase the Trade, and thereby advance the Beggars, to beggar the present industrious Workmen.  
V That the Poor ought not to be employed in their respective Parishes, but at some convenient Places near the Sea, and in the most plentiful Parts of the Country, that thereby they may be furnished with Provisions at the easier Rates.  
VI That all the Encouragement in the World ought to be given to the Irish to raise Flax, because thereby it may in some measure divert their Breeding and Fatting of Cattle, the same Land being proper for both.  
VII. That the trusties for the Poor aught to be accountable to Parliament, that thereby the present Rates may be lessened or augmented as shall appear necessary.    

The Benefits hereby accrueing will be,  
THE Poor will be relieved from the many Pressures they now groan under, and the Nation freed from the Scandal.  
And it will undoubtedly establish the Manufactures of Linen, Lace, Tape, Thread, etc. forasmuch as the Money raised for the Maintenance of the Poor will enable them to work cheaper than any of our Neighbours; By which means great part of the Commodities from Spain and their West●●●●s, and likewise from our Plantations, as Barbadoes, Virginia, Jamaica, New-England, Newfoundland, Maryland, Carolina, Mevis, Antego, and several other Parts beyond the Seas, to which such great Quantities of Linen, etc. are yearly exported, will be the Proceed of the Labour of the present Idle Vagrants and Beggars, besides the Consumption within ourselves, for all which such vast sums of Money (in time of Peace are sent to France, and) at present to our other Neighbours, towards the Employing their Poor and starving our own.  
All which is humbly submitted to the Consideration of this August Assembly, by Dixey Kent.