Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/275

245&#93; BEG ■pel them if they have entered. The leaves of the young turnip are sup- posed to be devoured by this fly, ■which Dr. Darwin conceives may be destroyed by rolling. That very troublesome insect, the common black beede, may be extirpated by placing a hedge-hog in the kitchen, during the summer nights. A German writer recommends to place a bundle of pea-straw near their holes, as they are fond of creeping into it, and after a short time, it should be suddenly taken away, and burnt. Another simple method, which is so well known, that it scarcely deserves to be mentioned, is, to place a vessel with any liquid, with pieces of board in an ' ob- lique direction, to facilitate their ascent to the edge of the vessel, over which they will fall into the liquid. BEGGARS require no definition. Various opinions have been held, concerning the good or bad con- sequences which result from the practice of relieving common beg- gars, in the public streets. Dr. Burnt observes, " that tiiis kind of charity, is setting up private judgment against public law. The legislature has provided for the poor in one way, but we think that is not so good, and therefore will have a way of our own — the worst and most abandoned of the people are sustained by the efforts of well- meant, but very ill-judged charity ; there is one way," he says, " to put an end to begging, and the easiest in the world — to give them ■nothing. If none were to give, none would beg; and the whole mystery and craft would be at an end in a fortnight." — SeeCH arity. Wi?.c#nnpt implicitly agree with BEG [ HS the rigorous measures of Dr. Burn; for, though the legislature have provided for the poor, in many instances this provision is ineffectual ; and it may often hap- pen to be dispensed at too late a period, for the relief of the dis- tressed object. The generality of the poor in the metropolis, may be divided into two classes : first, those who are incapable of working; and, se- condly, such as are able, but un- willing. The former may be con- sidered as real objects of charity ; but they ought not to be suffered to infest the streets, and expose their distorted limbs, or disgusting sores. The latter class, however, is most numerous ; as it compre- hends the most abandoned and pro- fligate outcasts of society. What- ever is given to these miscreants, may be considered as applied to the rising fund of vice and immo- rality. — On the other hand, a due distinction ought to be made be- tween those who have by misfor- tune been reduced to a state of in- digence, and others, who are va- grants by profession. Rousseau justly remarks, that a great num- ber of beggars may become bur- thensome to a state ; that it is a duty incumbent on a wise admi- nistration, to make such regula- tions as will prevent beggars from annoying the industrious : yet we wou;d reply to this benevolent philosopher, that the execution of such a plan has often been at- tempted, but has succeeded only in countries or cites comparatively small 5 for instance, in Geneva, Munich, Hamburgh, &e. and if credit be due to public report, in the Imperial city of Germany, which, in this respect, forms a re- markable exception, R 3 Mr.