essays-1-第9节
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he manufacture of hemp and flax； not only because those articles are less valuable than wool； and the loss arising from their being spoiled by the awkwardness of beginners is of less consequence； but also for another reason； which appears to me to be of so much more importance as to require a particular explanation。
It was hinted above that it was found necessary； in order to encourage beginners in these industrious pursuits； to pay them at a very high rate for the little work they were able to perform； but every body knows that no manufacture can possibly subsist long； where exorbitant prices are paid for labour； and it is easy to conceive what discontent and disgust would be occasioned among the workmen upon lowering the prices which had for a length of time been given for labour； By employing the poor people in question at first in the manufactures of hemp and flax； manufactures which were not intended to be carried on to any extent； it was easy afterwards； when they had acquired a certain degree of address in their work； to take them from these manufactures； and put them to spinning of wool； worsted； or cotton； care having been taken to fix the price of labour in these last…mentioned manufactures at a reasonable rate。
The dropping the manufacture of any particular article altogether； or pursuing it less extensively； could produce no bad effect upon the general establishment； but the lowering of the price of labour； in any instance； could not fail to produce many。
It is necessary； in an undertaking like this； cautiously to avoid every thing that could produce discouragement and discontent among those upon whose industry alone success must depend。
It is easy to conceive that so great a number of unfortunate beings； of all ages and sexes； taken as it were out of their very element； and placed in a situation so perfectly new to them； could not fail to be productive of very interesting situations。 Would to God I were able to do justice to this subject！ but no language can describe the affecting scenes to which I was a witness upon this occasion。
The exquisite delight which a sensible mind must feel； upon seeing many hundreds of wretched being awaking from a state of misery and inactivity； as from a dream； and applying themselves with cheerfulness to the employments of useful industry；upon seeing the first dawn of placid content break upon a countenance covered with habitual gloom； and furrowed and distorted by misery； this is easier to be conceived than described。
During the first three or four days that these poor people were assembled； it was not possible entirely to prevent confusion： there was nothing like mutinous resistance among them； but their situation was so new to them； and they were so very awkward in it； that it was difficult to bring them into any tolerable order。 At length； however； by distributing them in the different halls； and assigning to each his particular place； （the places being all distinguished by numbers；） they were brought into such order as to enable the inspectors； and instructors； to begin their operations。
Those who understood any kind of work； were placed in the apartments where the work they understood was carried on； and the others； being classed according to their sexes； and as much as possible according to their ages； were placed under the immediate care of the different instructors。 By much the larger number were put to spinning of hemp；others； and particularly the young children from four to seven years of age； were taught to knit； and to sew； and the most awkward among the men； and particularly the old； the lame； and the infirm； were put to the carding of wool。 Old women； whose sight was too weak to spin； or whose hands trembled with palsy； were made to spool yarn for the weavers； and young children； who were too weak to labour； were placed upon seats erected for that purpose round the rooms where other children worked。
As it was winter； fires were kept in every part of the building； from morning till night； and all the rooms were lighted up till nine o'clock in the evening。 Every room and every stair…case was neatly swept and cleaned twice a day； one early in the morning； before the people were assembled； and once while they were at dinner。Care was taken； by placing ventilators； and occasionally opening the windows； to keep the air of the rooms perfectly sweet； and free from all disagreeable smells； and the rooms themselves were not only neatly white…washed and fitted up； and arranged in every respect with elegance； but care was taken to clean the windows very often；to clean the courtyard every day； and even to clear away the rubbish from the street in front of the building； to a considerable distance on every side。
Those who frequented this establishment were expected to arrive at the fixed hour in the morning； which hour varied according to the season of the year； if they came too late； they were gently reprimanded； and if they persisted in being tardy； without being able to give a sufficient excuse for not coming sooner； they were punished by being deprived of their dinner； which otherwise they received every day gratis。
At the hour of dinner； a large bell was rung in the court； when those at work in the different parts of the building repaired to the dining…hall； where they found a wholesome and nourishing repast； consisting of about A POUND AND A QUARTER； Avoirdupois weight； of a very rich soup of peas and barley； mixed with cuttings of fine white bread； and a piece of excellent rye bread； weighing SEVERN OUNCES； which last they commonly put in their pockets； and carried home for their supper。 Children were allowed the same portion as grown persons； and a mother； who had one or more young children； was allowed a portion for each of them。
Those who； from sickness； or other bodily infirmities； were not able to come to the work…house；as also those who； on account of young children they had to nurse； or sick persons to take care of； found it more convenient to work at their own lodgings； （and of these there were many；） were not on that account deprived of their dinners。 Upon representing their cases to the committee； tickets were granted them； upon which they were authorized to receive from the public kitchen； daily； the number of portions specified in the ticket； and these they might send for by a child； or by any other person they thought proper to employ； it was necessary； however that the ticket should always be produced； otherwise the portions were not delivered。 This precaution was necessary； to prevent abuses on the part of the poor。
Many other precautions were taken to prevent frauds on the part of those employed in the kitchen； and in the various other offices and departments concerned in feeding the poor。
The bread…corn； peas； barley； etc。 were purchased in the public market in large quantities； and at times when those articles were to be had at reasonable prices； and were laid up in store…rooms provided for that purpose； under the care of the store…keeper of the Military Work…house。
The baker received his flour by weight from the store…keeper； and in return delivered a certain fixed quantity of bread。 Each loaf； when well baked； and afterwards dried； during four days； in a bread…room through which the air had a free passage； weighed two pounds ten ounces Avoirdupois。 Such a loaf was divided into six portions； and large baskets filled with these pieces being placed in the passage leading to the dining…hall； the portions were delivered out to the poor as they passed to go into the hall； each person who passed giving a medal of tin to the person who gave him the bread； in return for each portion received。 These medals； which were given out to the poor each day in the halls where they worked； by the steward； or by the inspectors of the hall； served to prevent frauds in the distribution of the bread； the person who distributed it being obliged to produce them as vouchers of the quantity given out each day。
Those who had received these portions of bread； held them up in their hands upon their coming into the dining…hall； as a sign that they had a right to seat themselves at the tables； and as many portions of bread as they produced； so many portions of soup they were entitled to receive； and those portions which they did not eat they were allowed to carry away； so that the delivery of bread was a check upon the delivery of soup； and VICE VERSA。
The kitchen was fitted up with all possible attention； as well to conveniences； as to the economy of fuel。 This will readily be believed by those who are informed； that the whole work of the kitchen is performed； with great ease； by three cook…maids； and that the daily expence for fire…wood amounts to no more than twelve creutzers； or FOUR…PENCE HALFPENNY sterling； when dinner is provided for 1000 people。 The number of persons who are fed DAILY from this kitchen is； at a medium； in summer； about ONE THOUSAND； （rather more than less；） and in winter； about 1200。 Frequently； however； there have been more than 1500 at table。 As a particular account of this kitchen； with drawings； together with an account of a number of new and very interesting experiments relative to the economy of fuel； will be annexed
