of the same country retaining their original configuration, while the negroes have lost it.-The malediction of the Patriarch seems to have operated in a minner diametrically opposite to his wishes, since the posterity of the reprobate Ham have usurped undisturbed possession of the fairest fields and richest countries of the habitable globe, including within their enlightened circumference every thing illustrious in science, or renowned in civilized warfare: while the descendants of the dutiful sons are condemned to the burning sands of Arabia, or to the inhospitable regions of frozen Tartary, and are only known by the ferocious bravery of the early Khaliphs, or the far spreading devastations of a Ghengiz or a Timur. The system militates also against the tradition of the Hindus, already submitted to our readers, in which they trace their own and the Egyptian descent from the line of Shem.-To conclude, the supposition of the Mexicans and Peruvians having emigrated from the isles of Asia implies a knowlege of navigation, which they do not now possess, and which we have no authority for attributing to these islanders at any period.-Such are the doubts which we have formed of the reality of the facts here supported but, though we cannot think them sufficiently proved, we discern in every page abundant reason to admire the profound erudition, the classic diction, and the enlightened piety of the excellent author; who, by his example, has "taught us how to live; and, Oh! too high the price of knowlege! taught us how to die." Subjoined to the papers now noticed, we find "a Preface to the Institutes of Hindu Law;" of which our readers have an account in our last Appendix, p. 542, et seq. Those who have perused the first and second volumes of this compilation will deem the third not inferior in variety of literary excellence. The essays of which it is composed claim very different degrees of commendation: but, in all, something will be found to instruct, or something to amuse. H ART. IX. Sir F. Eden on the State of the Poor. AVING terminated our investigation of the first volume of this work, the second and third now call for our attention. The former of thefe (as well as a considerable part of the Jatter) is occupied with Parochial Reports, or succinct accounts of various parishes in the kingdom, under the following heads; extent and population; number of houses that pay the house and window tax; number exempted; occupations of parishioners, rishioners, whether in agriculture, commerce, or manufactures; what manufactures; price of provisions; wages of labour; rent of land, and land-tax on the net rental; what sects of religion; tithes, how taken; number of inns and ale-houses; farms, large or small; the most usual tenure; principal articles of cultivation; commons and waste lands; number of acres inclosed within the last forty years; in what manner the Poor are maintained; by farming them, in houses of industry, or otherwise; the state of houses of industry; numbers therein; annual mortality, diet, expences, and profit since their esta blishment; tables of baptisms, burials, and Poor's rates; number and state of friendly societies; diet of labourers; earnings and expences of a labourer's family for a year, distinguishing the number and ages of the family, and the price and quantity of the articles of consumption, and miscellaneous observations. As a fair specimen of the kind of information which the reader may expect from these Parochial Reports, we shall transcribe one of the shortest,-the account of Yarmouth. YARMOUTH, NORFOLK. The popu The extent of this parish is about 24 furlongs by 4. lation in 1784 was accurately taken, and found to be 12,608 souls; but, at present, is supposed to amount to 13,000. There are 137 ale-houses in Yarmouth. About 40 of the inhabitants are employed in making sail-cloth; there is no other manufacture of importance in the parish. The principal employments are those connected with a sea-faring life. There are 3 Presbyterian, 1 Methodist, 1 Quaker, and 2 Anabaptist congregations: the number of dissenters is estimated at 2000: 750 houses pay the window-tax; the number exempted could not be ascertained. The prices of provisions are: beef, mutton, and lamb, from 5d. to 6d. the pound; veal from 4d. to 5d.; pork, 6d. to 7d.; bacon 10d.; butter is. for 20 oz.; milk 1d. the pint; wheat 31. 15s. the quarter; barley, 11. 13s. ; oats, 11. 