Essays vol 1 | Page 4

under consideration. Of the various means used for encouraging
industry among the poor. Of the internal arrangement and government
of the house of industry. Why called the military work-house. Of the
manner in which the business is carried on there. Of the various means
used for preventing frauds in carrying on the business in the different
manufactures. Of the flourishing state of those manufactures.
CHAPTER. VII. A further account of the poor who were brought
together in the house of industry:--and of the interesting change which
was produced in their manners and dispositions. Various proofs that the
means used for making them industrious, comfortable, and happy, were
successful.
CHAPTER. VIII. Of the means used for the relief of those poor persons

who were not beggars. Of the large sums of money distributed to the
poor in alms. Of the means used for rendering those who received alms
industrious. Of the general utility of the house of industry to the poor,
and the distressed of all denominations. Of public kitchens for feeding
the poor, united with establishments for giving them employment; and
of the great advantages which would be derived from forming them in
every parish. Of the manner in which the poor of Munich are lodged.
CHAPTER. IX. Of the means used for extending the influence of the
institution for the poor at Munich, to other parts of Bavaria. Of the
progress which some of the improvements introduced at Munich are
making in other countries.
INTRODUCTION.
[ IMAGE ] view of the Military Workhouse at Munich
Situation of the Author in the Service of His Most Serene Highness the
ELECTOR PALATINE, Reigning Duke of BAVARIA. Reasons which
induced him to undertake to form an Establishment for the Relief of the
Poor.
Among the vicissitudes of a life chequered by a great variety of
incidents, and in which I have been called upon to act in many
interesting scenes, I have had an opportunity of employing my attention
upon a subject of great importance; a subject intimately and inseparably
connected with the happiness and well-being of all civil societies; and
which, from its nature, cannot fail to interest every benevolent mind;--it
is the providing for the wants of the Poor, and the securing their
happiness and comfort by the introduction of order and industry among
them.
The subject, though it is so highly interesting to mankind, has not yet
been investigated with that success that could have been wished. This
fact is apparent, not only from the prevalence of indolence, misery, and
beggary, in almost all the countries of Europe; but also from the great
variety of opinion among those who have taken the matter into serious
consideration, and have proposed methods for remedying those evils;
so generally, and so justly complained of.
What I have to offer upon the this subject being not merely speculative
opinion, but the genuine result of actual experiments; of experiments
made upon a very large scale, and under circumstances which render
them peculiarly interesting; I cannot help flattering myself that my

readers will find both amusement, and useful information, from the
perusal of the following sheets.
As it may perhaps appear extraordinary that a military man should
undertake a work so foreign to his profession, as that of forming and
executing a plan for providing for the Poor, I have thought it not
improper to preface the narrative of my operations, by a short account
of the motives which induced me to engage in this undertaking. And in
order to throw still more light upon the whole transaction, I shall begin
with a few words of myself, of my situation in the country in which I
reside, and of the different objects which were had in view in the
various public measures in which I have been concerned. This
information is necessary in order to form a clear idea of the
circumstances under which the operations in question were undertaken,
and the different public measures which were adopted at the same time.
Having in the year 1784, with His Majesty's gracious permission,
engaged myself in the service of His Most Serene Highness the Elector
Palatine, Reigning Duke of Bavaria, I have since been employed by His
Electoral Highness in various public services, and particularly in
arranging his military affairs, and introducing a new system of order,
discipline, and economy among his troops.
In the execution of this commission, ever mindful of that great and
important truth, that no political arrangement can be really good, except
in so far as it contributes to the general good of society, I have
endeavoured in all my operations to unite the interest of the soldier
with the interest of civil society, and to render the military force, even
in time of peace, subservient to the PUBLIC GOOD.
To facilitate and promote