Cambridge Library Collection - British and Irish History, General: Pauperism and Poor Laws

Robert Pashley (1805-59), lawyer, economist, traveller, and fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge, is famous for his travel memoirs as well as his legal achievements. First published in 1852, his history of pauperism and the poor laws in England analyses the history of poverty and the various attempts at reform, including legislation in the reign of Elizabeth I, the statute of Charles II for the Removal of the Poor, and the pauper legislation of 1834. In the final chapters, Pashley asserts the necessity for a total repeal of the existing legislation, including the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834, arguing that the provisions for raising and administering relief to paupers should be consolidated into one statute and suggesting a national levy on property to aid poor relief. Pashley's work was influential, although reform of the system did not begin until the creation of the Local Government Board in 1871.

Preface; 1. The number and cost of paupers in England; 2. The number, cost, and condition of paupers in the metropolis; 3. Pauperism of agricultural and manufacturing districts; 4. Ecclesiastical provision for the poor till the reformation; 5. Pauper legislation before the reign of Elizabeth; 6. Pauper legislation of the reign of Elizabeth; 7. Relief of the poor from the reign of Elizabeth, till the Restoration of Charles II; 8. Statute of Charles II for the removal of the poor; 9. Pauperism from the reign of Charles II, till the end of the seventeenth century; 10. The pauperism and poor laws of England during the eighteenth century; 11. The pauperism and poor laws of England, from 1800 to 1834; 12. The pauper legislation of the year 1834; 13. The pauperism and poor laws of England, since the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act, in 1834; 14. Effect of the law of settlement on the dwellings of labourers in agriculture; 15. On the necessity of a total repeal of the Law of Settlement and removal of the poor; 16. Remedy by abolishing removals, and substituting money orders; 17. Proposed remedy by Union Settlement and Union Rating; 18. Other proposed remedies; 19. The author's proposal; Appendix.