Several zealous and humane persons, who wish to assist and befriend
the unfortunate, have united to execute a beneficent plan, by which
industry itself may generate the means which will give a _certain
property_ to those who, worn out by age and misfortune, possess
none. To attain this object a small voluntary sacrifice only is
required, according to a progression almost imperceptible to persons
who are not even in easy circumstances. The difference between this
institution and hospitals consists in this, the subscriber has _a
right_ to the possession of this property for life, acquired by his
own economy and labour, and for which he is indebted neither to the
compassion nor the liberality of others. Here no act of patronising
benevolence humbles self love or mortifies pride.
This institution encourages morality, by habituating persons to make
a proper use of their small surplus, resulting from their profits or
labour, which is too often squandered in debaucheries. It will animate
them to be industrious as an infallible resource against that adversity
which is inseparable from old age without fortune.
The plan is simple and inexpensive, its execution prompt and within the
reach of every one.
[Sidenote: ACCOUNT OF ASYLUM]
Some years ago Mr. Pitt submitted several excellent proposals to amend
the Poor Laws. They struck me forcibly as being useful, sensible and
moral. They were aimed so as to give the poor occupation in their
homesteads, instead of dragging them to the workhouse. This was a
generous idea, worthy of the great mind that conceived it, unhappily it
was never carried into effect.
Since my first visit to Chaillot I have had excellent accounts of the
progress of the institution. The First Consul pays thirty subscriptions
and has founded several places in the establishment and confided
the superintendence of them to the Archbishop of Paris, an aged and
respectable man, who from his own experience of misfortune will be able
to select such unfortunate persons as deserve no longer to remain so.
The Archbishop, accompanied by a number of his clergy, thought proper
to visit Chaillot before making any nominations. He was delighted with
the beauty of the situation, the purity of the air, the neatness, order
and decorum which prevailed. When dinner was on the table eighty-seven
aged persons of both sexes appeared, with countenances expressive of
the greatest happiness and satisfaction; many of them declaring they
felt as much at their ease as when in their own families.
The Archbishop at first imagined he was the eldest person present, but
it was found on examination that many had the advantage of him in years.
He was so sensibly affected by this serene spectacle, that he expressed
his regret that he had not before been made acquainted with this
asylum. For in that case the First Consul must have forced him out of
it, to have raised him to his Episcopal See of Paris.
The indispensable condition of acquiring the right of admission is to
take a subscription. The rules are that every subscriber pays from
the age of ten till thirty years of age, tenpence or a franc a month.
Fifteen pence per month from thirty to fifty--twenty pence or two
francs a month from fifty to seventy years of age. These different
payments amount in their entirety to £45, which must be completely paid
before a person can acquire the right of admission. Hence if any one
more than ten years of age should offer as a subscriber, he or she must
deposit at the time of subscription and according to his or her age,
the sum which would have been advanced, had the subscriptions commenced
at ten. In order to give encouragement to benevolence, all persons
who may be disposed to subscribe, may transfer their right to as many
persons as they have made subscriptions on condition that the person
to be benefited by the transfer shall not be admitted until the £45 be
paid in its entirety. The funds are placed on securities and subjected
to an administration which is in every respect safe and undeniable.