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.~fRA'CHESTER STAT. SOC.--lArAUGUHAL ADDRESS. 189
Everyone must hold in the highest estimation men who, like
the author of '* Social Duties," devote the highest talents to 8
work: of this kind ; end few who have read this work could
have failed to acqniesae in the humane views put forth. Yet
I think we must take Care lest in yielding to the impulses of
humanity we do more harm than good. I fear we may mrrke
the Union hospital so easy of access, and so attractive, that
it may lead half-way to the Poor-house itself. Whenever I
see the admirable infirmary built at Withington by our member
Mr. Worthington, and described in our Transactions, this is
the thought which suggests itself. But I feel bound to go
further, and call in question the policy of tho mholu of bur
medical charities, including all free public infirmaries, dispensaries,
hospitals, and a large part of the vast amount of
private charity. What I mean is, that the whole of theso
charities nourish in the poorest classes a coutented sense of
dependence on the richer classes for those ordinary requirements
of life which they ought to be led to provide for themselves.
Medical assistance is probably the least objectionable
of all the forms of charity, but it nevertheless may be
objectionable. There is nothing more sure than that a certain
percentage of any population will be suffering at every
moment from illness or disease. It is almost certain that
every man, woman, and child will require Rome medical treatment,
and no family is really in a solvent condition which is
not prepared to meet the average expenditure for this purpose,
Every hospital and free dispensary tends to relax the habits of
providence, which ought to be most carefully cultivated, and
which cannot be better urged than with regard to the contingency
of sickness. The Times not long ago published
some very remarkable and complete statistics, compiled by
Mr. Hicks, showing that the annual revenue of the established
charities of London alone amounted to more thau two millions
a yew. I fear that not only is a large part of this masted in
the excessive costs of management, but that a further large
Portion really pes to nndermine the most valuable qualities
of -lf-mliance,. and so form a bribe towards the habits of
mendicancy 8Ud pauperism. About forty years "go it be-