essays-1-第4节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
of clamorous importunity; or under false pretence of feigned distress and misfortune; so the transition from begging to stealing is not only easy; but perfectly natural。 That total insensibility to shame; and all those other qualifications which are necessary in the profession of a beggar; are likewise essential to form an accomplished thief; and both these professions derive very considerable advantages from their union。 A beggar who goes about from house to house to ask for alms; has many opportunities to steal; which another would not so easily find; and his profession as a beggar gives him a great facility in disposing of what he steals; for he can always say it was given him in charity。 No wonder then that thieving and robbing should be prevalent where beggars are numerous。
That this was the case in Bavaria will not be doubted by those who are informed that in the four years immediately succeeding the introduction of the measures adopted for putting an end to mendicity; and clearing the country of beggars; thieves; robbers; etc。 above TEN THOUSAND of these vagabonds; foreigners and natives; were actually arrested and delivered over to the civil magistrates; and that in taking up the beggars in Munich; and providing for those who stood in need of public assistance; no less than 2600 of the one description and the other; were entered upon the lists in one week; though the whole number of the inhabitants of the city of Munich probably does not amount to more than 60;000; even including the suburbs。
These facts are so very extraordinary; that were they not notorious; I should hardly have ventured to mention them; for fear of being suspected of exaggeration; but they are perfectly known in the country; by every body; having been published by authority in the news…papers at the time; with all their various details and specifications; for the information of the public。
What has been said; will; I fancy; be thought quite sufficient to show the necessity of applying a remedy to the evils described; and of introducing order and a spirit of industry among the lower classes of the people。 I shall therefore proceed; without any farther preface; to give an account of the measures which were adopted and carried into execution for that purpose。
CHAPTER。 II。
Various preparations made for putting an end to mendicity in bavaria。 Cantonment of the cavalry in the country towns and villages。 Formation of the committee placed at the head of the institution for the poor at Munich。 The funds of that institution。
As soon as it was determined to undertake this great and difficult work; and the plan of operations was finally settled; various preparations were made for its execution。
The first preliminary step taken; was to canton four regiments of cavalry in Bavaria and the adjoining provinces; in such a manner that not only every considerable town was furnished with a detachment; but most of the large villages were occupied; and in every part of the country small parties of threes; fours; and fives; were so stationed; at the distance of one; two; and three leagues from each other; that they could easily perform their daily patroles from one station to another in the course of the day; without ever being obliged to stop at a peasant's house; or even at an inn; or ever to demand forage for their horses; or victuals for themselves; or lodgings; from any person whatever。 This arrangement of quarters prevented all disputes between the military and the people of the country。 The head…quarters of each regiment; where the commanding officer of the regiment resided; was established in a central situation with respect to the extent of country occupied by the regiment;each squadron had its commanding officer in the centre of its district; and the subalterns and non…commissioned officers were so distributed in the different cantonments; that the privates were continually under the inspection of their superiors; who had orders to keep a watchful eye over them;to visit them in their quarters very often;and to preserve the strictest order and discipline among them。
To command these troops; a general officer was named; who; after visiting every cantonment in the whole country; took up his residence at Munich。
Printed instructions were given to the officer; or non…commissioned officer; who commanded a detached post; or patrole;regular monthly returns were ordered to be made to the commanding officers of the regiment; by the officers commanding squadrons; to the commanding general; by the officers commanding regiments; and by the commanding general; to the council of war; and to the Sovereign。
To prevent disputes between the military and the civil authorities; and; as far as possible; to remove all grounds of jealousy and ill…will between them; as also to preserve peace and harmony between the soldiery and the inhabitants; these troops were strictly ordered and enjoined to behave on all occasions to magistrates and other persons in civil authority with the utmost respect and deference;to conduct themselves towards the peasants and other inhabitants in the most peaceable and friendly manner; to retire to their quarters very early in the evening; and above all; cautiously to avoid disputes and quarrels with the people of the country。 They were also ordered to be very diligent and alert in making their daily patroles from one station to another; to apprehend all thieves and other vagabonds that infested the country; and deliver them over to the civil magistrates; to apprehend deserters; and conduct them from station to station to their regiments;to conduct all prisoners from one part of the country to another;to assist the civil magistrate in the execution of the laws; and in preserving peace and order in the country; in all cases where they should be legally called upon for that purpose;to perform the duty of messengers in carrying government dispatches and orders; civil as well as military; in cases of emergency; and to bring accounts to the capital; by express; of every extraordinary event of importance that happens in the country;to guard the frontiers; and assist the officers of the revenue in preventing smuggling;to have a watchful eye over all soldiers on furlough in the country; and when guilty of excesses; to apprehend them and transport them to their regiments;to assist the inhabitants in case of fire; and particularly to guard their effects; and prevent their being lost of stolen; in the confusion which commonly takes place on those occasions;to pursue and apprehend all thieves; robbers; murderers; and other malefactors;and in general; to lend their assistance on all occasions where they could be useful in maintaining peace; order; and tranquillity in the country。
As the Sovereign had an undoubted right to quarter his troops upon the inhabitants when they were employed for the police and defence of the country; they were on this occasion called upon to provide quarters for the men distributed in these cantonments; but in order to make this burden as light as possible to the inhabitants; they were only called upon to provide quarters for the non…commissioned officers and privates; and instead of being obliged to take THESE into their houses; and to furnish them with victuals and lodgings; as had formerly been the practice; (and which was certainly a great hardship;) a small house or barrack for the men; with stabling adjoining to it for the horses; was built; or proper lodgings were hired by the civil magistrate; in each of these military stations; and the expense was levied upon the inhabitants at large。 The forage for the horses was provided by the regiments; or by contractors employed for that purpose; and the men; being furnished with a certain allowance of fire…wood; and the necessary articles of kitchen furniture; were made to provide for their own subsistence; by purchasing their provisions at the markets; and cooking their victuals in their own quarters。
The officers provided their own lodgings and stabling; being allowed a certain sum for that purpose in addition to their ordinary pay。
The whole of the additional expence to the military chest; for the establishment and support of these cantonments; amounted to a mere trifle; and the burden upon the people; which attended the furnishing of quarters for the non…commissioned officers and privates; was very inconsiderable; and bore no proportion to the advantages derived from the protection and security to their persons and properties afforded by these troops'4'。
Not only this cantonment of the cavalry was carried into execution as a preliminary measure to the taking up of the beggars in the capital; but many other preparatives were also made for that undertaking。
As considerable sums were necessary for the support of such of the poor as; from age or other bodily infirmities; were unable by their industry to provide for their own subsistence; and as there were no public funds any way adequate to such an expence; which could be applied to this use; the success of the measure depended entirely upon the voluntary subscriptions of the inhabitants; and in order to induce these to subscribe liberally; it was necessary to secure their approbation of the plan; and t