Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/445

Rh Colonel D. observes, in his communication to the Society, that he has often tried the model in a vessel of water; and, as the principle on which it is constructed, may be farther improved and extended, in the hands of ingenious men, we have furnished our readers with an accurate engraving:—this machine is applicable to silk, cotton, and other mills; where an uniform and steady velocity of water is required, which may at pleasure be regulated, without occasioning any current to disturb the fish, or mud; because the stream constantly runs from the surface.  POND-WATER, to which cattle generally resort for drink, is a fluid strongly impregnated with saline and pily particles: hence it should never be suffered spontaneously to evaporate during the summer.

For the important purpose of (which see), pond-water is in every respect equal to the liquor collected in farm-yards. See also Fluid ; p. 161 of this volume.  POND-WEED, the, or Potamogeton natans, L. an indigenous perennial plant, growing in ponds and slow rivers; flowering in the months of July and August.—The leaves of this weed float upon the surface of the water, and thus afford an agreeable shade to fish: its roots are said to be exceedingly grateful to swans.  POOR, an appellation given to persons, whose situation is so reduced as to render them chargeable to the parish.

Previously to the Reformation, the poor received alms, and other benefactions, from the monasteries, and religious houses; but, on the suppression of the latter, the wealth with which they were endowed, was diverted into other channels; and the poor, being thus left destitute, became a heavy burthen to the nation at large. In order to remedy this inconvenience, the 14th c. 5, and the 43d  c. 2, were enacted, by which certain rates or assessments are to be levied for their relief; and which have been continued to the present day.

The 43d is generally regarded as the basis of the poor-laws in England; and, though it was framed with great judgment and circumspection, yet experience has evinced, that it is not calculated to produce the salutary effects, that were expected to result from these regulations. It would, indeed, be a task equally invidious and foreign to our plan, to point out the defects of any statutes that have been passed for the relief of the poor; yet, as this national provision (which prevails in no other country in Europe), has been considered as tending to produce consequences prejudicial to society, we shall briefly state a few of the objections that Irave been urged against its principle.

First, it is argued, such compulsory relief checks the spirit of industry, and frugality; because the apprehension of being in want at some future period, which would otherwise stimulate persons to exert themselves during health and youth, in order to provide against the approach of sickness and old age, must necessarily be weakened, when a prospect of receiving assistance from the parish is held out to the indigent. In consequence of such fallacious hopes, many unprincipled or phlegmatic individuals wilfully neglect to seize  Rh