The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14
Poor Rates and their Application
Poor Rates and their Application.
According to the Statistical Abstract the Receipts on account of the Poor Rate, and the Disbursements from it, in the three kingdoms, excepting Scotland, from which there were no returns for the first six years of the series, were as shown in the following Table of alternate years from 1840 to 1885, both inclusive.
Receipts. | Expenditure. | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total amount of Poor Rates received, including Receipts in aid of Rates. | England and Wales. | For the Relief and Management of of the Poor. | |||||||||
Year. | England and Wales. | Scotland. | Ireland. | Total United Kingdom. | In actual Relief of the Poor. | For County, Police, and other Purposes. | Total England and Wales. | Scotland. | Ireland. | Total Scotland & Ireland. | Total for United Kingdom. |
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
1840 | 6,242,571 | No Returns | 21,985 | 6,264,556 | 4,576,965 | 1,490,461 | 6,067,426 | No Returns | 37,057 | 37,057 | E. & I. Only 6,104,483 |
1842 | 6,754,404 | No Returns | 208,557 | 6,962,961 | 4,911,498 | 1,800,273 | 6,711,771 | No Returns | 281,233 | 281,233 | E. & I. Only 6,993,004 |
1844 | 7,066,797 | No Returns | 282,073 | 7,348,870 | 4,976,093 | 1,924,024 | 6,900,117 | No Returns | 270,393 | 270,393 | E. & I. Only 7,170,510 |
1846 | 6,988,666 | 306,044 | 278,364 | 7,573,074 | 4,954,204 | 1,792,381 | 6,746,585 | 295,232 | 372,809 | 668,041 | 7,414,626 |
1848 | 7,976,094 | 533,073 | 1,687,447 | 10,196,614 | 6,180,764 | 1,866,721 | 8,047,485 | 544,334 | 1,835,634 | 1,379,968 | 9,427,453 |
1850 | 7,500,495 | 583,590 | 2,084,290 | 10,168,375 | 5,395,022 | 1,965,199 | 7,360,221 | 581,553 | 1,827,212 | 2,408,765 | 9,768,986 |
1852 | 6,870,368 | 541,889 | 1,242,446 | 8,654,703 | 4,897,685 | 1,921,661 | 6,819,346 | 535,868 | 1,175,003 | 1,710,871 | 8,530,217 |
1854 | 7,251,281 | 570,713 | 1,052,250 | 8,874,244 | 5,282,853 | 2,035,077 | 7,317,930 | 578,929 | 990,034 | 1,568,903 | 8,880,893 |
1856 | 8,496,458 | 651,000 | 793,980 | 9,941,438 | 6,004,244 | 2,207,768 | 8,212,012 | 629,349 | 734,538 | 1,363,887 | 9,575,899 |
1858 | 8,492,120 | 668,473 | 545,459 | 9,706,052 | 5,878,541 | 2,571,116 | 8,449,657 | 640,701 | 570,372 | 1,211,073 | 9,660,730 |
1860 | 8,033,526 | 671,516 | 508,943 | 9,213,985 | 5,454,964 | 2,620,940 | 8,075,904 | 663,277 | 530,626 | 1,193,903 | 9,269,807 |
1862 | 8,838,990 | 712,227 | 667,745 | 10,218,962 | 6,077,922 | 2,728,152 | 8,806,074 | 719,317 | 652,245 | 1,371,562 | 10,177,636 |
1864 | 9,874,569 | 776,455 | 745,534 | 11,396,558 | 6,423,381 | 3,257,099 | 9,680,480 | 770,030 | 732,968 | 1,502,998 | 11,183,478 |