11s.; flour, from 2s. 6d. to 2s. 1od. the stone. Common labourers have from 1s. to Is. 6d. a day and victuals. Men employed in fishing, in loading and unloading vessels, &c. work by the piece, and sometimes earn 3s. or 4s. a day: ship-carpenters, &c. earn from 3s. to 4s. a day. It is thought that 20 friendly societies existed here, before the late act respecting them took place; they were chiefly composed of the poorest classes. Unfortunately they conceived that their several funds were intended to be at the disposal of the magistrates; they, therefore, mostly, agreed to break up, and divide their stock. Of these clubs, only three are now remaining and they have not taken the benefit of the act. The number of members in each club is about 30, or 40. Little land is rented here, except in small parcels for gardens. Tithes are thus taken; horses and cows pay 6d, a head, a year; and Ff4 wind 1 windmills, each 1os. a year. The land-tax amounts to 282ol. 3s. 1d. and is about 3s. 8d. in the pound. The principal part of this Parish lies along the shore, and is common, or waste land, and not very fertile; a great part of it being covered with sand and furze. There is, here, one charity-school for the maintenance and edu cation of 30, and another for 50 poor children. The latter adjoins to the work-house, and is supplied with victuals from thence, at the rate of 1s. 9d. a week for each child. There is an hospital at Yarmouth for 20 poor fishermen, who have each two rooms, and coals allowed them, together with 2s. a week in summer, and 2s. 6d. a week in winter. Wheaten bread is universally used in Norfolk. The Poor, in Yarmouth, and all along this coast, live much upon fish, which is generally very cheap. The Poor are chiefly maintained in a poor-house, where they are employed in making nets for taking mackerel and other small sea-fish; a few spin worsted. There are about 15 or 16 beds in each room; they have, mostly, feather beds; and are placed close together. Boys, girls, men, and women, have all separate apartments. The married people have single rooms; but there are not many of that description. There are two rooms for the reception of the sick; which are well aired, but not distinct from the main building. The poor-house has a good dining-room, and suitable conveniencies for cooking, &c., but the lodging-rooms and stair-cases do not seem to be well planned, or to be in the best order. From the great number of people sleeping in a room, close together, many disagreeable circumstances must frequently happen, besides the general injury arising from thence on the score of health. At present there are 65 men, 148 women, 40 boys, and 42 girls (in the whole, 295) in the house. Friday Same as Tuesday Same as Tuesday ditto Saturday ditto Same as Wednesday Same as Wednesday At every meal, except when there is milk, broth, or gruel, one pint of beer is allowed to every person who wishes to have it: rice, milk, wine, &c. are allowed to the sick: mutton and veal are also provided for the sick every Sunday. • Table Table of Baptisms, Burials, Poor's Rates, Expenditure, &c. 1774 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785. 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1792 1793 1794 1795 The Births from 1776 to 1781 inclusive, are 2423. end Ap. 1774. 2168 2242 2109 1052 3500 no account no accounts 1077 The rate for the year ending in 1795 was 4s. 9d. in the pound on the net rent. The accounts ending in 1795 are not inserted in the books, nor passed; but the collector says, that the rates amounted to nearly L.3500, as stated above. The following are the particulars of one year's receipts and disbursements: We have not selected this account as the best drawn up of the 181 parishes reported in this work: many others are equally interesting, but much too long for the limits of a Review. The report of the state of the Poor in the populous city of Norwich, for instance, comprehends 48 pages; Birming ham 19; Kendal 21; Hull 20; Shrewsbury 21; Leeds 16; and the House of Industry in the Isle of Wight 33. The Reports likewise contain much circumstantial and valuable information respecting the Schools of Industry in Rutland and Lincolnshire; and the Houses of Industry in Norfolk and Suffolk. We here present the reader with a short list of the number of Parishes, in various parts of the kingdom, reported in the State of the Poor. We cannot close our review of this large work without first declaring, that we do not remember to have lately perused a publication of the same description, that has more agreeably engaged our attention. It is one of the few books which, in a copious title-page, do not promise more than is fulfilled in the body of the work. The Political Economist, who wishes to trace the Rise and Progress of our Poor-Laws, will here find all the information that is necessary. The materials have been collected with equal care and skill, not only from the Statute Book and Chronicles, and antient historians, but sometimes, with great advantage, even from poets and dramatic writers. We are told not only what steps the Legislature took, at different times, respecting the Poor, but also what opinions were entertained of them by contemporary writers. Of the Parochial Reports, the idea and the plan are excellent; though we confess that this part of the work is to us, merely as readers, the least interesting. All that is to be expected from such report is, that the points to which the attention of the reporter is directed are proper; and that his answers to the |