essays-1-第5章
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sants 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 their confidence in those who were chosen to carry it into execution。 And as the number of beggars was so great in Munich; and their importunity so very troublesome; there could have been no doubt but any sensible plan for remedying this evil would have been gladly received by the public; but they had been so often disappointed by fruitless attempts from time to time made for that purpose; that they began to think the enterprize quite impossible; and to consider every proposal for providing for the poor; and preventing mendicity; as a mere job。
Aware of this; I took my measures accordingly。 To convince the public that the scheme was feasible; I determined first; by a great exertion; to carry it into complete execution; and THEN to ask them to support it。 And to secure their confidence in those employed in the management of it; persons of the highest rank; and most respected character were chosen to superintend and direct the affairs of the institution; and every measure was taken that could be devised to prevent abuses。
Two principle objects were to be attended to; in making these arrangements; the first was to furnish suitable employment to such of the poor as were able to work; and the second; to provide the necessary assistance for those who; from age; sickness; or other bodily infirmities; were unable by their industry to provide for themselves。 A general system of police was likewise necessary among this class of miserable beings; as well as measures for reclaiming them; and making them useful subjects。 The police of the poor; as also the distribution of alms; and all the economical details of the institution; were put under the direction of a committee; composed of the president of the council of war;the president of the council of supreme regency;the president of the ecclesiastical council;and the president of the chamber of finances; and to assist them in this work; each of the above…mentioned presidents was accompanied by one counsellor of his respective department; at his own choice; who was present at all the meetings of the committee; and who performed the more laborious parts of the business。 This committee; which was called The Armen Instituts Deputation; had convenient apartments fitted up for its meetings; a secretary; clerk; and accountant; were appointed to it; and the ordinary guards of the police were put under its immediate direction。
Neither the presidents nor the counsellors belonging to this committee received any pay or emolument whatever for this service; but took upon themselves this trouble merely from motives of humanity; and a generous desire to promote the public good; and even the secretary; and other inferior officers employed in this business; received their pay immediately from the Treasury; or from some other department; and not from the funds destined for the relief of the poor: and in order most effectually remove all suspicion with respect to the management of this business; and the faithful application of the money destined for the poor; instead of appointing a Treasurer to the committee; a public banker of the town; a most respectable citizen'5'; was named to receive and pay all monies belonging to the institution; upon the written orders of the committee; and exact and detailed accounts of all monies received and expended were ordered to be printed every three months; and distributed gratis among the inhabitants。
In order that every citizen might have it in his power to assure himself that the accounts were exact; and that the sums expended were bona fide given to the poor in alms; the money was publicly distributed every Saturday in the town…hall; in the presence of a number of deputies chosen from among the citizens themselves; and an alphabetical list of the poor who received alms;in which was mentioned the weekly sum each person received;and the place of his or her abode; was hung up in the hall for public inspection。
But this was not all。 In order to fix the confidence of the public upon the most firm and immoveable basis; and to engage their good will and