1866 | 9,958,250 | 796,574 | 759,174 | 11,513,998 | 6,439,517 | 3,549,604 | 9,989,121 | 783,127 | 726,340 | 1,509,467 | 11,498,588 |
1868 | 11,472,843 | 842,893 | 848,971 | 13,164,707 | 7,498,059 | 3,882,534 | 11,380,593 | 863,202 | 841,512 | 1,704,714 | 13,085,307 |
1870 | 12,044,012 | 908,064 | 817,901 | 13,769,977 | 7,644,307 | 4,093,306 | 11,737,613 | 905,046 | 814,445 | 1,719,491 | 13,457,104 |
1872 | 12,608,938 | 888,002 | 838,579 | 14,335,519 | 8,007,403 | 4,373,875 | 12,381,278 | 862,171 | 868,820 | 1,730,991 | 14,112,269 |
1874 | 12,803,762 | 853,432 | 1,014,560 | 14,671,754 | 7,664,957 | 5,186,050 | 12,851,007 | 847,682 | 977,752 | 1,825,434 | 14,676,441 |
1876 | 12,905,395 | 870,436 | 1,044,470 | 14,820,301 | 7,335,858 | 5,301,084 | 12,636,942 | 847,254 | 1,001,360 | 1,848,614 | 14,485,556 |
1878 | 13,489,712 | 870,198 | 1,014,521 | 15,374,431 | 7,688,650 | 5,926,647 | 13,615,297 | 918,789 | 1,081,479 | 2,000,268 | 15,615,565 |
1880 | 14,001,512 | 911,752 | 1,097,475 | 16,010,739 | 8,015,010 | 6,077,092 | 14,092,102 | 931,145 | 1,141,830 | 2,072,975 | 16,165,077 |
1882 | 14,918,273 | 963,614 | 1,239,489 | 17,121,376 | 8,232,472 | 6,632,207 | 14,804,739 | 898,002 | 1,237,082 | 2,135,084 | 16,999,823 |
1884 | 15,386,617 | 927,090 | 1,402,181 | 17,715,918 | 8,402,553 | 6,954,238 | 15,350,791 | 869,996 | 1,343,461 | 2,213,457 | 17,570,248 |
1885 | 15,546,691 | 903,899 | 1,318,167 | 17,768,757 | 8,414,892 | 7,235,863 | 15,650,755 | 871,511 | 1,259,010 | 2,130,521 | 17,781,276 |
Adult Able-bodied Paupers. | All other Paupers(exclusive of Vegrants). | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year. | Indoor. | Outdoor. | Total. | Indoor. | Outdoor. | Total. | Indoor. | Outdoor. | Total of all Classes. | Cost of Relief. | Year. |
1849 | 28,123 | 173,521 | 201,644 | 91,252 | 641,528 | 732,775 | 119,375 | 815,044 | 934,419 | £5,792,963 | 1849 |
1850 | 26,151 | 155,008 | 151,159 | 92,408 | 046,976 | 739,384 | 118,559 | 801,984 | 920,543 | 5,395,022 | 1850 |
1851 | 23,322 | 131,203 | 154,525 | 87,243 | 619,125 | 706,368 | 110,505 | 750,328 | 860,893 | 4,962,704 | 1851 |
1852 | 19,752 | 117,566 | 137,318 | 86,661 | 610,445 | 697,106 | 106,413 | 728,011 | 834,424 | 4,897,685 | 1852 |
1858 | 18,138 | 108,082 | 126,220 | 86,048 | 586,554 | 672,602 | 104,186 | 694,036 | 798,822 | 4,939,064 | 1853 |
1854 | 21,989 | 114,288 | 136,277 | 91,687 | 590,373 | 682,060 | 113,676 | 704,661 | 818,337 | 6,282,853 | 1854 |
1855 | 22,788 | 121,712 | 144,500 | 98,775 | 608,094 | 706,869 | 121,563 | 729,806 | 851,369 | 6,890,041 | 1855 |
1856 | 23,496 | 128,678 | 152,174 | 102,101 | 623,492 | 725,593 | 125,597 | 752,170 | 877,767 | 6,004,244 | 1856 |
1857 | 22,368 | 116,762 | 139,130 | 101,014 | 608,663 | 704,676 | 123,382 | 720,424 | 843,806 | 5,898,756 | 1857 |
