Every civilized state in the world, except Ireland, has prevented the
extortion of the landlords, by institutions, either springing from the
nature of society, or established by positive legal enactments.
In Austria, great exertions are made for the poor.--Vide "Reisbeck's
Travels through Germany," p. 79; and "Este's Journey," p. 337.
In Bavaria, there are laws obliging each community to maintain its own
poor.--Vide "Count Rumford's Establishment of Poor in Bavaria," chap. 1.
In Protestant Germany they are even better provided for.--Vide
"Henderson's Tour in Germany," p. 74.
In Russia, the aged and infirm are provided with food and raiment by
law, at the expense of the owner of the estate.--"Clarke's Travels in
Russia." For others who may want, there is a college of provision in
each government.--"Took's Russian Empire," vol. ii. p. 181.
In Livonia and Poland, the lord is bound by law to provide for the
serf.--Vide "Bavarian Transactions," vol. iii.
In Northern Italy and Sicily, the crop is equally divided between
landlord and tenant.--Vide "Sismondi's Italy." And the revenues of the
church support the poor.
In imperial France, though the land had been divided by an Agrarian law,
and cultivated, yet the Octroi, with other revenues, were devoted to the
poor.
In Hungary, though feudal slavery gives an interest to the lord of the
soil in the life of his serf, yet the law insists upon the provision of
food, raiment and shelter. In Switzerland, though the Agrarian law is in
force, and the governments purchase corn to keep down the retail prices,
yet there is a provision for the poor.--Vide "Sismondi's Switzerland,"
vol. 1. p. 452. In Norway there is a provision for the poor.--Clarke's
"Scandinavia," p. 637.
In Sweden, the most moral country in the world, the poor are maintained
in the same manner as in England; a portion of the parochial assessment
is devoted by law to education.--James's "Tour through Sweden," p. 105.
In Flanders there are permanent funds, &c. for the sustentation of the
poor. Vide Radcliff's "Report on the Agriculture of Flanders." And there
are in the Netherlands seven great workhouses.
The Dutch poor laws do not differ much from our own.---Vide Macfarlan's
"Inquiries concerning the Poor," p. 218.
Even in Iceland, there is a provision for the poor.--Vide Han's
"Iceland." Also in Denmark.--Vide p. 292, Jacob's "Tracts on the Corn
Laws." In America there are poor laws.--Vide Dr. Dwight's "Travels,"
vol. iv. p. 326. In Scotland the English system is rapidly extending;
and where the poor laws are not introduced, there are a great many of
the miseries which are found in Ireland.--Vide "Evidence of A. Nimmo,
Esq. before the Lords' Committee on Ireland, 1824." This gentleman
thinks, that if they had been earlier introduced, Scotland would be now
a richer country. He also states, that the average expense of supporting
idle mendicants in Ireland, exceeds one million and a half annually, by
the contribution of more than a ton of potatoes from each farm house, to
encourage a system of licentious idleness, profligacy, insolence, and
plunder; and the grand jury presentments amount annually to a
million.--_Monthly Mag_.
* * * * *
In Turkey, nailing by the ears is an operation performed on bakers, for
selling light bread. There is a hole cut in the door for the back of
the culprit's head; the ears are then nailed to the panel; he is left
in this position till sunset, then released; and seldom sustains any
permanent injury from the punishment, except in his reputation. Perjury
is an offence which is so little thought of, that it is visited with
the mildest of all their punishments. The offender is set upon an ass,
with his face to the tail, and a label on his back, with the term
_scheat_ or perjurer. In this way he is led about to the great
amusement of the multitude, and even of his associates.
* * * * *