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The amount of the rate should, as nearly as may be, correspond with and cover the allowances for the whole labouring population of the Parish. If it is less, some may remain unemployed. If it much exceeds, it may create too much competition, and those who would · otherwise employ a greater number of hands in the necessary course of their business, may avail themselves of the allowance beyond the fair proportion.

The number of persons wanting employment being known, it is easy to adapt the Rate to it, by making a 6d, 8d, 9d, or 1s Rate, as case may require.

Suppose there be 65 Men, and 30 Boys in the Parish, a Rate producing £200 will cover the allowances, at 9s for Men, and 3s for Boys, for the six weeks.

The allowances should be made for all parishioners, whose whole Wages, whether great or small, are paid by the Employer. Old Men, who receive a part of their Wages from the Rate, not to be taken into the account. But extra relief, for large families, for illness, &c., &c., not to prevent it, provided whatever is bona fide, "Wages," be paid by the Master.

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It is essential to the full effect of this scheme, that there should be a free competition in the price of labour. Combination, direct or indirect, among the Farmers, to limit the wages of single men, or men without families, to the amount of their maintenance, as is at present practised, is to be deprecated. All should be paid according to the real value of their labour, which can only be ascertained by a fair and open competition.

The due execution of this plan must chiefly depend upon the exertions of the Overseer, to put it on a proper footing, and to make it generally understood, but it will soon be found that there is no difficulty in it.

Notice of its commencement should be given to each Occupier; and printed papers for Weekly Returns* of the men employed, should be distributed, and no allowance made for any man not regularly returned. The Rate should be made and dated on the last day of the six weeks, to which it relates; and the balance due upon it, after the allowances are settled, should be collected without delay. The accounts are to be kept perfectly distinct from the other Poor Rates, according to the foregoing form. The balance only of cash received, to be carried to the general fund.

Any person wishing to introduce this system, will of course, propose it at a Vestry of the Parish, and if it is adopted by a majority of votes, the steps for carrying it into effect are fully pointed out above. But to render the proceedings strictly legal, the provisions of the late act for the regulation of Parish Vestries, passed in 1818, 58 Geo. III, c. 69, must be carefully attended to; and as that Act is but little known, it may be of use to give a short abstract of its principal provisions.

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"No Vestry is legal, unless three days notice thereof is given, and published in Church on a Sunday."— A Chairman must be appointed, who shall have a casting vote. ""Every person assessed at less than fifty pounds, to have one vote."-"Persons assessed at £50 and upwards, to have one vote for every £25 of their assessment. But not to exceed six votes to the same person."-" Persons jointly charged, to vote ac. cording to their proportion of the joint charge.”—“Persons liable to be rated, who came into the Parish since the last rate, entitled to vote. "—"Persons neglecting to pay their rates, not entitled to vote, till all is paid."

See the Form annexed, page 264.

A Rate for the Parish of

FORM OF THE RATE.

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in the Pound, with Deductions for Labourers employed. viz. 1s. 6d. per Day for Men, and 6d. per Day for Boys under sixteen.

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Farmer A 100 0 0 5 0 0 Men 12 0 Boys 3

s. d.

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Farmer C--100 0 0 5 0 0 Men 15 0

Boys

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FORM OF THE EMPLOYER'S CLAIM OF CLAIM OF DEDUCTION.

Labourers employed by me, in the Week Monday. Tuesday. Wednesd. Thursd. Friday. Saturday. Total. ending Saturday,

Boys between 10 and 16,

Signed by the Party claiming.

It may be proper to add that this plan, which is so admirably adapted to Agricultural Parishes, where the excess of labour is not very great, seems less suited to Towns and populous districts, where the labour is greatly out of proportion to the demand, and where the parties assessed have not equal, or nearly equal means of furnishing employment.

In the latter case, at least, it would require some modifications to make it equitable.*

ON FISHES; AND ON THE VEGETATION OF A BLADE OF WHEAT.

In our second number, page 67, we slightly called the attention of our readers to that sublime source of contemplation the Works of Nature. What can possibly be more pleasing and wonderful to a contemplative mind than dwelling on the ways of "Providence to Man." To farther open the reader's ideas on this subject, we present him with the following beautiful observations of ROLLIN in his "Study of Nature, for the service of Youth:" Speaking of FISHES, he says

"How many kinds of Fishes of various sizes do the waters produce! I contemplate all these, and it seems to me there is nothing but a head and a tail. They have no hands or feet, and their head has no free motion. If I was to draw any conclusions from their form, I should think that there wanted every neces→ sary to support life; yet with so few external parts,

*The above Plan, printed as a small Pamphlet, price Four-pence, together with printed papers for Weekly Returns, may be had of Mr. BELL, Bookseller, Oundle.

L L.-VOL. 1.

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