Annals of Agriculture, and Other Useful Arts Volume 27 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1796 Excerpt: ... its explanatory effect, that originally neither more nor less than four overseers could have been appointed: the statute adding this number to the church-wardens in each parish, for the care of the poor, without any latitude in favour of any other number. That, it having been found this number was too large for the population and extent in many parishes, the statute of 43 Eliz. authorized lessening the number to three or two, according to the sfze of the parish; but they had no notion of extending it to a greater number. And that although the statute of 13 and 14 Car. II. where a parish consisted of several townships, empowered an appointment of overseers for each township, it did not appear, that in those large parishes the justices could appoint more than four for each township. That the precise number is not an immaterial thing, either to the officers of the parish, or to the persons for whom they are trustees. That upon themselves it is a burden, which by this practice would come round the sooner: and that, with respect to the parish, a great number may not do business better than a smaller, and it would be attended with more expence. That the churchwardens being only two, or, by custom, four, a greater number of overseers would break the proportion and the balance between them.--(This argument, I should think, would have some weight with the clergy in parishes.) That therefore, upon the whole, the appointment of more than four was not warranted. Dennison Just, considered the case, though new, as not difficult at all. He regarded the stat. of 43 Eliz. as the magna cbarta of the poor; and considered it as exclusively imperative, not merely directory, as to the number of overseers. Foster Just, agreed, and said that it was the principle of the statute 43...