I saw the bridal tunic-Brava! Of toys and tools, sits Music crown'd, As sprigs and stones and wood-nymphs danc'd That froze to marble on her patient cheek, He therefore had not power; the maiden meek Had love in heaven however, and her Sire Transformed his seraph to that silver lyre; Transformed in pity,- for 'twas sad to view A soul so sweet, so saintly, and so true, On banks of earth recline her drooping head, And shed such tears as spirits only shed: For grief and joy in heaven are more intense That e'er is known to man's corrupter sense. "When thy loved boy," her parent fondly said, "Shall rest a dweller 'mongst the silent dead; To realms of bliss his spirit I will raise, If thou canst lead him to these heavenly ways; Go! seek his arms-if thou art his delight. By day his converse, and his dream by night If baser passions by thy power supprest, Thy charms can kindle love within his breast, If thou his spirit canst inspire to climb These heights of air, eternal and sublime; I will not close these gates serene of joy Against my daughter or her darling boy." He said: and to a lyre transform'd the maid, Whose sighs melodious melt along the shad In airy murmurs: soon her voice wa heard, And soon the youth she loved, her love preferr'd O'er all on earth beside; and there re clin'd, To her alone he gave up all his mind: Communion sweet the spirit purifies, And makes man worthy of his promise skies; Communion sweet inspired his deeds o worth, couch, And fondly hope to gain relief; Oh! come at the accustom'd hour, On thy soft bosom, gentle Sleep! Each wither'd charm is wrapt in gloom, O'er which the pensive willow sighs. How wretched is that blighted heart, Which thy gay smiles can never cheer Where thou no cordial can'st impart, To stay the ever-falling tear. Cold is the sod where Julia sleeps; The grass waves o'er her shrouded form; And there alike unheeded sweeps The vernal breeze,-the wintry storm. Nought, nought on Earth can joy impart; I'll weeping seek some lone retreat; There dwell till fate shall to this heart' Cry," Throbbing trembler cease to beat!" PARLIAMENTARY PAPERS. REPORT FROM THE SFLECT COMMITTEE ON HE Committee appointed by the House having in their Report presented to the House such a comparative view of the arssments for the relief of the poor at dif ferent periods, as the materials which they then possessed enabled them to form, have now to make some important additions and carrections to such statement. For they bave been furnished with some returns, made in pursuance of the orders of the House, of the assessments in the years 1748, 1749, and 1750; which were not known to exist, till they were discovered by the researches of Mr. Speaker into the Records of the House during the recess. And though those acCounts, from all the counties except four, appear to have been more or less deficient, yet it will be found, by a reference to the Appendix, that such deficiencies have been pplied by the a-siduity of Mr. Rickman, one of the Clerks Assistant, in a way that will probably be thought to render them sariently accurate for the purpose of comparison with those of subsequent years. Nor is this the only advantage to be derived from those documents; for it has suggested a more summary methed of obtaining simi lar information, if it should be required by the House, through the prompt and effectual means of the Post-office. The House have now also, at length, in their possession, the returns made under the Act 55 Geo. III. of the assessments for the years ending 25th March, 1813, 1814, and 1815, embracing an abundant and valuable mass of information. From these it will appear, that the abstract of the assessment for the year ending 25th March, 1815, which was returned to the Committee in the last) Session, and printed in the Appendix to their Report, was materially incorrect, in consequence of mistakes made in preparing it, and deficiencies existing at that time in the returns, which were wholly unnoticed. The whole sum raised by assessment in that year was stated to amount to 7,068,9991.; whereas it was really 7,457,675l.;-the sum expended. on the poor was stated to be 5,072,0281. instead of 5,418,8451. The result of the whole of these additions and corrections, will afford the following comparative view of the sums raised by assessment, and the sums expended on the poor, at the different periods to which these authentic documents relate:Total raised. £730,135 1,720,316 Average 1783, 1784, 1785 2,167,748 Year 1803 5,348,204 Expended on Poor. £689,971 1,530,804 2,004.237 4,267,963 6,129,844 Average To the above Report a very valuable Appendix is annexed. It gives the assessment for the relief of the poor in 1748, 1749, and 1750, by which it appears, that on the average of those three years about 690,0001, per annum, was applied to the relief of the poor: in the year 1776, the sum of 1,531,000, was expended on account of the poor; in 1783, 4, and 5, Burop. Mag. Vol. LXXIII. April 1818. the sum of 2,000,000l. per annum; in 1803, 4,268,000/.; and in 1813, 14, and 15, the of about 6,130,000l. per average sum annum, was expended for the maintenance of the poor. But the sums raised by Poors' Rates and any other rate or rates in these years was, in 1813, 8,651,438.; in 1814, 8,392,7281.; in 1815, 7,460,8551, The number of paupers relieved in 1813, was Y y 971,913; in 1814, 953,995; in 1815, 895,973. The Appendix closes with some important OBSERVATIONS. 2. The number of persons relieved permanently, both in and out of any workhouse, on the average of the last three years, appears to be 516,963; ditto, occasionally, being parishioners, 423,663; total 940,626; exclusive of any children of those permanently relieved out of the house. 3. Four thousand and ninety-four parishes or places maintain the greater part of their poor in workhouses, averaging for the last three years 93,142 persons. 4. The population of England and Wales, as taken from the Abstract laid before Parliament in the year 1811, ap. pears to have been 10,150,615; so that the number of persons relieved from the Poors' Rates, appears to have been 91 in each 100 of the population. 5. The total of the Money raised by Poors' Rates, or other Rates, appears to have averaged, for the last three years, the sum of 8,168,340. 13s. 93. being at the rate of 16s. 1d. per head on the population, or 3s. 14d. in the pound, of the total amount of the sum of 51,898,4231. 12s. 6d. as assessed to the Property Tax in the year 1815. 7. The amount of Money expended in Suits of Law, Removals, and Expences of Parish Officers, for Militia purposes, and for all other purposes, is, independent of the maintenance of the poor 2,162,7997. 8. The number of persons belonging to Friendly Societies appears to be, for the last three years, nearly 84 in the 100 of the resident population. 9. The area of England and Wales, according to the latest authorities, appears to be 57,960 square statute miles, or 37,094.400 statute acres; wherefore, the number of inhabitants in each square mile containng 640 acres, averages 175 persons. 10. The greater proportion of the popu lation of England and Wales, appears to be employed in trade and manufactures, there being 770,199 families returned employed in agriculture, and 959.632 in trade, manufactures, and handicraft; besides 413,316 other families. Number of Persons charged with Criminal Offences, committed to the different Gaols in England and Wales, for Trial at the Assizes and Sessions held for the several Counties, Cities, Towns, and Liberties therein, during the last Seven Years; distinguishing the Number in each Year, &c. Total ...... 5,337 6,576 7,161 6.390 7,818 9,091 13,93% 56,308 |