Catalogue description Content: Folios 259-261. Letter from Thomas Barnard to the Poor Law Commission,...

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Details of MH 12/9228/140
Reference: MH 12/9228/140
Description:
Content: Folios 259-261. Letter from Thomas Barnard to the Poor Law Commission, written at Beeston. At the suggestion of Mr Barnett of Nottingham, he forwards to Mr Gulson [Edward Gulson, Assistant Poor Law Commissioner] some observations written by himself on the Poor Law Amendment Act. He hopes they will be approved and circulated, as he wishes to promote its usefulness. Mr Fazakerly is in possession of one of the [pamphlets] which he will lay before the committee over which he presides. Attached is a printed pamphlet entitled 'Observations on the New Poor Law Bill, by Thomas Barnard, Beeston, near Nottingham.' In summary, it states that before the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act most people felt the burden of rates was too great, and the burden was unequally spread over the country. He gives some statistics, and also believes it was too easy for the indolent to obtain assistance. He lists other failings of the old system. He then discusses the advantages that will arise from the new system for all sections of society, and says that those who oppose it do so through cupidity and ignorance. He refers to a speech of the late Mr Windham, Member of Parliament for Norwich [Norfolk], speaking 'in support of the last war'. He concludes that even with its imperfections, the new system will remove self interest amongst rich and poor, and tend to prevent oppression on one side and restlessness and discontent on the other. The pamphlet is printed by T P Youngman, Pelham Street, Nottingham. Annotated: to thank him for the pamphlet, which appears calculated to remove misconception on the operation of the Act. Paper Number: 3820/C/1837. Poor Law Union Number 334. Counties: Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.
Date: 6 May 1837
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Language: English
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

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