OBSERVATION ON THE POOR BILL
NOTE BY THE EDITOR OF AN EDITION FOR PRIVATQE CIRCULATION IN 1838
(Written, February 1797)

The Observation was written forty years ago, and were recently found amongst Mr Bentham's manuscripts. They hace never printed; but from some correspondence it appears that he was in communication with some of the influential members of the Legislature, and that the Observation powerfully contributed to the abandonment of the measure in question.

The provisions of the Bill, as compared with the principles set forth in the Observations, may be adduced as a specimen of empiric as compared with scientific legislation. To those who may be masters of the principles of the New Poor Law it will be manifest that, had the measures embodied in Mr Pitt's Bill been brought into general operation for any length of time, the effects would have been more disastrous to property, and, through property, to the ultimate welfare of the labouring class, than the most disastrous revolution in modern times. The New Poor Law is, perhaps, the first piece of legislation based upon scientific or economical principles; the main principle for the administaration of the law being, however, a principle which neither Mr Ricard nor Mr Malthus had seen when they gave the weight of their opinions against the institutions of a legal provision for the compulsory relief of the poor. The preservation of the new measure by laborious inductions from a large mass of facts specially examined may be recommended for imitation where safe legislation is required for large subjects.

To those who are unaaquainted with Mr Bentham's works, as the greater number even his professoed followers undoubtedly are (since the best refuation of some of their favourite doctrines are to be found in his writings) the Observations will furnish a fair specimen of his mode of treating such subjects. Another of numerous instances of his great perspicuity for practical purposes is to be found in his plan of frugality banks, published during the year 1798. In this plan will be found the anticipation of the improvements which some years of trial have suggested in the institution od savings banks, particularly the addition of the provisions for annuities to the labouring classes made by the act of 3 Will. IV. c. 14.
7th May 1838.