1858 | 23,281 | 143,323 | 166,604 | 103,200 | 638,382 | 741,582 | 126,481 | 781,705 | 908,186 | 5,878,541 | 1858 |
1859 | 20,098 | 117,320 | 137,418 | 103,207 | 619,845 | 723,052 | 123,305 | 737,165 | 860,470 | 6,558,689 | 1859 |
1860 | 18,882 | 117,879 | 136,761 | 100,144 | 614,115 | 714,259 | 119,026 | 731,994 | 851,020 | 5,454,964 | 1860 |
1861 | 23,402 | 127,124 | 160,526 | 107,559 | 632,338 | 739,897 | 130,961 | 759,462 | 890,423 | 5,778,943 | 1861 |
1862 | 26,578 | 141,068 | 167,646 | 116,613 | 661,907 | 778,520 | 143,191 | 802,975 | 940,166 | 6,077,922 | 1862 |
1863 | 96,501 | 226,998 | 253,499 | 119,696 | 769,429 | 889,125 | 146,197 | 996,427 | 1,142,624 | 6,527,036 | 1863 |
1864 | 23,663 | 163,087 | 186,750 | 114,144 | 708,395 | 822,539 | 137,807 | 871,482 | 1,009,289 | 6,423,381 | 1864 |
1865 | 23,400 | 146,736 | 170,136 | 114,719 | 686,578 | 801,297 | 138,119 | 833,314 | 971,435 | 6,264,906 | 1865 |
1866 | 22,290 | 127,030 | 149,320 | 115,696 | 655,328 | 771,024 | 137,986 | 782,358 | 920,344 | 6,439,517 | 1866 |
1867 | 23,399 | 134,909 | 158,308 | 121,230 | 678,635 | 799,865 | 144,629 | 813,544 | 958,173 | 6,959,840 | 1867 |
1868 | 28,646 | 156,984 | 185,630 | 130,077 | 718,267 | 848,344 | 158,723 | 875,251 | 1,033,974 | 7,498,059 | 1868 |
1869 | 29,826 | 153,336 | 183,162 | 133,245 | 723,142 | 856,387 | 163,071 | 876,478 | 1,039,549 | 7,673,100 | 1869 |
1870 | 30,389 | 168,700 | 194,089 | 134,935 | 750,367 | 885,302 | 165,324 | 914,067 | 1,079,391 | 7,044,307 | 1870 |
1871 | 29,320 | 160,519 | 189,839 | 135,969 | 756,118 | 892,087 | 165,289 | 916,337 | 1,081,926 | 7,886,724 | 1871 |
1872 | 25,035 | 128,718 | 153,753 | 129,198 | 694,713 | 823,911 | 154,233 | 823,431 | 977,664 | 8,007,403 | 1872 |
1873 | 22,053 | 105,644 | 127,697 | 129,553 | 630,095 | 759,648 | 151,606 | 735,739 | 887,345 | 7,692,169 | 1873 |
1874 | 20,593 | 93,731 | 114,324 | 128,965 | 585,992 | 714,957 | 149,558 | 679,723 | 829,281 | 7,664,957 | 1874 |
1875 | 21,196 | 94,013 | 115,209 | 132,515 | 567,863 | 700,378 | 153,711 | 661,876 | 815,587 | 7,483,481 | 1875 |
1876 | 18,055 | 79,010 | 97,065 | 130,876 | 521,652 | 652,528 | 148,931 | 600,662 | 749,593 | 7,335,858 | 1876 |
1877 | 18,993 | 73,813 | 92,806 | 138,198 | 497,346 | 635,544 | 157,191 | 571,159 | 728,350 | 7,400,034 | 1877 |
1878 | 21,407 | 76,520 | 97,927 | 145,468 | 499,308 | 644,776 | 166,875 | 575,828 | 742,703 | 7,688,650 | 1878 |
1879 | 22,650 | 96,283 | 118,933 | 152,695 | 528,798 | 681,493 | 175,345 | 625,081 | 800,426 | 7,829,819 | 1879 |
1880 | 26,991 | 99,237 | 126,228 | 162,313 | 549,399 | 711,712 | 189,304 | 648,636 | 837,940 | 8,015,010 | 1880 |
1881 | 26,357 | 84,812 | 111,169 | 163,081 | 628,876 | 691,957 | 189,438 | 613,688 | 803,126 | 8,102,136 | 1881 |
1882 | 25,462 | 80,818 | 106,280 | 162,971 | 628,363 | 691,334 | 188,433 | 609,181 | 797,614 | 8,232,472 | 1882 |
