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1、ThemodestproposalItisamelancholyobjecttothosewhowalkthroughthisgreattownortravelinthecountry,whentheyseethestreets,theroads,andcabindoors,crowdedwithbeggarsofthefemalesex,followedbythree,four,orsixchildren,allinragsandimportuningeverypassengerforanalms.Thesemoth
2、ers,insteadofbeingabletoworkfortheirhonestlivelihood,areforcedtoemployalltheirtimeinstrollingtobegsustenancefortheirhelplessinfants:whoastheygrowupeitherturnthievesforwantofwork,orleavetheirdearnativecountrytofightforthePretenderinSpain,orsellthemselvestotheBarb
3、adoes.Ithinkitisagreedbyallpartiesthatthisprodigiousnumberofchildreninthearms,oronthebacks,orattheheelsoftheirmothers,andfrequentlyoftheirfathers,isinthepresentdeplorablestateofthekingdomaverygreatadditionalgrievance;and,therefore,whoevercouldfindoutafair,cheap,
4、andeasymethodofmakingthesechildrensound,usefulmembersofthecommonwealth,woulddeservesowellofthepublicastohavehisstatuesetupforapreserverofthenation.Butmyintentionisveryfarfrombeingconfinedtoprovideonlyforthechildrenofprofessedbeggars;itisofamuchgreaterextent,ands
5、halltakeinthewholenumberofinfantsatacertainagewhoarebornofparentsineffectaslittleabletosupportthemasthosewhodemandourcharityinthestreets.”IhavebeenassuredbyaveryknowingAmericanofmyacquaintanceinLondon,thatayounghealthychildwellnursedisatayearoldamostdelicious,no
6、urishing,andwholesomefood,whetherstewed,roasted,baked,orboiled...”Astomyownpart,havingturnedmythoughtsformanyyearsuponthisimportantsubject,andmaturelyweighedtheseveralschemesofotherprojectors,Ihavealwaysfoundthemgrosslymistakeninthecomputation.Itistrue,achildjus
7、tdroppedfromitsdammaybesupportedbyhermilkforasolaryear,withlittleothernourishment;atmostnotabovethevalueof2s.,whichthemothermaycertainlyget,orthevalueinscraps,byherlawfuloccupationofbegging;anditisexactlyatoneyearoldthatIproposetoprovidefortheminsuchamannerasins
8、teadofbeingachargeupontheirparentsortheparish,orwantingfoodandraimentfortherestoftheirlives,theyshallonthecontrarycontributetothefeeding,andpartlytotheclothing,ofmany