Essays vol 1 | Page 7

little collection of garden-seeds; and I have no doubt but in a very few
years we shall see potatoes as much cultivated in Bavaria as in other
countries; and that the use of vegetables for food will be generally
introduced among the common people. I have already had the
satisfaction to see little gardens here and there making their appearance,
in different parts of the country, and I hope that very soon no farmer's
house will be found without one.
To assist the soldiers in the cultivation of their gardens, they are
furnished with garden utensils gratis; they are likewise furnished from
time to time with a certain quantity of manure, and with an assortment
of garden-feeds; but they do not rely solely upon these supplies; those
who are industrious collect materials in their barracks, and in the streets,
for making manure, and even sometimes purchase it, and they raise in
their own gardens most of the garden-seeds they stand in need of. To
enable them to avail themselves of their gardens as early in the spring

as possible, in supplying their tables with green vegetables, each
company is furnished with a hot-bed for raising early plants.
To attach the soldiers more strongly to these their little possessions, by
increasing their comfort and convenience in the cultivation and
enjoyment of them, a number of little summer-houses, or rather huts,
one to each company, have been erected for the purpose of shelter,
where they can retire when it rains, or when they are fatigued.
All the officers of the regiments, from the highest to the lowest, are
ordered to give the men every assistance in the cultivation of these their
gardens; but they are forbidden, upon pain of the severest punishment,
to appropriate to themselves any part of the produce of them, or even to
receive any part of it in presents.
CHAPTER. I.
Of the prevalence of mendicity in Bavaria at the time when the
measures for putting an end to it were adopted.
Among the various measures that occurred to me by which the military
establishment of the country might be made subservient to the public
good in time of peace, none appeared to be of so much importance as
that of employing the army in clearing the country of beggers, thieves
and other vagabonds; and in watching over the public tranquillity.
But in order to clear the country of beggers, (the number of whom in
Bavaria had become quite intolerable,) it was necessary to adopt
general and efficacious measures for maintaining and supporting the
Poor. Laws were not wanting to oblige each community in the country
to provide for its own Poor; but these laws had been so long neglected,
and beggary had become so general, that extraordinary measures, and
the most indefatigable exertions, were necessary to put a stop to this
evil. The number of itinerant beggars, of both sexes, and all ages, as
well foreigners as natives, who strolled about the country in all
directions. levying contributions from the industrious inhabitants,
stealing and robbing, and leading a life of indolence, and the most
shameless debauchery, was quite incredible; and so numerous were the
swarms of beggars in all the great towns, and particularly in the capital,
so great their impudence, and so persevering their importunity, that it
was almost impossible to cross the streets without being attacked, and
absolutely forced to satisfy their clamorous demands. And these
beggars were in general by no means such as from age or bodily

infirmities were unable by their labour to earn their livelihood; but they
were for the most part, stout, strong, healthy, sturdy beggars, who, lost
to every sense of shame, had embraced the profession from choice, not
necessity; and who, not unfrequently, added insolence and threats to
their importunity, and extorted that from fear, which they could not
procure by their arts of dissimulation.
These beggars not only infested all the streets, public walks, and public
places, but they even made a practice of going into private houses,
where they never failed to steal whatever fell in their way, if they found
the doors open, and nobody at home; and the churches were so full of
them that it was quite a nuisance, and a public scandal during the
performance of divine service. People at their devotions were
continually interrupted by them, and were frequently obliged to satisfy
their demands in order to be permitted to finish their prayers in peace
and quite.
In short, these detestable vermin swarmed every where, and not only
their impudence and clamorous importunity were without any bounds,
but they had recourse to the most diabolical arts, and most horrid
crimes, in the prosecution of their infamous trade. Young children were
stolen from their parents by these wretches, and their eyes put out, or