essays-1-第8节
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he houses of the subscribers； in sixteen general lists＇9＇； answering to the sixteen subdivisions or districts of the city； and a copy of the general list of each district was given to the commissary of the district。
These copies； which were properly authenticated； served for the direction of the commissary in collecting the subscriptions in his district； which was done regularly the last Sunday morning of every month。
The amount of the collection was immediately delivered by the commissary into the hands of the banker of the institution； for which he received two receipts from the banker； one of which he transmitted to the committee； with his report of the collection； which he was directed to send in as soon as the collection was made。
As there were some persons who； from modesty； or other motives； did not choose to have it known publicly how much they gave in alms to the poor； and on that account were not willing to have put down to their names upon the list of the subscribers； the whole sum they were desirous of appropriating to that purpose； to accommodate matters to the peculiar delicacy of their feelings； the following arrangement was made； and carried into execution with great success。
Those who were desirous of contributing privately to the relief of the poor； were notified by an advertisement published in the news…papers； that they might send to the banker of the institution any sums for that purpose they might think proper； under any feigned name； or under any motto or other device； and that not only a receipt would be given to the bearer； for the amount； without and questions being asked him； but； for greater security； a public acknowledgement of the receipt of the sum would be published by the banker； with a mention of the feigned name of device under which it came； IN THE NEXT MUNICH GAZETTE。
To accommodate those who might be disposed to give trifling sums occasionally； for the relief of the poor； and who did not choose to go； or to send to the banker； fixed poor…boxes were placed in all the churches； and most of the inns； coffee…houses； and other places of public resort； but nobody was ever called upon to put any thing into these boxes； nor was any poor's…box carried round； or any private collection or alms…gathering permitted to be made upon any occasion； or under any pretence whatever。
When the inhabitants had subscribed liberally to the support of the institution； it was but just to secure them from all further importunity in behalf of the poor。 This was promised； and it was most effectually done； though not without some difficulty； and a very considerable expence to the establishment。
The poor students in the Latin German schools；the sisters of the religious order of charity；the directors of the hospital of lepers；and some other public establishments； had been so long in the habit of making collections； by going round among the inhabitants from house to house at stated periods； asking alms； that they had acquired a sort of right to levy those periodical contributions； of which it was not thought prudent to dispossess them without giving them an equivalent。 And in order that this equivalent might not appear to be taken from the sums subscribed by the inhabitants for the support of the poor； it was paid out of the monthly allowance which the institution received from the chamber of finances； or public treasury of the state。
Besides these periodical collections； there were others； still more troublesome to the inhabitants； from which it was necessary to free them； and some of these last were even sanctioned by legal authority。 It is the custom in Germany for apprentices in most of the mechanical trades； as soon as they have finished their apprenticeships with their masters； to travel； during three or four years； in the neighbouring countries and provinces； to perfect themselves in their professions by working as journeymen wherever they can find employment。 When one of those itinerant journeymen…tradesmen comes into a town； and cannot find employment in it； he is considered AS HAVING A RIGHT to beg the assistance of the inhabitants； and particularly of those of the trade he professes； to enable him to go to the next town； and this assistance it was not thought just to refuse。 This custom was not only very troublesome to the inhabitants； but gave rife to innumerable abuses。 Great numbers of idle vagabonds were continually strolling about the country under the name of travelling journeymen…tradesmen； and though any person； who presented himself as such in any strange place was obliged to produce （for his legitimation） a certificate from his last master； in whose service he had been employed； yet such certificates were so easily counterfeited； or obtained by fraud； that little reliance could be placed in them。
To remedy all these evils； the following arrangement was made： those travelling journeymen…tradesmen who arrive at Munich； and do not find employment； are obliged to quit the town immediately； or to repair to the military work…house； where they are either furnished with work； or a small sum is given them to enable them to pursue their journey farther。
Another arrangement by which the inhabitants have been relieved from much importunity； and by which a stop has been put to many abuses； is the new regulation respecting those who suffer by fire； such sufferers commonly obtain from government special permission to make collections of charitable donations among the inhabitants in certain districts； during a limited time。 Instead of the permission to make collections in the city of Munich； the sufferers now receive certain sums from the funds of the institution for the poor。 By this arrangement； not only the inhabitants are relieved from the importunity which always attends public collections of alms； but the sufferers save a great deal of time； which they formerly spent in going about from house to house； and the sale of these permissions to undertakers； and many other abuses； but too frequent before this arrangement took place； are now prevented。
The detailed account published in the Appendix； No。 III。 of the receipts and expenditures of the institution during five years； will show the amount of the expense incurred in relieving the inhabitants from the various periodical and other collections before mentioned。
But not to lose sight too long of the most interesting object of this establishment； we must follow the people who were arrested in the streets； to the asylum which was prepared for them； but which no doubt appeared to them at first a most odious prison。
CHAPTER。 V。
The different kinds of employment given to the beggars upon their being assembled in the house of industry。 Their great awkwardness at first。 Their docility； and their progress in useful industry。 The manner in which they were treated。 The manner in which they were fed。 The Precautions used to prevent Abuses in the Public Kitchen from which they were fed。
As by far the greater part of these poor creatures were totally unacquainted with every kind of useful labour； it was necessary to give them such work； at first； as was very easy to be performed； and in which the raw materials were of little value； and then； by degrees； as they became more adroit； to employ them in manufacturing more valuable articles。
As hemp is a very cheap commodity； and as the spinning of hemp is easily learned； particularly when it is designed for very coarse and ordinary manufactures； 15；000 pounds of that article were purchased in the palatinate； and transported to Munich； and several hundred spinning wheels； proper for spinning it； were provided； and several good spinners； as instructors； were engaged； and in readiness； when this house of industry was opened for the reception of the poor。
Flax and wool were likewise provided； and some few good spinners of those articles were engaged as instructors； but by far the greater number of the poor began with spinning of hemp； and so great was their awkwardness at first； that they absolutely ruined almost all the raw materials that were put into their hands。 By an exact calculation of profit and loss； it was found that the manufactory actually lost more than 3000 florins upon the articles of hemp and flax； during the first three months； but we were not discouraged by these unfavourable beginnings； they were indeed easy to be foreseen； considering the sort of people we had to deal with； and how necessary it was to pay them at a very high rate for the little work they were able to perform； in order to persevere with cheerfulness in acquiring more skill and address in their labour。 If the establishment was supported at some little expence in the beginning； it afterwards richly repaid these advances； as will be seen in the sequel of this account。
As the clothing of the army was the market upon which I principally depended； in disposing of the manufactures which should be made in the house； the woollen manufactory was an object most necessary to be attended to； and from which I expected to derive most advantage to the establishment； but still it was necessary to begin with the manufacture of hemp and flax； not only because those articles are less valuable than wool； and th