1883 | 24,867 | 80,490 | 105,357 | 165,519 | 628,420 | 693,939 | 190,386 | 608,910 | 799,296 | 8,353,292 | 1883 |
1884 | 23,381 | 74,690 | 98,071 | 164,212 | 612,027 | 676,239 | 187,593 | 686,717 | 774,310 | 8,402,553 | 1884 |
1885 | 23,909 | 78,518 | 102,427 | 166,275 | 615,453 | 681,728 | 190,184 | 693,971 | 784,155 | 8,414,892 | 1885 |
1886 | 26,016 | 83,901 | 109,917 | 168,430 | 529,292 | 697,722 | 194,446 | 613,193 | 807,639 | 8,450,000* | 1886 |
It thus appears that £260,200,000 has been spent in thirty-eight years in England and Wales alone, and that the annual cost has increased from £5,792,963 in 1849 to £8,414,892 in 1885, although the number of Paupers in 1885 was 150,000 less. Whence arises this appalling mass of pauperism in the richest country, and amongst the most industrious people in the world ? Primarily and mainly, beyond all question, from a radically vicious and improvident Fiscal System, under which, out of a total gross revenue of £89,500,000 from all sources, including Post Office, Crown Lands, &c., raised in the last financial year, there was levied £45,280,000, i.e., little short of Three-fifths of the whole amount, by means of Customs and Excise Duties on articles of general consumption. It is beyond all doubt that the direct effect of these Duties is to restrict Home Trade, Foreign Commerce, and Employment—and consequently to impoverish great masses of the people. There are also other causes, such as the Land Laws, and the maladministration of the Poor-Law system itself, under which thousands are born, bred, live, and die Paupers.
England and Wales. | 1871. | 1872. | 1873. | 1874. | 1875. | 1876. | 1877. | 1878. | 1879. | 1880. | 1881. | 1882. | 1888. | *1884. | 1881 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of bankrupt | 1,238 | 933 | 915 | 980 | 965 | 976 | 967 | 1,084 | 1,156 | 995 | 1,005 | 995 | 1,046 | 1,998 | 8,965 |
Number of registered liquidations by arrangement | 2,872 | 3,694 | 4,152 | 4,410 | 4,233 | 4,986 | 5,239 | 6,356 | 7,167 | 5,546 | 5,216 | 4,679 | 4,571 | 485 | 78 |
Number of registered compositions with creditors | 2,170 | 2,208 | 2,422 | 1,549 | 2,691 | 3,287 | 3,327 | 4,010 | 4,809 | 3,757 | 3,506 | 3,867 | 2,938 | 687 | 290 |
Number of administration orders for deceased debtors' estates | 22 | 21 | |||||||||||||
Total | 6,280 | 6,835 | 7,489 | 7,919 | 7,889 | 9,249 | 9,533 | 11,450 | 13,182 | 10,298 | 9,717 | 9,041 | 8,555 | 4,192 | 4,354 |
Scotland. | |||||||||||||||
Number of bankruptcies | 490 | 368 | 391 | 882 | 441 | 482 | 543 | 717 | 1,077 | 582 | 450 | 452 | 342 | 406 | 362 |
* Assumed, the amount for 1886 not being stated.
* * The returns for England and Wales this year Include 63 Bankruptcies, 429 Liquidations, and 418 Compositions under the Act of 1969.