Page:William Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (3rd ed, 1768, vol I).djvu/376

 360 raging the poor in habits of indolence and beggary was quickly felt throughout the kingdom: and abundance of tatutes were made in the reign of king Henry the eighth, for providing for the poor and impotent; which, the preambles to ome of them recite, had of late years trangely increaed. Thee poor were principally of two orts: ick and impotent, and therefore unable to work; idle and turdy, and therefore able, but not willing, to exercie any honet employment. To provide in ome meaure for both of thee, in and about the metropolis, his on Edward the ixth founded three royal hopitals; Chrit's, and St. Thomas's for the relief of the impotent through infancy or icknes; and Bridewell for the punihment and employment of the vigorous and idle. But thee were far from being ufficient for the care of the poor throughout the kingdom at large; and therefore, after many other fruitles experiments, by tatute 43 Eliz. c. 2. overeers of the poor were appointed in every parih.

virtue of the tatute lat mentioned, thee overeers are to be nominated yearly in Eater-week, or within one month after, (though a ubequent nomination will be valid ) by two jutices dwelling near the parih. They mut be ubtantial houholders, and o expreed to be in the appointment of the jutices.

office and duty, according to the ame tatute, are principally thee: firt, to raie competent ums for the neceary relief of the poor, impotent, old, blind, and uch other, being poor and not able to work: and, econdly, to provide work for uch as are able, and cannot otherwie get employment: but this latter part of their duty, which, according to the wie regulations of that alutary tatute, hould go hand in hand with the other, is now mot hamefully neglected. However, for thee joint purpoes, they are empowered to make and levy rates upon the everal inhabitants of the parih, by the ame act of parliament; which has been farther explained and enforced by everal ubequent tatutes. Rh